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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
OOF. This starts out compelling -- Hodel's investigation into his father's past, and gradual (or was it?) realization that the man was an absolute monster, and maybe famous murderer, is well done, and (for the most part) convincingly presented. But the longer this book goes on -- and it goes on way, way, way too long -- the further Hodel goes off the rails. Tiny scraps of possible evidence are produced as DEFINITIVE PROOF!!!! The more assured Hodel becomes of his case -- that his father, Dr. George Hodel, murdered Elizabeth Short, "The Black Dahlia," and likely several other women -- the less convincing it is to the reader.
The author says a lot of things like, "AND SO WE HAVE CONCLUSIVELY PROVEN [thing not in any way conclusively proven]." The reader calls bullshit.
Whereas, if he'd said, "I think the evidence points toward this being probably true because of x, y, and z, although I cannot prove it definitively," the reader is much more like to go, "Yeah, sounds legit! Made a good case there, bud!"
Look. I think George Hodel has been definitively shown to have been an evil man, a serial abuser without doubt and almost certainly a rapist. And I think, even if only subconsciously, his son knew this long before he found the photos in his father's album that he claims he recognized as Elizabeth Short and which spurred this investigation into motion. (One of these photos has since been conclusively proved not to be her, and the other is, uh...a loose match at best, in my opinion.) I think he always knew that his dad was a giant piece of shit. And that's gotta be rough. But instead of going to therapy, he chose to write this 700-page obsessive spiral (and several more volumes besides!).
The question is, why did I read it???
Well...because honestly, I think Steve Hodel is likely right, in his most basic premise: George Hodel murdered Elizabeth Short. But oh boy, this is not the best way to prove it.
The author says a lot of things like, "AND SO WE HAVE CONCLUSIVELY PROVEN [thing not in any way conclusively proven]." The reader calls bullshit.
Whereas, if he'd said, "I think the evidence points toward this being probably true because of x, y, and z, although I cannot prove it definitively," the reader is much more like to go, "Yeah, sounds legit! Made a good case there, bud!"
Look. I think George Hodel has been definitively shown to have been an evil man, a serial abuser without doubt and almost certainly a rapist. And I think, even if only subconsciously, his son knew this long before he found the photos in his father's album that he claims he recognized as Elizabeth Short and which spurred this investigation into motion. (One of these photos has since been conclusively proved not to be her, and the other is, uh...a loose match at best, in my opinion.) I think he always knew that his dad was a giant piece of shit. And that's gotta be rough. But instead of going to therapy, he chose to write this 700-page obsessive spiral (and several more volumes besides!).
The question is, why did I read it???
Well...because honestly, I think Steve Hodel is likely right, in his most basic premise: George Hodel murdered Elizabeth Short. But oh boy, this is not the best way to prove it.
A compelling and sad case from Hodel. I thought the followup appendixes were just as fascinating as the book itself and lent credibility to the accusation. How we have such monsters in our midst is something I'll never truly grasp.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
This was a get well present from my best friend. She kind of has a sick sense of humor. She figured since I got sliced open for surgery, that this would be an appropriate present!!!
The book started out strong, but my interest began to wane mid way through. The author, Steven Hodel, wrote the book to prove that his father was [b:the Black Dahlia|21704|The Black Dahlia|James Ellroy|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167323078s/21704.jpg|434] murderer. He also lists several other women that he believes were also killed by his father and his father's best friend. The book really was interesting, until Hodel started trying to link seemingly far fetched things to prove that his father was the murderer. It got to be a bit much. Plus, in the last half of the book, he repeated a lot of information. It was tedious. I got it the first time, don't need to read about it again!
Regardless of whether Hodel's father was the murdered, the subject of the unsolved Dahlia case is still interesting. The book also deals with a lot of the corruption that was in the LAPD during the 40's and 50's. I liked the Los Angeles History aspect of the book.
The book started out strong, but my interest began to wane mid way through. The author, Steven Hodel, wrote the book to prove that his father was [b:the Black Dahlia|21704|The Black Dahlia|James Ellroy|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167323078s/21704.jpg|434] murderer. He also lists several other women that he believes were also killed by his father and his father's best friend. The book really was interesting, until Hodel started trying to link seemingly far fetched things to prove that his father was the murderer. It got to be a bit much. Plus, in the last half of the book, he repeated a lot of information. It was tedious. I got it the first time, don't need to read about it again!
Regardless of whether Hodel's father was the murdered, the subject of the unsolved Dahlia case is still interesting. The book also deals with a lot of the corruption that was in the LAPD during the 40's and 50's. I liked the Los Angeles History aspect of the book.
Black Dahlia Avenger is the story of retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel's journey towards uncovering the past of the father he never knew. And along this journey, he discovers an awful truth; that rather than just being an emotionally distant egomaniac, his father was actually a sadistic serial killer, responsible for perpetrating one of the most heinous unsolved murders in American history; that of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia.
Maybe. Although Hodel believes that he has delivered a solid case built on irrefutable fact, I am not so sure. The majority of his evidence is completely circumstantial; in fact, I really doubt that the pictures that led him on this investigation were actually of Elizabeth Short. In addition, his writing style is extremely hard to read and comprehend; this book clearly could have used some more rigorous editing.
However, I have to say that I find Steve Hodel to be a compelling person. It takes some serious integrity to believe that you have discovered that your father was a sadistic torture killer and still continue with the investigation, let alone take it public. And in a later chapter blasting those that have vilified Elizabeth Short as a women who got what she had coming as a result of her lifestyle, you clearly see Hodel's compassion for people from all walks of life show through. It is easy to see how he was such a successful LAPD detective.
Ineterestingly, after this book had been published, a journalist who had read the book was able to obtain case records from the LA District Attorney's Office indicating that Dr. George Hodel was indeed a serious suspect in not only the Elizabeth Short case, but also the Jeanne French case. So, although Steve Hodel's case against his father is not as strong as he seems to believe, maybe there is something to it.
Maybe. Although Hodel believes that he has delivered a solid case built on irrefutable fact, I am not so sure. The majority of his evidence is completely circumstantial; in fact, I really doubt that the pictures that led him on this investigation were actually of Elizabeth Short. In addition, his writing style is extremely hard to read and comprehend; this book clearly could have used some more rigorous editing.
However, I have to say that I find Steve Hodel to be a compelling person. It takes some serious integrity to believe that you have discovered that your father was a sadistic torture killer and still continue with the investigation, let alone take it public. And in a later chapter blasting those that have vilified Elizabeth Short as a women who got what she had coming as a result of her lifestyle, you clearly see Hodel's compassion for people from all walks of life show through. It is easy to see how he was such a successful LAPD detective.
Ineterestingly, after this book had been published, a journalist who had read the book was able to obtain case records from the LA District Attorney's Office indicating that Dr. George Hodel was indeed a serious suspect in not only the Elizabeth Short case, but also the Jeanne French case. So, although Steve Hodel's case against his father is not as strong as he seems to believe, maybe there is something to it.
If I ever get the time to write it, I’m doing a longform essay on these factional true crime books.
I’m familiar with the Black Dahlia case, as a fan of true crime, and in midst of all the theories out there, Steve Hodel’s makes perfect sense to me.
He uses all evidence at his disposal, from photos, news articles, testimonies and scripts since the case opened, while adding details of facts that he knows from his father’s life.
He sets all the pieces of the puzzle together perfectly, and ended up solving one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in the US.
Recommend it to avid true crime reads.
He uses all evidence at his disposal, from photos, news articles, testimonies and scripts since the case opened, while adding details of facts that he knows from his father’s life.
He sets all the pieces of the puzzle together perfectly, and ended up solving one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in the US.
Recommend it to avid true crime reads.
I'm 99.9% convinced. Would just like a DNA test for hard evidence.
The surrealist homages to artworks by Man Ray, and G. Hodel's relationship to Man Ray is too obvious to be a coincidence. The photo of G. Hodel and Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia), of which G. Hodel is recorded saying he thought he had destroyed, is even more damning. And then the fact that George is clearly a manipulating, sadistic psychopath (who probably killed Ruth as well)--
Can Steve just get the freaking letters from the killers to run a DNA test on the DNA profile of his father??? Solve this case once and for all.
The surrealist homages to artworks by Man Ray, and G. Hodel's relationship to Man Ray is too obvious to be a coincidence. The photo of G. Hodel and Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia), of which G. Hodel is recorded saying he thought he had destroyed, is even more damning. And then the fact that George is clearly a manipulating, sadistic psychopath (who probably killed Ruth as well)--
Can Steve just get the freaking letters from the killers to run a DNA test on the DNA profile of his father??? Solve this case once and for all.
A harrowing murder of a gorgeous young female in LA and the botched investigation that followed. Steve Hodel lays out his case in a succinct and informative way, that in my mind leaves no question on the murderer of the Black Dahlia. I thought I knew the case well but there were many details about the victim and the crime that I was unaware of. If you enjoy reading true crime I highly recommend this read.