The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles
In 1946, Elizabeth Short traveled to Hollywood to become famous and see her name up in lights. Instead, the dark-haired beauty became immortalized in the headlines as the "Black Dahlia" when her nude and bisected body was discovered in the weeds of a vacant lot. Despite the efforts of more than four hundred police officers and homicide investigators, the heinous
...morePaperback, 402 pages
Published
September 1st 2006
by ReganBooks
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Without giving too much, if anything, away if no one has ever really heard much about the Black Dahlia case, I thought it was extremely well written and presented. The book progresses through the evidence, and gradually outlines to the reader what is known, what isn't known, and the history behind the key people involved. I think that's what I liked most about it, that it didn't really straight out exclaim things immediately, but kind of let you figure out and put the pieces of the puzzle togeth...more
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I rated myself as liking this book, but I wouldn't say that is true. I think that the author did an excellent job writing a compelling and well-supported theory behind a notorious murder, but the picture that he paints with so many facts is incredibly disturbing. I cannot count the number of times that I turned a page and moaned in dismay at finding a graphic description or photograph (yes, photograph! There are many photographs of dead and mutilated bodies). This book is definitely not for ...more
of all the black dahlia books out there, i found this one is the most engaging and least daddy hating.
Reading this book I felt like I knew Elizabeth Short. It kept me turning pages too. Donald Wolf is an excellent writer as well as researcher. One of my favorite written descriptions to date is in the first chapter of this book. It is the description of a printing press. After reading this I knew I wanted to read more by Wolf so I checked out The Marilyn Monroe book he wrote. I didn't like it as much as this though, but it was still well done. This case has always fascinated me and this was the b...more
Wolfe writes engagingly and he has truly made his research. He doesn't reveal his theory about the murderer(s) until in the very end, forcing the reader to think about the case and connect the clues. For that reason I'll try not to give away too much in the following.
I actually believe that the solution Wolfe provides is how things really happened. It all makes sense, pieces fit in the gaps. Even if it's not true, files that became public only recently give away pretty big clues,...more
I actually believe that the solution Wolfe provides is how things really happened. It all makes sense, pieces fit in the gaps. Even if it's not true, files that became public only recently give away pretty big clues,...more
This book was really interesting. Along the same lines as The Devil in the White City. Why I love these true story gruesome mob books I don't know but I do. It was a fascinating read. I like that the author doesn't tell you right away who the prime suspects are...you kinda figure it out as the book progresses.
This book was a lot of fun to read at Halloween time and in LA at Halloween time. I am not sure how legitimate this writer is, but it was a pretty good theory on what may have happened to Elizabeth Short. Enjoyable.
It's a well told story, but that is all it is, a story. If you are trying to find out as much about Elizabeth Short as you can, then read this book. Otherwise, I'd leave it.
Fascinating story of a very cold murder case. The author's theory is Elisabeth Short was killed by the mob and was mutilated after death because she was pregnant.
I just sat down with this book at barnes and noble to clear my head and I did NOT want to put it down! I need to go back and buy it!
The Black Dahlia Files intrigues me because my Uncle Bob told me about the case and that he had been living in LA during this time.
Absolutely fascinating. I think this one came very close to pinpointing the real murderer. With all the abundance of facts, summations and speculations, this book kept me riveted from front to back. Very well written; will look for his name on future books
A well-researched look at the Black Dahlia murder. Wolfe draws fascinating conclusions about Elizabeth Short's killers, the motive for her murder, and why it was so well covered up. Worth a read for true crime lovers.
Not too bad a read..builds upon the suspect from John Gilmore's Severed. More believable than most the theories.
love true crime. love L.A. all in all, a good read!
I think this may be the "one".
The book just kept me hooked
A lot of photos for reference. Awesome!
Completely engaging, and very well-written, true-crime about the gruesome murder of a twenty-two year old girl in the late 1940s, and the possible cover-up that led to a cold, cold case
Amazing and interesting. Almost too hard to believe but gives one an insight into the gritty dirty underworld and underbelly of L.A. and perhaps even solves the mystery
Violet
rated it
Recommends it for:
Seamstresses
Recommended to Violet by:
Karl Rove
Shelves:
crime-that-is-true,
tragic-beauty
Well-told and plausible, with lots of great photos and personal insight by the author, although he consistently writes "infers" where he means "implies."
The most persuasive argument so far, not to dynamically and dramatically written, with some nice personal touches by the author.
very interesting. Has real information from the case that people have not really heard about.
I'm trying to read this book...I am intrigued with mystery.
Maggie
added it
I could not put this down!
Interesting and well written. I'm not sure if I buy it but I believe it's a more likely set of events than those posed by Steve Hodel in Black Dahlia Avenger.
so far so good
Ashley
is currently reading it
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