The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles

First, the positives: it’s well written, does a good job of setting the tone of the time, and also does a good job of accurately describing the murder and the press coverage thereof.

Now the negatives: it’s much longer than it needs to be, the case it makes, while interesting, is flimsy, and it goes off subject a lot.

The first part of the book was intriguing, while I found my mind wandering in the second part, even checking how many pages I had left to read to be done.

The case he lays out is plausible, but barely so. It was interesting and I’m glad I read it, but I wouldn’t read it again and probably wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re a big true crime fan.

This was interesting, but also rambling. The author makes a solid case that Elizabeth Short was involved with the mafia. And, it was this connection that brought about her horrid demise wherein her body was found severed in many pieces, left in a lot, near a sidewalk where it could easily be found. Bloodless, severed with her mouth slit from each side of the lips to the ear, this was indeed a very brutal crime.

Mid way the author got off track, leading me to feel that he should have made his case and wrapped up pages earlier.

Elizabeth Short, aka The Black Dahlia was a sad soul who found herself attached to the wrong crowd. A magnet for the seedy, sleezy Los Angeles crowd.

Interesting look into the unsolved case. Lots of research and big name figures show up in these pages. After finishing this book I don't understand why the case is still unsolved.