Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy. Finish the book before reading on.
- In the prologue Bucky says Elizabeth Short is "at best a could-have-been -- a tag that might equally apply to me." Is this an accurate statement?
- What is the significance of the nicknames "Mr. Fire" and "Mr. Ice?"
- How does the Blanchard-Bleichert story apply to the Black Dahlia mystery? Why does Ellroy start there?
- What was your opinion of Lee at the beginning of The Black Dahlia? How does it change as Bucky finds out more about him? Was Lee a good guy or a bad guy? What is the best thing he did? The worst?
- What was your opinion of Bucky at the beginning of The Black Dahlia? How does it change throughout the novel? In the end, do you like or dislike Bucky?
- What drives Bucky? Fame? Success? Something else? Why isn't he able to keep fame and success long term? Do you think he will be able to hold onto love long term?
- In the beginning Bucky is not interested in the dahlia case. He requests to be transferred back to Warrants several times. What changes? At what point does the dahlia become an obsession?
- Why does the dahlia become an obsession for Bucky, Lee and so many others?
- Why does Bucky's marriage fall apart? In what ways are Kay and Bucky playing roles? Is their relationship built on lies?
- Why does Bucky believe Madeleine's alibi? Why is he drawn to her?
- Why does Madeleine continue to impersonate Elizabeth?
- Were you surprised by the solution to the dahlia murder? Why do you think Bucky chooses private justice?
- Why does Bucky let Ramona off free? Do you think that was the right decision?
- Why does Bucky turn Madeleine in even though it is his downfall as an officer? Why does he make her pay and not Ramona?
- As Bucky heads back to Kay he says "she had to know it was Elizabeth Short who was giving us our second chance." What does this mean?
- Rate The Black Dahlia on a scale of 1 to 5.
