Reviews

A really long read as it just doesn’t flow. The author worked on this for 20 years and was sued by penguin for breach of contract for failing to provide the book in time, I suspect part of the delay is due to the author waiting for people he’s interviewing to pass away as he’d be sued again for some of the things he writes.
The entire book is a whole load of circumstantial things or urban myths and lacks a golden thread that ties them together.

charliewilbers's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious medium-paced

3.5

thewrittenword's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

One of the more intriguing and controversial titles of recent times, Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties is a riveting page-turner on what may have actually occurred with the infamous crimes committed by Charles Manson and his sinister group of followers dubbed the "Family" during the 1960s. Investigative reporter Tom O'Neill was given the task by Premiere magazine in 1999 to write an article on the 30th Anniversary of the Manson murders. Research into the dark topic led him further into a rabbit hole much deeper than he thought he could have imagined: the CIA, mind control, conspiracy, drugs, sexual debauchery, cover-ups, etc.., are among the surprising revelations he uncovered. With interviews and travels he was able to trace the chaotic and turbulent times that bred and cultivated such an inspired yet toxic environment which found reflection and embodiment in those affluent homes in suburban Los Angeles forever linked with tragedy during the fateful nights of the crimes.

Although he doesn't offer any final conclusion on what led to and really happened in the Tate-LaBianca murders, O'Neill opened a whole new world of possibility and speculation on one of the most notorious crimes in history. Brisk and well-paced this is a must read for fans of True Crime, History and Music.

toffeetink's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious medium-paced

5.0

keoc333's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective tense

3.5

cfernandez420's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

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