Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter

by Eli Frankel

Instant USA Today Bestseller

Who killed the Black Dahlia? In this eye-opening shocker, an award-winning producer, true-crime researcher, and Hollywood insider finally solves the greatest - and most gruesome - murder mystery of the twentieth century just before its 80th anniversary.

In January 1947, the bisected body of Elizabeth Short, completely drained of blood, was discovered in an undeveloped lot in Los Angeles. Its gruesome mutilations led to a firestorm of publicity, city-wide panic, and an unprecedented number of investigative paths led by the LAPD—all dead ends. The Black Dahlia murder remained an unsolved mystery for over seventy years.

Six years earlier and sixteen hundred miles away, another woman’s life had ended in a similarly horrific manner. Leila Welsh was an ambitious, educated, popular, and socially connected beauty. Though raised modestly on a prairie farm, she was heiress to her Kansas City family’s status and wealth. On a winter morning in 1941, Leila’s butchered body was found in her bedroom bearing the marks of unspeakable trauma.

One victim faded into obscurity. The other became notorious. Both had in common a killer whose sadistic mind was a labyrinth of dark secrets.

Eli Frankel reveals for the first time a key fact about the Black Dahlia crime scene, never before shared with the public, that leads inexorably to the stunning identification of a criminal who was at the same time amateurish and fiendish, skilled and lucky, sophisticated and brutish. Drawing on newly discovered documents, law enforcement files, interviews with the last surviving participants, the victims’ own letters, trial transcripts, military records, and more, this epic true-crime saga puts together the missing pieces of a legendary puzzle.

In Sisters in Death, the Black Dahlia cold case is finally closed.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Mystery, Historical, Audiobook

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

A non-scripted television and documentary producer for over 25 years, Frankel has produced such shows as Survivor, Amazing Race, Big Brother and documentary series Helter Skelter. As a true crime writer, he has been researching the Black Dahlia murder case for many years.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Blaiz Ferrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/4 Stars

I absolutely love true crime books, and this one was packed with fascinating information I’d never heard before. That’s one of the things I appreciate most about Sisters in Death—it sheds light on a forgotten case that eerily mirrors one of the most infamous murders in history. Everyone’s heard of the Black Dahlia, but I doubt many have heard of Leila Welsh, whose brutal murder happened six years earlier with hauntingly similar details.

This audiobook dives deep into both cases, and I was hooked by how descriptive and graphic the storytelling was (which, sickly, I loved). The research and detail are incredible—it really feels like peeling back layers of a mystery that’s been hidden in plain sight.

My only real critique is the repetition. There were moments where I felt like I was hearing the exact same sentences more than once, which gave a bit of deja vu. I loved that the author read his own work for the audio.

If you’re a fan of true crime that goes beyond the headlines and connects dots you didn’t even know existed, Sisters in Death is definitely worth the listen. Will we ever truly find out who brutally killed these women?

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter by Eli Frankel

Eli Frankel’s Sisters in Death is a meticulously researched yet deeply unsettling work that reframes two of America’s most haunting unsolved murders through a lens of gendered violence and institutional failure. As a lover of crime narratives, I found myself both riveted and disturbed by Frankel’s excavation of how Elizabeth Short (the Black Dahlia) and Leila Welsh—two women separated by geography but united in brutality—became footnotes in true crime’s patriarchal archive. The book’s most powerful moments come when Frankel contrasts the media’s grotesque mythologizing of Short’s death with Welsh’s eerie disappearance from public memory, laying bare how class and spectacle dictate which victims we remember.

What resonated most viscerally was Frankel’s treatment of the women as fully dimensional rather than forensic objects. His use of their personal letters and social circles reconstructs them as ambitious, complex individuals—Short as more than a severed body, Welsh as more than a prairie heiress. The passages analyzing how both women navigated 1940s gender constraints (Short’s Hollywood dreams, Welsh’s midwestern privilege) evoked a profound sense of loss for what their lives might have become. As a reader, I appreciated Frankel’s refusal to sensationalize their trauma, though his clinical descriptions of their injuries still triggered a protective fury about how female suffering is so often aestheticized.

However, the book’s strengths are occasionally undermined by its cinematic instincts. Frankel’s television background surfaces in abrupt tonal shifts between scholarly analysis and true-crime thriller prose, leaving some chapters feeling stylistically disjointed. While his bombshell revelation about the crime scene is compelling, its presentation as a dramatic climax risks reducing the women’s stories to puzzle pieces in the author’s quest for resolution. A deeper engagement with feminist criminology (e.g., works by Deborah Cameron or Joan Smith) would have strengthened his critique of how law enforcement and media failed these victims. Additionally, the epilogue’s focus on case closure sidelines broader questions about why society remains obsessed with solving women’s murders rather than preventing them.

Strengths:

-Forensic Feminism: Restores agency to victims often reduced to tropes (fallen woman, angelic heiress).
-Archival Rigor: Newly uncovered documents challenge decades of misinformation.
-Structural Insight: Exposes how class and media shape collective memory of violence.

Critiques:

-Genre Whiplash: Tonal oscillation between academic and sensational undermines thematic depth.
-Theoretical Gaps: Needs stronger framing within feminist victimology scholarship.

Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) – A groundbreaking if imperfect work that solves a cold case while exposing the colder truths about how we memorialize—and monetize—dead women.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp. and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Final Thought: Frankel’s greatest achievement isn’t naming a killer, but dismantling the machinery that turned two women’s tragedies into cultural commodities. In giving Welsh equal weight to Short, he quietly indicts our true-crime industrial complex—one that still privileges spectacle over substance.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love true crime stories! I had never heard of the Prairie Heiress case before, though I was somewhat familiar with the Black Dahlia—just not in much detail. It was so interesting to see the similarities between the two cases and how connected they appear to be. I also learned a lot about Kansas City’s fascinating (and pretty seedy!) history. At times, it felt like I was reading about Al Capone and mob-controlled Chicago in the 1920s.

That said, I did have a couple of issues with this book. The story was very compelling, but the writing was difficult to get through at times. While I understand this is a true crime book, I wish there had been a clearer indication of how graphic some of the details would be. I’m not bothered by graphic content in general, but it would have been helpful to know in advance that the descriptions of the crimes were going to be so explicit.

Another issue was the repetition. Often, I felt like I was reading the same information twice—just slightly reworded a few paragraphs later. These weren’t helpful summaries or recaps, just unnecessary restatements that slowed the pace. This happened frequently and made the reading experience feel a bit tedious.

Lastly, there were several sections where the author included excessive and unnecessary details. For example, in Chapter 17, there’s a passage that reads:

“While most social events were held on campus, at hotels, or at clubs, the small circle of elite Greek members at KCU frequently threw parties at their parents' homes, all within blocks of each other. Carl Balsiger lived eight blocks from Leila's close friend Ann Bichler, who lived nine blocks from Kegon member Ken Spry, who lived eight blocks from Leila's best friend and fellow Cho Chin sorority sister Phyllis Wetherill, who lived five blocks from Leila's sorority sister Mary Ann Peeler, who lived twelve blocks from Kegon President Charles Myers, who lived eleven blocks from Leila Welsh, who lived thirteen blocks from Carl Balsiger, whose home lay directly northeast of the Welshes.”

We really don’t need to know exactly how many blocks apart nine loosely related people lived from each other. That passage was a low point for me—I actually had to put the book down out of frustration.

Despite these issues, I really loved the story and the theory that these cases could have been committed by the same person. There are just too many coincidences for them to be completely unrelated. Unfortunately, the writing style made it difficult to stay immersed, which is a shame considering how much research clearly went into this book.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You NetGalley for the copy of this book.

I have read much about the Black Dahlia case so I found this book quite fascinating. I had no idea that a similar murder had occurred across the country.

The descriptions were chilling, especially since they happened so long ago when things like this were so uncommon.

It is quite graphic. Not many books on true crime give me the chills, but the brutality of these two murders gave me the chills.

It was also interesting to see how murder trials and investigations were handled long ago without the help of DNA and everything offered today. It makes me wonder how many people spent much of their lives in jail just because a jury of 12 was fed misinformation based on nothing but a misguided prosecutor trying to close a case. But I suppose that still happens to a lot these days.

This is an interesting read and it made me think and I’m still thinking about it. All is not as it seems.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my finished copy @kensingtonbooks + @kayepublicity #partner
& @tantoraudio #partner for the ALC

🆂🅸🆂🆃🅴🆁🆂 🅸🅽 🅳🅴🅰🆃🅷
< @elifrankel_ >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ ᴏᴄᴛᴏʙᴇʀ 𝟤𝟪, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧
ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ | ꜱᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴋɪɪɪᴇʀ

If you think everything has already been said that can be said about these famous murders, then you need to read this book. Because you’re gravely mistaken. Oof! This book!

Elizabeth Short is famous for her brutal murder, but you might not recognize her from her name alone. Dubbed “The Black Dahlia” this nickname has become her identity. It’s one of the most famous cold-cases in US history. Generation after generation grows up hearing about her murder. And while many have become obsessed with trying to solve this case, only a few have come close to actually solving it.

Expertly researched and told, you won’t be able to put this book down until it’s finished. While most true crime often focuses on the kiIIers rather than the victims - this book is for the victims. Their lives, their passions, everything that was stolen from them. They are the focus of this book, their kiIIer is finally revealed.

🎧: I also listened to the audiobook while following along and would recommend the audio as well. The narrator does an exceptional job and listening to this book feels like listening to your favorite podcast.

But the key to who killed Elizabeth lies in another murder six years prior. The murder of Leila Welsh, the Heiress of the Prairie. Who was found brutally murdered in her own bed. Her body left out on display. The parallels between these two murders are impossible to dismiss, and the author draws them together in a way that is both chilling and revelatory.

Compelling and victim-focused - this is a must-read for any true crime reader who thought they already knew everything there is to know about the Black Dahlia case.

𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥:
“No one ever asked me.” How many times have we heard this line when it comes to cold cases? They all seem to share this common thread. There is usually always some witness to a murder, whether it be CCTV, a passerby, or someone who was told something. You just need to be able to ask the right questions, to the right people.

[Maile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a while to read, in part because true crime, while compelling, can be terrifying. In fact, I had to take a break while I was traveling, lest I have nightmares of killers brutalizing my corpse.

Because this book does not shy away from the horror of these murders. At times, the descriptions were difficult to read. But also, the story is compelling.

I think the author did a really good job of laying out the evidence and tying these two murders together, presenting a case for a killer that, at least within the text, feels like an obvious solution: I’ve read other theories on the Black Dahlia killer, some of which are also compelling, which I think speaks to the power of unsolved murder cases. As a fan of old Hollywood, the chapters on Beth Short (the Black Dahlia herself) were my favorites.

Recommended for fans of True Crime.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.

[WM D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just completed reading a good book called sisters in death. The book went into the relationship between the two women who were both murdered around the same time by the same person. Throughout the book he threw out clues as to what he thought was the main reason for the killings. In the end the police had a subject for both killings but they could not get enough evidence to make the charges against him. I would recommend anyone who likes true crime to read this book.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading true crime and have always been fascinated by The Black Dahlia. This book honestly opened my eyes to some facts and things that I hadn't previously considered about the case.

I feel like there aren't many people who haven't heard the name Elizabeth Short or The Black Dahlia before, so some parts of this may seem repetitive but honestly there is a lot of good information. Truthfully though before listening to this I had never heard of Leila Welsh. I think I want to learn more about her case now though.


Do I think the same person killed both women? Honestly.... this book paints a pretty decent argument for that being the case! I hate to say that we may never actually know the truth but this is a theory that I think deserves to be fully looked into.

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli Frankel’s Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter is a bold and meticulously researched entry in the crowded field of Black Dahlia literature. With the murder of Elizabeth Short remaining one of the most haunting and unresolved chapters in American criminal history, Frankel aims to do what no investigator or writer has conclusively done in nearly eight decades: solve the case. His narrative combines archival excavations, law enforcement files, new interviews, and cross-case comparisons — all geared toward identifying the killer behind Short’s brutal death.

The Enduring Infamy of Elizabeth Short
On January 15, 1947, the body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short — soon to be forever known as the Black Dahlia — was discovered in a vacant lot in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighborhood. Her body had been severed at the waist, drained of blood, and disturbingly posed. The grotesque nature of the crime — paired with her youth, beauty, and dreams of Hollywood success — captured the imagination of the media and public alike. The case spiraled into a maelstrom of speculation, rumors, and thousands of leads, making Short’s murder not just a vicious crime but a cultural phenomenon that symbolizes Hollywood’s darkest side.

Short had moved to Los Angeles with the hope of pursuing an acting career — a quintessentially American dream — only to have that dream end in one of the most mutilatory and mysterious killings of the 20th century. The public’s fascination has never waned, in part because her death speaks to broader anxieties about fame, exploitation, and the brutality hidden beneath Los Angeles’s glamour.

Despite intense investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the case has never resulted in an arrest, indictment, or conviction. Decades of investigation produced leads, confessions, and dozens of suspects, but no one was ever charged, and the identity of the murderer remains officially unknown.

Frankel’s Central Hypothesis: Two Murders, One Killer
At the heart of Sisters in Death is a provocative claim: Short’s murder is linked to another brutal killing six years earlier — that of Leila Welsh, a Kansas City heiress found murdered in her bedroom in 1941. Frankel suggests both women were killed by the same man, a suspect previously overlooked by researchers and investigators. By juxtaposing these two crimes — one famous, the other forgotten — Frankel constructs a chilling portrait of a sadistic killer who shows both precision and brutality.

Frankel’s narrative leans heavily on a newly identified “key fact” about the Black Dahlia crime scene — details he claims have “never before been shared with the public.” While promotional materials do not explicitly reveal this fact, the book’s marketing emphasizes that this piece of evidence was critical in pinpointing the killer’s identity.

A centerpiece of Frankel’s reconstruction involves the testimony and recollection of Betty Bersinger, the woman who discovered Short’s body. According to reporting tied to Frankel’s research, Bersinger admitted that there was a nine-minute window between the arrival of the first and second officers at the crime scene — a period during which key evidence could have been altered or placed by the killer himself. In a late interview, Bersinger revealed a detail she never shared publicly — “Nobody ever asked” — suggesting that previous retellings of the discovery may have overlooked crucial information.

Frankel also draws upon previously unreleased police files, military records, trial transcripts, personal letters, and interviews with surviving participants or their descendants. According to the People preview of the book, Frankel uncovered a suspect “known to both victims” and previously pursued — albeit without resolution — by detectives during the original Dahlia investigation.

Strengths of Frankel’s Approach
1. Archival and Primary Source Engagement:
Frankel’s work stands out for its engagement with primary sources — especially previously unreleased documents, personal correspondence, and interviews with individuals directly or indirectly linked to the case. This immersion adds depth that many retellings lack, and it emphasizes reconstruction based on original material rather than mere rehashing of old theories.

2. Humanizing the Victims:
One of the book’s important accomplishments is its effort to portray both Short and Welsh as full, complex human beings, rather than simply as sensationalized victims. By contextualizing their lives, ambitions, and vulnerabilities, Frankel helps readers appreciate the tragedy beyond the headlines and crime scene photos.

3. Cross-Case Comparative Logic:
Linking Short’s murder to another unsolved crime adds a comparative dimension that can illuminate patterns of behavior and possible motive — something many Black Dahlia books have overlooked.

Contradictions and Criticisms
Despite its strengths, Sisters in Death faces several critical counterpoints that complicate acceptance of its central claim:

1. No Official Police Endorsement:
While Frankel asserts that the case is now “finally solved,” law enforcement agencies — including the LAPD and FBI — have never endorsed his conclusion or officially closed the Black Dahlia case. Current authoritative accounts continue to list Short’s murder as an unsolved cold case without a formally identified perpetrator recognized by police.

2. Other Competing Theories:
There are multiple competing hypotheses about Short’s killer. Perhaps the most discussed centers on Dr. George Hodel, a Los Angeles physician whose own son, retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel, has spent decades arguing that his father was responsible. Steve Hodel’s theory is grounded in wiretap evidence, handwriting analysis, and circumstantial ties — though none have led to prosecution.

3. Lack of Forensic Evidence:
Critics point out that, despite Frankel’s narrative, there is still no publicly confirmed forensic evidence that definitively connects his proposed suspect to Short’s killing. Given the age of the case and the loss of physical evidence over time, forensic closure is extremely difficult. Without DNA or similarly conclusive material, any claim of solving relies on interpretive narrative rather than undeniable proof.

4. Historical Research Limits:
Some historians and true-crime scholars caution that drawing parallels between two crimes separated by years and geography can be persuasive but circumstantial. Patterns may be compelling, but they do not always equate to definitive linkage without supporting physical evidence.

Conclusion: A Compelling Narrative, Not a Confirmed Solution
Sisters in Death is a deeply engaging and thoroughly researched book that will captivate true-crime readers and anyone fascinated by the Black Dahlia mystery. Frankel’s journalistic rigor and narrative skill bring new shadows and lights to a case long buried in rumor and speculation. His attempt to close a haunting cold case by weaving together disparate threads is bold and thought-provoking.

However, the book does not represent an official resolution in the eyes of law enforcement. The Black Dahlia murder, while addressed with fresh eyes here, remains unsolved according to publicly available police records and historical accounts. No suspect has been formally charged or legally implicated based on Frankel’s findings, and the LAPD continues to classify the case as open — a testament to both the enduring complexity of the crime and the limits of retrospective investigation.

In the end, Sisters in Death is best understood as a major contribution to the ongoing conversation on the Black Dahlia, not as the final word. Readers will find themselves informed, disturbed, and challenged to think critically about how history remembers crime, fame, and the dark spaces where they intersect.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters in Death by Eli Frankel meticulously unravels the lives, murders, and investigations of Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh, two women whose tragic stories intertwine in unexpected ways. Handled with care and without sensationalism, the book braids together their lives and deaths, revealing surprising connections despite their apparent differences and having never met one another. By the end, I was convinced by author Eli Frankel’s assessment that [redacted a spoiler here] is perpetrator of both murders.

Rather than focusing on the gruesome details of the murders or the killer’s perversity (though those facts are succinctly shared), Sisters in Death offers a step-by-step journey into the lives of Leila and Beth, exploring their personalities, the investigations’ missteps, and the intricate connections between their cases. Through this lens, we see a bird’s-eye view of the investigations’ flaws. Leila’s case exposes a travesty of justice in George Welsh’s prosecution and the corruption in Kansas City that fueled it, while Beth’s highlights how investigations can go awry in the muddle of excessive data and misinformation.

I’m glad I read this book as it deepened my understanding of both cases and policing in that era. However, in the last chapters, while examining the correlations between the murders, the facts and details of the cases examined early on are reiterated multiple times, becoming repetitive and leading me to skim parts of the text. As it was, while the investigation ties up neatly from an investigative perspective, the narrative conclusion feels repetitive and disjointed, and the ‘wrap-up’ of everyone else’s lives after the murders seems out of place before the final analysis. A smoother structure and a more polished ending would have elevated the book.

Despite its flaws, the book’s thorough research and respectful approach make it a compelling read. I’d rate it 3.5 stars if possible, but I’m rounding up to 4 because it deserves to be read, and Leila and Beth deserve to be remembered in the way Eli Frankel has introduced them - lovely young women and not sensationalized in any way. The investigative journalism to piece this together had to have been a monumental endeavor, with detailed sources and a clear commitment to honoring everyone involved and the author deserves recognition for his dedication. That said, less enthusiastic readers may struggle with the repetitive sections. Those invested in understanding and honoring the memories of Leila Welsh and Elizabeth Short, or highly interested in true crime and justice will find this a worthwhile read.

[Jannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to review this book from netgalley and I’m so glad that I was. I’ve never read any books that have been so in-depth about the 1947 black dahlia murder case that has gripped many people over the decades as it still lays unsolved to this day. But to also find out that another case with so many strikingly weird similarities from the 1941 homicide of Leila Welsh may potentially be committed by the same person. Is it coincidental that the same possible suspect crossed paths into both worlds of these poor women? Not only crossing paths but knowing both victims. Could the murderer have gained more experience with the brutality and gruesome death of Elizabeth shorts from committing the murder of Leila welsh 6 years prior? This book will leave readers with a lot of speculative information. And hopes that maybe one day they’ll truly find the killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and true crime fanatics will also.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Like every fan of true crime, I have some cursory Black Dahlia info in my pocket, and the desire to know more is what brought me to this audiobook. Frankel delivers.

This is - obviously - an extremely tragic and difficult series of events, but it's well told, researched, and organized. I had no idea there was a preceding situation: particularly one that tied so closely to the more publicized crime. The connections and timeline fascinated me.

True crime fans will appreciate the detail here as well as the interpersonal insights the author provides into various folks connected to both victims. The material is challenging but engaging, and it is handled with care overall.

True crime fans will enjoy this listen. I did.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been interested in The Black Dahlia’s (Elizabeth Short) case. Her story is quite tragic and her death is extremely gruesome. The fact that it remains unsolved is baffling. I found her story very interesting as well as the story of Leila Welsh. I had never heard of her and was glad that her story was being told. Leila was an aspiring young woman with the world ahead of her only to tragically be taken by an unknown killer. Her death also was extremely gruesome and terrible. Are her and the Black Dahlia’s cases linked? Leila Welsh’s murder happened a few years before Elizabeth Short, was the killer ready for another young woman?
If you enjoy true crime this is a great book to pick up. The author narrates the story and does a good job. He really has done his research on both women and I think he does a very tasteful job telling their story.
Thank you Tantor Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coincidence and conjecture…

There are many ways in which these two murders were alike, so it is possible that this account and analysis are correct. Is it probable? Could be…

The Prairie Heiress, Leila Welsh, is murdered in her own bed, in her own home. Several mutilations are performed, her neck is cut, but her killer is never found. The Black Dahlia, Elizabeth Short, is mutilated in a similar fashion as Leila, but with even more trauma to her person. And yes, the suspect in this book was definitely known to both women.

The book is very well researched and written. Considering the subject, this was a very entertaining read. And I absolutely appreciate that photos of the main characters, along with some other interesting side characters, were included.

This is an excellent and interesting read. I very much “enjoyed” learning about this time in history, and the prose in this story made that come alive. Very well done and highly recommended for true crime fans.

[Tracie Gutknecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-fiction

The mystery of the 20th century - who killed the Black Dahlia?

I inhaled this book. Frankel does a masterful job of tying another unsolved murder from that era to the mystery of the Black Dahlia slaying. For those that don't know - Elizabeth Short (aka - the black dahlia) was murdered, exsanguinated, cut in half and left naked mere inches from a busy sidewalk in LA. Her death captivated the nation and was never solved. Six years earlier and hundreds of miles apart, Leila Welsh was also murdered, drained of her blood and left in somewhat similar circumstances. How could these 2 crimes have been committed by the same person?

Frankel presents a well-researched and almost unimpeachable theory about the possible killer. It is fascinating!

If you are a mystery fan or a true crime buff, this is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the stories of two women, one who was known as The Black Dahlia and the other was known as the Prairie Heiress. Both of these women were killed by the man who was obsessed by them. This book hard to put down. Non-Fiction

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone interested in True Crime stories, this one was worth the read. I had never heard of the "Prairie Heiress," and it was interesting to see how similar her murder was to The Black Dahlia six years later.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the idea of the killer being someone connected to both ladies, which I didn't know. It was very insightful and gave me a lot to think about regarding the murders. Whether these cases will be "solved" is anyone's guess, but Frankel does provide remarkable insight into who could possibly have committed these murders.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the True Crime genre and especially The Black Dahlia murder.

[Janhavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Brian Shevory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thinks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for sending me an advanced copy of Eli Frankel’s exciting new true crime book Sisters In Death: The Black Dahlia, The Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter, which takes a new look at infamous murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia. In particular Frankel’s book seeks to link Short’s gruesome murder with another murder six years prior in Kansas City, MO. While he presents some interesting and compelling circumstantial evidence, it’s hard to say that the evidence definitively points to Carl Balsiger, a man who seemingly had connections to both victims and was in both locations at the time. I’m relatively new to the case of the Black Dahlia murder, but I recently read Leila Taylor’s amazing book Sick Houses, which discussed another suspect of the Black Dahlia case, Dr. George Hodel, and the house he lived in. Taylor’s book piqued my interest in the case, and Frankel’s book provides a detailed look at Short’s brief peripatetic life and focuses on the last few months leading up to her disappearance and the gruesome discovery of her body that eventually changed Los Angeles. However, prior to discussing this case, Frankel presents the details of the case of Leila Walsh, a young, popular girl from a prominent Kansas City family who was brutally murdered in her room. Frankel’s writing is compelling and engaging. Her does well detailing the character and life of Welsh and her family members to create a sense of empathy and understanding so that when Frankel describes the murder, it is truly shocking and brutal, not only for the gore and violence, but also in how her loss impacts others with whom she was close. One of the other aspects of Frankel’s writing that I enjoyed was that he contextualizes the politics of Kansas City to better understand the kind of corruption that was pervasive in the politics of the time. This kind of bias and shoddy criminal investigation allowed the focus to point to Welsh’s brother, who didn’t really have a valid motive (they claimed it was for Leila’s cut of the inheritance) nor was there much evidence that pointed to him. However, Frankel’s detailing of the fallout from Leila’s murder shows the depths to which some prosecutors might sink to either punish perceived enemies or try to bring a show trial to appease the kind of public angst that often follows these brutal and well-publicized slayings.
The next section details Elizabeth Short’s life and times leading up to her murder. While Leila Welsh lived a somewhat privileged life and attended college, Elizabeth Short’s life was starkly different, and her vast travels and somewhat nomadic existence seems almost like it wouldn’t be possible today. In some ways, Short reminded me of another conspiratorial and mysterious figure- Lee Harvey Oswald, whose strange and itinerant lifestyle only added to his mystique after his violence and death. However, Frankel also does well to contextualize the historical times that Short lived in, and his writing also helps to challenge some of the myths about Short’s life that have perpetuated since her brutal murder. In fact, Frankel regularly defends her life in the ways that some of Short’s own acquaintances did. Her notes that Short avoided drinking and drugs, and was not highly sexual, especially since some of the reports seemed to suggest that Short was promiscuous. Rather, Frankel paints the picture of a young woman whose abandonment from her father and whose loss of a fiancé in a plane crash left her adrift and emotionally distant, wanting to connect with others, but also somewhat hesitant to develop deeper bonds. Frankel’s treatment of Short also presents her as naïve and too trusting in some ways, which may have been her downfall. As I was reading this book and learning more about who Elizabeth Short was, I couldn’t help but wonder whether David Lynch based Betty (a nickname Short used at times) from Mulholland Drive on this case. Betty, whose naïve and cheerful midwestern appeal is contrasted with her dark doppelgänger who seems to live amongst the trash in LA’s underbelly, seems like she shares many similarities with Elizabeth Short. Regardless, Frankel’s writing, especially his characterization from his research into Short’s life and times, elicited a lot of connections from me.
The last section of the book details Carl Balsiger, a scion of a prominent grocery and bakery family from Kansas City. Despite coming from a semi-aristocratic background, Frankel paints Balsiger as a failure in many ways. Filled with character flaws, Frankel presents us with an individual who only experiences success during World War II in developing a baking system that provided bread and nourishment to soldiers in the Pacific. I wasn’t aware of this topic in the war, but Frankel presents fresh baked bread as one of the factors that may have tipped the pacific campaign to the Americans. Although Balsiger used his background experience in food service to support the American effort, it seemed like every other opportunity he had in America was wasted and Balsiger could never live up to his father’s expectations. Throughout these chapters about Balsiger’s life, Frankel presents instances where Balsiger may have participated in violence against women and family members. For one, Balsiger’s sister died in a mysterious drowning incident when they were children. The implication from Frankel was that Balsiger could have been responsible since there was no real investigation into the details. Furthermore, Balsiger was involved in strange paddling incidents in college, suggesting that this showed his early proclivities for violence against others. Frankel also presents instances where Balsiger seemed to hover around the periphery of Leila Welsh, attending the same college and living just blocks from her. Balsiger’s connections Short are more significant, and he was viewed as a suspect in her murder, although he was never officially charged. I can’t say whether I know Balsiger is guily or not, but Frankel presents some compelling research and details, both circumstantial and evidentiary, to make his case.
I enjoyed this book and read through it quickly, often wanting to continue reading the chapters to find out what would happen next. Frankel’s writing is engaging, and he does well creating a historical context as well as some deeply engaging and human characters based on the historical records, artifacts from the case, and even interviews with family members and relatives of those involved in these cases. Although there is some evidence that points to Balsiger’s involvement especially with Elizabeth Short, his connections with Leila Welsh seem more tenuous. Nevertheless, it is an interesting connection to examine. At times, Frankel’s reporting and contextualizing can go a little too far. There were a few times when I lost track, especially with the Short section, when there were many different individuals involved. The only other aspect of the book was the brutality of the murders. Both murders were incredibly violent and graphic, and Frankel’s writing goes into depth about the violence and brutality. I’m usually one who enjoys a good scare, but maybe because these events really happened, I found myself gasping at the descriptions of the victims’ murders. Regardless, this was a compelling read, and it made me want to read more about the Black Dahlia case, especially to see what kind of evidence might point to other suspects. While Frankel makes an interesting case, I’d like to explore some other theories related to this case. Nevertheless, this is a really good book that I highly recommend.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I admit my knowledge of the Black Dahlia murder was rather limited besides what I had seen in the movie The Black Dahlia (you know the one with Josh Hartnett and ScarJo?). When I saw that this was a blend of that plus an unknown murder that happened in my hometown (Kansas City), I was instantly intrigued.

I think there were several things that were done well in this book:
- The amount of research that went into this shows. Mr. Frankel did his work in researching the facts of both murders and subsequent investigations.
- Breaking this book into several parts so each victim had their space so you could get to know them and their cases was done brilliantly – you start part 1 with Leila Welsh and her murder, and part 2 is dedicated to Elizabeth Short.
- I am now VERY interested in learning more about the Pendergast machine and am actively looking for recommendations on this part of Kansas City history as the way the author laid out facts here was so engaging and I really wanted to spend more time just learning about this.
- I love that Mr. Frankel put in all his source notes at the end of the book for you to be review his sources and conclusions.

But there were parts that really did not do it for me:
- Mr. Frankel works in television as a producer for both reality tv and documentaries. This awards him the ability to fact check his work. However, parts of this book read like its written for a documentary and not as a book, and cause there to be a disconnect from what you’re reading into weird random sentences that don’t really add much to the story.

Reporters rushed to Edgar Fleming’s home for a statement, and he laid bare the family’s agony: “This family thought they had suffered the limit for grief from Leila’s death, and this preposterous charge against Geroge, coming on top of it, is almost more than they can bare.” Fleming bemoaned the final nail in what had once been a promising investigation. “We feel, too, it closes the door to following up clues and the real solution we have always hoped for.” Hounded by the press, Marie stated, “I do not have anything to say at this time.”
On May 18, 1942, Soviet tanks make a massive breakthrough against German lines in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, turning the tide on the Nazi push into the East.

- The way that we hear about Elizabeth’s life is very confusing. There is so much information that it is just written with so many names that its confusing to follow, and I honestly don’t think a lot of it was relevant. At one point we hear about multiple dates she’s having and the way it was outlined I thought for sure this was over a six-month period only to find out that it was over a three-week period. However, none of these men are then mentioned again once it comes time to discuss the suspects. It felt like Mr. Frankel was almost falling into the same narrative behavior as the reporters of the past: trying to paint Elizabeth Short in a way that had you questioning her morals and making her seem like a wayward woman.
- Early in the book, Mr. Frankel states “Now, the curtain will be pulled back, and the missing pieces to the Black Dahlia murder will finally fall into place.” And while he does a good job at connecting Carl Balsiger to Elizabeth Short, but there is no real link of Balsiger to Leila Welsh except that the attended the same university at the same time for a short period of time and even then there’s no real evidence shown that they interacted with one another, nor is there real evidence to prove his claim that Balsiger was the one who murdered Leila Welsh.
- A lot of this felt sensationalized. During the overview of Leila’s last moments, we hear that she had cramps and decided to take medicine for them later – it’s a weird statement to put in there and feels like an unnecessary tidbit. How does the author know that Leila was having cramps and decided she’d take medicine for them before bed vs when they came on? It’s a weird statement to include and really just made me feel like Mr. Frankel was taking liberties with his storytelling and ultimately made me not feel like he is a trustworthy narrator.
-By about 60% (according to my Kindle %) of the way into the book we get into the life of Carl Balsiger. By 70% it feels tedious and like Mr. Frankel is just grasping for straws to connect Carl Balsiger to Leila Welsh.

He moved to Chicago, Illinois, at the same time she moved to Knoxville, Illinois, just two hundred miles away, and returned to Kansas City the same month she returned.

A quick google map search tells you that this is minimum 3 hour driving trip. These two would not have interacted at all with each other and implying that they moved to the same state at the same time connects them is just odd. Chicago is approximately a 9-hour drive from Kansas City, and a place that is often frequented/moved to. It’s not a stretch for someone in the Midwest to move to another Midwest state. This is just a weird string the author is trying to connect.

Two weeks before her murder, Leila traveled with her family to Scott Field in Illinois, just twenty miles from Highland, Illinois, where Rudolph Balsiger had owned a farm and where Herman Balisger grew up and frequently visited.

Again, this is just trying to connect Leila and Carl but has no real baring over the case. While I understand the author is trying to show how Leila and Carl orbited each other, it really feels like he’s grasping here to connect them. Leila once traveled to a place that is close to where Carl’s dad grew up but did not actually travel to the town where Carl’s dad grew up. Why are we including this?

I think true crime stories about unsolved murders can be done and done well (see: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark) but twisting facts or inserting yourself into the plot is not the way. This book reads more like the work of what could be a screenplay or documentary script and does not translate well into a novel.

If you are into true crime, and you’re curious about the Black Dahlia or Leila Welsh cases, I think you’d enjoy this book; however, I would definitely not take everything stated in this book as truth and instead would take this as a potential piece to the puzzle of the Black Dahlia murder, and a great way to learn about the shady past of Kansas City.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I paid for this book, didn’t receive a free copy. I have read every book published on the Black Dahlia. This isn’t it. It’s easily debunked because the “killer’s” military records show he was stationed elsewhere during the time of the event.

https://ladailymirror.com/2025/05/19/...

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kensington Publishing and NetGalley allowed me to read the intense but gripping Sisters in Death by Eli Frankel.

True crime remains a viable genre of reading, partially because people like to theoretise on what happened in the intense discussion of the case at hand, why it happened and the what if-isms that allowed such villainy to shine through.

This particular case is easily one of the most shocking and most talked-about cases in the world. Not least because of its brutality but also because it was never solved, likely never will be and justice was never served. I read that someone called these cases terrifying. There's various words available here, from tragic to fury, however, nothing can be done.

Or at least, in theory. Frankel takes the reins, acknowledging in the storied history of this case that it was unintentionally aided by another very famous case - which occurred relatively nearby to the case of the Black Dahlia, in Benedict Canyon - in 1969, which spawned the exceptionally readable - and shocking - Helter Skelter. Short was played by an Arnaz in a TV series in 1975 and a book - or two - led to this case staying within the zeitgeist of scandal, abuse, morbid curiosity and danger. If there was ever a Golden Age of California? Was it really golden if such a vicious crime occurred?

Frankel, however, reinvents the wheel on this tale, with an interesting, 1st level suspect, who gets a third of the book. His name is not unknown in Dahlia circles, however, it's that this suspect is interlinked in a prior crime, equally sadistic and shocking and one which, although not the same as that of the Dahlia indictes a true monster at play. It's after the first tragic character, Leila Welsh is explored, followed by Elizabeth Short, that Frankel then sets the pieces in motion with his motion to solve arguably the crime of the century.

At least one account I have read has poured scorn on his theory of there being a sadist, who got away with murder (literally) through dumb luck before enhancing his understanding of the 'perfect' murder (a horrible term) and, after a brief cat and mouse game with the police and some questioning, getting away with a second, altogether more daring murder. Some alternative information has been provided that has changed the playing field, although Frankel invites us to remember that we shouldn't be blinded to perceived ideas of the case (a surgeon as the culprit).

I'm also afraid to say that whilst the theory intrigues me, I also don't believe that this person committed the two murders. I'm certainly willing to believe that this suspect was, ultimately the culprit for the second murder, which sadly in the league of unresolved crimes is the bait for the readers out there. I can also see that the cunning tricks he deployed would help him escape the noose. In general with such a low understanding of this case Frankel had my full attention in all the twists and turns before the eventually trail turned cold.

This is a violent book - understandably, based on the content - which I would say I might have been prepared for, however, this was really violent. It's a proceed with caution warning for anyone who has a sensitive constitution. Frankel's ultimate aim, of course, however, is not to be vulgar, this is a book that allows us to remember that crime doesn't follow logic. It follows obsession. Welsh was a sacrificial lamb, perhaps out of jealousy, we can't be sure. Short was a victim of instability, bad company and, nicely laid out by Frankel a sad sort of blamed victim (Short was teetotal, not interested in 'fame' and discerning with her male companions - not a girl on the make). At the very least, in death, Short deserves the true picture, not the media image of someone who played with fire. Perhaps my final word could be that Short was too close to an open flame; small, barely perceptible but when hand in hand with an oil-soaked rag a tragedy of deathly proportions.

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Eli Frankel's "Sisters in Death" on the heels of William Mann's "Black Dahlia," and was again pulled into a well-researched and engaging, if disturbing, exploration of a true crime cold case. Most people will recognize the moniker "Black Dahlia," though they may have many misconceptions about the woman behind the image created by the press. Elizabeth Short wasn't an actress or a model, and according to her friend Anne Toth, was not a femme fatal or a sex worker. She was simply one of the may women that headed to Los Angeles seeking something that she couldn't find back home (in Short's case, Medford Massachusetts). She met a terrible death by an unknown assailant, and her murder is unsolved to this day. Thanks to the sensationalist press, her memory lives on, though her friend Anne Toth stated that no one ever called her Black Dahlia.
Leila Welsh is a complete unknown, except perhaps in Kansas City where the well-known and much-loved and respected elementary school teacher was murdered in her own bedroom steps away from her sleeping mother and brother. How are these two women connected? Leila Welsh never went to Medford or Los Angeles, and Elizabeth Short never went to Kansas City. Both women died gruesome deaths, and their murders are still unsolved. Similarly, investigations into their murders were hampered by corrupt politics while city detectives tried their utmost to solve the cases. Their connection, as Frankel illustrates, is a man named Carl Balsiger. Elizabeth Short went on a few dates with Balsiger in Los Angeles. Leila Welsh grew up in a neighborhood close to Balsiger's, and they spent summers at the same country club, and attended the same college. Carl Balsiger was one of the many suspects in the Elizabeth Short investigation; however, he was not a suspect in Leila Welsh's murder. In fact, thanks to corrupt politicians, Leila's brother George was hauled into court twice to stand trial for her murder despite there being no evidence to support the accusation.
Eli Frankel tells readers about Leila Welsh from childhood to her early adulthood. He describes her murder (trigger warning: it is very graphic, proceed with caution), and he details the political fracas that not only nearly killed her brother but also let the investigation of her murder just...peter out. Without sensationalist press to feed the flames, public outrage over Leila welsh's murder faded away. Neighbors still lived in fear, George Welsh and his mother moved to Texas to start over, law enforcement officials in Kansas City were shuffled around, some suspended, and no one was brought to justice.
Frankel describes parallels between Leila Welsh's and Elizabeth Short's deaths, and explores why Balsiger was considered a suspect in Short's murder. This book asks as many questions as it answers. It's a suspenseful whodunit, definitely worth reading. Caveat: if you read it in tandem with a book about Elizabeth Short, you will find some repetition; Frankel researches the lives of both women thoroughly.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Black Dahlia was an infamous and particularly heinous murder that took place in LA in 1947. It was never solved so no one was held accountable. Using information from a similar but lesser-known murder that occurred in Kansas City in 1941, Frankel suggests that the two crimes may have been linked and possibly were committed by the same individual. This is not just another retelling of the Black Dahlia story. Instead, it reads like a well-researched true crime mystery including new evidence and a fresh perspective that focuses on the many similarities between the two crimes.

Frankel relies heavily on primary sources, including police files, interviews and letters, as well as trial and military records. His meticulous approach to the data (including multiple footnotes) often seems excessive and frequently redundant. This leads to an inconsistently paced narrative. Sometimes the tension and story crackles with energy (e.g., the detailed descriptions of the murders and mutilations from the perpetrator’s perspective) while at others it bogs down in the details.

The book has two protagonists (i.e., the victims), Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh. Frankel covers their backstories in exquisite detail. Despite similarities in physical beauty and outcome, their lives were quite different. Leila came from wealth with close family ties and a supportive social network where she played a significant role. Beth was essentially a runaway who came from more modest circumstances and had no permanent homebase. With only a couple of exceptions, her social ties were largely transactional. She was a private person who valued her appearance above all as evidenced by her cherished suitcases filled with clothing and make-up. Frankel succeeds in showing both women as real people without sensationalizing them as the media tended to do following their murders. Also, he provides abundant details of their lives and acquaintances leading up to their murders. Despite being understandable considering their sheer number, his superficial treatment of the people adjacent to the two crimes and their investigations makes tracking them a challenge for readers.

Frankel supports his theory about the cases with detailed research, and it does seem plausible. Yet it is not totally convincing because most of the evidence is circumstantial and largely based on conjecture. Moreover, he does not present any alternative theories of the cases, nor does he provide any compelling motives other than Carl Balsiger’s presence in the vicinity when both murders occurred and his obviously flawed personality. Clearly, he was a consummate liar with a tendency to be violent but none of this would satisfy the level of proof required by law to convict him. Considering his presence at the top of the suspect list in the Black Dahlia killing and the considerable pressure the police faced to resolve it, one can only assume that if that level of proof existed, Carl would have been indicted and convicted.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Eli Frankel’s Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter is a meticulously researched true-crime narrative that reframes two infamous murders—the 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short (the “Black Dahlia”) and the 1941 murder of Kansas heiress Leila Adele Welsh—into a chilling story of connection, obsession, and pursuit.

🕵️ Frankel, an Emmy-nominated producer and Hollywood insider, takes on one of America’s most enduring mysteries: Who killed the Black Dahlia? But instead of retreading familiar ground, he links Short’s murder to Welsh’s earlier death in Kansas City, arguing that both crimes were committed by the same man. This dual focus broadens the narrative beyond Los Angeles, situating the Dahlia case within a larger pattern of violence and ambition.

📚 Research & Approach

- Meticulous detail: Frankel draws on archival police records, press coverage, and previously unreleased material, offering fresh insights into both cases.

- Narrative style: The book reads like a hybrid of investigative journalism and historical nonfiction, balancing factual rigor with storytelling momentum.

- Comparative framing: By juxtaposing Short and Welsh, Frankel emphasizes how women’s lives—and deaths—were shaped by cultural forces: Hollywood dreams, Midwestern privilege, and the predatory men who exploited both.

🎭 Characterization & Themes

- Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia): Portrayed not just as a victim of gruesome violence but as a young woman chasing fame in a city that consumed her.

- Leila Adele Welsh (Prairie Heiress): A Kansas City socialite whose murder, less sensationalized than Short’s, gains new resonance when placed alongside it.

- The Hunter: Frankel’s central thesis is that one man connects these crimes, and his reconstruction of the killer’s psychology is chilling without being sensational.

Themes include:
- The exploitation of women’s ambition and vulnerability
- The failures of law enforcement and media sensationalism
- The cultural obsession with violence and fame

✍️ Frankel’s background in television lends the book a cinematic quality. Scenes are vividly reconstructed, but he avoids gratuitous detail, focusing instead on the human cost and investigative complexity. The prose is accessible yet layered, making it appealing to both casual true-crime readers and those deeply familiar with the Dahlia case.

✅ Sisters in Death succeeds as both a fresh contribution to true-crime literature and a cultural critique. By connecting Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh, Frankel reframes the Black Dahlia murder not as an isolated horror but as part of a broader narrative of predation and forgotten victims. It’s a book that will resonate with readers who crave not just answers, but context—why these women mattered, and why their stories still haunt us.

[Andy Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“One corpse away from solving the mystery.”

As the 80th anniversary of one of Hollywood’s most gruesome and infamous unsolved murders— the “Black Dahlia Murder”— approaches, Eli Frankel makes a timely and interesting contribution to the literature of the field. He succeeds in humanizing the victim, Elizabeth Short, who is too often reduced to a stock character of the immoral woman that somehow brought her misfortunes upon herself by loose living. He successfully captures the dark, gritty underbelly of Hollywood, the flip side to the gilding and the glamour typically associated with 1940s Tinseltown. He reveals new information about the crime scene which was previously not a part of the public record and which will likely be vital to armchair detectives in solving the puzzle. And, perhaps most importantly, he builds a compelling (if ultimately inconclusive) case against a suspect.

To begin with, Elizabeth Short has been denied justice for 80 years— not only has her killer remained elusive, but she has been the subject of incredible intrusion and unconscionable slander from the moment her bisected body was found by police. The brutal, merciless nature of her death was bad enough, but the injustice has been compounded by newspapers, true crime writers, macabre spectators, and unsympathetic moralizers who were quick to exploit her death (and even her life) for their own ends. In an age that was grappling with modernity and female liberation, and a public still reeling from Second World War, Short’s murder gave tangible form to many to all of society’s fears and insecurities. She became a symbol alternatively of society’s callous disregard for the weak, or a cautionary tale against loose living— as though by behaving in conformity with certain norms, one could guarantee she would never fall victim to such a grizzly fate. But Short’s tragedy was co-opted, one way or another, will little interest in who she actually was, how she lived, how she felt, etc. Eli Frankel has done a good job of rehabilitating her character and doing some measure of justice to the victim.

He unveils new information about the discovery of her body— information which, frankly, makes every other volume on this subject slightly less reliable by its absence. (I can’t say what it is without spoiling matters, but a certain piece of information was held back by the police, and it really does change the psychology of the case.)

But this isn’t a book just about Elizabeth Short. It begins six years before her slaying, with another brutal murder in Kansas City, Missouri. Equally horrific but much less famous than the Black Dahlia is the 1941 murder of Leila Welsh. This case is explored carefully by the author, who highlights the parallels between this and the later, more notorious slaying, in order to suggest that the two unsolved crimes share one culprit. He then finds what is presumably the only person who knew both victims, someone on the LAPD’s long list of suspects, and builds his case against this man.

The author’s case against his chosen suspect is persuasive. But he does a much better job of demonstrating his involvement in the Black Dahlia murder than in the killing of Leila Welsh; if the woman he dated in Los Angeles (Short) had not been murdered, I doubt he would ever have been thought of in connection to Welsh’s murder. (Whereas, without knowing anything about the Kansas City killing, he was a suspect in the later affair.)

In the end, his “case for the prosecution” seems damning, but so does every prosecution before the defense has a chance to mount its counter-attack. In this book, no voice is given for the rebuttal. No space is reserved for the counter-argument. I’m afraid, if this were presented in a court of law, any good defense counsel would shred Frankel’s arguments to pieces. That’s not to say the author isn’t right— he may well have found the Black Dahlia killer and solved two heinous crimes— but he is a long way from proving it to any acceptable level.

To my thinking, it boils down to this: coincidences do happen. There isn’t enough evidence against his suspect to override the possibility that he merely dated one victim and existed in the same orbit as the other. What is missing, the final “nail in the coffin,” is a THIRD young woman killed in much the same way as the other two. If Frankel could have found a third corpse, dismembered, disfigured, exsanguinated, with a horseshoe-shaped chunk of flesh removed, and this woman was ALSO connected to his suspect in some significant way, then that would be a much harder case to refute. One coincidence I’ll buy; two coincidences is much harder to swallow. If there’s even a 1% chance that two things can be coincident, then there’s room for doubt. But two coincidences? That’s 1% of 1%, which is a much smaller probability of innocence. That more than satisfies the “reasonable doubt” standard of our judicial system.

In the end, even if the murders of Elizabeth Short and Leila Welsh remain unsolved, whether the two events are or are not related, this is a worthwhile read. It covers the well-trodden grounds of the Black Dahlia murder with a critical eye, but also presents the Dahlia’s life with fairness and sympathy. It also presents vital information absent from any other book on the subject. Frankel also covers the much less familiar terrain of the Welsh murder. Although he ultimately fails to link the two cases, he does present certain tantalizing possibilities that are sure to intrigue us armchair detectives and will help to keep the debate alive as we ask— and have asked for 80 years— “Who killed the Black Dahlia?”

[Tori Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this thoroughly convincing. I've been aware of "The Black Dahlia" murder for about as long as I can remember--probably longer than was actually good for me--and something about it always felt somehow off. I never did any sort of deep-dive research of my own, but the murder of Elizabeth Short has so often been invoked in true crime listicles and youtube videos and podcasts, it's almost impossible to have any interest in criminology without coming across her name, her recognizable face, her iconic moniker, her horrific death. And the more I've read and learned about the realities of murder and crime and the extensive flaws of modern justice systems, the stranger these brief overviews of her "case" seemed to me. For such a brutal death to have taken place, without any sort of proximate precedents to that brutality, without ever seeming to be repeated again despite the police's complete inability to pin down any suspects? For a killer to have such an apparent flair for the dramatic as to stage her remains in that way, yet never do so again? It just didn't seem...right.

Frankel's theory resolved those questions, and others, for me, and I think he did a tremendous job of showing his work. That work was shown in, yes, quite graphic detail, which is going to make this a tough one to recommend others read, I know. But that level of detail felt purposeful and, unfortunately, necessary. Even with my only surface-level awareness of Elizabeth's death, I knew it had been horrible--yet I had no idea just how vicious and dehumanizing it had been. It's challenging, but I think it's important to face this kind of violence head-on if we, as a culture, have any hope of ending it someday. What Leila Welsh and Elizabeth Short endured at the end of their lives, and what their bodies suffered afterward, no one could deserve. I think, in some part, we owe it to them to acknowledge just how horrible their deaths were. I think we ought to be horrified by that level of violence--the kind of violence these kinds of wretched and vindictive men enact on women and others they decide to focus their rage upon every day.

Leila Welsh and Elizabeth Short deserved to live. If we as a society couldn't offer them that, they deserved justice. If not that, then they at least deserved to have their stories told, and I'm grateful to this author for having done so. I believe he even managed to name their killer and drag his misdeeds into the light for all to see--though I try to be self-aware enough that I'll admit, I might just believe that because the story he tells fits more comfortably into my personal conception of violence and murder and their motivations than any other I've heard. I'm not sure if there's any way we'll ever know with absolutely certainty. So don't take my word for it; read this for yourself, and see what you think.

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Sisters In Death: The Black Dahlia, The Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter
By Eli Frankel
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
Publisher: Kensington Publishing | Citadel

📚MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐ [Rounded Up]

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, Citadel, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

I'm not sure you can call yourself a fan of true crime if you haven't gone down at least one or two rabbit holes online about the Black Dahlia case, arguably the most famous cold case in history. I've always been fascinated by its Old Hollywood mystique, its brutality, and the fact that it's never been solved. So when I saw Sisters In Death, I was immediately intrigued -- and it certainly captivated my attention!

Just reading Frankel's prologue and the book's introduction was all it took for me to be all in. While I was familiar with the murder of Elizabeth Short, the "Black Dahlia," I had zero familiarity with the murder of Leila Welsh in Kansas City six years prior. Both murders were horrifyingly gruesome and brutal, and Frankel showed not only remarkably eerie and definitive similarities between these cold cases, but also connected both women to the potential suspect he named. Though I don't know that this book PROVED Frankel's suspect was guilty, he definitely presented facts worthy of consideration and made connections between the cases that were hard to argue with. I'd genuinely love to see someone definitively solve both of these horrific cases and bring justice for the deaths of these women.

This may have been a true crime read, but it was perfect for spooky season because y'all -- it REALLY creeped me out. Frankel provided such detail about the gruesome slayings of both women, I was quite disturbed and couldn't seem to shake the images from my mind at bedtime. [Pro tip: don't Google crime scene photos close to bedtime 🙄] Some of the details in these pages were definitely not for the faint of heart or persons with overactive imaginations.

Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this read. It was obviously well-researched, with significant historical details about both victims, their families, and their lives before these brutal crimes brought them notoriety. If you've ever been curious about the Black Dahlia case, are interested in cold cases, or are just a fan of deep dives into the world of true crime, I definitely recommend this one.

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[trop_de_livres · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

When I first read this book, it seemed to me that Eli Frankel presented new evidence convincing me that he was onto something. However, I have consequently become aware of facts that might dispel his major theory. However, despite this major problem, this was a very interesting true crime book.

I don’t want to give away anything, but Frankel’s theory is that one suspect was not taken seriously enough and maybe got away with not one, but at least two murders.

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 *might* have crossed paths with the same man. This book is extremely gruesome so not for the faint-hearted.

After reading this book, I have seen (online) proof that the suspect most likely was not in town when Leila was murdered. See Larry Harnish’s site on Elizabeth Short. So there goes Frankel’s theory. But still, a very well-written and interesting book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, for letting me read a copy in exchange for an honest review.