Might as well be read by a robot

It hardly matters how good the story is in this true-life, first-person narrative, as the narrator himself is so terrible that I found it almost unlistenable.
His monotone, over-pronounciation and over-emphasis.On. Every. Single. Word. Is. Hard. To. Listen. To...
Honestly, it may as well be read by a synthetic voice for all the feeling and humanity which comes through from the narrator.
Plus mis-pronouncing things like "short lived" without anyone picking up on it, suggests that there was little, or no editing.
I feel for the poor author, who has had his work butchered beyond enjoyment by this, and I just can't make it through the whole book.
I am not ususually this scathing in my reviews, but I just can't get past how poor this narration is.

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6 people found this helpful

Good thing he retired

The watch really sums up this book and it’s contents. At the very end he discusses a photo of the body in which he says that a watch has been inserted into the abdomen of Elizabeth Short’s bisected body. And it obviously looks just like his father’s old watch, one that went “missing.” But since this recording he has conceded this is not a watch and likely bone or tissue. Of course, in the book he goes on about how this is an ode to his famous friend’s work etc etc.
A veteran homicide detective should not be making such wild suppositions and trying to force things to fit this way. He is clearly heavily biased in trying to make a case against his father (for whatever reason) and it’s quite weak when you get past his repeated and persistent affirmations that this is all correct. I laughed out loud when the Assistant DA’s letter said he find circumstantial cases stronger than solid evidence cases. Are these people real or cartoon characters? There is no physical evidence at all and while there is a fair amount of circumstantial evidence, it feels more like Steve found out his father was a suspect and dug until he found scraps. He then blew it all up to write his book. There are two men he claims are working together to commit these crimes and they don’t have a single alibi between them for any of the crimes? It would have been nice if Steve had looked into it.
So of course in the sequel he accuses his father of also being the Zodiac. Who else could get away with America’s most infamous unidentified serial killings?
Sorry to contradict the author, but the case is not closed. Nor is he objective enough to make that call.

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4 people found this helpful

Whether or not you agree with Hodel's theory...

I did not expect to be as hooked on this book as I was. Whatever your opinion on Hodel's theory that his father was not only the killer of Beth Short (and many other women) one cannot fault his dedicated research and his care about reporting the true facts of the case, not just regurgitating the same old myths regarding the Black Dahlia such as other books *cough* Severed *cough*. I also applaud him for his respectfulness towards Elizabeth Short, another refreshing change from the majority of media on the subject. He makes a real effort to portray her as the young woman she was, not just sidelining her as a list of grusome injuries on an autopsy report. Even if I'm a little skeptical of Hodel without a shadow of a doubt being the killer, Steve instantly got my upmost respect when I reached the chapter where he breaks down and dispells piece by piece all the slurs on Elizabeth Short's character (such that she was a prostitute ) that have been held in popular belief seven decades too long.

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2 people found this helpful

fascinating

very interesting story, the narration is a little robotic, which grates after a while but doesn't detract from this fascinating story, its a hard listen some of the facts are deeply disturbing, over all a thought provoking engrossing book

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Convincing but boring to listen to.

Would you try another book written by Steve Hodel or narrated by Kevin Pierce?

Not sure about Steve Hodel but definitely not Kevin Pierce!

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Edited a lot of it to make it more succinct. There was way too much boring detail about family members etc. I agree that it was all fairly convincing and I feel 85% sure that Hodel's father was the killer. He probably wanted to put every detail in to convince the reader. But the result was just boring except for certain parts. And I would DEFINITELY change the narrator. His reading was way too slow and ponderous and he paused in the wrong places in sentences a lot, which I found annoying.

How could the performance have been better?

A different narrator! He was AWFUL! I fell asleep almost every time I listened to it and had to keep running it back. I put it onto 1.25 speed and that was a bit better.

Could you see Black Dahlia Avenger being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

I think it has been already.

Any additional comments?

As I said, the evidence is actually convincing enough (if you can stick with it) and I feel sorry for Steve Hodel who was born into such a weird and horrible family. But a boring listen.

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2 people found this helpful

Interesting but badly edited in terms of recording

Very weird part of recording at 2:15:30 in part 2, where the narrator pauses, claps, and repeats themselves. I assume this was a bad take that the editors have overlooked? Overall an interesting listen, regardless of whether you have any investment in this theory. Would recommend.

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It's like listening to Siri reading a book

What did you like most about Black Dahlia Avenger?

Very interesting book with compelling evidence.

What other book might you compare Black Dahlia Avenger to, and why?

Not sure as it is so unique.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Dreadful, disjointed reading and mispronouncing words.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would but not with the dreadful narration.

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3 people found this helpful

As far as possible ...

Best ever book investigating an historic crime. Great work and I think he'd win a civil case on this evidence, but despite that the inability to check versions and events with all potential witnesses,exhibits and records because most no longer exist must leave an element of 'reasonable doubt' . The author has therefore attempted the impossible , and very very nearly pulled it off !
That's not to criticise him - he's done a brilliant job and his conclusions are almost certainly correct. In any case, it's a very well written and compelling book and I thoroughly recommend it

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1 person found this helpful

Reads like a crime report

You can tell the author is an ex-detective; While this gives a very thorough investigation of the case/s (brilliant, exactly what I was looking for), it was also quite laborious, repetitive and dry.

I found the narrator very slow in reading, even when sped up (until the voice sounded too distorted).

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Unspeakable crimes - patriarchal culture - self interest - arrogance ...

A heady mixture of awfulness combines in this book which serves to illustrate how naive and invisible women were back in the 1940' - 1960's That said, it is challenging to accept how so many terrible atrocities against womankind were left, deftly unresolved, to the annals of time by the authorities of the day. Although not religious, I was left hoping that heaven and hell do indeed exist - and 'praying' that the lead sadist in this book (and all his heinous cronies) can now be found languishing in eternal damnation. Sadly, however, even THAT fate seems to good for the sick individuals responsible for these crimes ...

This book is long - but worth the effort. And steel yourself - the details of the crimes are gruesome and difficult for 'normal' minds to grasp. Yet another book about man's inhumanity to man (although it is all women who suffer in this tragic case) ...

Just wish there was a definitive outcome, proven in law. I was left wanting justice to have been served!

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3 people found this helpful