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J R Briamonte
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One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel Kindle Edition

by J R Briamonte (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 574 ratings
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The inspiration for the TNT TV series I Am the Night.

The Black Dahlia Murder is near-legend in the annals of true crime. But behind the shocking case of a young actress’s gruesome slaying lies the story of another woman.

Was Fauna Hodel the child of incest, and the catalyst for a sensational trial that left her well-to-do family scarred by scandal, even as the accused sexual predator walked free? Taken as an infant from her teenage mother, Fauna was placed in the care of a working-class black woman, who raised the white child as her own.

Together, as a close-knit mother and daughter, they weathered years of poverty and bigotry, alcoholism and sexual abuse, pregnancy and even death—until the time came for Fauna to seek out her real mother, and uncover her lost past.

But as Fauna will learn, some truths don’t want to be told.

Now includes an 8-page photo insert from Fauna's personal collection.

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  1. Print length
    348 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 7, 2019
  5. File size
    3146 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Haunting, poignant, and heart-wrenching. The stuff of which movies are made. --Cliff Rothman "contributor, Vanity Fair"

[A] gripping memoir. --The New York Times

From the Back Cover

The inspiration for the TNT TV series I Am the Night.

The Black Dahlia Murder is near-legend in the annals of true crime. But behind the shocking case of a young actress's gruesome slaying lies the story of another woman.

Was Fauna Hodel the child of incest, and the catalyst for a sensational trial that left her well-to-do family scarred by scandal, even as the accused sexual predator walked free? Taken as an infant from her teenage mother, Fauna was placed in the care of a working-class black woman, who raised the white child as her own.

Together, as a close-knit mother and daughter, they weathered years of poverty and bigotry, alcoholism and sexual abuse, pregnancy and even death"€"until the time came for Fauna to seek out her real mother, and uncover her lost past.

But as Fauna will learn, some truths don't want to be told.

Now includes an 8-page photo insert from Fauna's personal collection.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MLXGYF8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Graymalkin Media, LLC (January 7, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3146 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 574 ratings

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J R Briamonte

J R Briamonte

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
574 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Molly
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2019
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It was nothing like I expected, not the story of a serial killer as much as bittersweet insight to the drama and heartache stemming from biased opinions of impoverished black and wealthy white children. The writing style and emotional convictions are an insightful and thought inspiring revelation into social norms and how they influence and threaten to crush those who rebel against them. fauna, her adopted and biological mother rebelled as best they could, fractured but not broken by the weight of their It was nothing like I expected, not the story of a serial killer as much as bittersweet insight to the drama and heartache stemming from biased opinions of impoverished black and wealthy white children. The writing style and emotional convictions are an insightful and thought inspiring revelation into social norms and how they influence and threaten to crush those who rebel against them. fauna, her adopted and biological mother rebelled as best they could, fractured but not broken by the weight of their individual burdens. individual burdens that weighed heavily on their hearts but also tempered their strengths.
20 people found this helpful
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Mr. McCarthy
4.0 out of 5 stars Could not put this book down
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019
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This well-written and absoring book reveals considerable insight into the experience of one caught between two worlds, not fully accepted by either. I noticed this book was tied in to a recent thriller TV miniseries inspired by it's contents. I read it before the series so I could then compare. The book relates a gripping story of growing up with a biracial identity whilst adopted into a Black American family at the end of the segregation era. Social pressures, cultural rejection and societal changes in the 1960s lead the author to explore her birth origins. And that's where the weirdness begins! As the author unravels the bizarre origins of her birth and adoption, she stumbles upon her link to a notorious family of wealth and privilege. The author's reconciliation of her identity leads her to embrace a spiritually unique mission for her life. This book is worth your time.
12 people found this helpful
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Melusina
5.0 out of 5 stars It’s also an incredible story of Race and struggle to fit in
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2019
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Fantastic!!I can’t put this book DOWN!! Fantastic, back story to I Am The Night On tnt. Great story and back info on George Hodel, granddaughter who’s white, but was raised by single, black lady in the 60”s. The story how she got adopted, is unbelievable.
It’s a very good read n I’m re learning about the Black Dahlia murder, too.......
2 people found this helpful
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Vicki L
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story, but needs an editor
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
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I wanted to love this book because I'm enjoying the series "I Am the Night" so much. I knew the series was "inspired" by the life of Fauna Hodel, meaning that it wasn't going to be a documentary. However, I just found the book to be very rambling and a bit hard to follow. I'm glad to have read it because the series made me wonder about the person behind it, but the writing could have REALLY been tightened up.
13 people found this helpful
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MC
5.0 out of 5 stars She’s not the only one!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019
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This book was amazing! I grew up much like Fauna and had to fight both sides of the racial inequities. Reading this book took me on a journey of my own life. Fighting for my place in the midst of the civil rights era and not knowing where I fit in was extremely difficult and being told I was mullato meant nothing. My favorite movie has always been Imitation of Life much like Fauna because we could relate to it. Sixty three years after my birth, via Ancestry, to find out that I am 83% Caucasian and having no one still alive to explain this to me is heart wrenching. All I have is why?
32 people found this helpful
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Catadiana
5.0 out of 5 stars A true story
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2019
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Once the book was opened, I couldn't put it down. It is written by the victim of a horrendous situation. It tracks her efforts and frustrations while trying to understand her biological and familial truth. It was so compelling that now I have read her Uncle's account from his law enforcement point of view. She wants to know her biological mother, but she gets much more information than she could have imagined. Read it!
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars review
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2023
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Very interesting story. I would say Jimmie was crazy or bipolar but did a good job of raising Fauna, and god bless Homer.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars a real person overcoming extreme adversity
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2010
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I am an ordinary person reviewing an extraordinary book. The book is called " One Day She'll Darken, The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel" It was a story that was so compelling I literally would be up until late at night reading. Her story is amazing & truly one of a kind. The adversity she faces from reverse prejudice to an abusive adoptive mother, it is amazing that she became such an articulate writer. I found myself rooting for her to succeed all through the book as she went through so many highs & lows....i then began to research her background & discovered the Black Dahlia murders. She had this whole dramatic past & was living a very dramatic present... I highly recommend this book!
33 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Rachel A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2020
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I learned about this book from the podcast Root of Evil (created by Fauna's daughters). This is an incredibly well written novel that chronicles an incredibly dark and twisted family secret. I can't say enough good things about this book. If you like psychological novels, this is right up your alley.
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AMRK
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in France on June 17, 2020
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I wad hoping to find out the real family history behind Fauna's birth. Instead it was just about her fractured relationship with her adopted mother, her mother's family and her early life in a black community. I feel that I have not recieved any answers as to who she really was and what happened after her mother's death. Too many unanswered questions for my liking. Oh and the book could have done with being edited better as lot's of grammatical mistakes.
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Pat Fournier
5.0 out of 5 stars It’s a book
Reviewed in Canada on March 15, 2019
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It’s a book, what else would I use it for but to read. Really?
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Shelly Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating read.
Reviewed in Canada on August 1, 2019
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A great read. Heavy subject.
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Penny
1.0 out of 5 stars Garbage
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2019
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Not worth the read! I found this book to be misleading in it's review. It paints the character Jimmie Lee as a drunken, needy, selfish, whore. Fauna was not the reason for the book as I see it.
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