The Black Dahlia Avenger by Steve Hodel
Finished: 09.08.2025
Genre: True Crime
Can't have a spoiler because the case is still unsolved.
The murder of Elizabeth Short happened in Los Angeles and her body was found on January 15, 1947 in Leimert Park
Steve Hodel is a retired LAPD Detective and he builds a narrative that explains how his father, George Hodel, was The Black Dahlia Avenger and possibly the Red Lipstick Murderer and possibly linked to 30+ other Los Angeles County murders. Steve tells the story of where this depraved genius came from, child prodigy to head of Los Angeles County Office of Venereal Disease, how the Son can trace the Father's habits and movement in relation to violent crimes against women, and finally what corruption covered up the crime for decades.
No main characters- these were real people. Elizabeth Short AKA The Black Dahlia, Dr. George Hodel, his circles of friends, his victims, his partners, his kids including Tamar and the author Steve, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles Mob. I'm just going to throw the degree of corruption in as it's own entity.
While some of the investigation can get dry and technical, I greatly enjoyed learning about one of Los Angeles' longest unsolved murder.










