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Customer Review
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2017Incredibly detailed. Often cited among the all-time best reads of the "True Crime" genre, "Helter Skelter" is the definitive story on the Tate-LaBianca murders of 1969. Authored by Vincent Bugliosi, who was able to successfully prosecute Charles Manson and three other members of his "Family" for the killings, he is able to piece together for the reader the background story of what led up to a tragic episode in American pop culture -- one which signaled the end of the free-wheeling era of the 1960's.
Over 600+ pages, Bugliosi lays out the case against Manson and his gang, who acted seemingly at random in their homicidal spree over an August weekend in Los Angeles. Bugliosi is meticulous in detailing the facts. He was a lawyer by trade, and while he became a successful author following the success of Helter Skelter, his prose does tend to be on the dry side. The book can drag in parts just because there are so many characters involved -- both at the heart of the story and on the periphery -- that at times, it's hard to keep all the names straight.
Despite those shortcomings, this is still the go-to book on the subject of Manson if the subject fancies you. Before reading this text, I was quite familiar with the mythical status of Manson and the fact that one of the victims of these killings was actress Sharon Tate. But aside from that, I really didn't know much more. I assure you that this book will provide you with all the knowledge you wanted to know on the topic -- and then some.
