I received a free copy of, Sisters in Death, by Eli Frankel, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The murders of Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh are explored in this book, one famous and one not so famous until now. Did the same man. kill these women? This book is pretty graphic, so beware if you dont like that. A good read.

on the 80th anniversary of the cold cases of Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh (10 yrs prior to elizabeth) Eli Frankel takes us back to the crime scenes with lost/hidden facts and unknown testimonies to find the who the suspects were and find their murder
with documentations of their own discoveries, law enforcement statements, updated witness reports and the vicitms own letters
going through trial transcripts, military records and so much more (all sited with resources)
this was a horrifying and disturbing read

This one started out very interesting, but started to feel repetitive and drawn out after a while (particularly in tracing the minutiae of Elizabeth Short's life and last weeks) and I confess that I lost interest long before the book ended...

I'm not sure exactly why that is - there's nothing I can point to that is wrong, but all the investigative and legal work just started to blend together in my mind and felt like it was being rehashed in minute detail. I'm not true crime or cold case obsessed, but have read a fair number of books that addressed both topics and have generally found them interesting, even when they were very detailed, but something about this one just didn't hold my attention the way I expected. Maybe I simply didn't know enough about either case to feel the magnitude of the revelations?

It also felt surprisingly gruesome. Again, I've read similar investigative pieces before and was generally aware of the horrors visited on the Black Dahlia, but something about the way the book laid out all the violence she sustained really hit me. Kudos to the author for capturing that element so thoroughly, but it was tough to read.

I went into Sisters in Death thinking I knew everything there was to know about the Black Dahlia murder—but this book completely changed that. The author brings a fresh, deeply human perspective to a case that’s often sensationalized, offering rare insight into Elizabeth Short’s life and the broader cultural forces at play.

What truly impressed me was how the book debunks one of the most sensational aspects of the Black Dahlia case—the very thing that made it so infamous. It also introduces readers to the lesser-known but equally tragic case of Leila Welsh, which is both shocking and heartbreaking. The parallels drawn between the two cases are eye-opening.

Yes, the book includes some extremely graphic descriptions of the victims, but that level of detail feels appropriate for a serious true crime work. What really stood out to me was the depth of research—not just into the murders, but into the lives of the women involved, the media frenzy, and the investigative missteps. There’s also a compelling argument for a suspect who, shockingly, was never fully investigated.

If you’re a true crime fan looking for something that goes beyond the usual headlines and dives deep into the human stories and overlooked facts, this is a must-read. It’s thoughtful, disturbing, and ultimately unforgettable.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. As someone who is starting to get into true crime more, this did not disappoint, Its creepy and insightful.

I was really excited for this book; I find anything Black Dahlia related really interesting, and would love to see this case solved. The beginning of the book caught my attention, as it debunks a very well known aspect of the Dahlia case that has influenced the suspects that were looked at by police and other investigators. However, by the end of the book, I felt a little disappointed. This book was very repetitive. It repeated information over and over again, to the point that I was skimming pages because I had already read the information. I also found the writing style to be a little dry. I do feel like I learned a lot about this case, but I also felt a little bored by this one.

For whatever reason, the true crime people just crave more and more. The Black Dahlia story holds a particular macabre fascination. For that reason alone, I'd buy this book. However, I also appreciated the depth in which Elizabeth Short's story was explored. This is the first Black Dahlia account that game a sympathetic and nuanced portrait of the victim.

I’ve long followed the Black Dahlia case and nearly passed this book by. I’m glad I didn’t, as it makes some very good arguments on these two cases being connected. It also had much I had never read before about the Elizabeth Short case, which was good to learn. Good true crime, well written.

Really interesting read and full of many facts that did make me see these crimes in a different way from what I’ve seen on tv or on podcasts.

Easy read and someone who enjoys true crime will really enjoy this book

Although the Black Dahlia murder apparently was a famous one, I had never heard of it, had read nothing about it, and saw no movies on it. Thus, I was not a reader anxiously awaiting a new theory about the case. Nevertheless, I was impressed by author Eli Frankel's research and conclusions about the killing of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles, as well as the murder of Leila Welsh in Kansas City.

Both happened in the 1940s, the bodies of both women were horribly mutilated, and both knew the man Mr. Frankel named as the killer. The accused had lived near Leila Welsh and went to school with her in Missouri, and he was one of the last persons seen with Elizabeth Short in California, before her chopped up body was found in a vacant lot. In addition, he not only knew how to dress a deer, but had worked in a slaughterhouse.

The book was a fast, interesting read, but did bog down at times with too many details, such as when describing the trial of Leila Welsh's brother. Moreover, the last 30% was really nothing more than a recap of the facts presented in the story. Plus, since other reviewers warned the descriptions of the two mutilated bodies were extremely graphic, I read none of those descriptions.

Yet I am glad I read this true crime story, and am looking forward to reading the reactions to it by those who are highly familiar with the Black Dahlia case, as well as the Leila Welsh case. Will they believe what I believe? Believe that Eli Frankel has indeed solved both unsolved murders?

The mystery of the Black Dahlia has intrigued many - including myself - for some time. Who really was Elizabeth Short, what was she doing in the days / weeks leading up to her death, and why was she murdered is such a brutal manner.

Frankel explores initially the murder of Liz / Beth / Betty Short in 1947 from what is popularly known and reported on. Elizabeth is the proverbial riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma. Then we move onto what Frankel perceives to be a similar murder - possibly the trial run to Elizabeth Short - that being the brutal murder of heiress Leila Welsh in 1941.

Frankel outlines the history and life of Welsh, including the love triangle she found herself in whilst a socialite at university. Then the detail of the murder, investigation, and trial - where the main suspect was her own brother! At this particular time, there was constant conflict between investigating parties, and rampant violence and corruption in the police force and judicial system was commonplace. A fair trial for Leila's brother was not on the cards - a quick and easy solution was, and as a result, the family endured more than then should.

We are then drawn back to Elizabeth Short - a more detailed look at her life in Hollywood, her associations, and a re-look at not only her final days, but of an investigation that had been tainted from the very start so that the real perpetrator literally got away with murder.

Frankel directs the reader to similarities in both cases: the bungled investigations, the return of the murderer to the scene of the crime to leave clues, witnesses and suspects discounted too easily, whilst providing information as to where, when and with whom the lives of these two women intersected. Frankel links one particular suspect to both crimes - a person of interest who warranted further investigation but wasn't. It is an intriguing proposition - and Frankel posits a plausible case for his suspect.

True crime fans will sink their teeth into this one - I did!

Sisters in Death offers a powerful, nuanced portrayal of Elizabeth Short—far beyond the usual “Black Dahlia” headlines. Too often, she’s reduced to a symbol or a mystery, but Eli Frankel brings humanity to her story, giving voice to the woman behind the infamous name. Equally compelling is the story of Leila Welsh, a lesser-known victim whose life and tragic end are given the attention they deserve.

What really sets this book apart is the depth of research. Frankel draws from a wide range of sources—everything from police files and trial transcripts to personal letters and interviews with the few people still connected to the case. It’s clear a lot of care went into putting together the full picture. The result is a layered, compelling true-crime story that brings empathy and understanding to two women whose lives have too often been overshadowed by the violence that ended them.

One of the United State's most infamous and grisly unsolved murder cases: The Black Dahlia, the murder of Elizabeth Short. And a much lesser-known murder in 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri. How are they connected with thousands of mikes and six years separating them? Well, the main suspect.

This was well written and well researched. I was so intrigued at how these two stories connected. It was unsettling how much was missed, mishandled, incorrectly reported, and just plain wrong. I learned a lot that I had never known before about the Black Dahlia case.

True crime fans, this one is for you! This was a well written book, and I learned a lot about both cases. The Black Dahlia case I was aware of and have followed true crime shows about. I had no idea there had been a case that could link these two young women. Very informative, well researched.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC!

Very okay. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review

I found this book fascinating and hard to put down. I’ve read a lot about the Black Dahlia, but I had no idea there was a similar, equally brutal murder years earlier in Kansas City. The way Frankel ties these cases together is gripping, and his research is incredibly thorough. He clearly put in the work and respects the victims and their stories.

What stood out to me most was how much this book made me think about how investigations were handled back then, without DNA or modern tools. It’s disturbing to realize how easily the wrong person could have been convicted just to close a case. The storytelling is detailed and chilling, but never sensationalized. It gave me chills in the best way.

If you’re into well-researched, thought-provoking true crime, this is absolutely worth picking up. I’m still thinking about it days later.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of Sisters in Death by Eli Frankel.

A Chilling Descent into the Abyss
"Sisters in Death" by Eli Frankel is a compelling true crime narrative that delves into the horrific murder of Elizabeth Short, the infamous "Black Dahlia." Frankel weaves together historical accounts, newly discovered evidence, and his own investigative insights to paint a chilling portrait of this unsolved case.
The book excels in its atmospheric portrayal of 1940s Los Angeles, capturing the seedy underbelly of the city and the pervasive fear that gripped its residents. While the book doesn't offer a definitive solution to the case, it offers a chilling and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most notorious unsolved murders in history.

A must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the dark side of human nature.

Thank you NetGalley.for the advanced copy of this book. I have always been fascinated by the black Dahlia murder and this book has made me rethink everything that I know about the case being able to read details of the crimes and the theory behind it all was truly fascinating and I could not put this book down it is a must read. Well done!

I have always had a particular interest in true crime, and enjoy reading the genre time to time. Eli Frankel truly put forth an astounding piece of work in this book. Heavily researched and told with such care of the victims, I was impressed with page after page of painstaking detail regarding these two cases. From the beginning I knew this would be a good read, and I was not disappointed. I have always wondered if the Black Dahlia case would ever be solved, and I truly believe it now has. Never have I read such a thoroughly researched true crime novel. I was left completely impressed by the sheer amount of detail and thought that went into it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

Where are all of my true crime fans. This book was super interesting. I can truly appreciate all of the time and research that went into writing it.

I’ve know about the Black Dahlia case but had no idea there was a similar case years before.

The Welsh case was super interesting. And the hell her brother went through. I was completely floored.

I’m not convince fully it was the same person. But it’s super interesting how the author got there.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the gifted copy!