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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
The lead prosecuting attorney's account of the Tate and LaBianca murders and subsequent trial.
I was hoping this would be more like In Cold Blood, so I was a bit let down, but I still found it to be an illuminating look into some of the less-well publicized details surrounding how the suspects were ID'd and how the cases unfolded. The best parts were when Bugliosi entered the story and could provide a firsthand account.
A note on the audiobook: If I were his publisher, I would go back and have Bugliosi narrate the whole thing. It's short enough. The clip of his voice at the end felt more personal than the narrator. The audiobook made some strange sound effect choices too... those should be removed.
I was hoping this would be more like In Cold Blood, so I was a bit let down, but I still found it to be an illuminating look into some of the less-well publicized details surrounding how the suspects were ID'd and how the cases unfolded. The best parts were when Bugliosi entered the story and could provide a firsthand account.
A note on the audiobook: If I were his publisher, I would go back and have Bugliosi narrate the whole thing. It's short enough. The clip of his voice at the end felt more personal than the narrator. The audiobook made some strange sound effect choices too... those should be removed.
I tried to read this as a kid and it was too long and I got bogged down in all the legal procedure. Upon second reading I realize it's actually a fairly concise telling of a huge sprawling narrative. By now it's a pretty familiar story. People are gullible and stupid. Little Charlie was a charmer. And gullible stupid people end up doing the dumb shit that gullible stupid people who join cults do. It was interesting to learn about Manson's fucked up motive, how insane some of the women were, and that the Family was WAY bigger than the scumbags that got arrested for the Tate-LaBianca murders. And Manson was into Scientology (of course). Also dune buggies.
Read like a true crime podcast and learned some things I didn’t know about the events that took place. An enjoyable (as enjoyable as something as horrible as this topic can be) quick read that kept me engaged.
Very intense read, obviously, but a surprisingly quick read. It's a real remarkable true crime book bc I think the strength of both authors: one helps the story move along and drives it plot and characterization-wise. Bugliosi's expertise as the DA on the case gives an amazing inside look at his trial process and how much work he put into his own investigation of the murders. My addition had his thoughts in 1994, but I'd be fascinated to know his thoughts now, post 9-11 and various school shootings.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Read my full review on my blog.
"Helter Skelter definitely interested me. Granted, it kind of grossed me out in the beginning there, but once we actually got to the part about Manson and his followers, I was fascinated."
"Helter Skelter definitely interested me. Granted, it kind of grossed me out in the beginning there, but once we actually got to the part about Manson and his followers, I was fascinated."
I think potentially I would have liked this more if I liked the narrator of the audiobook more. But very detailed, and a good explanation of the story.
Oh this is some crazy shit! This huge volume takes forever to read but it's so worth the time.