Tl;Dr Leslie Dillon killed Elizabeth Short and got away with it because he was a pimp for Mark Hansen, who was able to get his friend Thad Brown (chief of detectives in the LAPD) to hush it up. Brown's brother, Finis, was a bagman for Hansen, so that was leverage to get the fix in.

Absolutely masterful piece of historical research that, in my opinion, completely solves the case that has been in the public eye for almost 80 years. Eatwell makes the case while also putting the kibosh against other suspects, with a particularly good beatdown on the theory George Hodel did it.

All this is delivered with addictively readable prose that, at times, feels Ellrovian. Plenty of foot notes also help build the case and reference back to things that happen, making it easy for a reader to cross check.

Bravo to Eatwell for doing the shitwork to give Liz Short the closure she deserved.