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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
I have never read a true crime book and this was definitely a big one to take on. I read "The Girls" by Emma Cline and "American Girls" by Alison Umminger and was intrigued to learn more about these absolutely heinous crimes in our country's history. I learned a lot and I am deeply disturbed. I will read more by Bugliosi as his writing is engrossing and perfect for this type of unimaginable story.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
Very long and thorough - Manson's power over the Family was absolutely amazing. Bugliosi takes you through the case beginning from the morning after the murders through the end of the trial and 25 years after - and not a detail or question is left unanswered. Deeply engrossing and morbidly entertaining.
Although lengthy, I found it extremely fascinating to learn about the Manson murders from the person who prosecuted them.
Amazingly enough (especially considering my interest in the macabre), I had never before picked up this classic true crime account of the Manson Murders. I’m pleased to say that I have rectified that deficiency, and that I was not disappointed in the least.
Bugliosi (who was also the lead prosecutor of Manson and his co-defendants) begins the 600+ page book with the Tate murders themselves. We follow the housekeeper as she enters the property to begin her day, the trauma of the bodies being discovered, and the movements of the police who first entered the scene. We are next led along to the LaBianca murder scene (the murder of an elderly couple also committed by Manson’s “Family”). From these two bloodbaths, Bugliosi takes the reader along through the (occasionally horribly bungled) police investigation, letting us walk along with investigators as they try to make sense of such seemingly senseless killings.
As I said earlier, Bugliosi was the lead prosecutor of the case (and occasional investigator). This is certainly in evidence as Bugliosi approaches “Helter Skelter” like a trial in and of itself. Physical evidence, witness statements, and paper trails are carefully presented and thoroughly dissected for the reader. The sheer weight of evidence eventually brought together against Manson and his family is presented here in largely chronological order, and shows just how completely Bugliosi throws himself into his work. There is a good reason why Helter Skelter is considered one of the best true crime books written (easily up there with Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood).
So, grab this book and read it. For such a hefty tome, it goes by very quickly. Bugliosi’s style is intense, but highly readable. Any one who is interested in true crime will obviously love this book, but even if that isn’t your usual genre, this is a compelling read about a charismatic madman and the incredible influence he had, not only on his followers, but on the country as a whole.
more reviews on my blog
www.theirregularreaderblog.wordpress.com
Bugliosi (who was also the lead prosecutor of Manson and his co-defendants) begins the 600+ page book with the Tate murders themselves. We follow the housekeeper as she enters the property to begin her day, the trauma of the bodies being discovered, and the movements of the police who first entered the scene. We are next led along to the LaBianca murder scene (the murder of an elderly couple also committed by Manson’s “Family”). From these two bloodbaths, Bugliosi takes the reader along through the (occasionally horribly bungled) police investigation, letting us walk along with investigators as they try to make sense of such seemingly senseless killings.
As I said earlier, Bugliosi was the lead prosecutor of the case (and occasional investigator). This is certainly in evidence as Bugliosi approaches “Helter Skelter” like a trial in and of itself. Physical evidence, witness statements, and paper trails are carefully presented and thoroughly dissected for the reader. The sheer weight of evidence eventually brought together against Manson and his family is presented here in largely chronological order, and shows just how completely Bugliosi throws himself into his work. There is a good reason why Helter Skelter is considered one of the best true crime books written (easily up there with Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood).
So, grab this book and read it. For such a hefty tome, it goes by very quickly. Bugliosi’s style is intense, but highly readable. Any one who is interested in true crime will obviously love this book, but even if that isn’t your usual genre, this is a compelling read about a charismatic madman and the incredible influence he had, not only on his followers, but on the country as a whole.
more reviews on my blog
www.theirregularreaderblog.wordpress.com
dark
informative
slow-paced
Most of us have heard of the Manson murders and know the basics-beautiful movie star and friends killed by followers of Charles Manson’s cult. The story goes much further than that, and this book captures every detail, from the moment Manson first created a following to the eventual sentencing of him and his family members. Bugliosi was the primary prosecutor on the case, and retells the trial in finite detail. It’s a story that is both terrifying and fascinating, and will convince you to triple check the locks on your doors and windows before you go to sleep at night.
This was a book I thought I read in high school but hadn't. I picked it up to read as my "fun" read (insert any number of jokes here about why I consider this fun reading), and I blew through it in a few days. Couldn't put it down, really. I'm not a big serial killer/cult fanatic, probably have the same level of interest as your average person, and I knew some of the story about Manson and the murders, because I live in America and am 41 and you can't really escape that. But wowie zowie Bugliosi puts it all together in such a fantastically-paced and thorough way.
Perhaps the best thing I learned by reading this book: Cops are idiots and incompetent. Maybe that doesn't count as "learning" if you already know this, like I did. So maybe file it under "things that will be confirmed by reading this book." Really, though, the ineptitude of the LAPD and adjacent units was MONUMENTAL, like, I was AGHAST at points and had to read passages out loud to my wife.
I am truly dying to watch some documentaries about the women in the Family. I'm very interested in what they think about their experiences, now. Kate is almost done reading this so I'm waiting for her for that. Since this was written so soon after the trials, I'm looking forward to some winter afternoons on the couch with Netflix and more current takes on this episode of American history.
Perhaps the best thing I learned by reading this book: Cops are idiots and incompetent. Maybe that doesn't count as "learning" if you already know this, like I did. So maybe file it under "things that will be confirmed by reading this book." Really, though, the ineptitude of the LAPD and adjacent units was MONUMENTAL, like, I was AGHAST at points and had to read passages out loud to my wife.
I am truly dying to watch some documentaries about the women in the Family. I'm very interested in what they think about their experiences, now. Kate is almost done reading this so I'm waiting for her for that. Since this was written so soon after the trials, I'm looking forward to some winter afternoons on the couch with Netflix and more current takes on this episode of American history.