In the summer of 1969, in Los Angeles, a series of brutal, seemingly random murders captured headlines across America. A famous actress (and her unborn child), an heiress to a coffee fortune, a supermarket owner and his wife were among the seven victims. A thin trail of circumstances eventually tied the Tate-LeBianca murders to Charles Manson, a would-be pop singer of small talent living in the … the desert with his “family” of devoted young women and men. What was his hold over them? And what was the motivation behind such savagery? In the public imagination, over time, the case assumed the proportions of myth. The murders marked the end of the sixties and became an immediate symbol of the dark underside of that era.Vincent Bugliosi was the prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial, and this book is his enthralling account of how he built his case from what a defense attorney dismissed as only “two fingerprints and Vince Bugliosi.” The meticulous detective work with which the story begins, the prosecutor’s view of a complex murder trial, the reconstruction of the philosophy Manson inculcated in his fervent followers…these elements make for a true crime classic. Helter Skelter is not merely a spellbinding murder case and courtroom drama but also, in the words of The New Republic, a “social document of rare importance.”
more
The true story about the Manson Family, Charles Manson himself, and the murders committed by the Manson cult members. This book was rife with twisted, jaw dropping events.
I enjoyed reading the book but it is a very disturbing story
Great true crime
For those of us who live through it getting into the mind of Charles Manson is spooky
I am an avid reader that always finishes a book once I start it. This is the first time I have quit in the middle. It actually gave me nightmares.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years since these horrific murders shocked the nation. Helter Skelter is still a the seminal book on the “Manson murders” and a must read for anyone who wants to learn about the multiple homicides and the Manson family members responsible for the killings.
This is the true story of the Manson murders and the investigation and prosecution that followed. I loved this book as it is uniquely told by Bugliosi, who was the prosecutor.
If you are into true crime, this is a classic.
Really good book
I think this book is the best true-crime book out there. The author, who was also the prosecuting attorney, laid out the whole story and trial bare. It scared me because this was the first cult-story I ever read. I scared me because I had never heard of such a horrific crime like this before, that one crazy person could control a group of people …
If you want to understand the psychology behind the Manson Family murders, this is the book to read.
True crime fans? You will read into the night, but make sure your doors are locked!
Good book. Very interesting and disturbing. Covered a lot of details that I did not know about.
Best true crime book I have ever read. Murders are gory, but the investigation and trial were fascinating
Most terrifying book I’ve ever read. For weeks when I heard a car outside my bedroom window at night I was afraid.
Hard to imagine happening
I remember when the murders took place , & this book explains what really happened. It’s a factual account of horrendous events.
I’ve read it so many times back after it first happened. I admired the police and attorneys as well as the writer. They did a wonderful job of prosecuting the Manson Family and discovrering who did what. It was so tragic how the kids were led and manipulated by Manson. I’ll look at it again one day. I hope this does not happen again.
This is the go to book for info on the Manson family & Charles Manson. A murder mystery that became all too real. Manson’s followers were scarier than anyone Stephen King could have imagined. Horrific crimes committed by sick people following evil personified in Charlie Manson.
A bit dated and with a definite slant towards how great law officers and DAs are but still a true crime classic.