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Eric

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Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood

by William J. Mann

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Eric said: " Though knowledgeable of the murder of Elizabeth Short, prior to reading W. Mann’s Black Dahlia, other than news reports here and there and watching short videos online, this reader has never read any long-form writing about this particular murder.

As Though knowledgeable of the murder of Elizabeth Short, prior to reading W. Mann’s Black Dahlia, other than news reports here and there and watching short videos online, this reader has never read any long-form writing about this particular murder.

As for content, from the start, it is clear exactly what sort of true-crime book this one will be upon completion. It is not an easy read, full of titillating details or lurid photographs. It is instead a very in-depth and well-researched book centered around the murder of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles, California, not long after the end of WWII.

Mann includes a study of America during this time to fully envelop and raise the needed societal textures for one to appreciate a serious book on Short and her murder. He describes America and its current culture as it has moved from a time of restriction, sacrifice, and wartime hardship to that of promise and an expectation of a golden American future going forward.

Mann does not turn Short into a figure once ill-defined by a frenzied media and thirsty America, but instead, into a three-dimensional woman whose life was unjustly ended and of a life deserving of justice that she and her loved ones never received.

This book is a careful and fair study of Elizabeth Short, her life, and America. It may not be of major interest to those in search of a treatise on what is believed to be a tawdry tale of lurid happenings and unfortunate sexuality, because that is what it is not.

Sadly, as most already know, there is no closure regarding the depraved person who victimized this woman, but instead, sincerely crafted pages that bring Short to life and most likely paint a truer picture of her, her life, and her untimely demise.

Black Dahlia by W. Mann is recommended to true crime readers who appreciate well-researched and richly detailed books upon factual events, rather than other books more present in the true-crime-like pulp writing genre.

Netgalley provided an ARC upon the promise of a fair review. ...more "

Nov 20, 2025 01:34PM · see review

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A Violent Masterpiece

by Jordan Harper (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 17, 2025 02:06PM

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The Hadacol Boogie (Dave Robicheaux, #25)

by James Lee Burke

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Eric said: " James Lee Burke’s The Hadacol Boogie marks the twenty-fifth installment of the Dave Robicheaux series, and the quality of this novel proves that Burke has not lost a step.

The novel opens with a moving recounting of the lives and deaths of Dave Robich James Lee Burke’s The Hadacol Boogie marks the twenty-fifth installment of the Dave Robicheaux series, and the quality of this novel proves that Burke has not lost a step.

The novel opens with a moving recounting of the lives and deaths of Dave Robicheaux’s parents and the impact their story has had on him—and will continue to have. This brief but powerful introduction beautifully interweaves with the narrative, adding a warm, resonant texture that lingers throughout the entire tale.

The Hadacol Boogie takes place around the turn of the century in Robicheaux’s Iberia Parish. After a group of boys sets off fireworks near his home, Robicheaux confronts them. To avoid trouble, the boys quickly tell him they saw a demon-like figure leaving something in his yard. Initially dismissive of their claims, Robicheaux investigates and discovers a garbage bag containing the body of a young woman.

From there, Robicheaux is drawn into an investigation that introduces a host of memorable characters—each one seemingly more dangerous than the last, and several not at all what they appear to be. Robicheaux once again finds himself facing organized crime figures, local thugs (some of whom wear badges), and a murderous fellow Vietnam veteran who may be periodically psychotic. Then there is Boone Hendrix, a mysterious wayfaring handyman who, like many of Burke’s enigmatic characters, seems to know more than he lets on, speaking in riddles and provoking Robicheaux’s curiosity. As the novel progresses, the evolving relationship between Hendrix and Robicheaux becomes one of the book’s most fascinating threads—full of confusion, anger, sympathy, and even violence.

As always, Burke’s writing is masterfully lyrical and richly descriptive, allowing readers to vividly construct the world he creates. While some of the major plot elements across the Robicheaux series may echo each other, the true beauty of Burke’s work lies in his language and the deepening complexity of his characters with each new installment.

Another of Burke’s hallmarks is his ability to let characters communicate in subtle, often non-verbal ways, leaving moments open to interpretation. These quiet exchanges challenge the reader to decide what was meant and what was merely implied, trusting in an audience capable of grappling with nuance, ambiguity, and even the surreal.

As someone who has been reading James Lee Burke for more than thirty years, I can confidently say that The Hadacol Boogie maintains the high standard of storytelling that has defined the series from the very beginning.

The Hadacol Boogie is highly recommended and is set for publication in February 2026.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.Com. ...more "

Sep 14, 2025 06:54AM · see review

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Eric’s Quotes

“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
― Stephen King

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