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Summary: Chilling account of the Charles Manson Murders in 1969
Review: Thorough account of the trial of Charles Manson, convicted along with several members of his "family" of the murders of seven Los Angeles-area residents in 1969.
The book, written by prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, gives insight into the building of the case as well as the direction of the trial. Much of the information was revealed for the first time in the book, first published several years after the trial.
The reader will find the book gripping and well-organized, but will have to sift through a bit of Bugliosi's ego, which comes through to some degree.
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Summary: Depravity makes for most compulsive reading, yes?
Review: Whether or not you know anything about the Tate-LaBianca murders, you should read "Helter Skelter," an amazingly thorough account of the killings, the events leading up to and after the events, the completely deranged fantasies of Charles Manson, how he converted a legion of sheltered, middle-class kids into his lackeys and (in many cases) killers, and how they were convicted and sent to Death Row (sentences later commuted to life imprisonment). Though Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's high-minded moralizing can get a bit annoying (but when has a prosecutor not been shrill and annoying?), one can only marvel at the sheer volume of work put into compiling the difficult-to-obtain evidence against Manson and the other killers. They should have had Bugliosi prosecute O.J. After you read the book, try to hunt down "Manson," a 1972 documentary film about the Family that was nominated for an Oscar. It's out of print, but more off-beat video places may have it in stock.
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Summary: One of the most harrowing crime stories ever...
Review: I first read "Helter Skelter" the same summer I read "In Cold Blood." Both books left indelible images in my psyche and ensured I would never look at the world of crime and investigation the same again.I've never read a book quite like HS since. Bugliosi and Gentry have written a taught and gripping blow-by-blow account of the two seemingly unconnected streams of events, the Tate/La Bianca murders and Manson's cult, how they horribly intersected and the breathtaking resolution. Bugliosi's reminiscences provide both the personal anguish that the investigation caused him and his family and the urgent immediacy that gripped him and the community to see that justice was finally done. Unforgettable and unflinching, "Helter Skelter" forces us to look into the eyes of evil and learn more about ourselves. See also my reviews of the "Helter Skelter" TV movie and the audio book version.
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Summary: Don't Take this Book so Seriously
Review: Helter Skelter is a book about Charles Manson and the Manson murders. It was written by the DA who prosecuted Manson. There is a lot of interesting information in this book regarding the crimes and the weird court events that followed.
But as a book review, I'll have to say that the book was so-so. Some people's reviews are a little over the edge (i.e., are too caught up in how they "feel" about the whole ordeal).
Bottom line: Interesting piece of history done moderately well.
Rating: 
Summary: Some interesting moments.
Review: 'Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders' is an examination of Charles Manson and his cult and the bizzare trial that occurred during the late 1960s and early 1970s. I read the book to see what the Charles Manson hype was all about. There was some interesting moments, but most people in this generation would not be impressed with someone like Manson. It is surprising that he was able to hold the power over those people like he did.
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Summary: I wil surely go to heven,because the hell hasbeen scared out
Review: This book is about the closest you can come - or would ever want to come - to understanding Charles Manson's warped ideology - an ideology that ultimately led to some of the most devastating crimes in American history. I found "Helter Skelter" to be an intriguing and emotionally draining read; once you become embroiled in the story behind the Manson murders, there's no escaping. As others have said in their reviews, this is a book that truly stays with you long after you've closed it, raising some important questions about justice and the very fine line that separates genius from madness. This is one of those rare true crime stories that seldom falls victim to sensationalism, but rather presents the case as exactly what it was: a complicated, mind-blowing, and senseless tragedy whose tremors are still felt today.
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Summary: Intrigued by the Devil
Review: A close friend of mine was reading Helter Skelter about a year and a half ago, and up until then I honestly had never even HEARD of Charles Manson. One night, my friend read to me a couple pages of while Manson and Bugliosi were in court, and he read to me some things that manson had said. It was all really intriguing so a few months back I happened to see Helter Skelter in chapters, and on a whim I picked it up. I could NOT put it down. I have never read a true crime book, or anything even close to a book like that...and it was amazing. Amazing in a very scary, messed up way. I recommend this to anyone who is a little intrigued as to who Charles Manson was and what views he had. It was a really good book.
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Summary: Warning: Sleepless nights
Review: The first time I read this book was the summer before I started middle school, it scared me to death! I recently read it again and it still has the same creepy vibe it did way back then. I remember it taught me a lot about police procedures, investigation and the legal process as a kid. It is a must read even though years later the motive Bugolosi based his case on has been denied by many of the killers, the reader can make up their own mind. Read this with the doors locked and all the lights on!
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Summary: True Crime at its best
Review: One of the most chilling books I've ever read. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Still packs a punch
Review: I first read "Helter Skelter" the same summer I read "In Cold Blood." Both books left indelible images in my psyche and ensured I would never look at the world of crime and investigation the same again. I've never read a book quite like HS since. Bugliosi and Gentry have written a taught and gripping blow-by-blow account of the two seemingly unconnected streams of events, the Tate/La Bianca murders and Manson's cult, how they horribly intersected and the breathtaking resolution. Bugliosi's reminiscences provide both the personal anguish that the investigation caused him and his family and the urgent immediacy that gripped him and the community to see that justice was finally done. Unforgettable and unflinching, "Helter Skelter" forces us to look into the eyes of evil and learn more about ourselves. See also my reviews of the "Helter Skelter" TV movie and the audio book version.
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