Black Dahlia, Red Rose: The Crime, Corruption, and Cover-Up of America's Greatest Unsolved Murder

Any new book on the killing of Elizabeth Short is an interesting event, since much of the evidence is unavailable and much that is available has been sifted and resifted. Those who follow the case are likely to be well-informed and, absent an undeniable, lead-pipe-cinch solution, likely to have views that run counter to the new ‘solution’. At the same time, the case is iconic; it says so much about Chandler’s city and about the LAPD that the journey toward a ‘conclusion’, if well constructed, will be rewarding in its own right.That journey is beautifully charted by Piu Eatwell, who has a passion for texture, for material culture and for raw historical fact. With its film noir and classic crime fiction epigraphs it is designed to be evocative and in that it certainly succeeds.I do not want to spoil the ‘conclusion’ but I will say the following: the prime suspect has been so identified in the past; this is not a wild guess emerging from some distant left field. The case is circumstantial and it is extensive and persuasive. At the same time, the prime suspect has been eliminated because of an alibi, an alibi which the author attacks aggressively, if not in a manner that absolutely compels belief. Absent a dated, untouched photograph that locates the suspect 382 miles from the crime scene (as alleged) or some similar form of exculpatory evidence, the veracity of the alibi—given the shaky witnesses attesting to it—is unresolvable.The circumstantial case, however, is very strong. The author constructs a narrative, complete with a psychological profile prepared by an expert witness (who interrogated the suspect) that makes sense. It is coherent and persuasive. It also squares with the larger narrative of how women drawn to tinseltown could easily find themselves entering the valley of the shadow of death and not the nothing-but-blue-skies-ahead glamorous world of wealth, fame and lead film roles.The book is well-written, well-researched and very engaging. I will release this bit of information: (SPOILER) the author disagrees with Steve Hodel’s famous account of his father’s guilt, an account which James Ellroy found convincing. I personally find this author’s case more convincing, in part because the pictures of ‘Elizabeth Short’ in George Hodel’s effects simply do not look like Elizabeth Short and the case, while very imaginative (with the victim’s body constructed to evoke work by Man Ray) simply too unlikely.The book includes a bibliography of primary and secondary materials, an index (unlike Hodel’s book), a list of dramatis personae, 8 pp. of contemporary photographs and a postscript which lists ‘what happened to’ the principals in the story. These are all helpful and informative. The illustrations in Hodel’s book, however, are far more extensive and not to be missed by devotees of the case. Crime scene and autopsy gore are now generally available on the internet, though first viewers should be warned that they are very disturbing.R.I.P., Elizabeth.Highly recommended.

Ms. Eatwell has definitely done her homework. A tantalizing new suspect has emerged in the name of Leslie Dillion. I have read many books on the tragic Black Dahlia murder. John Gilmore touched a bit on Dillion but never went entirely in depth about him. He had another suspect in mind altogether, as have other authors. Ms. Eatwell has researched documents that have unearthed some very intriguing information. For instance, where would someone commit such a grisly crime? Until now, no other books really had a clue or a description of an actual building. We have an idea now where that may have happened. The L.A. Police Department was corrupt in the forties and more than likely had ties to the underworld. There seemed to be a lot of bungling and ineptness of detectives on the case at the time. Newspapers reported theories and sensationalism to sell newspapers. Sadly, poor Elizabeth Short was a victim of the glitter and excitement of Hollywood that entices millions of hopeful starlets since the beginning. Unfortunately, as happens with so many young women seeking fame and fortune, Ms. Short never made it in any Hollywood movie. From what I've read she never seemed very motivated to try to get into movies. I think she only tried out at a few auditions, eventually giving up the idea of an acting career. Basically, the majority of her time spent in L.A. was going out and partying. She dressed up and did the town with guys she met and dated who would buy her meals or give her some money. Eventually, as her personal life was hitting bottom, she was reduced to living a vagabond existence. She was definitely hanging out with some dangerous lowlife people. Amazingly, she did find fame but it was because of her gruesome death. Why she was murdered in such a grisly manner is a mystery to this day. The author gives us amateur sleuths more information to ponder.

I have read too many books about this case and was initially wary of Ms. Eatwell’s take on the murder. I’m glad I took a chance on this excellent book. The research is unique: LAPD files unearthed and FBI documents exposed provide clarity on the corrupt bureaucracy of the LAPD during the postwar period. Very well-written and respectful of Elizabeth Short’s memory.

At last! This is the book I have been waiting for about the enduring mystery of who killed Elizabeth Short. The basic knowledge of the case has been around for years, but Piu Eatwell has done the remarkable in that she has given this case a new and dramatic viewing. Eatwell takes us back to the dark side of post-war Los Angeles, where young girls dreams of Hollywood stardom often turned ugly and deadly. Corruption abounds throughout the investigation into Short's brutal murder, as cops, gangsters, and sexual deviates develop an unholy alliance to thwart an honest conclusion to the crime. Much of Eatwell's story reads like a Noir novel--a fast paced and intriguing whodunit which is all too real. There is a great deal of new information here--in particular the name and almost certain involvement of a little known suspect. If this case has haunted you like it has many of us for decades, this should top your reading list for 2018.

Piu Eatwell may well have solved the murder of the Black Dahlia, and also discovered the murder site. Further, she lays out a convincing case as to why the enquiry at the time seemed to go nowhere.The book is fascinating, far more gripping than a work of fiction. Some extraordinary characters pass through its pages, and the evocation of an era that is still within touching distance is entirely convincing.Using Google Street View, we are able to find several of the localities, and it is something of a shock to discover the Aster Motel, where something, or someone, had clearly been butchered, is still standing. Indeed, it is possible to peer right into the motel’s forecourt, and identify the room itself.

In 1947 a murder happened in Los Angeles. The bisected body of a young woman (identified subsequently as 22-year-old Elizabeth Short aka The Black Dahlia) was found in Leimert Park. Although some on the case believed they identified the killer, they would go unpunished due to what seemed to be either a far-reaching cover-up or some of the worst investigating ever. Instead the victim herself would be scrutinised for her choices in life.As this is the first book I have read about the Black Dahlia murder, I don't have anything to judge it against, but I thought the author makes a compelling case for the person/people she thinks were guilty. The litany of misplaced evidence and the fact that so much of the case files are still under wraps is shocking, but sadly not surprising. The author has obviously done a lot of research, the book has a lot of footnotes, and sometimes the writing comes across as a little dry in places. Overall though, it was an interesting read.

This is the second Black Dahlia book I’ve read. The first one being the one most people with a passing interest in this case would have come across: James Ellroy’s superb fictional version. Obviously, like all great Ellroy, that’s an over the top and over-ripe version of the story. But reading this true-crime version, it’s amazing how many truths and hints of truths Ellroy slipped into his narrative. If BLACK DAHLIA, RED ROSE is to be believed, the reality also seemed to have an abundance of corrupt cops, a conspiracy in high places, and powerful people doing all they could to stop the truth getting out.Okay, this may be only the second book I read, but not long ago I listened to the Hollywood & Crime podcast series on the Black Dahlia and it’s still fresh in my mind. But it’s amazing how much the telling of the tale, the direction its steered in, can change the whole story. The podcast concentrated on the spate of murders of women with dark hair that happened in LA at much the same time. Positing that that the Dahlia killer may have been more prolific than thought. That’s alluded to here, but the book instead goes down another alleyway. Trying to solve the case and pinning the whole thing on a man who, in the Hollywood & Crime version, is dismissed as a red herring.The theory suggested here is an interesting one, and Eatwell does a thorough job of building it all up. But still, I think it maybe stretches credibility too far. It brought to mind Daniel Farson’s comments in the preface to his Jack the Ripper book. That he believed, in some afterlife, all Ripperologists would be brought together and have the true identity of Jack the Ripper revealed them. And each and every one of them would stare blankly as the name struck no bell with them at all.BLACK DAHLIA, RED ROSE is worth a read for anyone interested in the case. It had a great sense of time and place and really manages to evoke the LA of the 1940s. But most importantly, it takes a complex and difficult case – with a vast array of characters – and tells it in a way that’s feels clear and almost straightforward.

This book is by far the best in discovering the actual truth about Elisabeth Shorts murderer. The author thoroughly investigates and links intelligently the facts, information, people, places, time frames, every little detail into a comprehensive conclusion that any follower of this terrible crime will enjoy discovering. It is written practically perfectly with details and facts is a style that keeps you wanting to read more. Having read many books on this subject, it is nice to finally read a book that has helped satisfy my own curiosity into this case. It really is a must read for anyone following the case!

I wouldn't identify as a 'Black Dahlia' aficionado. Years ago I read James Ellroy's book. Every now and then, I'd keep abreast of supposed updates but, only when I came across them casually in news media.I was familiar with George Hill Hodel quite a while before his son Steve named him as The Killer. However, as he'd predetermined, Steve Hodel lost my belief in his claims when he began to name George as The Culprit of almost every unsolved murder, this side of The Whitechapel Murders.If you have any interest in who killed Elizabeth Short, I highly recommend Piu Eatwell's book to you. Her research is thorough, through and through. It's very rare for me to give a book Five Stars but, her book is more than deserving of each of those stars.