Black Dahlia Avenger
by Steve Hodel

The Black Dahlia murder is the most infamous unsolved murders in Los Angeles. Elizabeth Short, drifter turned Hollywood party girl lived the high life until the good times ended with her brutal slaying.

"Charges of police ineptitude soon gave way to rumors of corruption and cover-up at the highest levels." Sound familiar? It's an ongoing theme in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. In this case, the cover-up was to protect one of their own. George Hodel was on the list of suspects, and his son offers plenty of proof that his father was a cop turned serial-killer, and that Elizabeth Short was only one of his many victims.

It's been done before - the "I know who killed the Black Dahlia!" book, with all the attendant fanfare. A special bit of suspense this time, as the author refused to announce his name until the book was released. Over the years, there have been dozens of suspects, and all of them can be justified one way or another. Ed Burns, Walter Bayley, George Frederick Knowlton, Jack Anderson Wilson, even Orson Welles!

But in the end, it doesn't really matter what you believe. If it's all true, then it's a great tale. And if it's not true, then it's a great tall tale. Either way, it's a good read.

reviewed by Karen