Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

I have always been a true crime novel fan. I have devoured Ann Rule and Joe McGinniss. I am not alone. Over the holidays I had a conversation with another fellow true crime fan. She asked if I had ever read Vincent Bugliosi's novel, Helter Skelter, the true story of the Manson Family murders. I hadn't. Truth is, I had kind of been afraid to read it. When the murders took place I was only a toddler. I do however, remember the TV mini-series "Helter Skelter", based on the book and feeling, well, freaked out. I've had the book Helter Skelter on the back-burner of my brain for years to read. Well, I finally took the plunge. The book Helter Skelter embodies my two favorite reasons for reading true crime. Number one, I love to learn the psychology of the murders - why the murderers may have done what they did. Number two, I love to read how the prosecutors and detectives used their knowledge, experience, and hard work to solve the crimes and prosecute the criminals. For those unfamiliar to the case, and really, how could you be, The Manson Family headed by Charles Manson, went on a killing rampage in Los Angeles in August 1969 brutally murdering seven people. Vincent Bugliosi, the author of the book, was the prosecutor at the trial and investigator on the case. It was the most horrifying murder spree in US history and the longest, most grueling trial the country had seen to date. Some say the murders put an abrupt end to the 60's spirit of free love and ushered in a new more sated era. The book itself is a great read. It is well-written and tells the story of what occurred, how the case was solved, and how the case was successfully prosecuted. In addition, the writer provides the back story as well as reporting on the pulse of the country as the trial proceeded. It is a real glimpse in to the history of the country. I learned that my original perceptions of the case were not accurate. The book accomplishes the herculean task of sorting through hundreds of witnesses, several police department's participation, and reams of testimony while at the same time managing to keep readers interested and informed as the investigation and case unfolds in chronological order. I am particularly fond of the author, Bugliosi. He sounds like a brilliant guy who worked his tail off. His constant reference to the hours of preparation on both the investigation and each stage of the trial is inspiring. He mentions more than once the "100 pages of notes on yellow pads" reminding me in the words of James Michener, "It is not just talent alone, but disciplined talent that makes for success." Taking the time to be prepared is half the battle, isn't it? Although Helter Skelter was first written in 1974, more than 35 years ago, it is still very relevant. Why? As Vincent Bugliosi himself says in the book and I am paraphrasing here," The reasons behind the murders are so important to uncover because we do not want such a thing to happen again." That's true of all history, isn't it? Check out the book if you have the chance. It will teach you something, I promise you.

Part murder case, part courtroom drama. All Manson. There’s no doubting those that claim Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry is one of the best true crime books ever written. It was compelling, terrifying, factual, and easy to follow despite being well over 500 pages in length. The book follows the murders spearheaded by Charles Manson that took place in Los Angeles in the summer 1969. Starting with the morning after the Tate murders, the book outlines the step by step process from murder to trial to post-trial. It also gives detailed backgrounds of each of the victims, witnesses and the accused, as well as insights and speculation about Charles Manson and the Family. The book ends with an afterward written twenty five years post-trial with updates on nearly all people introduced in the book. The book started in third person with the introduction of the murder case up until the case was handed to Vincent Bugliosi to prosecute. From there, it’s a first person perspective from the attorney. I listened to it on audio narrated by Scott Brick and was so immersed that I picked up the hard copy to read as well. Even now, fifty years later, the crimes and murderers who committed them left me terrified. The book went over tons of details I was unaware of despite my familiarity with the crime. I found the courtroom component fascinating and felt it gave this book a unique edge over so many others out there—especially since it was written by Bugliosi himself. It is by far the best true crime book I’ve ever read and one that any true crime fan needs to read in his or her lifetime.

To begin this review, I must explain that I do not normally read books in the True Crime genre. In fact, this is the first and only True Crime book I have read. My reading interests are traditionally geared towards philosophical, religious and historical texts. I became interested in Charles Manson after watching some of his interviews about spirituality on YouTube. I picked up Helter Skelter because it appeared to be the most critically acclaimed text on the subject of Charles Manson. If you are someone who is simply looking for a gripping, page-turning story about murder and mayhem, BUY THIS BOOK. It is a well-written and accurate factual chronicle of the Manson murders that is every bit as good as all the other reviews on Amazon say. (Be aware, however, that this book is dated. A lot of information about the murders have come out since this book was published, and even the updated new versions don't cover the new material in any great depth.) If I were reviewing this book strictly on the quality of the story told, I would award it 5-stars. Having said that, this book could have been much more engaging. It is simply that, a well-written factual chronicle of the Manson murders. For some reason, the book opens on the day after the Sharon Tate murder. The author (the attorney who prosecuted Manson) presents the facts chronologically, with many many exceptions, in the same order that detectives working the case learned of them. This means that the book is less the story Charles Manson and his family, and more the story of prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi. This manner of story-telling brings to the forefront the limitations of the author. Again, Bugliosi is an attorney with a mind only for the concrete facts. If you are hoping for a critical examination of Manson, the control he had over his followers, his beliefs, his childhood, etc., choose a different book. On the few occasions the author attempts to stray from a factual account of the murders in order to address the more abstract ideas and implications surrounding the murders, he gets it wrong. (Browsing Amazon, I see that Bugliosi has recently published a book on religion. Read the reviews of that book and you will see that, even forty years after writing Helter Skelter, Bugliosi is apparently still unqualified to write about more abstract topics.) My advice is to read this book if you want a purely factual account of the Manson slayings, or are just looking for some good entertainment. However, if you are also interested in the psychology behind Manson and his family, you will need to supplement Helter Skelter with other reading. Finally, be aware that, at 700+ pages, this book will likely take at least a few weeks to finish.

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. Excellent reading

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.

Helter Skelter is the novel written by Vincent Bugliosi, the lead prosecutor in the prosecution and conviction of Charles Manson and his followers for the series of murders that they carried out in the late 1960s, including the murder of the actress Sharon Tate. The book details not only the crimes but the investigation that was carried out and the prosecution of those involved. Most interesting, especially for those of us who are lawyers, is the strategy Bugliosi used to convict Manson even though he did not help carry out the murders, and his followers were basically brainwashed cult members who were reluctant to flip on him. As anyone who has read any of Bugliosi's books, he has a pretty snarky writing style and is not shy about sharing his personal feelings about the people he is writing about. So, his characterization of Manson and his band of followers could be quite humorous at times. The book is organized into multiple parts that detail the murders, then detail the killers, the investigation of the crime, determining a motive, catching those involved, and the trial and its aftermath. It is a very entertaining read and provides a lot of information that only Bugliosi and a handful of other people were privy to. So, if you are a history buff and/or a true crime enthusiast, this is definitely worth reading.

I've read this book twice, once in the late 1970's, and again recently after having gotten interested in this disturbing incident once again. Without question it is the best insight into the mind of Charles Manson, his followers and their ideology, as would be expected from the man (Vincent Bugliosi) who is largely responsible for putting them behind bars. Scanning some of the 1-star reviews, I'm reminded why 1-star reviews cannot always be relied on for accurate review, with some making ludicrous assertions about the case including the accusation that Bugliosi "made up" the Helter Skelter motive and making his interviews with Manson Family members reflect the results he was looking for. One read through this book puts that nonsense to rest. Bugliosi is not only a talented writer but his brilliance as a prosecutor may be unrivaled by any of his contemporaries. Throughout the trial he demonstrated over and again his ability to adapt to the efforts of this murderous cult to lie and deceit their way out of being held accountable, anticipating arguments of the defense attorneys and devoting no small part of his life to seeing these cut throat killers were put away for good. Through the writing you get a complete impression of the madness that is Charles Manson, and understand more fully how he was able to manipulate and control the disgruntled youth he reprogrammed to do his bidding. Manson was the product of an era in American history that was unique; a tipping point between a relatively polite and orderly society to one more dominated by political chaos that evolved as a result of youthful rebellion, drugs, and competing political interests that were unique to the era of the late 60's. If you have ever held a passing interest in the morbidity of the Manson murders and have not read this book yet, be forewarned...it is not only chilling and disturbing in its comprehensive outline of this killer cult, but you will find it extremely difficult to put down until you have read through to the end.

Very in depth book, but more detailed than I would have imagined. Great if you’re super interested, but if you just want the broad strokes, a bit much.

A very good book! Highly recommend! This true crime case really sucks you in. Couldn’t put it down. Fascinating and disturbing at the same time. This is definitely a must read for true crime fans.

The trial that was the death knell for the Age of Aquarius. The beautiful innocence that was defined in the hippy message of peace and love was shattered by the actions depicted in this wonderfully written book. In turn horrifying, mesmerising and astonishing, the writers capture not just the events leading up to and during the trial, but the whole spirit of the age. A must read for all who are interested in the 1960s and true crime.

Impossibile da trovare in italiano, libro raro e a prezzi esorbitanti ma alla fine ho ceduto all'edizione in inglese. Parliamo del libro: un classico tra i True Crime degli anni passati scritto proprio da colui che ha seguito il caso e condannato i responsabili ovvero Vincent Bugliosi. Il libro ripercorre tutto il periodo che parte dagli omicidi fino agli eventi successivi alla fine del processo, il tutto viene descritto con precisione dall'autore e senza essere troppo prolisso o noioso. La lettura è scorrevole e facilmente comprensibile. E' molto interessante comprendere come sono stati risolti i casi Tate-LaBianca, l'indifferenza dell'LAPD di collaborare con gli altri dipartimenti e di seguire delle "piste" in comune e come una persona sia riuscita, attraverso ideali impossibili e l'uso di stupefacenti, a plasmare le menti di giovani ragazzi rendendoli delle macchine di morte.

I really enjoyed this book, it gives the full story in real detail from the beginning! I was aware of the Manson murders and Charles Manson but I never really knew the full story, real page turner! I felt the court bit dragged on abit but suppose it had to because of the length of the trial

lovely book