I am an avid book reader. My genre of choice is true crime. I have an extensive library of true crime books. My reason for liking this type of book is quite simple. I find it extremely interesting trying to get into the psyche of the suspect or suspects. I find myself wondering why someone would kill another human being in cold blood. Are they truly sociopathic, a product of their environment, or is it a combination of a myriad of other things.
“Helter Skelter” by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry is, and always has been, a learning experience for me. I was twelve years old the first time I read it. I really didn’t understand what was going on, but the genre of True Crime hooked me. And over the years, I’ve read this book countless times. I come away with something new and different every time I read it. With a subject like Charles Manson, one reading is not nearly enough to capture the depth of his depravity.
Bugliosi does an excellent job of describing the facts of the case, the fear of Los Angeles, and the entire country. As the prosecuting attorney assigned to try this case, he delivers his first hand knowledge with excellence.
Instead of interrogating Manson, Bugliosi draws him into conversations. He understands that Manson wants to tell his story in his own way. Bugliosi, with very little prodding, manages to draw out how truly sociopathic Charles Manson truly is. He peels away layers of Manson, but never quite reaches the core of Manson.
This book is not for the feint of heart. Bugliosi weaves a no-holds-barred rendition of the facts surrounding this horrific case. In many areas he uses Manson’s exact words as Manson describes how he truly feels about his followers. He also describes the brutality of the crimes in vivid detail, leaving nothing to the reader’s imagination. He does this to allow the reader to realize how vicious these people were.
The book also allows the reader a glimpse into the mind of Charles Manson. Bugliosi shows that Manson is not insane. He was an enigma and continues to be today. Readers of this book will really never know how Manson convinced people to kill for him. But this book relates the suggestions from Manson.
There have been many articles and books about Manson, his followers, and their victims. “Helter Skelter” is the best of the bunch. Bugliosi depicts the perversion of the culprits in a way only someone with direct contact with them can deliver. His description of the courtroom proceedings makes the reader feel as if they were sitting in the courtroom.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading true crime. It goes beyond the typical true crime story. It delves into the psychological hold Manson had over his followers. It shows how he used drugs and sex to convince otherwise normal young adults to kill for him. It shows the terrorizing hold these people had over the city of Los Angeles and the entire country.
While society may never know the “real” Charles Manson, “Helter Skelter” offers a glimpse into one of the many layers of his psyche. It is a definite must-read for any true crime reader.
