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One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
A mystery that can finally be told!
After her father, Dr. George Hodel, a prominent Hollywood physician was acquitted in a sensational incest trial, 16-year-old Tamar gave birth to a blue-eyed, white skinned baby girl. She insisted that the father was "Negro." Outraged by the audacity of their daughter and the stigma attached to a mixed-race child within their midst, her mother quickly arranged to have the baby permanently given away to Jimmie Lee, a black maid in a Nevada casino.
Overwhelmed by the problems of raising a white-skinned baby in her black community, Jimmie spent the next twenty years struggling to secretly raise Fauna. Together they endured extreme poverty, alcoholism, starvation, sexual abuse, pregnancy and death, hopelessly bound and knotted together by relentless bigotry.
Fauna survived this difficult world with a vow to find the one person who knew her beginnings, her biological mother, Tamar, the woman of her dreams. Fauna sets out to discover the truth, only to uncover her family's notorious secret: her extraordinary grandfather and the murder of the Black Dahlia.
"Haunting, poignant and heart-wrenching. The stuff of which movies are made." —Cliff Rothman, contributor, Vanity Fair
"Laughter, sass, spirit and tears leaves the readers awash in hope." —Alfre Woodard, actor
After her father, Dr. George Hodel, a prominent Hollywood physician was acquitted in a sensational incest trial, 16-year-old Tamar gave birth to a blue-eyed, white skinned baby girl. She insisted that the father was "Negro." Outraged by the audacity of their daughter and the stigma attached to a mixed-race child within their midst, her mother quickly arranged to have the baby permanently given away to Jimmie Lee, a black maid in a Nevada casino.
Overwhelmed by the problems of raising a white-skinned baby in her black community, Jimmie spent the next twenty years struggling to secretly raise Fauna. Together they endured extreme poverty, alcoholism, starvation, sexual abuse, pregnancy and death, hopelessly bound and knotted together by relentless bigotry.
Fauna survived this difficult world with a vow to find the one person who knew her beginnings, her biological mother, Tamar, the woman of her dreams. Fauna sets out to discover the truth, only to uncover her family's notorious secret: her extraordinary grandfather and the murder of the Black Dahlia.
"Haunting, poignant and heart-wrenching. The stuff of which movies are made." —Cliff Rothman, contributor, Vanity Fair
"Laughter, sass, spirit and tears leaves the readers awash in hope." —Alfre Woodard, actor
348 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2008
252 people are currently reading
3619 people want to read
About the author
Fauna Hodel
1 book14 followersFauna Hodel was an American author and motivational speaker, who wrote the true-crime memoir One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel, documenting her unusual beginnings and the connection to her grandfather, George Hodel, a prime suspect in the infamous Black Dahlia murder mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 109 reviews
February 14, 2018
Admittedly, the whole reason I got this book was to prepare for the new TNT series that's being adapted from it. I always like to read the source material or do some type of research before I watch something about it, so I was curious about the show and about Chris Pine's character. After reading it, I can say that Chris's character isn't in it at all and has been created for the mini-series, which was a little disappointing but not enough to where I'd actually dock a star or whatever for it.
The good: The story is fascinating. Fauna's life seems straight out of the movies, and it doesn't surprise me to see that there's going to be a cinematic adaptation for it. She includes excerpts of her diary, poems she's written throughout the years, and candid insight into her life as a child throughout adulthood. If anything, I'm even more excited for the mini-series to see how they handle it.
The bad: The book really could've used a good editor. From grammatical errors, spelling problems, poorly written sentences, to all the other problems with the technical format and style of the book, it's not good. I understand it was self-published, but the editing was just so poorly done it's astounding. I hope the mini-series will boost interest in the book, and it'll get picked up by a legit publishing company and polished before re-releasing it. With that extra bit of polishing, it could truly be a great book on a technical level past the actual content.
The confusing: Fauna's continued excuses and justifications for the abuse her adoptive mother put her through. I can't even imagine how Fauna must have felt her whole life, but it was just incredibly difficult to understand the desperate need to excuse Jimmie that was all throughout the book. Fauna deserved better, and while I believe Jimmie tried her best, that still doesn't excuse the horrific abuse Fauna suffered under her.
Overall, a decent read. The only reason this has four stars instead of lower is for the story itself. If I were bringing in the poor editing to the rating, then it would get a single star only because half-stars aren't possible on here, and I don't want to bring down an otherwise fascinating tale as a whole because the editing is just that bad. For people curious about what the TNT show will be like, I definitely recommend the book, and I can't wait to see how it's portrayed onscreen as well as how Chris Pine will fit into all this!
The good: The story is fascinating. Fauna's life seems straight out of the movies, and it doesn't surprise me to see that there's going to be a cinematic adaptation for it. She includes excerpts of her diary, poems she's written throughout the years, and candid insight into her life as a child throughout adulthood. If anything, I'm even more excited for the mini-series to see how they handle it.
The bad: The book really could've used a good editor. From grammatical errors, spelling problems, poorly written sentences, to all the other problems with the technical format and style of the book, it's not good. I understand it was self-published, but the editing was just so poorly done it's astounding. I hope the mini-series will boost interest in the book, and it'll get picked up by a legit publishing company and polished before re-releasing it. With that extra bit of polishing, it could truly be a great book on a technical level past the actual content.
The confusing: Fauna's continued excuses and justifications for the abuse her adoptive mother put her through. I can't even imagine how Fauna must have felt her whole life, but it was just incredibly difficult to understand the desperate need to excuse Jimmie that was all throughout the book. Fauna deserved better, and while I believe Jimmie tried her best, that still doesn't excuse the horrific abuse Fauna suffered under her.
Overall, a decent read. The only reason this has four stars instead of lower is for the story itself. If I were bringing in the poor editing to the rating, then it would get a single star only because half-stars aren't possible on here, and I don't want to bring down an otherwise fascinating tale as a whole because the editing is just that bad. For people curious about what the TNT show will be like, I definitely recommend the book, and I can't wait to see how it's portrayed onscreen as well as how Chris Pine will fit into all this!
August 10, 2025
The very bizarre and so-strange-as-to-be-unbelievable story of Fauna Hodel’s life was recently the subject of the stylishly-produced, suspenseful 60s-noir thriller TV series I Am the Night on TNT. The show attempts to capture the grittiness of a bleak Los Angeles underbelly, and it succeeds, perhaps all the more apropos in this #MeToo Movement era in which Hollywood’s darker sins are finally being revealed.
While I loved the show, especially the stand-out performances of Chris Pine and the doe-eyed India Eisley as a young Fauna, it is important to note that it bears very little to no resemblance to the original source material, Hodel’s own 2008 memoir, “One Day She’ll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel”.
Hodel’s story begins (in her telling) with a young black woman named Jimmie Lee Greenwaide, a ladies’ room attendant in a casino who, one night, accepts an odd proposition from a white woman: adopt a child of mixed race (the mother is white, the father is negro) and raise it as her own. Jimmie Lee had wanted a child but was never blessed with the chance. She accepted.
Several weeks later, she was told to come to a particular address where she would be given the baby. One look at the child impressed upon her the immediate thought: someone was lying. The baby was white as snow. She highly doubted the veracity of the birth certificate, which clearly stated the father’s race as “Negro”. That was some bullshit: this baby was 100% white, anyone could tell.
Still, Jimmie Lee attempted to raise her as her own. She told everyone that the child was adopted and that it was mixed race, and young Fauna grew up not suspecting otherwise. Jimmie Lee tried her best, but between her alcoholism and her sexual profligacy, she wasn’t the best role model.
Despite that, Fauna grew up to be a smart, kind young woman, and she loved Momma. In her own way, Momma loved her, too. At some point, though, Fauna discovered that she was adopted, and she began her search for her real mother and father.
She eventually learned that her birth certificate, as Jimmie Lee had suspected all along, was a lie: she was not mixed race after all. Her mother was white, and her father was white, too. But Fauna also learned that race could be subjective. After all, she believed her entire life that she was part-black. Inside, she felt black, and she identified more with black people, regardless of what her skin color or DNA said.
Her investigation also uncovered her personal link to an extremely dark chapter in the history of L.A. crime. Her grandfather, George Hodel, was a wealthy Angeleno who, beside being involved in a well-known incest case, was also a prime suspect in the legendary Black Dahlia murder, a particularly gruesome unsolved murder of a young woman named Elizabeth Short. She was found bisected at the waist.
The TNT TV show takes this fact as its basis for the show, reshaping Hodel’s personal investigation into a twisted tale of Hollywood excess, perversion, and police corruption. The show more than implies that many people within the LAPD and the city government knew who the murderer of Elizabeth Short was but did nothing due to the fact that the murderer, George Hodel, was stinking rich and had connections throughout the city, including the mob.
Fauna’s memoir is not so grandiose in its accusations. In fact, Fauna focuses less on her grandfather and more on her own life. Appropriate, since it is, in fact, her own life that she is writing about.
Fauna’s real story---a story about race, racial identity, and what family truly means; her relationship to Jimmie Lee, the only woman she ever really knew as a mother; her relationships to her first two husbands---is basically relegated to the back seat in the TV show.
If you want a gritty, creepy James Ellroy-esque noir story, check out I Am the Night, a fascinating fictional look at a real-life murder mystery.
If, however, you are looking for the true story of Fauna’s dysfunctional but ultimately beautiful family drama, read “One Day She’ll Darken”.
One is not better than the other. They are both very different, and they are both excellent.
While I loved the show, especially the stand-out performances of Chris Pine and the doe-eyed India Eisley as a young Fauna, it is important to note that it bears very little to no resemblance to the original source material, Hodel’s own 2008 memoir, “One Day She’ll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel”.
Hodel’s story begins (in her telling) with a young black woman named Jimmie Lee Greenwaide, a ladies’ room attendant in a casino who, one night, accepts an odd proposition from a white woman: adopt a child of mixed race (the mother is white, the father is negro) and raise it as her own. Jimmie Lee had wanted a child but was never blessed with the chance. She accepted.
Several weeks later, she was told to come to a particular address where she would be given the baby. One look at the child impressed upon her the immediate thought: someone was lying. The baby was white as snow. She highly doubted the veracity of the birth certificate, which clearly stated the father’s race as “Negro”. That was some bullshit: this baby was 100% white, anyone could tell.
Still, Jimmie Lee attempted to raise her as her own. She told everyone that the child was adopted and that it was mixed race, and young Fauna grew up not suspecting otherwise. Jimmie Lee tried her best, but between her alcoholism and her sexual profligacy, she wasn’t the best role model.
Despite that, Fauna grew up to be a smart, kind young woman, and she loved Momma. In her own way, Momma loved her, too. At some point, though, Fauna discovered that she was adopted, and she began her search for her real mother and father.
She eventually learned that her birth certificate, as Jimmie Lee had suspected all along, was a lie: she was not mixed race after all. Her mother was white, and her father was white, too. But Fauna also learned that race could be subjective. After all, she believed her entire life that she was part-black. Inside, she felt black, and she identified more with black people, regardless of what her skin color or DNA said.
Her investigation also uncovered her personal link to an extremely dark chapter in the history of L.A. crime. Her grandfather, George Hodel, was a wealthy Angeleno who, beside being involved in a well-known incest case, was also a prime suspect in the legendary Black Dahlia murder, a particularly gruesome unsolved murder of a young woman named Elizabeth Short. She was found bisected at the waist.
The TNT TV show takes this fact as its basis for the show, reshaping Hodel’s personal investigation into a twisted tale of Hollywood excess, perversion, and police corruption. The show more than implies that many people within the LAPD and the city government knew who the murderer of Elizabeth Short was but did nothing due to the fact that the murderer, George Hodel, was stinking rich and had connections throughout the city, including the mob.
Fauna’s memoir is not so grandiose in its accusations. In fact, Fauna focuses less on her grandfather and more on her own life. Appropriate, since it is, in fact, her own life that she is writing about.
Fauna’s real story---a story about race, racial identity, and what family truly means; her relationship to Jimmie Lee, the only woman she ever really knew as a mother; her relationships to her first two husbands---is basically relegated to the back seat in the TV show.
If you want a gritty, creepy James Ellroy-esque noir story, check out I Am the Night, a fascinating fictional look at a real-life murder mystery.
If, however, you are looking for the true story of Fauna’s dysfunctional but ultimately beautiful family drama, read “One Day She’ll Darken”.
One is not better than the other. They are both very different, and they are both excellent.
January 6, 2018
I was interested in reading this book (essentially a memoir, but presented in the third person) due to the upcoming TNT series of the same name. The title refers to Hodel's skin color. Shortly after Hodel's birth, her mother was forced to give her up for adoption. Allegedly due to the fact that her father was a black man (you can probably guess how true that was), arrangements were made for a black reverend and his wife to adopt the baby. Fauna became Patty, and she plunged into a world where she could not belong: too white to fit in with her neighborhood, but not white enough to anyone who saw her embrace her adoptive family and the heritage she knew to be true due to her birth certificate. Through her life, Hodel suffered poverty, malnutrition, abuse, rape, and a codependent relationship with her alcoholic "Momma." Her abuse no doubt led to her seeking validation in romantic relationships, and before long, she was a teenage mother herself.
Once she was out from under Momma's roof, Hodel began to piece together the story of her birth family, information that had been kept from her as a source of manipulation. Her actual mother was none other than Tamar Hodel, who infamously accused her famed doctor father George Hill Hodel of incest. George's other claim to fame? Being a suspect in the Black Dahlia murder. Don't expect much of this scandal, however. Fauna mostly stuck to what she knew when writing this book, and this story is hers, not her family's. There are wonderfully mysterious details though, like hearing a strange click on the phone, or spotting people she was certain were following her from time to time. Whether George was guilty or not, his infamy and his daughter's could not crush Fauna. She endured every obstacle in her life and came through with a surprisingly resilient spirit that shines in her writing.
My one complaint about this book is that it desperately needed an editor. Fauna's writing is moving, but there are simple typos that distract from the content.
Once she was out from under Momma's roof, Hodel began to piece together the story of her birth family, information that had been kept from her as a source of manipulation. Her actual mother was none other than Tamar Hodel, who infamously accused her famed doctor father George Hill Hodel of incest. George's other claim to fame? Being a suspect in the Black Dahlia murder. Don't expect much of this scandal, however. Fauna mostly stuck to what she knew when writing this book, and this story is hers, not her family's. There are wonderfully mysterious details though, like hearing a strange click on the phone, or spotting people she was certain were following her from time to time. Whether George was guilty or not, his infamy and his daughter's could not crush Fauna. She endured every obstacle in her life and came through with a surprisingly resilient spirit that shines in her writing.
My one complaint about this book is that it desperately needed an editor. Fauna's writing is moving, but there are simple typos that distract from the content.
July 30, 2023
I'm a big fan of true crime although my preferred method of intake is probably from documentaries. With this said from time to time I do pick up a true crime book to get stuck into. Now when it comes to One Day She'll Darken I had been on a bit of a streak of works about the Black Dahlia both real and fictional. And had planned to move on completely from the topic. It is after all a gruesome thing to spend too much time reading about. But then this book came up as a if you like this one you might also want to give this a read. Now Funa Hodel was a name that I had not come across before so I was more than a little curious as to how this woman was going to fit into one of America's most notorious murders. I had at this point not made the connection to her possible father/grandfather well know states within the case. I also decide that for once I was going to go into his book completely blind. After all, I knew the bone of this case inside and out from the countless other telling of what took place so what did I have to lose.
As it was to turn out I could not have been more wrong about the book I was about to read. Whilst this does very briefly touch on the sad case of Elizabeth Short this is a book about a young girl torn from her family before she even knew who they were and trust into a life that was not meant to be hers. It is also safe to say that it touches on many a subject that will be sensitive to more than a few readers. This is after all the tale of a little white girl raised by an African American family at the height of the civil rights era. It was for me an interesting story to read. After all, this is not one I would imagine many can compare to. The whole situation sounds like that of an old-school fairytale. The daughter of a rich family who was sent to live away with those of less means. But unlike those stories here her adopted mother I believe really did try her best to raise Funa the best she could through all the troubles that were to follow. I honestly can't believe what it must have taken from all those involved to care for the life of this little girl who had no connection to them until the day she was thrust upon them.
Fauna has given her all to put over her life into this body of work and try to help us understand all that happened to her. Whilst her life can never have been called an easy ride I did come out of this book believing that she did have people who loved her the best way they could. You can see this in the warmth with which she talks about certain people. But Hodel has also chosen to not shy away from the reality of these people. Good or bad it makes its way into these pages. And I guess that is the reality of people, well have a little of both in us and seldom are things as easy as we wish they could be. But what we get then is a deep sense of who these people were and the world they lived in. We are left then with a work that is obviously deeply personal to the author but I think she has also captured a time and place that has slipped into the mists of time. Even if the bigotry that takes place has sadly not gone the same way.
This was a book that I took to very quickly and one that brought me such joy and sadness in equal measure. It always surprises me how much we can learn from another life and Hodel I believe has tried to give us an honest account of hers. Now if you are looking for another seedy tale of the Black Dahlia then walk away because this is not the book for you. The only connection here is through George Hodel who may or may not have been the killer. On the other hand, if you are looking for a story of how no matter how dysfunctional a family can look they still are rooting for each other. One that shows how even with no biological connection that family bond is as strong as any. Then this might just be the book for you.
February 10, 2019
I found this book a fascinating read from start to finish. Leaving any connection to the Black Dahlia aside (admittedly difficult to do since that was a big reason for my interest in the first place), this book has more than enough to keep interest thriving. Just trying to wrap my head around being a white child in a black community raised to believe she was biracial in a time as blatantly divided as the 1950s and 60s...that alone is so compelling.
Despite some issues with editing (nothing that turned me off, just the occasional grammatical error and maybe some stylistic things here and there), this book is well-written. It captured complicated, difficult relationships in a way that felt all too real despite the extraordinary circumstances that could have made the whole thing sound like just a story.
If you are enjoying I Am the Night, this book is an excellent read. It will give you a much clearer picture of Fauna and her upbringing, of the challenges she faced and overcame, and of who she grew up to be.
Despite some issues with editing (nothing that turned me off, just the occasional grammatical error and maybe some stylistic things here and there), this book is well-written. It captured complicated, difficult relationships in a way that felt all too real despite the extraordinary circumstances that could have made the whole thing sound like just a story.
If you are enjoying I Am the Night, this book is an excellent read. It will give you a much clearer picture of Fauna and her upbringing, of the challenges she faced and overcame, and of who she grew up to be.
November 6, 2017
In awe!
This story is like nothing I've ever read before. Fauna's life was a rollercoaster ride. I hurt for her. I was happy for her and I was saddened and shocked for her. Her perseverance is next level. She made it through.
This story is like nothing I've ever read before. Fauna's life was a rollercoaster ride. I hurt for her. I was happy for her and I was saddened and shocked for her. Her perseverance is next level. She made it through.
March 7, 2019
This could have been so much better
Fauna Hodel has such an amazing story to tell, but her co-author fails to add any nuance or heart to this book.
Fauna Hodel has such an amazing story to tell, but her co-author fails to add any nuance or heart to this book.
December 29, 2020
I came upon this book because of Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder. The Black Dahlia case fascinates me as does the Hodel family after reading Steve Hodel's book some years ago. Fauna's book is more about her life than about some kind of reunion, discovery, or confrontation with the Hodel's,
The story starts off quite strangely, with a black woman named Jimmie who works as a restroom attendant for a casino. She is approached one day by a white woman who starts off a conversation with Jimmie and at some point asks Jimmie if she would like to adopt a baby. The lady tells her the baby is of mixed race. The baby's mother is white, a teenager, and from a wealthy family who is trying to avoid further scandal after having been involved in a trial where this girl accused her father of incest. (The father is George Hodel, who was also a suspect in the murder of the Black Dahlia).
Jimmie, not really taking the proposition too seriously, half-jokingly tells the lady she will adopt the baby. When the baby is born, Jimmie has forgotten all about having said yes. Her partner at the time convinces her to adopt the baby even though Jimmie does not want to take on the responsibility of raising a baby, especially when she takes a look at the baby and sees that the baby does not look mixed at all. The baby is white, blond, and blue-eyed. Her partner tells her she will eventually darken as the baby grows older. Jimmie gives in and they take the baby home.
From the start, Jimmie turns out to be a bad mom. She renames the baby Patty (as in white patty) and all throughout her life will remind her, discriminate on her, make her feel like she doesn't belong because of her color, no matter that the birth certificate states the father is black. Jimmie is an alcoholic, promiscuous (possibly a prostitute, although it is never said outright), and a jealous, raging lunatic. Patty is exposed to violence throughout her whole life by Jimmie, sometimes the violence being directed at her. When Patty becomes a teenager and starts being interested in men, Jimmie sees her as competition. Inevitably, Patty seeks love in the wrong places and ends up becoming a teenage mom.
The story is very engaging as Patty, aka Fauna (as her biological mother named her and insisted as her only request that the name not be changed), has to grow up never feeling accepted by her peers as being black. She must constantly defend and explain her race as her outwardly appearance to everyone is white. She is also haunted by her desire to one day meet her biological mother. Although I was waiting for the moment she met the Hodel side of her family, Fauna's story was interesting whether her family had been the Smiths or the Johnsons or the Whoevers. When she
The story does not read like a memoir. I felt like I was reading a fictional story, with dialogue being recreated. Eventually I started to overlook this and was pulled into Fauna's story. The story does not continue into her later years, which would have been nice to read about. I would have liked to know if she kept in touch with the Hodels and if she overcame her struggle with her race. This story for me was more about Patty/Fauna's inner struggle with the race she felt she was on the inside vs. what she looked like on the outside.
The story starts off quite strangely, with a black woman named Jimmie who works as a restroom attendant for a casino. She is approached one day by a white woman who starts off a conversation with Jimmie and at some point asks Jimmie if she would like to adopt a baby. The lady tells her the baby is of mixed race. The baby's mother is white, a teenager, and from a wealthy family who is trying to avoid further scandal after having been involved in a trial where this girl accused her father of incest. (The father is George Hodel, who was also a suspect in the murder of the Black Dahlia).
Jimmie, not really taking the proposition too seriously, half-jokingly tells the lady she will adopt the baby. When the baby is born, Jimmie has forgotten all about having said yes. Her partner at the time convinces her to adopt the baby even though Jimmie does not want to take on the responsibility of raising a baby, especially when she takes a look at the baby and sees that the baby does not look mixed at all. The baby is white, blond, and blue-eyed. Her partner tells her she will eventually darken as the baby grows older. Jimmie gives in and they take the baby home.
From the start, Jimmie turns out to be a bad mom. She renames the baby Patty (as in white patty) and all throughout her life will remind her, discriminate on her, make her feel like she doesn't belong because of her color, no matter that the birth certificate states the father is black. Jimmie is an alcoholic, promiscuous (possibly a prostitute, although it is never said outright), and a jealous, raging lunatic. Patty is exposed to violence throughout her whole life by Jimmie, sometimes the violence being directed at her. When Patty becomes a teenager and starts being interested in men, Jimmie sees her as competition. Inevitably, Patty seeks love in the wrong places and ends up becoming a teenage mom.
The story is very engaging as Patty, aka Fauna (as her biological mother named her and insisted as her only request that the name not be changed), has to grow up never feeling accepted by her peers as being black. She must constantly defend and explain her race as her outwardly appearance to everyone is white. She is also haunted by her desire to one day meet her biological mother. Although I was waiting for the moment she met the Hodel side of her family, Fauna's story was interesting whether her family had been the Smiths or the Johnsons or the Whoevers. When she
The story does not read like a memoir. I felt like I was reading a fictional story, with dialogue being recreated. Eventually I started to overlook this and was pulled into Fauna's story. The story does not continue into her later years, which would have been nice to read about. I would have liked to know if she kept in touch with the Hodels and if she overcame her struggle with her race. This story for me was more about Patty/Fauna's inner struggle with the race she felt she was on the inside vs. what she looked like on the outside.
April 25, 2021
There is an interesting story of race and weirdness here. Unfortunately what it lacks is an author who is up to the task. The story mainly involves Fauna Hodel's relationship with her adopted mother who was an alcoholic, insecure, abusive, and manipulative. Throughout the book Fauna makes excuses for the treatment she received from this odious, self-centered woman. For example, Fauna always had lots of nice clothes, so she thought her mother sacrificed for her, though it seems painfully obvious that it was more about how a shabbily dressed child would reflect back on her vain mother. Also, the pseudo adoption of Fauna was completely tenuous and it would not have taken much to have a white child taken away from a black parent who did not even have adoption papers, so of course she would have to look presentable.
Then there is the way the story is presented. There are conversations between an alcoholic and a toddler. Who related these converstions? Are we supposed to believe this is from Fauna's memories? Fauna's adoptive mother was already dead when she started writing this story. Then there are the conversations Fauna supposedly had when she was four years old. These conversations do not ring true for age appropriateness. Apparently Fauna and her birth mother both had either hallucinations or were actually visited by angels and dead people. These visitations are treated very seriously. The story drags on a very long time at the beginning.
I first heard of Fauna Hodel when the mini series based incredibly loosely on her life came out. I wondered what the actual story was. I had read Steve Hodel's book about his father and the Black Dahlia when it came out years ago, but I have to admit that he didn't convince me that his father killed her. Also I was aware of Mike Hodel who was involved in radio in Los Angeles.
A white child was given to a black couple to raise in the 1950's. This is an amazing story. To top it off this couple wasn't even trying to adopt a child. The baby's grandmother crossed paths with a rest room attendant and decided to give her to this woman because she was black. To sum it up, I consider this a missed opportunity. 2.5
Then there is the way the story is presented. There are conversations between an alcoholic and a toddler. Who related these converstions? Are we supposed to believe this is from Fauna's memories? Fauna's adoptive mother was already dead when she started writing this story. Then there are the conversations Fauna supposedly had when she was four years old. These conversations do not ring true for age appropriateness. Apparently Fauna and her birth mother both had either hallucinations or were actually visited by angels and dead people. These visitations are treated very seriously. The story drags on a very long time at the beginning.
I first heard of Fauna Hodel when the mini series based incredibly loosely on her life came out. I wondered what the actual story was. I had read Steve Hodel's book about his father and the Black Dahlia when it came out years ago, but I have to admit that he didn't convince me that his father killed her. Also I was aware of Mike Hodel who was involved in radio in Los Angeles.
A white child was given to a black couple to raise in the 1950's. This is an amazing story. To top it off this couple wasn't even trying to adopt a child. The baby's grandmother crossed paths with a rest room attendant and decided to give her to this woman because she was black. To sum it up, I consider this a missed opportunity. 2.5
May 21, 2019
Definitely listen to January LaVoy's performance on Audible — it's fantastic. The book was engrossing, bizarre, and heartfelt. It is less about the Hodel family, and more about Fauna's relationship with her adoptive mother.
April 30, 2021
Eh, 3.5.
It was more interesting once she met her birth mother, Tamar Hodel.
She doesn't get much into her adult life, then it abruptly stops.
I suggest listening to the ROOT OF EVIL podcast, to learn more.
It was more interesting once she met her birth mother, Tamar Hodel.
She doesn't get much into her adult life, then it abruptly stops.
I suggest listening to the ROOT OF EVIL podcast, to learn more.
February 13, 2019
Stopped halfway. BFF gave me the summary.. Just read the back cover. You don't miss anything by not reading. It is an interesting story... maybe could have been told better?
February 14, 2019
What a family!!!!!!
March 10, 2019
I sought this book out after I started watching I Am The Night. The book is quite different in many ways than the show (which describes itself as inspired by Fauna's story, not necessarily as a true story, and focuses far more on Black Dahlia aspect), but does shed quite a lot of light on Fauna's background and life difficulties. This is a life story written by an amateur, focused on a toxic and codependent relationship between a mother and daughter, and on racism. Interesting in its own right, but highly personal and speaks only briefly about George Hodel and the Black Dahlia angle.
November 20, 2018
I could not stop reading this, it pulled me in and would not let go. It was a story of a someone searching for acceptance, and it was heartbreaking.
I recommend this to anyone.
I recommend this to anyone.
October 26, 2022
What a wild ride. It's hard rating a biography, because that's a real person's life, but if I was rating this on story structure and pacing, I would give it 3 stars. The story was fascinating and you could really do a deep dive on some of the darker themes of this book. The writing itself was a little disappointing. The pacing dragged at some spots, making it feel more like a coming of age/ day in the life type of story instead of the true crime story this was advertised to me as. That's all I'm going to say on this because this is a true story and I don't want to come across as a person who wants someone else's biography to read more scandalously.
July 17, 2020
This is the memoir of Fauna Hodel—granddaughter of George Hodel, suspected murderer of Black Dahlia.
Her story is a fascinating, albeit sad one, but I just couldn’t get over the bad grammar and punctuation throughout the book. This wasn’t a KindleUnlimited book, so it’s not as if there’s any kind of excuse. (Not as if there’s really any excuse with KU, either). It just grated on me throughout the book.
Her story is a fascinating, albeit sad one, but I just couldn’t get over the bad grammar and punctuation throughout the book. This wasn’t a KindleUnlimited book, so it’s not as if there’s any kind of excuse. (Not as if there’s really any excuse with KU, either). It just grated on me throughout the book.
March 19, 2020
While the writing was a bit sophomoric (the book cover ethically acknowledges that J.R. Briamonte co-wrote it), it was a riveting story by an unpretentious author. I’d never heard of the Black Dahlia murder or the television series so I had to do some googling before I could understand the story, but once I’d done that, the book became a real page turner.
November 1, 2020
This is a very interesting story with lots of details. I could relate to some of the mother-daughter-relationship stuff.
August 5, 2019
🅰 🆃🆁🆄🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 🆃🅷🅰🆃 🆆🅸🅻🅻 🅱🆁🅴🅰🅺 🆈🅾🆄🆁 🅷🅴🅰🆁🆃
This was such an interesting story about a girl named Fauna, the title is a nod to her light skin, because she was born mixed race as her father was black.
While working in a casino bathroom a young black woman called Jimmie is approached by a white woman who has had one too many drinks, she strikes up a conversation with her about her life and children.
Jimmie finds this very odd, but the woman is white, so probably a good tipper, so plays along with her to see if she can get more money out of her.
In the conversation, the woman admits that her daughter is pregnant by a black man, and the child cannot stay with them for obvious reasons, so she is looking for a good "black home" to send her too, Jimmie enjoying the drunk talk tells the woman that she would be happy to take the child off of her hands, for a price of course, gives the woman her address, and swiftly gets a crisp $50 tip, talk about good luck, drunk women!!
Except a few months later, Jimmie gets a new member of her household, a brand new baby girl, called Fauna, Jimmie's husband isn't happy about this at all, but goes along with it, considering that there is money involved, it might be a sweet deal, except she doesn't look black, she doesn't look black at all, and people notice it too, which makes Jimmie very angry.
And a sweet deal it is, they both come to love their daughter very much, as she gets older, they tell Fauna now named Patty, that her real mother gave her away, but the whole time, they wait for her black to start showing through, except it really doesn't.
But Patty is brought up a strong independent black girl, and she has plenty to say about people who don't believe her, in fact she starts to take her birth certificate everywhere with her just to prove it. But unfortunately, she is too white to fit in with the black kids, and too much like a black kid to fit in with the whites.
Jimmie, is not quite the loving mother she is portrayed to be in the neighbourhood, she is an alcoholic, and is very abusive toward Patty, and her string of lovers after her and her husband separate, also add to this, so much so that Patty eventually leaves the home and starts to find out a lot of information about her life that was kept from her by her "mother"
Lets just say that everything isn't as it seemed!!
🎧🎧
Narration by January LaVoy was as always perfect, and this story was so brilliantly told by her.
Also a TV series called I Am The Night on TNT, I haven't seen it myself, but I am anxiously waiting for it to come to UK TV so that I can.
This was such an interesting story about a girl named Fauna, the title is a nod to her light skin, because she was born mixed race as her father was black.
While working in a casino bathroom a young black woman called Jimmie is approached by a white woman who has had one too many drinks, she strikes up a conversation with her about her life and children.
Jimmie finds this very odd, but the woman is white, so probably a good tipper, so plays along with her to see if she can get more money out of her.
In the conversation, the woman admits that her daughter is pregnant by a black man, and the child cannot stay with them for obvious reasons, so she is looking for a good "black home" to send her too, Jimmie enjoying the drunk talk tells the woman that she would be happy to take the child off of her hands, for a price of course, gives the woman her address, and swiftly gets a crisp $50 tip, talk about good luck, drunk women!!
Except a few months later, Jimmie gets a new member of her household, a brand new baby girl, called Fauna, Jimmie's husband isn't happy about this at all, but goes along with it, considering that there is money involved, it might be a sweet deal, except she doesn't look black, she doesn't look black at all, and people notice it too, which makes Jimmie very angry.
We’re not categorized by the color of our skin. And just as Jesus was color-blind, so, too, is love. Our love for each other, for our brothers and sisters, and now for this baby is also color-blind. The only reason we see different color is because of a self-inflicted disease we call racism.”
And a sweet deal it is, they both come to love their daughter very much, as she gets older, they tell Fauna now named Patty, that her real mother gave her away, but the whole time, they wait for her black to start showing through, except it really doesn't.
But Patty is brought up a strong independent black girl, and she has plenty to say about people who don't believe her, in fact she starts to take her birth certificate everywhere with her just to prove it. But unfortunately, she is too white to fit in with the black kids, and too much like a black kid to fit in with the whites.
Jimmie, is not quite the loving mother she is portrayed to be in the neighbourhood, she is an alcoholic, and is very abusive toward Patty, and her string of lovers after her and her husband separate, also add to this, so much so that Patty eventually leaves the home and starts to find out a lot of information about her life that was kept from her by her "mother"
Lets just say that everything isn't as it seemed!!
🎧🎧
Narration by January LaVoy was as always perfect, and this story was so brilliantly told by her.
Also a TV series called I Am The Night on TNT, I haven't seen it myself, but I am anxiously waiting for it to come to UK TV so that I can.
February 21, 2019
I read this book after being intrigued by the recent show on TNT called I am the Night.
The show is a fictionalized version of this true story of Fauna Hodel. AFter reading THIS book, I have read Steve Hodel's first book, Black Dahlia Avenger. Steve Hodel is Fauna's brother, and their father was accused of molesting Fauna's mother, Tamara.
It's a tangled family history, but if you are interested in true crime books, I'd read them!
The show is a fictionalized version of this true story of Fauna Hodel. AFter reading THIS book, I have read Steve Hodel's first book, Black Dahlia Avenger. Steve Hodel is Fauna's brother, and their father was accused of molesting Fauna's mother, Tamara.
It's a tangled family history, but if you are interested in true crime books, I'd read them!
February 17, 2020
It was not the most well-written story, but the story itself drew me on and on and on to the end. Perhaps because I too was adopted and had a conflicted relationship with my adopted mother who had her own frustrated dreams, I found myself identifying with Patta/Fauna.
I first watched the mini-TV series "I am the Night," and found it so ambiguous that I turned to the book. If anyone has not watched the series, my advice would be not to bother. The series is far-fetched and bears little relation to the actual story.
In the end, I applaud Fauna for telling her story and was saddened to learn she died so young.
I first watched the mini-TV series "I am the Night," and found it so ambiguous that I turned to the book. If anyone has not watched the series, my advice would be not to bother. The series is far-fetched and bears little relation to the actual story.
In the end, I applaud Fauna for telling her story and was saddened to learn she died so young.
June 14, 2025
This book wasn't quite what I expected, but the nuance of the story itself was fascinating. If you're going into the book expecting it to drop some big revelations about George Hodel, the suspected killer of Elizabeth Short, you will be disappointed. The story, at the end of the day, is a love letter to Fauna's adoptive mother, Jimmie Lee, and I think that's a really beautiful thing.
The story starts with Jimmie Lee meeting a rich white woman while working in a casino in Reno. Without knowing Jimmie Lee, the woman asks her if she and her Reverend husband will adopt a mixed baby from LA. She's told that the mother is just a teen and cannot care for the baby. Jimmie Lee, fancying herself an actress, musters up the chops to quickly agree, thinking the lady cannot be serious. A few weeks later Jimmie finds out that she was.
The majority of the story takes place during Fauna's childhood and early teen years. She struggles with growing up clearly white in a black neighborhood, but believing that though her skin was white, she was black on the inside. Racial tensions were high and so was Jimmie Lee's temper. Though they had their fights and Jimmie Lee definitely overstepped multiple boundaries and did some awful things, Fauna loved her with all of her heart and promised to keep her memory alive and tell her story. And tell her story she did, because the book ends when Jimmie Lee passes away, leaving Fauna content that she has nothing else to divulge.
Fauna does talk about finding out she's not half black, meeting her mother, her family, and coming to terms with everything, but the bulk of the book is her relationship with Jimmie Lee. The entire story is really intriguing and I have all the respect for Fauna. She had a tough life and she fought her way through it, found herself, and overcame the obstacles in order to be a guiding light for others. If you're looking for a book about the strength of the human spirit, I would definitely recommend this book.
And if you're wondering, no, we never do find out if she was actually a child of incest. Her real mother, Tamar, has another story for that, but is said to not be a reliable narrator.
The story starts with Jimmie Lee meeting a rich white woman while working in a casino in Reno. Without knowing Jimmie Lee, the woman asks her if she and her Reverend husband will adopt a mixed baby from LA. She's told that the mother is just a teen and cannot care for the baby. Jimmie Lee, fancying herself an actress, musters up the chops to quickly agree, thinking the lady cannot be serious. A few weeks later Jimmie finds out that she was.
The majority of the story takes place during Fauna's childhood and early teen years. She struggles with growing up clearly white in a black neighborhood, but believing that though her skin was white, she was black on the inside. Racial tensions were high and so was Jimmie Lee's temper. Though they had their fights and Jimmie Lee definitely overstepped multiple boundaries and did some awful things, Fauna loved her with all of her heart and promised to keep her memory alive and tell her story. And tell her story she did, because the book ends when Jimmie Lee passes away, leaving Fauna content that she has nothing else to divulge.
Fauna does talk about finding out she's not half black, meeting her mother, her family, and coming to terms with everything, but the bulk of the book is her relationship with Jimmie Lee. The entire story is really intriguing and I have all the respect for Fauna. She had a tough life and she fought her way through it, found herself, and overcame the obstacles in order to be a guiding light for others. If you're looking for a book about the strength of the human spirit, I would definitely recommend this book.
And if you're wondering, no, we never do find out if she was actually a child of incest. Her real mother, Tamar, has another story for that, but is said to not be a reliable narrator.
May 13, 2019
This is the autobiography of Fauna Hodel, granddaughter to George Hodel of Black Dahlia fame. The entire family story is too bizarre to even begin to make up - reality is truly stranger than fiction. This book is from Fauna's POV, and is also the inspiration for TNT's I Am the Night. Furthermore, there is a podcast series called Root of Evil that goes deeper into George Hodel's twisted history. If you have heard of the Black Dahlia murder from the 1950's - then this multi-layered, multi-media journey will interest you. I may be biased, because I had already listened to the podcast series..and was so stunned, I listened to the whole series in about 2 days - so naturally, let's read the book! George Hodel is the poster child for evil genius - off the charts intelligent, trained as doctor who is powerful, rich, has unusual tastes in erotica and reportedly hosted many drug fueled orgies at his house. Tamar, George's daughter, is tragically caught up in this world and as a result, ends up pregnant with Fauna who is adopted off to a black family because Fauna's father "is black." Well - that isn't the real story and this ends up being an unfortunate social experiment/case study on race dynamics and prejudice. As far as nonfiction goes, I found this hard to put down! Fauna is one incredible woman and has one incredible story.
December 28, 2021
I hope Tamar Hodel, Fauna's birth mother, gets to write her own book. For anybody who has read about Dr. George Hill Hodel, you will know he was a prime suspect in Los Angeles's most famous unsolved case, the murder, and dismemberment of Elizabeth Ann Short also known as the Black Dahlia. This book is about his granddaughter's life adopted by an African American woman in Nevada and her husband in the 1950s. Fauna's teenage birth mom Tamar had to give her away after a one-night stand.
Fauna is also known as Patty was raised in the African American culture and communities. When she searches her birth family, she makes startling discoveries especially about her paternal grandfather who was a suspected serial killer, and her birth mother Tamar.
I sympathize with Tamar who had experienced so much in her troubled life. Fauna writes honestly and candidly about her life. She is grateful to both her mother and her family.
I wish nothing but the best for the author and her family. This book shows another side of the Hodel family that isn't dark and grim.
Overall, this was a great read. The dynamics between characters and the history of the day make it extraordinarily interesting and shocking.
Fauna is also known as Patty was raised in the African American culture and communities. When she searches her birth family, she makes startling discoveries especially about her paternal grandfather who was a suspected serial killer, and her birth mother Tamar.
I sympathize with Tamar who had experienced so much in her troubled life. Fauna writes honestly and candidly about her life. She is grateful to both her mother and her family.
I wish nothing but the best for the author and her family. This book shows another side of the Hodel family that isn't dark and grim.
Overall, this was a great read. The dynamics between characters and the history of the day make it extraordinarily interesting and shocking.
August 13, 2019
WOW......WOW....WOW! What a sad and captivating story. The history of the Hodel family (the women specifically) breaks my heart. The racial dynamics of Fauna and the community that raised her and shaped her ideologies. The constant battle between love and hate all because of someone's skin color. Fauna, the first daughter, struggled with self acceptance and learning the history of her origin. Growing up believing she was unwanted. Tamar, the mother had a dramatic life that ultimately lead to multiple children and a liberal life style amid poverty in Hawaii. There is a sad tradition of mother's not believing their daughters. The tragedy of history repeating itself with underage s3x. The fall out of selfishness and hate....from one generation to the next. It is unbelievable how this famous family survived. The history of secrets and suspense.
Meanwhile, the dynamics of Fauna and her adoptive mother. The heart breaking drama of a drunken mother raising a 'mixed' baby. The social and economic struggle of this family. Tragic and sad...you cant make this up if you tried. The history is dripping with tragedy.
Meanwhile, the dynamics of Fauna and her adoptive mother. The heart breaking drama of a drunken mother raising a 'mixed' baby. The social and economic struggle of this family. Tragic and sad...you cant make this up if you tried. The history is dripping with tragedy.
March 20, 2022
This book gets lower reviews from people expecting it to focus on Fauna's maternal biological family. It's not that story. It's the story of how she was raised, and became the woman she was.
If you want to read tawdry conjecture about George Hodel his son is making a mint churning those out. I'm surprised George Hodel hasn't been accused of abducting the Lindbergh Baby.
I thought this book had some questionable descriptions. It hyper-focused on how sexually attractive the women and girls are as part of their descriptions. It was off-putting.
I did find Fauna's story as told here moving. It may not be the scandals that some readers are interested in, but it's an interesting story of her unusual upbringing. Some parts of her story were relatable and delivered well.
I think some things were added as flavor text to create the semblance of happy ending with the loose ends all tidied up. I don't believe Fauna ever dreamed of being a famous writer. I believe she likely wanted to be famous and selling her memoir was a move towards accomplishing that end.
If you want to read tawdry conjecture about George Hodel his son is making a mint churning those out. I'm surprised George Hodel hasn't been accused of abducting the Lindbergh Baby.
I thought this book had some questionable descriptions. It hyper-focused on how sexually attractive the women and girls are as part of their descriptions. It was off-putting.
I did find Fauna's story as told here moving. It may not be the scandals that some readers are interested in, but it's an interesting story of her unusual upbringing. Some parts of her story were relatable and delivered well.
I think some things were added as flavor text to create the semblance of happy ending with the loose ends all tidied up. I don't believe Fauna ever dreamed of being a famous writer. I believe she likely wanted to be famous and selling her memoir was a move towards accomplishing that end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2023
You've likely heard of the Black Dahlia murder, but did you know that one of the prime suspects, George Hodel, had a granddaughter placed for adoption?
Thus begins the story of Fauna Hodel. Her mother, Tamar, claimed that Fauna's father was Black and so Fauna was raised by a Black family in the 1950s. However, as Fauna grows she fails to "darken" as all expected her to as a mixed race child. Facing bigotry, poverty, problems with alcohol, and abuse, Fauna dreams of her biological family. Finally, she seeks them out but learns more than she bargained for.
While a compelling story, the style of the story as a novel calls into question the methodology of the writing. Conversations Fauna was not present for are explored in great detail and her adopted mother is not portrayed as a forthcoming woman so one wonders how Fauna learned such details.
An interesting, if uncomfortable at times, read that is sure to tantalize true crime fans.
Thus begins the story of Fauna Hodel. Her mother, Tamar, claimed that Fauna's father was Black and so Fauna was raised by a Black family in the 1950s. However, as Fauna grows she fails to "darken" as all expected her to as a mixed race child. Facing bigotry, poverty, problems with alcohol, and abuse, Fauna dreams of her biological family. Finally, she seeks them out but learns more than she bargained for.
While a compelling story, the style of the story as a novel calls into question the methodology of the writing. Conversations Fauna was not present for are explored in great detail and her adopted mother is not portrayed as a forthcoming woman so one wonders how Fauna learned such details.
An interesting, if uncomfortable at times, read that is sure to tantalize true crime fans.
September 27, 2025
I rarely pick up memoirs or non-fiction but this book caught my eye after seeing a teaser for a TV series loosely based on this book (and the life of Fauna herself). It’s wild to think about everything this woman went through in her life starting before she was even born. Her family history (both biological and adoptive) is incredibly sad and complex in so many ways. I found myself wanting to shake some sense into Fauna at times, but mostly I just felt bad for all she had to endure throughout her life. I did the audiobook and the narrator was very good. I was hooked early on and listened to the whole book while I cleaned my house. If you are wanting to dabble in memoirs, this one truly does read like a novel and the audio is great, so I think a lot of people could easily fine themselves sucked in.
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