Reviews

Black Dahlia, Red Rose by Piu Marie Eatwell

buddahbeam's review against another edition

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dark informative sad

4.0

louisek's review against another edition

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3.25

Started off as a really good and well researched book but I got to a point whilst reading where nothing was going in my head and I kinda lost all interest. I couldn't remember anyone's names and forgot what their pairt in the story was. But I thought this was a very insightful book and it did dedicate time to showing us Elizabeth the person. Plus it was so obviously Leslie Dillon right?!

readingwithhippos's review against another edition

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4.0

I had to squirm (and occasionally skim) my way through this book because I’m squeamish when it comes to violence, but the Black Dahlia murder and Piu Eatwell’s deep dive into the evidence are fascinating enough to make the ick factor worth it. I didn’t know anything about the case going in, but even if you have some background, Eatwell fought for access to evidence never before released—and she has a compelling argument as to the identity of the culprit. She’s also an accomplished historian who excels at creating a sense of place. Black Dahlia, Red Rose is as much a snapshot of postwar LA as it is an analysis of the murder investigation, and even though I’ve never been to California, having read this book I now feel like I have.

True crime can be tough to read. With crime novels, no matter how sick and twisted, you can at least comfort yourself with the thought that it’s all a figment of the author’s imagination. We’re granted no such distance here. Elizabeth Short was a real person whose life was ended purposefully and brutally. So what makes the book worth reading, despite the gruesomeness of the crime itself? In my opinion, it’s the opportunity to explore who the so-called Black Dahlia really was, behind the sensational headlines and prejudice of the times. It’s too easy to cast a beautiful young female murder victim as either a saintly virgin or a disgraced harlot. Based on the picture Eatwell paints of Short, I personally think she (like all women) was more complicated than that false dichotomy allows.

Adding to the intrigue is Eatwell’s exposure of the bald-faced corruption of the LAPD and their unwillingness to bring the killer to justice. As a cock-eyed optimist, I found the department’s failure appalling, but if you’re the jaded type you probably won’t be too surprised. I guess we’ve seen several examples in the news just recently that prove rules don’t apply to white men in powerful positions. I should have known.

Recommended for true crime enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who likes non-fiction that reads like fiction.

More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com

cfreda's review against another edition

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4.0

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.

iamshadow's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious sad slow-paced

3.0

edgyturnip's review against another edition

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5.0

Black Delia, Red Rose is an incredibly well written book that makes readers feel as if they are back in LA 1940’s. The book seems to be very thoroughly researched and most pages have footnotes to relieve reader questions. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys true crime, mystery and a book they won’t be able to put down!

hananhn's review against another edition

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5.0

Thoroughly researched and the style of writing is phenomenal.

lindsaylacher's review against another edition

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3.0

"Black Dahlia, Red Rose" is an overview of all of the players and circumstances surrounding the infamous Black Dahlia/Elizabeth Smart murder.

If you don't know very much about this case but are interested in learning more then this is the book for you. Eatwell does a great job of laying out all of the facts and timelines in an appealing narrative way. That being said, if you already know the basics of this case then this book is really just an iteration of the same ol' information. Well written and researched but nothing new that really adds to this decades old mystery.

grrr8_catsby's review against another edition

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2.0

In an attempt to meticulously include every single detail in the Black Dahlia case, the author overlooks the narrative in one of the most interesting and arguably the most famous unsolved murders of all time. 

randomlameusername's review against another edition

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2.0

She didn't solve shit