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ladyk23 's review for:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
by Vincent Bugliosi
I've had this in my 'want to read' list for about two years, since my friend Christa read and reviewed it on her blog, but knowing very little about the Manson murders it was never top of my list. Having said that, when it came up in one of Audible's £3 sales, I snapped it up, and then it sat in my library waiting to have it's day in court so to speak.
It wasn't until it was picked as the next read in my true crime book club that that day finally came. And I have to say, that having watched Once Upon A Time In Hollywood since reading Christa's review and adding this book to my 'want to read' list, my interest in the subject matter had definitely risen.
However, it was only on listening to this story that I realised just how much I still didn't know about it. And more importantly, I had no idea JUST how BONKERS it all was.
For those who don't know, over the space of two nights in 1969 several murders were committed in Los Angeles - most notably that of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, and actress Sharon Tate - that baffled police. They seemed to be related, but not, and for a long time were investigated by two separate police departments who had no idea about the other murders similarities.
It's worth noting that the police investigation comes across as so unbelievably inept in this book, that I am honestly surprised that not only were the murderers eventually caught, but that they actually managed to prosecute them. So much was done wrong, or not done at all, it's honestly a wonder that Manson and his family were convicted at all.
It's also worth noting, and I know this is something Christa struggled with when reading the book, that this is a book very heavily based on the court case. It was written by the prosecutor for the trial in 1970 - Vincent Bugliosi - and so the majority of the book either takes place in the court or during the investigation into the murders, most of which he undertook himself because the police didn't have a clue what they were doing.
I don't know if maybe the audio format makes this stuff snappier than it was in writing but I really enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish. I loved finding out more about the case, hearing the background on Manson and the family, and all the drama that went on in court. I thought it was fascinating and crazy and I couldn't wait to hear what would happen next.
We've got our book club discussion coming up tomorrow and I'm excited to get to talk about it with others who have read it, and hear what they also thought. It's certainly one that won't leave me for a long time to come.
It wasn't until it was picked as the next read in my true crime book club that that day finally came. And I have to say, that having watched Once Upon A Time In Hollywood since reading Christa's review and adding this book to my 'want to read' list, my interest in the subject matter had definitely risen.
However, it was only on listening to this story that I realised just how much I still didn't know about it. And more importantly, I had no idea JUST how BONKERS it all was.
For those who don't know, over the space of two nights in 1969 several murders were committed in Los Angeles - most notably that of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, and actress Sharon Tate - that baffled police. They seemed to be related, but not, and for a long time were investigated by two separate police departments who had no idea about the other murders similarities.
It's worth noting that the police investigation comes across as so unbelievably inept in this book, that I am honestly surprised that not only were the murderers eventually caught, but that they actually managed to prosecute them. So much was done wrong, or not done at all, it's honestly a wonder that Manson and his family were convicted at all.
It's also worth noting, and I know this is something Christa struggled with when reading the book, that this is a book very heavily based on the court case. It was written by the prosecutor for the trial in 1970 - Vincent Bugliosi - and so the majority of the book either takes place in the court or during the investigation into the murders, most of which he undertook himself because the police didn't have a clue what they were doing.
I don't know if maybe the audio format makes this stuff snappier than it was in writing but I really enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish. I loved finding out more about the case, hearing the background on Manson and the family, and all the drama that went on in court. I thought it was fascinating and crazy and I couldn't wait to hear what would happen next.
We've got our book club discussion coming up tomorrow and I'm excited to get to talk about it with others who have read it, and hear what they also thought. It's certainly one that won't leave me for a long time to come.