Book Review: Black Dahlia by William J Mann

Book 7 of 2026

Elizabeth Short was murdered in Los Angeles in 1947, her body left in two pieces in a vacant lot. The lack of blood indicated that the crime took place elsewhere, and the desecration of the body pointed to a killer with a particular set of medical skills. Upon the tragic discovery, Elizabeth Short became the Black Dahlia, a femme fatale and likely sex worker who flouted conventional behavior and whose vices contributed to her death.

At least, that is the story that is usually told (see James Ellroy’s The Black Dahlia), and the one glommed onto by the local media. Mann goes back to the beginning to search for the real Elizabeth, describing her childhood, her family and her desire to spread her wings from Massachusetts and seek real agency in post WW2 America. His research is meticulous and informed by interviews with the families of the detectives and witnesses involved in the case. The LAPD’s investigation was bounced around to different departments and police offers, as well as one very unscrupulous “doctor” seeking a higher profile in the world of psychology. Mann does an excellent job laying out the steps taken to try and solve the murder and how the department’s relationship with the press both hindered and helped.

The case is technically still active, so much of the LAPD’s files were off limits. Based on the evidence available, Mann evaluates the known suspects and discards them one by one. He makes a compelling case for one person in particular. I was afraid the book would conclude without his opinion and was relieved when it didn’t. There is a real emotional payoff.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in true crime and this case in particular.