Black Dahlia Avenger Series: A Genius for Murder, the Serial Murders of George Hill Hodel M.D.

Black Dahlia Avenger, IV

By: Steve Hodel

Narrated by: Malcom Hillgartner

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

This ends the speculation!

November 2004

L.A. County Head Deputy District Attorney

Stephen Kay

“The most haunting murder mystery in Los Angeles County during the 20th Century has finally been solved in the 21st Century. I have no doubt in my mind that George Hodel murdered Elizabeth Short and Jeanne French. And were he alive today, and were the witnesses alive, I would have no problem in filing two counts of murder against Dr. Hodel, and, I believe if I took this case in front of a jury, that I would convict him.”

Which brings us to Black Dahlia Avenger IV.

New York Times best-selling author Steve Hodel has taken the known facts revealed in BDA, BDA II, BDA III and his subsequent investigations of the Elizabeth Short and LA lone woman murders and sewn those facts together with the interstitial tissue of what could have been to create a thrilling courtroom drama in this historical fiction.

©2023 Steve Hodel (P)2023 Steve Hodel

Critic reviews

Voice Arts Awards winner, Best Audiobook, History - 2017

Winner, AudioFile Earphones Award - 2022

Black dahlia is solved!

I’m a big fan of Steve Hodel and have followed his investigation for many years now. I am fascinated by his thorough research and his ability to pursue his own father.

I liked the fiction pieces in this. It put the vast majority of Steve’s research in one place, but finally allowed some opinions to come out.

Well performed also

Odd, self indulgent and disrespectful.

I typically love Steve’s books and his research. I didn’t even read the description prior to buying it. I was really looking forward to it & having new research developments to listen to. This is not what I expected and not a good surprise. I really think it’s self indulgent to put yourself in a fictionalized trial where the real murder victims are able to testify as ghosts. This makes me truly feel differently about his other books and research in general. He’s obviously made money off his research and family history. This was NOT necessary. He even has the deceased witnesses singing his praises and trying to give him hugs. It’s too much. I will give him the uniqueness of the premise, but if I had to describe it in one word it would be disrespectful. He has stated over and over that his main motivation is healing and closure for the families of the victims. He completely negates that with this piece of writing. He even brings his own family into the mix again with the incest charges being discussed in this imaginary trial. I can’t see this helping anyone, I see it doing the opposite. It reads as his daydream with ghost puns thrown in. A blatant money grab. I’m really disappointed in Steven Hodel for releasing this. I will probably not be purchasing any more of his books moving forward. If you were like me and wanted to read new developments, this is not the book for you. It was definitely one of my worst audible purchases.