The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy (1987)
It was one of the most gruesome murder mysteries to sweep modern America, and Ellroy retells the story in gripping fashion. The year is 1947 in Los Angeles, where a beautiful young woman and aspiring actress is found drained of blood and cleanly bisected in half. The newspapers nickname her 'The Black Dahlia', in reference to neo-noir film The Blue Dahlia that was popular at the time. Two policemen become embroiled in the search for answers and a culprit, but along the way discover twisted details of the girl's life they didn't expect.