Severed: The True Story of the Black Dahlia Murder Paperback – September 15, 2006

I've read a few books on this case. This book is the best of the lot in adding information relevant to the psychology of victim and perpetrator. The central point is that Short seems to have suffered from androgen insensitivity syndrome. In this disorder a genetic male produces the male hormones, androgens, but they have no effect, or little effect, on cellular receptor sites. This typically results in a highly feminine phenotypic female, because the estrogens that all normal people produce are left unimpeded by androgens. Yet she is infertile because in utero, as a genetic male with fetal testes, she produced another hormone, Mullerian inhibiting substance, that prevents the internal female genitalia from developing. Therefore no uterus is present, and the only part of the vagina that develops is the outer third, which forms from invagination from the surface of the body. The male internal genitalia such as the prostate and vasa deferrentia don't develop in the absence of effective androgens. Now, think of the psychological consequences: the woman can't have vaginal intercourse, does not menstruate, and yet is highly attractive. Does this fit Short? Indeed, she was described as having little or no pubic hair, which is consistent with low or absent androgens. She refers to menstruating, but perhaps her begging off sex on grounds of having her period was just a ploy to avoid revealing her anatomical shortcomings (no pun intended). She was highly feminine and attractive in appearance. She talked about getting married but must have realized that she was infertile, and of course never did marry. Her sexual activities seem mainly to have involved administering oral sex. Imagine her state of mind! She was attracted to men, flirted with them, dated them constantly, and yet nothing enduring came of these encounters. Her mother must have known of her not reaching menarche, but perhaps the mother didn't know what to make of that. Evidently Short did not have a pelvic exam by a doctor prior to her death. This condition was not well understood at the time. So I think these medical details are important in understanding her behavior, which is well described in this book. However, theoretical interpretation of the kind I am suggesting is slim. Now for the motivation of the murderer: whoever the murderer was, we can glimpse his possible motivation. Like other hopeful lovers, he may have expected sexual intercourse with her. He must have reacted violently, much as a transsexual woman might be attacked by a sexually thwarted male acting out of frustration and revulsion. The murderer seems to have cut an incision in Short's abdomen above the pubic bone as a sort of artificial vagina. Perhaps slitting her mouth laterally derived from a similar inclination. The other wounds were probably gratuitous and without specifically sexual significance. Anyway, that's what I make of the case from the point of view of a psychology professor. I think the actual identity of the killer is less interesting than his motivation. The book does not explore his motivation, but does add valuable information about a possible killer and, again, Elisabeth's behavior. The book is somewhat hard to follow, and the writing is amateurish. The author needed a good editor.

I finished Severed in about a day and found it very engaging. The writing style was smooth without being too literate and ponderous. The factual information regarding Beth Short's perambulations and cross country travels were well researched, especially considering it all happened in the 40's. As a matter of fact I found it interesting that so much of her whereabouts were known since she seemed to get around so much. The facts regarding the nature of the crime and subsequent investigation were also well documented. I thought the crime and autopsy photos enhanced rather than detracted from the story. A picture says a thousand words and that certainly applies in this case. (Note-the pics are extremely graphic and not for the squeamish) I agree with other reviewers that more of a timeline could've been developed with specific dates laid down, assuming these were known. Like most true crime writers documenting a case in which the killer is unknown, Gilmore feels it necessary to provide his own idea of the killer. In this book he provides us with a shady character named Wilson, aka Smith who Gilmore meets along with some other unsavory individuals in an apartment. Why or how Gilmore is there in the first place is not clear but apparently Wilson starts discussing the Dahlia case and Gilmore, acting as an informant over an undisclosed period of time, records Wilson on tape providing details of Short's murder as told to him, Wilson, by some other figure named Morrison who is then the assumed murderer. A bit confusing but the written transcript of the taped recordings is in the book. Is Wilson the Black Dahlia killer? Who knows, but I found one bit of interesting piece of info not in the book. In the book Gilmore describes how Wilson showed him a photo of Short and Wilson together, thereby at least establishing a link between the two people. However, at the Black Dahlia website Gilmore mentions that a photo Wilson showed him is of a naked girl whose face had been cut out of the picture and Gilmore assumes is Short. How can he be so sure it's her, and is this the photo that is supposed to link Short and Wilson together. Most likely the murderer of Beth Short will never be known just like who the real identity of Jack the Ripper is. Still, as an historical account of Beth Short's life/death and the followup investigation, this book tells the unvarnished true story.

I have read many short stories on Elizabeth Short but none as to the point as this book, even the photos which show more then I ever saw , sad to look at and graphic not for the squeemish, She had such a short life, and no one knows who killed her, I believe she was killed with somone with cutty skill.. a butcher, a suegeon, like Jack the Ripper. or HH Holms all has skill in the cadavier,as I looked at the photos all her insides were clearly taken out, the way she qwas cut a perfect round cut on the waste a amature could not cut so perfect, it had to be one with skill in that field of cutting, and taking her insides out and laying it near her body , it had to be one sick person to do such thing, no one deserves to die and be tortured the way she was, though many were suspects in her murder, no one was ever tried,, this man Hordell said his father did it he was a doctor,, maybe but no proof he took his secret to the grave but I would not be supprised cause why did he have Elizabeths social security card and her other belongings, strange maybe he was the killer he was a surgeon , had the skill to do it, all her blood was drained from her body only one with skill could do that,,, but one will never know csause DNA was not known back then , had it been now i'm sure the killer would of been found and tried for her murder,, RIP Elizabeth Short, It is the best book written on her so for all those who read her story this book saids it all...

This is a disturbing account of the unsolved murder of young Elizabeth Short, whose body was found cut in two on a vacant lot in 1947. She was a pretty aspiring actress and model, nicknamed "the Black Dahlia" even before her death by friends who used her dark black hair as a pun on a movie title, "the Blue Dahlia", and whose murder has inspired novels, films and documentaries. The authors father was a young police officer at the time of the murder, involved in some of the legwork concerned with the investigation, which remains unsolved to this day. Gilmore does a good job of recounting a biography of Elizabeth's short life - including her leaving home for the dream of becoming a Hollywood star.Overall, this is a tragic account of a young woman who never seemed to find comfort, security or success, but who remained hopeful of obtaining her dreams. Her transitory lifestyle meant it was difficult for the police to trace her last movements and her numerous, but not serious, boyfriends, meant they were all suspects in a case which baffled the authorities. Like many true crime books, the author attempts to 'solve' the crime and, although his arguments are certainly interesting and he makes a good case against one suspect in particular, it is impossible to say whether he is correct or not. This was a case in which the press and police seemed to be at odds with each other and, indeed, within themselves. The murder of a beautiful young woman in such a horrific way unleashed a media frenzy which seems not to have died down to this day. However, the extremely graphic illustrations in this book are a sobering return to reality, that this was not a mythical Hollywood story, but a real young woman who died horrifically. If you read true crime books, this seems a fairly balanced and unsensationalist account of a murder which still arouses interest.

Great read for people interested in this historical case. It included interesting information i was not previously aware of. Definitely worth a read for anyone who likes true life crimes.

This story reads like the best fiction, however, it is so much more because these are the words of real people. It is particularly powerful because the plight of our tragic heroine The Black Dahlia is all the more horrific.

Good book very well written

Very interesting informative read. I couldn't put the book down once I'd started reading and the photographs were shocking to say the least. If you're interested in true unsolved crimes like me you will love this book.