I remember watching the Black Dahlia movie when it first came out years ago and being fascinated by the case. It was no surprise when I heard about this book, I needed to pick it up.

The information in this book is thoroughly researched - the footnotes are detailed and often require you to flip back and forward multiple pages for an explanation. This novel was also written in a narrative form, narrative nonfiction, and is written in a suspenseful and foreboding tone. At times, it was difficult to read the blunt and gory details of the murder and its aftermath, but this is a true crime and story.

After reading this, it’s crazy to think that this case has not been solved since Eatwell neatly lines up all the evidence for the reader even though the times suffered from severe corruption. Eatwell also meticulously describes both the setting and atmosphere during the killing and he aftermath which helps the reader understand the complexity of the relationships and deep rooted corruption in Los Angeles during that time period. The novel also touches upon the gender bias against Elizabeth Short and how others perceived her based on her lifestyle and looks. Overall, I highly recommend anyone with an interest in true crime or suspense stories to read this novel.