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A review by aemesserlie
Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder by Steve Hodel
3.0
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.