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Sisters in Death

The Black Dahlia, the Prairie Heiress, and Their Hunter

Author Eli Frankel
Hardcover
$29.00 US
Kensington | Citadel
6.4"W x 9.28"H x 1.24"D   | 20 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Oct 28, 2025 | 368 Pages | 9780806543765
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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.
Praise for Sisters in Death

“Frankel presents a thorough investigation of the Black Dahlia case, the murder of Elizabeth Short in L.A. in the early days of 1947. Considering police records, new evidence, personal letters, interviews with still-living witnesses, and descendants, he puts together a puzzle that leads back six years earlier to the murder of Leila Welsh in Kansas City in 1941. With a gripping, swiftly paced narrative and an excellent comparison of both cases, Sisters in Death is a welcome addition to the lore of the Black Dahlia that will appeal to true-crime aficionados.” —Booklist, STARRED Review

“The gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short (1924–47) in Los Angeles in January 1947 sparked an intensive search. Despite the best efforts of the police, what came to be called the Black Dahlia case remains unsolved to this day. In his first book, true-crime researcher Frankel dives deep into Short’s murder. Following long-forgotten leads, he analyzes police files and archives and interviews with deceased participants’ descendants, one with the woman who discovered Short’s body. The name of a prime suspect emerged in both Short’s murder and one from six years earlier in another state. Raised on a small farm in Missouri, Leila Welsh was an attractive and popular young woman from a respectable family. In March 1941, Welsh was murdered in her sleep. Her brother was tried and acquitted in the slaying. Officially, the case remains open. Frankel lays out why he believes one man is responsible for the eerily similar murders. VERDICT Based on extensive new research and interviews, this highly readable account sheds new light on the hunt for the Black Dahlia’s murderer.” —Library Journal

“Gripping and chilling . . . will change everything you thought you knew about the Black Dahlia.” —Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Meticulous and exhaustive . . . an essential read for any true crime fan.” —Katherine Ramsland, author of Confession of a Serial Killer, the Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer

“Fresh and illuminating; methodical, probing and gracefully written . . . the essential book on this perennially fascinating case.” —T.J. English, New York Times bestselling author of Havana Nocturne, Dangerous Rhythms, and The Last Kilo

“Exhaustively researched, deftly written . . .makes a convincing argument for author Eli Frankel's ghastly conclusion.” —Jeff Guinn, New York Times bestselling author of Manson and The Road to Jonestown

“Forget what you think you know about the Black Dahlia. The truth is even more terrifying!” —Casey Sherman, New York Times bestselling author of A Murder in Hollywood

“A stunning new take that delves deeply into the murder of 23-year-old Elizabeth Short . . . a riveting ‘must read’ for true crime aficionados.” —Ivor Davis, author of The Devil in My Friend and Manson Exposed
Eli Frankel has served as a production company owner, Emmy-nominated executive producer, network executive, showrunner, editor, camera operator, writer, and director of multiple series for broadcast television, cable television, and streaming networks. He created and executive produced MGM/Epix’s award winning Manson Family documentary series “Helter Skelter,” NBCU’s “Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian,” and Netflix’s “Skin Decision” and has worked on series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Big Brother,” and many more. A former CBS executive and graduate of the University of Southern California’s distinguished School of Cinema/Television film production program, he wrote, directed, and co-produced the feature film 21, which was selected for the Independent Feature Film Market at the New York Film Festival and won the best picture award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. As an avid true crime researcher and writer, he devoted more than five years to solving the mystery of who killed the Black Dahlia. He lives in Los Angeles and can be reached at eli-frankel.com.
Eli Frankel View titles by Eli Frankel

About

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.

Praise

Praise for Sisters in Death

“Frankel presents a thorough investigation of the Black Dahlia case, the murder of Elizabeth Short in L.A. in the early days of 1947. Considering police records, new evidence, personal letters, interviews with still-living witnesses, and descendants, he puts together a puzzle that leads back six years earlier to the murder of Leila Welsh in Kansas City in 1941. With a gripping, swiftly paced narrative and an excellent comparison of both cases, Sisters in Death is a welcome addition to the lore of the Black Dahlia that will appeal to true-crime aficionados.” —Booklist, STARRED Review

“The gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short (1924–47) in Los Angeles in January 1947 sparked an intensive search. Despite the best efforts of the police, what came to be called the Black Dahlia case remains unsolved to this day. In his first book, true-crime researcher Frankel dives deep into Short’s murder. Following long-forgotten leads, he analyzes police files and archives and interviews with deceased participants’ descendants, one with the woman who discovered Short’s body. The name of a prime suspect emerged in both Short’s murder and one from six years earlier in another state. Raised on a small farm in Missouri, Leila Welsh was an attractive and popular young woman from a respectable family. In March 1941, Welsh was murdered in her sleep. Her brother was tried and acquitted in the slaying. Officially, the case remains open. Frankel lays out why he believes one man is responsible for the eerily similar murders. VERDICT Based on extensive new research and interviews, this highly readable account sheds new light on the hunt for the Black Dahlia’s murderer.” —Library Journal

“Gripping and chilling . . . will change everything you thought you knew about the Black Dahlia.” —Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Meticulous and exhaustive . . . an essential read for any true crime fan.” —Katherine Ramsland, author of Confession of a Serial Killer, the Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer

“Fresh and illuminating; methodical, probing and gracefully written . . . the essential book on this perennially fascinating case.” —T.J. English, New York Times bestselling author of Havana Nocturne, Dangerous Rhythms, and The Last Kilo

“Exhaustively researched, deftly written . . .makes a convincing argument for author Eli Frankel's ghastly conclusion.” —Jeff Guinn, New York Times bestselling author of Manson and The Road to Jonestown

“Forget what you think you know about the Black Dahlia. The truth is even more terrifying!” —Casey Sherman, New York Times bestselling author of A Murder in Hollywood

“A stunning new take that delves deeply into the murder of 23-year-old Elizabeth Short . . . a riveting ‘must read’ for true crime aficionados.” —Ivor Davis, author of The Devil in My Friend and Manson Exposed

Author

Eli Frankel has served as a production company owner, Emmy-nominated executive producer, network executive, showrunner, editor, camera operator, writer, and director of multiple series for broadcast television, cable television, and streaming networks. He created and executive produced MGM/Epix’s award winning Manson Family documentary series “Helter Skelter,” NBCU’s “Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian,” and Netflix’s “Skin Decision” and has worked on series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Big Brother,” and many more. A former CBS executive and graduate of the University of Southern California’s distinguished School of Cinema/Television film production program, he wrote, directed, and co-produced the feature film 21, which was selected for the Independent Feature Film Market at the New York Film Festival and won the best picture award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. As an avid true crime researcher and writer, he devoted more than five years to solving the mystery of who killed the Black Dahlia. He lives in Los Angeles and can be reached at eli-frankel.com.
Eli Frankel View titles by Eli Frankel

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