In Los Angeles to help launch a West Coast branch of his detective agency, Chicago private detective Nathan Heller becomes caught up in the notorious Black Dahlia homicide when he discovers that the victim, Elizabeth Short, is a young woman whom he had known in Chicago and who had contacted him shortly before her death. Nathan Heller, founder and president of Chicago's A-1 Detective Agency, is in Los Angeles in 1947 to forge a partnership with Fred Bradbury, an ex-Chicago cop running a small detective business. Nate is also on a honeymoon with his new bride, Peggy, who has visions of Hollywood stardom. Heller is schmoozing with a Herald-Examiner reporter when the scribe picks up a possible homicide alert on his police-band radio. That's how Heller finds himself on the scene of what will become L.A.s' most famous officially unsolved murder: the Black Dahlia case. The victim is a beautiful young women who was tortured, raped, drained of fluids, cut in two, and dumped in a vacant lot. The victim is initially unknown to the cops, but not to Heller. She's Elizabeth Short, with whom Heller had a recent affair before marrying Peggy. A couple days earlier Short contacted Heller with news of her pregnancy--by him. If the cops knew, Heller would be their top suspect, so while he assists in the investigation, he also covers up his relationship with the victim. But Heller also has a theory about the crime: that it was not strictly a sex crime but a Mob-orchestrated execution staged to send a message. The Nate Heller historical crime novels consistently mesmerize with their carefully researched period detail--noir meets the History Channel--and their unique, alternative solutions to famous crimes. Collins' take on the Black Dahlia may be less brooding and less experimental than James Ellroy's version ( The Blue Dahlia , 1987), but it's also more entertaining and will appeal to a wider audience of mainstream historical mystery fans. Wes Lukowsky Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved ...a harrowing, hard-driving and well-researched tale that ranks among the best work he's ever done. -- January Magazine A remarkable series. -- Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Collins' take on the Black Dahlia may be less brooding...than James Ellroy's version but it's also more entertaining.... -- Booklist , March 1, 2001 Highly entertaining. -- Los Angeles Times No one can twist you through a maze with as much intensity and suspense as Collins. -- Clive Cussler Refreshingly gritty. (Publishers Weekly (starred review)) -- Publishers Weekly Riveting...Collins masterfully blends fact and fiction into a compelling tale that transcends the historical thriller. -- Jeffery Deaver The yardstick against which further work of true-crime fiction will be measured. -- Lawrence Block