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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
By far the best book I have ever read. This is nonfiction that reads like a fast-paced thriller. Bugliosi was just such a brilliant mind, I can't imagine any book coming close to this for me.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
I was prepared to have nightmares while reading this book but it was actually ok! I enjoy fiction trial books and the fact that this one was about a real case made it that much more cool. :) I am hoping to do more reading on Charles Manson in the future - he's scary and fascinating all at the same time!
I really enjoyed hearing the true facts of Manson’s crimes. The fact it was written by the man who prosecuted the trial really made me feel like I had the truth in my hands. The only reason I couldn’t give it five stars was the fact it was so repetitive. Mr. Bugliosi could have cut about 100 pages if he took away all the parts where he repeated himself.
I've read 2 of Vincent Bugliosi's books and while I have thought both stories were amazing and fascinating the writing style was too off-putting to enjoy. He writes like he's an attorney. It doesn't bode well for mainstream reading.
No crime has stuck in the collective conscious in quite the same way as the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, and five other innocent people over the course of two bloody nights in August 1969. The murders were exceptional for their scale, their brutality, and their randomness. When Charles Manson and four members of his "Family" were indicted for the crimes, they set off the longest criminal trial in United States history, and dominated headlines across the country for more than two years.
Vincent Bugliosi was the lead prosecutor on the case, and in Helter Skelter he takes the reader from the night of the first killings through the infamous trial. Bugliosi addresses the police investigation, both what they bungled and what they got right, and goes into detail on what must have been the most frustrating trial a lawyer has worked. This isn't a whodunit, or solving a cold case. You know exactly what happened, and who did it. But the details, how things almost went wrong, and how many more people could have died, will astound you.
Vincent Bugliosi was the lead prosecutor on the case, and in Helter Skelter he takes the reader from the night of the first killings through the infamous trial. Bugliosi addresses the police investigation, both what they bungled and what they got right, and goes into detail on what must have been the most frustrating trial a lawyer has worked. This isn't a whodunit, or solving a cold case. You know exactly what happened, and who did it. But the details, how things almost went wrong, and how many more people could have died, will astound you.
I thought I knew about Manson and "his family". I mean we've all heard about him and know who he is. We can all probably pick his photo out of a lineup. I've seen and heard plenty about the girls involved too, even though the Tate Murder's happened before I was even born.
I was wrong. I guess Manson was even worse than I ever imagined. In some ways I'm glad I was way too young (I was born about when his trial stated) to experience his crimes. In other ways, I admit, it would have been interesting (for lack of a better word) to see how all of this was playing out in the public. How people actually view Manson and his family.
I had no idea about the other murders. I had no idea about Manson's earlier life. I had no idea how big the family was.
What shocked me most wasn't about Manson and the family itself (although I was amazed and left speechless by parts of this novel). The police and how they handled all of this is what shocked me the most. I know police procedure has came a long way since these murders happened (or so I hope it has) but I am still appalled at what took place. How many instances of police who conducted interviews and never noted the interviews or let commanding officers know about them. About tips from other departments or the public that officers took upon themselves to ignore and not make mention of. Refusal to share evidence/tips between other departments. Refusal to investigate period, just because an officer couldn't be arsed. Loss of evidence. The list just goes on and on...
If you're interested in crime, or the justice system, or just crazy ass fuckers like Manson and his family, well, I suggest you read this book and forget about what you think you know about the case...
I was wrong. I guess Manson was even worse than I ever imagined. In some ways I'm glad I was way too young (I was born about when his trial stated) to experience his crimes. In other ways, I admit, it would have been interesting (for lack of a better word) to see how all of this was playing out in the public. How people actually view Manson and his family.
I had no idea about the other murders. I had no idea about Manson's earlier life. I had no idea how big the family was.
What shocked me most wasn't about Manson and the family itself (although I was amazed and left speechless by parts of this novel). The police and how they handled all of this is what shocked me the most. I know police procedure has came a long way since these murders happened (or so I hope it has) but I am still appalled at what took place. How many instances of police who conducted interviews and never noted the interviews or let commanding officers know about them. About tips from other departments or the public that officers took upon themselves to ignore and not make mention of. Refusal to share evidence/tips between other departments. Refusal to investigate period, just because an officer couldn't be arsed. Loss of evidence. The list just goes on and on...
If you're interested in crime, or the justice system, or just crazy ass fuckers like Manson and his family, well, I suggest you read this book and forget about what you think you know about the case...
I wonder if today's audience is as shocked at this book as I was many years ago. Far worse things have happened since. Still, anyone who is interested in true crime should read this classic of the genre. (I wanted to say "enjoys true crime". That sounds too creepy.)
The reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt Bugliosi painted himself in a very positive light, like he was the shining hero of the piece because he got a conviction. I guess I can't really fault a prosecuting attorney for excess ego.
The reason I didn't give it five stars is that I felt Bugliosi painted himself in a very positive light, like he was the shining hero of the piece because he got a conviction. I guess I can't really fault a prosecuting attorney for excess ego.
Just finished for the third time. Still makes me paranoid for a week.