Rating: 
Summary: Good, but just one objection your honor!
Review: This is a fascinating account of the Manson case from the eyes of prosecution attorney Vincent Bugliosi. Well paced, haunting, somewhat grissly, but suprisingly quite funny in places- (the defense attorney made over two hunderd objections on the first three days of the trial!). A real pager turner probably best read in the daytime so it won't give you nightmares. One quible though I feel the author has grossly misinterpreted the philiosophy of Friedrich Nietzche by affilating his philiosophy with the spread of Nazism. Yes Hitler (who shared with Manson many characteristic's; they were both loved animals more than humans, each a vegetarian, and had spent time as an "outsider" living on the fringes of society) had read his work. Yet those documents he read were greatly adulterated under the cursed hand of the authors sister, who, after the philosophers death re wrote his manuscripts to fit Nazi ideals in the hope of courting parties leader...
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: This was a lengthy book, but well worth it. The reader is able to get a better understanding of the events that lead up to the strange murders of the Hollywood family.If you like history, law, true crime or psychological readings this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: a thundering good read
Review: This is the definitive account of the longest trial in American legal history wherein four persons: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, were sentenced to death for the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski, Stephen Parent, Leno La Bianca and Rosemary La Bianca. The crimes, collectively known as the Tate/La Bianca murders took place in Los Angeles in August 1969. Vincent Bugliosi's work is both focussed and orderly and he scores highly in bringing a convoluted and at times incompetent enquiry to the reader in a totally believable account. Stretching to 664 pages, some might consider the work too long winded but the story certainly licks along at a good pace. The lion's share of the time is given over to a day by day, blow by blow account detailing the court proceedings. These accounts are so good that in places you can believe yourself to be in the public gallery and can feel the tension and horror as this macabre tale unfolds.
The crimes, which rocked America in the late 60's and early 70's, are truly horrific. Bugliosi does not shy away from revealing the cold, callous and detached nature of each defendant; none of whom show the slightest remorse for their barbaric actions. Neither too are we sheltered from the abundant stabbings, shootings, hangings, and mutilations. There are ample official statements, legal examinations, cross-examinations and personal conversations to satisfy even the most curious. The reader's inclusion 'in the court' so to speak, might for some readers prove too much, but by a combination of thoroughness, attention to detail and style the author takes us into the bizarre world of Charles Manson.
He is a 'wannabe' but unsuccessful musician, drug user and, for more than half of his life, a frequenter of numerous penitentiaries. He is the self-styled guru of 'The Family' where most of the members are young, impressionable runaways. Lost, lonely and anti-establishment they, by numerous avenues end up at Manson's door. Most are female, most claim to be in love with Manson, most claim he possesses special power or is the embodiment of Christ or Satan (terms Manson uses of himself). The late 60's mix of sex, free love and drugs are used to full effect and, more often than not, the girls are used to attract new recruits. In turn, through a dangerous cocktail of charisma, fear and violence, added to delusionary interpretations brought on by 'hidden' meaning in a number of the Beatles songs, Manson creates a dependency upon himself and his words. In short - he controls their thoughts, actions and lives. He, Manson, plays the pipe, they dance in time until they kill to order, but as Bugliosi shows they too are willing participants in this 'game'.
Crucial to the prosecution's case is the motive for the murders - Helter Skelter. Bugliosi shows that through his interpretation of the Beatles lyrics, his predisposition to violence, his anti-establishment and racism, Manson attempts to kick-start a race war in America. BR>If the book has a down side it would be that the real comparisons between Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler are pretty tenuous; Bugliosi's frequent portrayal of himself in the, 'I'm always right' camp when comparing himself to his opponents in defence counsel, gets a bit irritating and the use of aliases with some of the main players in the 'Family' can get confusing at times. That said, for any true crime buffs out there who like their reading material to be a real mix of the gruesome and the legal, this book is a must.
This review covers the 1974 paperback edition.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Be Beat
Review: Though this book was written decades ago, it has yet to be beaten in the crime genre. Rarely do I feel that I understand the mind of a killer and have such a vivid memory of a crime.
Rating:
Summary: What's Really Scary ... It Reads Like Fiction, But It's Not!
Review: I've always liked just about anything by Vincent Bugliosi .... and Helter Skelter is certainly no exception! As the chief prosecuting attorney in the case of California vs. Charles Manson (and "family"), Mr. Bugliosi gives us every excruciating detail of this fascinating murder case. You're able to really get inside his head and see up close how he successfully prosecuted this famous Hollywood case. Hollywood is a fitting surrounding for this trial too. Sounds like something directly from a screenwriters' notebook! I guess that's what makes the Manson case so compelling -- it sounds too bizarre to be real! I mean, lyrics from a "Beatles" album becoming a major focus?! The tremendous overkill tactics employed by the killers, as they obey their "master" with zombie-like precision! Just simply unbelievable! I'm just glad Mr. Bugliosi was successful in his efforts, and got them off the streets! You'll want to keep turning these pages till the end!
Rating:
Summary: Justice wasn't served
Review: I read this book 25 years ago and, upon reading it again, I still am of the opinion that Manson and his band of miscreants escaped justice. They should have been executed. We sure could have used Vince Bugliosi at the Simpson trial. The (obviously) guilty party would not have walked away free had Vince been the prosecutor!
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Frightening Book
Review: I have seen a lot of horror movies and read several horror books but none were ever as creepy and utterly scary as "Helter Skelter". Mr. Bugliosi did a fantastic job describing Manson's extremely disturbed mind and philosophy as well as that of Manson's co-defendants. Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Steve Parent, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski and Rosemary and Leno LaBianca unnecessarily and tragically suffered such brutal deaths, deaths not one of them even remotely deserved. I was glad to read that Mr.Bugliosi managed to win convictions for all defendants but very disappointed that California abolished the death penalty in 1972, thereby reducing their sentences to life in prison. They should have suffered the same fate as the Tate-LaBianca victims. This book was graphic in detail but not so much so that it prevented me from reading the whole book. I could not put it down. This book beats anything written by Steven King by a mile.
Rating:
Summary: It's the best
Review: I was 14 when this horrific crime took place. I first read this book many years later, in 1985. I've reread it since, just this year. I think this is the best true crime masterpiece I've ever read, and I've read a lot of them. Anyone interested in true crime should read this. It puts you there. Manson is not human. READ THIS BOOK!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Tripe
Review: Well, I hope Bugliosi enjoys the riches he received from the sales of this book. I hope he enjoys his large house, his pool, his wife, and the company of his children. I hope he enjoys the fact that Charles Milles Manson will be behind bars forever. I also hope he chokes on his own lying tongue, but hey, that's besides the point. The only people I feel sorry for right now are those who read this book like it's some sort of Bible. If you don't question what you learn, you are not actually learning. Unfortunately, the majority of you are caught up in a downward spiral without even realizing it. The sad thing about this is the fact you won't rest until Charles, Jesus, myself, and thousands of others are hanging from a pine tree with outstretched arms. Anyway, considering this is a book review and not a rant against humanity and its follies, the bottom line is don't stop at this book. Read all the information available to you, and at least make your hateful judgements a little more educated. Don't believe everything you read.
Rating:
Summary: Bugliosi Brings Out Manson's True Darkness
Review: Helter Skelter is one of those books that leave you in dismay because you can't believe the logic in the Tate-LaBianca murders. The "family" is truely an unbelievable group of people that absolutely butchered for the begining Helter Skelter. I would strongly recomend it to anyone.
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