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!

I was also given this book by NetGalley so thank you to them but this one was a hell no for me.. not much to say.. just did not want to continue as the story did freak me out a little.. DNF.

I’m not a true crime buff but when I saw a book about the Black Dahlia, I was intrigued, Having a bit of background about her murder, I was curious as to how the murder of KC socialite, Leila Welsh, was linked. Author Eli Frankel did an amazing job of researching the history of both women and their lives prior to their untimely deaths. Updated interviews and never before details, made this book one I couldn’t put down.

This book goes into graphic details of murder and may not be for someone sensitive to graphic violence.

This was very interesting perspective about the two awful murders. While they are very similar i am not sure if I am 100 percent sold it was the same person. At times i felt it went on a little to much but if you are true crime lover you will love it

Any true-crime fan will appreciate and enjoy this book. The author did extensive research and knows all the ins and outs of the 1947 case of the Black Dahlia. He even interviewed the woman who discovered Elizabeth Short's body before her death at the age of 103 in 2023. From this interview he learned a major fact about how Short's body was found that would have totally changed the profile of the killer investigators were looking for.

You will also learn the horrific details in the case of Leila Welsh who was murdered six years before Elizabeth Short in Kansas City, Missouri. The author goes in depth and presents compelling evidence that these two brutal murders were committed by the same person. He names who he believes the perpetrator was, the reasons this person did what they did, and how they managed to get away with it.

As a true-crime fan myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and flew through it. Each chapter ends in a mini cliff hanger which had me unable to put the book down.

One of the most infamous cold cases in US history is the murder of Elizabeth Short. Because of its horrific details this case has attained mythical infamy and as a result, Elizabeth’s true story has been twisted to suit the taste of tabloid fodder. The LA police were unable to solve this crime but in recent decades a slew of writers have attempted to.

In this book, Eli Frankel presents new evidence that convinced me that he is onto something.

I don’t want to give away anything, but let’s just say that one suspect was not taken seriously enough and maybe got away with not one, but at least two murders, and it wouldn’t be surprising if there were more, going back to when he was a boy.

In Sisters in Death, Frankel starts with the story of Leila Welsh, a young heiress living in Kansas City at the height of its corrupt political system. There is a lot of history presented to explain why things turned out the way they did in her case, and although Kansas City history isn’t of any particular interest to me, Frankel writes in a very engaging, cinematic style. He brings to life the time and place so vividly. The miscarriage of justice in this case will horrify and infuriate you.

From there we are introduced to Elizabeth Short, in many ways Leila’s opposite, and Frankel focuses on highlighting her true story, not the story of a femme fatale whom the press dubbed the “Black Dahlia,” but of a very young woman struggling to survive. She was a lost soul just trying to get out of LA when she met the wrong person at the wrong time.

What do Leila and Elizabeth have in common besides being murdered? They both crossed paths with the same man. And there are details in both cases that are too similar to be coincidences. Or are they? You will have to read this book to find out. As you can expect it is extremely gruesome so not for the faint-hearted.

I did not expect this book to be as good as it is: it was excellent. It would have been even better if there were even more sources mentioned. I could have missed it but I would like to see proof that the suspect was in town when Leila was murdered, for example. He was in the military but supposedly on leave, and I can only assume that there is solid evidence that this is true.

The theories presented here make sense, and even if it turns out that this suspect was not the perpetrator, this book has new evidence that blows other theories out of the water.