“Fearless and brilliant investigation.”
—Oscar and Grammy-winner T Bone Burnett
“In my heart and in my gut…I believe it was that doctor (George Hodel)”
—John Walsh, America’s Most Wanted
NEW UPDATED EDITION
ON SALE OCTOBER 21, 2025
ABOUT the BOOK
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! THIS NEW AND UPDATED EDITION FINALLY PROVES THE SHOCKING IDENTITY OF THE BLACK DAHLIA KILLER—AND THE POLICE CORRUPTION THAT CONCEALED IT FOR SO LONG
In 1947, the brutal, sadistic murder of a beautiful young woman named Elizabeth Short led to the largest manhunt in LA history. The killer teased and taunted the police and public for weeks, but his identity stayed a mystery, and the murder remained the most tantalizing unsolved case of the last century.
The Serial Killer
The Crime Scene
The Victim
The Detective
ABOUT STEVE
Steve Hodel was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He served four years as a medic in the U.S. Navy, and then joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1963. After six years in uniform patrol, he transferred to Hollywood Division Detectives where he worked all of the “tables”: Burglary, Robbery, Auto-Theft, Juvenile, Crimes against Persons and was then permanently assigned to the Homicide Detail.
ABOUT STEVE'S BOOKS
Steve’s first book, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder published in 2003 with new updated investigative chapters added to the HarperCollins paperback edition in 2004 and 2006. Black Dahlia Avenger is a New York Times Bestseller, a NYT Most Notable Book and was nominated by the Mystery Writers of America for an Edgar Award in the Best Fact Crime category.
In addition to being a New York Times bestseller, Black Dahlia Avenger I was an International Best Seller, translated and published in France, Japan and Greece.
LATEST BLOG
Black Dahlia & Zodiac — Setting the Record Straight: Prior Publications, Correspondence & Law Enforcement Record
April 29,2026 Birch Bay, Washington The following documented timeline reflects my published work, subsequent independent findings, and law enforcement statements—then and now. The following panels present a documented timeline of publications, correspondence, and law enforcement statements. The record speaks for itself.
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