Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

4.6 | 7,742 ratings

Price: 34.96

Last update: 11-14-2024

About this item

Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial Vincent Bugliosi held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the 20th century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Now available for the first time in unabridged audio, the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime is brought to life by acclaimed narrator Scott Brick.

Claudine Wolk

The Best True Crime Novel Of All Time

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2010

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.

Lauren Peterson

Part murder case, part courtroom drama. All Manson.

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2021

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.

Marc Samida

I thought the authors did an excellent job of the chronological elements and dealt very well ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018

I thought the authors did an excellent job of the chronological elements and dealt very well with the psychological aspects of this very complex case. The style reads more like a thriller than a dry legal text and was easy to read and easy to get hooked into. The only negative thing for me, and not really important compared to the good points, is the presentation of Bugliosi as omniscient. He was very quick to criticise his fellow counsel and some of the police officers but I don't remember any time where he put a foot wrong or admitted that he could have done something in a better way. He relished in being three steps ahead and twice as smart as Manson and the others. This I noticed oin Varoufakis' book on Adults in the Room: this self-adulation. It didn't spoil the book for me but I wonder how the people he mistreats in the book would have answered his criticisms. I feel as if I know a lot more about the Manson case than I did before and appreciate the good work that went into writing it.

SpeedReader

A great true-crime book

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2022

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.

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