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.

One of many sleuths that claim to have the answers to a decades-old mystery. As with many others who have "solved" the murder of Elizabeth Short, I am still extremely fascinated by the conclusions they come to. Whether or not this is really the solution, it is an entertaining read.

This book I could not put down loved it from beginning to end. I would highly recommend!! This isn't like something ie read before.

I've know about Elizabeth Short's murder but this was the first time I've heard about a similar murder six years and sixteen hundred miles apart. But I learned a lot from Sisters in Death. There's still a lot to learn for even a season True Crime fan.