One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel by Fauna Hodel

You've likely heard of the Black Dahlia murder, but did you know that one of the prime suspects, George Hodel, had a granddaughter placed for adoption?

Thus begins the story of Fauna Hodel. Her mother, Tamar, claimed that Fauna's father was Black and so Fauna was raised by a Black family in the 1950s. However, as Fauna grows she fails to "darken" as all expected her to as a mixed race child. Facing bigotry, poverty, problems with alcohol, and abuse, Fauna dreams of her biological family. Finally, she seeks them out but learns more than she bargained for.

While a compelling story, the style of the story as a novel calls into question the methodology of the writing. Conversations Fauna was not present for are explored in great detail and her adopted mother is not portrayed as a forthcoming woman so one wonders how Fauna learned such details.

An interesting, if uncomfortable at times, read that is sure to tantalize true crime fans. 

One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel by Fauna Hodel, Graymalkin Media; Reprint edition