Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry, "Helter Skelter" (1974; with new Afterword, 1994)

Although the cover proclaims it as the best-selling true crime book (ever!), Helter Skelter exhausts the reader with overabundant detail, particularly when relating the step-by-step development of the prosecutorial arguments and approach.

I’m sure a large part of the book’s allure is the topic it concerns, the spectacular, shocking, and senseless 1970 slaughter of two houses of people in California, including famous personalities such as actress Sharon Tate, hairdresser to the stars Jay Sebring, and heiress to a coffee business empire Abigail Folger.

The book is somewhat similar in tone to Bugliosi’s Reclaiming History (written much later, and which I reviewed here), and exhibits some of the same weaknesses. Bugliosi does not spare the feelings of those he feels have failed in fulfilling their responsibilities, in this case, several police officers, investigators, and members of the judiciary.
He does offer insights into the case that trial transcripts and journalistic accounts missed, such as aspects of the case that were not pursued in court, evidence that was not heard/seen, or avenues of investigation that did not produce leads. For instance, at the end of the book, Bugliosi discusses a number of murders that investigators suspect might be associated with the Manson group, but that for various reasons could not be conclusively tied to them. He also analyses how some information covered by court-ordered publication bans might have leaked to the media, and considerations regarding treatment of the jury.