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.”
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This book came out when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I knew it was supposed to be about people getting killed but I had no idea whatsoever how strange and disturbing this book really was. I’m glad I’m not that naive anymore!
Love this book, very well written. A real tragic page-turner, have read it over and over.
This is the book that first got me interested in true crime and I’ve never looked back. It’s an older book but a classic and an interesting look at how this case was viewed years ago. Plus the author is a master writer.
I always knew Charles Manson was insane, but I had no idea the full extent of it.
Helter Skelter took me into a deeper look into the murders and the motive behind Manson. I learned quite an abundance about him and the family. For one thing I didn’t know before this was that Manson tried to start a race war with the murders. I knew he was a racist …
If you are at all interested in the Tate/LaBianca muders this is THE book to read! Super informative, great history and super detailed! Yes, it was a long time ago, yes Charlie Manson is dead, but this is a must read!
I’ve always been an avid fan of true crime, and I must say this book only solidifies my obsession. Written by the case prosecutor, Helter Skelter is a unique crime novel, for insider details and little known true to the case facts are expertly written and addictively told. I felt as if the victims were given justice as the senseless, savage …
Interesting reading. Detailed rendition of historical murders and unbelievable characterizations of a true-life crime. Everyone should read this rendition if they wonder why Charlie Manson has never been paroled from prison.
I’ve read this book twice. Once a long time ago and once recently. Well written. Hard to believe that kind of evil exists.
Bugliosi does it again. Try And the Sea will Tell
Frightening–it brought back memories of that time, and it filled in all the blanks that we didn’t know when this tragedy occurred. To this day, I feel so terribly sorry for Sharon Tate and all the other innocent victims of Manson and his “family”. Good lives ended far too soon.
One of the better True Crime books out there.
This is the book that got me interested in Charles Manson. I am glad he kept getting denied for parole. Best book ever on the family and the Sharon Tate murders. You won’t be disappointed if you love true crime and the story that never dies.
This book by the lawyer who prosecuted the Manson clan was really interesting but very sad as well. They murdered innocent people in such a horrible way. They didn’t even know them. I thought Vince Bugliosi did such a good job in the way he told this story
This book belongs on the shelf of the true crime, dark crime, or serial killer crime writer.
A hefty read, this book surpassed my expectations. I picked it up hoping to amp up my research in the area of homicide investigation and the worst murders to have ever occurred.
I also hoped to elevate my understanding of how human beings can be so …
Well written about a true crime. Really delves into the crime and the background of the perpetrators.
A frightening story told by the person who knew first hand the evil conceived by charles manson
A great insight into a really sick mind!
Well done .
This true crime classic has been on my to read list for awhile and I am glad that I finally got around to reading it. I had seen television documentaries of Manson and his family years ago. It was interesting to say the least, but watching them gave me worst nightmares than a horror fiction book. With that being said, I had some weird dreams …
Subject matter was very interesting and I had no idea of so many of the details of these murders. I’m not sure I loved the format this was written in, but the story was fascinating! Insane.