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1.51k reviews for:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Curt Gentry, Vincent Bugliosi
4.05 AVERAGE
1.51k reviews for:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Curt Gentry, Vincent Bugliosi
4.05 AVERAGE
"It was so quiet, one of the killers would later say, you could almost hear the sound of ice rattling in cocktail shakers in the homes way down in the canyon. The canyons above Hollywood and Beverly Hills play tricks with sounds. A noise clearly audible a mile away may be indistinguishable at a few hundred feet. It was hot that night."
It's fair to assume that everyone knows who Charles Manson was. In 1969, the Tate-LaBianca murders left Los Angeles paranoid and wondering how one man can manipulate young seemingly innocent kids to murder several people in cold blood. Because Bugliosi was the prosecutor, he and Gentry are able to delve into the case in so much detail (I mean it: this is probably not for true crime beginners), drawing you in immediately by starting with the night of the murders and slowly building the puzzle one piece at a time.
"Was there some reason why you placed your finger on the bloody button that operated the gate?"
[Police officer:] "So that I could go through the gate."
In addition to the obvious feeling of being horrified about the murders, the second strongest feeling was frustration. The police made mistakes from the beginning. Items at the murder scene were moved, officers were stepping on blood, some idiots babbled to the reporters ("It looked ritualistic"), a 10-year-old boy who found a gun handled it better than the officer who touched it all over the place etc. I know it was the 60s, but how devoid of common sense can a human being be? Makes you think whether they messed up other cases to the extent that they were never solved.
The press was no better: they printed rumors and straight up made up stuff, certain things like the drug aspect were exaggerated, some stories were victim blaming etc.
Manson was a delusional POS, but his followers were no better. Yes, they were indoctrinated and controlled with drugs etc., but they weren't innocent little children, stand-up guys or daddy's little angels. Manson just knew which strings to pull, what his cohorts' weaknesses were, and how to take advantage of their nasty sides. Within two years after he was released from prison the last time, he had his Family and they were ready to graduate to murder.
3.5:
-0.5 V dense
-1.0 Ok Ok I get it, Bugliosi, you’re a true American Hero
-0.5 V dense
-1.0 Ok Ok I get it, Bugliosi, you’re a true American Hero
dark
informative
slow-paced
Way too long. And a bit too much bouncing around in the timeline.
Re-read this after many years. This is a classic, of course, for the True Crime devotees like myself (probably not the healthiest literary addiction, but hey)
informative
medium-paced
While written by the main prosecutor, I found the book well-written and as unbiased as he possibly could have been, keeping to the main facts and acknowledging issues that arose during the case. I find that many write Charlie Manson as some demon-esque human, Bugliosi was matter-of-fact when speaking of Charles and the Family, which was refreshing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
This is not merely a detailed account of the Manson murders and the Manson family (it does a great job of this, by the way).
I found this book particularly interesting because it showed the investigative role that Bugliosi, as the prosecuting attorney, played in the case. It showed the side of being a lawyer that most of the public doesn't realize goes on. I consider it a book that's partly about the Manson murders and partly about the investigative role of a prosecuting attorney.
I found this book particularly interesting because it showed the investigative role that Bugliosi, as the prosecuting attorney, played in the case. It showed the side of being a lawyer that most of the public doesn't realize goes on. I consider it a book that's partly about the Manson murders and partly about the investigative role of a prosecuting attorney.
Extremely informative and surprisingly humorous due to Bugliosi's particular brand of dry wit, this is truly one of the best true crime books ever written about one of the most sensational spree of murders ever committed.
Prior to reading this book, I knew very little about Charles Manson, his groupies, and the destruction he created. This book is HIGHLY informative, but at times it does get a little bit long-winded and redundant (I try to keep in mind that the author was the prosecutor who spent a year and a half of his life consumed by this case). If you have any interest in learning more about this topic, this is definitely the book to read - just make sure that you have the time to do it (it's a long one!!!!). If you have a weak stomach or are prone to nightmares, then I'd skip it....
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
a reread that reminded me of the dangers of listening to the beatles