Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia

The gruesome story of the 1947 Black Dahlia murder is a disturbing, true tale that includes the shiftless drifters of a Jim Thompson novel, dysfunctional familial pasts of Faulknerian dimensions and ghoulish slaughter of horrific intensity. As with Gilmore's previous titles on the Manson Family (Garbage People also on Amok) and Arizona fiend Charles Schmid (The Tucson Murders, Dial), the author's own story is woven into that of the victims and low-lifes here through meetings both chance and arranged. These rootless drifters (killer and victim) are set in a shifting background of a nation mobilized for war and a time of exciting music and seedy dives. Severed is an easy read and revelatory tale of a sordid example of human weakness that show more is as engrossing as it is grotesque. I read the tome in a single reading during an unsettling windstorm. I feel that is the best recommendation I can give because, honestly, I cannot remember the last book that so drew me in. show less

Something about this woman caught my eye on a website many years back, I think she is very striking and to learn of her brutal murder was very sad. As a very high profile case it wasn't hard to find more information and then I bought Bizarre Magazine and it featured a review of a brand new book called Severed - it was even recommended by David Lynch. So, I brought the review to Waterstones and was very pleased that they had just received a batch in.

I read it in just two days. It was so interesting and just so easy to read. The text reads like fiction yet you finish a chapter and think "wow, that really happened". It is a book I have re-read since and loved it again and again.

This book gives some insight into Elizabeth Short's activities before she was murdered and left in a vacant lot. The author gives his idea of who he thinks commited this heinous crime. This includes very gruesome photos of the victim.

author believes he had "confession" from killer, who died in fire before questions by police

One of the most gruesome books I have ever read!