''Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders'' is a 1974 book by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. Bugliosi had served as the prosecutor in the 1970 trial of

Charles Manson Charles Milles Manson (; November 12, 1934November 19, 2017) was an American criminal and musician who led the Manson Family, a cult based in California, in the late 1960s. Some of the members committed a series of nine murders at four loca ...

. The book presents his firsthand account of the cases of Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and other members of the self-described Manson Family. It is the best-selling true crime book in history.

Description

The book recounts and assesses the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of

and his followers for the notorious 1969 murders of

Leno and Rosemary LaBianca James Douglas Muir Leno (; born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and actor. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's '' The Tonight Show'' from 1992 to 2009. Beginning in September 20 ...

, actress

Sharon Tate Sharon Marie Tate Polanski (January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969) was an American actress and model. During the 1960s, she played small television roles before appearing in films and was regularly featured in fashion magazines as a model and cover ...

, and several others. The book takes its title from the apocalyptic race war that Manson allegedly believed would occur, which in turn took its name from the song " Helter Skelter" by the Beatles. Manson had allegedly been particularly fascinated by the Beatles' '' White Album'', from which the song came.

Reception and legacy

''Helter Skelter'' was first published in the United States in 1974 and became a bestseller. The book won the 1975

Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America, based in New York City. Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards honor the bes ...

for Best Fact Crime book, and was the basis for two television films, released in

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

and

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

. At the time of Bugliosi's death in 2015, it had sold over seven million copies, making it the best-selling true crime book in history. The book was also the primary influence for the story line of the 2008 film ''

The Strangers Strangers are people who are unknown to another person or group. Strangers or The Strangers may also refer to: History * Elizabethan Strangers or Strangers, a name applied to French and Belgian immigrants to Norwich, East Anglia, England, during ...

''. Since its initial hardcover edition, the book has had several printings as a mass market paperback. A 25th anniversary edition (since the crimes) was published in 1994 with an update added by Bugliosi. Bugliosi himself narrated the Talking Books unabridged audiobook at the time of the book's original release, and read an abridged version of his update for the 25th anniversary edition abridged audiobook read by

Robert Foxworth Robert Heath Foxworth (born November 1, 1941) is an American film, stage, and television actor. Early life Foxworth was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Erna Beth (née Seamman), a writer, and John Howard Foxworth, a roofing contractor. He at ...

. Audible.com commissioned

Scott Brick Scott Brick (born January 30, 1966 in Santa Barbara, California) is an American actor, writer and award-winning narrator of over 800 audiobooks, including popular titles such as '' Washington: A Life'', '' Moneyball'', ''Cloud Atlas'', ''A Prin ...

to read an unabridged version of the 25th anniversary edition in 2011. The book also makes an appearance in the Netflix TV series '' Mindhunter'' in season 2, episode 5.

References

External links

Partial trial testimony regarding "Helter Skelter"

{{Authority control 1974 non-fiction books Edgar Award-winning works Manson Family Non-fiction books about murders in the United States Books by Vincent Bugliosi W. W. Norton & Company books Non-fiction books about criminals Non-fiction books adapted into films Collaborative non-fiction books Books about trials

Description

Reception and legacy

See also

References

External links