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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
Disturbing. The case for his father being the serial killer of all these women seems to be circumstantial. It's horrific to think of one person doing all those crimes. I'm not entirely sure I buy it. But a fascinating story nonetheless and I'll be reading the follow up.
Until this book was recommended by a friend, I purposefully avoided knowing much about this crime because I knew (a) that it would never be solved, and (b) that I would start obsessing about solving it (e.g., JonBenet Ramsey). I realized that I should have followed my gut when at 1 a.m. last night I found myself googling "Black Dahlia" and perusing [b:the black dahlia|21704|The Black Dahlia|James Ellroy|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167323078s/21704.jpg|434] foia documents on the Net. The book is much better than I expected -- I couldn't put it down -- but it really does raise more questions than answers.
perhaps it’s for the better that i haven’t read Hodel’s sequels where it seems his speculation about his father really gets crazy. i found this initial exploration of his theory about the Black Dahlia’s murder (and a number of other similar unsolved murders in CA) to be compelling - at least in an interesting human way, not as in a court of law beyond reasonable doubt way.
One of the best books I have ever read. Steve Hoddel conveys the torturous angst he must have felt when coming to the most difficult of conclusions. He delivers solid police work and a very engaging writing style with a sincere, compassionate edge.
Absolutely fascinating and engrossing - Steve presented a pretty thorough case and convinced me of his assertion.
This is a book of speculation,
Convinced his father is the Black Dahlia murderer former LAPD investigator Steve Hodel writes a book cataloging his circumstantial evidence.
Not what I expected.
Convinced his father is the Black Dahlia murderer former LAPD investigator Steve Hodel writes a book cataloging his circumstantial evidence.
Not what I expected.
Black Dahlia Avenger by retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel is incredibly detailed—not just in its substance and deep knowledge of the case, but in the way it places you right there at every scene. Hodel manages to be the emotionally detached detective while also confronting the raw, personal weight of discovering that his own father, Dr. George Hodel, was the killer—not just of the Black Dahlia, but possibly many others.
One of the most striking parts of the book is in the epilogue, where Hodel writes:
“I wanted him to suffer as greatly as his victims had, and I wanted to be the one to make him suffer.”
It captures the shock, heartbreak, and emotional conflict that runs just beneath the surface of this investigation.
I listened to this book on Audible, narrated by Kevin Pierce, who delivered an excellent performance. He maintained a serious, intense tone during the investigation-heavy parts, but also conveyed the depth of feeling and emotional weight when it was appropriate.
That said, this book is very information-heavy. If you’re a visual learner, it might be worth reading a physical copy instead of listening.
While the book contains a strong emotional undercurrent, it’s also incredibly thorough and delivers years’ worth of investigative work in a clear and organized way. What’s most impressive is how it manages to be the best of both worlds for a true crime reader—a well-researched, fact-driven account of the crime, and a powerful, personal story from someone who lived through it.
One of the most striking parts of the book is in the epilogue, where Hodel writes:
“I wanted him to suffer as greatly as his victims had, and I wanted to be the one to make him suffer.”
It captures the shock, heartbreak, and emotional conflict that runs just beneath the surface of this investigation.
I listened to this book on Audible, narrated by Kevin Pierce, who delivered an excellent performance. He maintained a serious, intense tone during the investigation-heavy parts, but also conveyed the depth of feeling and emotional weight when it was appropriate.
That said, this book is very information-heavy. If you’re a visual learner, it might be worth reading a physical copy instead of listening.
While the book contains a strong emotional undercurrent, it’s also incredibly thorough and delivers years’ worth of investigative work in a clear and organized way. What’s most impressive is how it manages to be the best of both worlds for a true crime reader—a well-researched, fact-driven account of the crime, and a powerful, personal story from someone who lived through it.
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Holy cow. When they give away on the back of the book that the author is a veteran LA homicide detective and that the Black Dahlia's killer is the author's father, you figure, "What else can be left of the story?" The answer is, plenty. Frightening, compelling, and worth reading.