About

STEVE HODEL is a New York Times Bestselling author. He spent twenty-four years with the LAPD, where, as a homicide detective, he worked on more than three hundred murder cases and achieved one of the highest “solve rates” in the force. He is a licensed P.I. and author and his first book, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder was a NYT bestseller and was nominated for an MWA Edgar Award in the Best Fact category. Steve has written seven additional books: Most Evil, a Los Angeles Times bestseller and the recently published, Black Dahlia Avenger II, [2014], a sequel and an eight-year follow-up to his true-crime investigations. Most Evil II, BDA III, and most recently, The Early Years Parts I and II, presenting his father's suspected serial crimes in the 1920s and 30s. Steve will be presenting two separate PowerPoint talks summarizing his findings. His investigations, now in their twenty-second year, have been featured on: NBC Dateline, CBS 48-Hours, Court TV, A&E Bill Kurtis, Cold Case Files, CNN Anderson Cooper and the Discovery Channel. A potential docuseries is in production. Steve currently (2022) resides in Birch Bay, Washington.

Featured Work

Black Dahlia Avenger III

2018

In Black Dahlia Avenger III (2018) bestselling author and veteran homicide detective Steve Hodel presents his four-year follow-up investigation [2014-2018] into Los Angeles' 1947 Black Dahlia and other serially connected 1940s L.A. Lone Woman Murders.
 New evidence further establishing the killer’s ritualistic “Murder as a Fine Art” crime signature posing and mimicking of the victim’s body to the surrealist artworks of his close friend, and family photographer, Man Ray and Man Ray’s visual homage acknowledging his knowledge and recognizing George Hodel’s “artwork” three decades after the crime.

 Ten new chapters that include: A New Man Ray nexus; More Street Signage: “Catch Me If You Can”: A Walk Through the Willows; The Black Dahlia in LA LA Land; Reel Life Crimes in Hollywood; Tamar Nais Hodel— The Interview; Dr. George Hill Hodel—Hawaii, a New Life, a New Wife, and Modus Operandi (M.O.) in the 21st Century- Thoughtprints; Victim Summary Part I & II.
The AFTERWORD chapter presents a news breaking historic discovery, a "Dying Declaration" written in 1949, just two years after the Black Dahlia Murder by an LAPD paid police informant confirming and naming the killer as Dr. George Hodel.

Other Works

  • The Early Years Parts I and II: The Further Serial Crimes of George Hill Hodel M.D.

    2021

  • In The Mesquite: The Solving of the 1938 West Texas Kidnap Torture Murders of Hazel and Nancy Frome

    2019

  • Most Evil II: (Rare Bird Books )

    2015

  • Black DahliaAvenger II

    2014

  • A Genius for Murder: A Historical Dramatization in Three Acts

    2012

  • MOST EVIL: Avenger, Zodiac and the Further Serial Murders of Dr. George Hill Hodel (Dutton 2009)

    2009

  • Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder

    2003

Awards and Recognition

  • New York Times Bestseller
  • International Best Seller
  • New York Times Most Notable Book
  • New York Times bestselling author. Nominated for MWA Edgar in True Fact category.
  • Black Dahlia Avenger
  • Los Angeles Times Bestseller

Press and Media Mentions