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Charlie and Me: Charles Manson and the Reporter Who Came to Know the Most Famous Mass Murderer in History
Investigative journalist Mary Neiswender shares for the first time what it was like to be the only reporter Charles Manson communicated with during his famous 1970 murder trial.
- GenresTrue Crime
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 26, 2025
This is a look back at the author’s time covering the crime beat for the newspaper she wrote for, where she came to know Manson. She was the only reporter who had access to him during his trial. They became friendly and stayed in touch. It reveals Bugliosi’s behavior during the trial was not the best toward the defense attorneys. It shares a few letters from Manson and things they talked about. Neiswender tried to see Manson at the end, but didn’t make it in time to say goodbye.
January 8, 2026
📚Charlie and Me
✍🏻Mary Neiswender
✍🏻Kate Neiswender
Blurb:
Charles Manson, arguably the most famous killer in American history, remains a source of fascination more than fifty years after the Tate–LaBianca murders that shocked the nation. In previous books about the 1969 murders, writers focused on trial testimony and scrambled to find anything new that would provide insight into what happened. The information they had was orchestrated by the prosecution, which used cult images and sex orgies to shock. But who was Manson, really? Was he the racist, Helter Skelter, mind-controlling cult master portrayed in the media? Or was there more? Only one journalist—Mary Neiswender—was able to meet Manson in person during the year-long trial in 1970.
After Manson’s arrest, Neiswender spent more time with Manson than any other person, except maybe his prison guards. Manson and Neiswender spoke in person at the county jail or on the phone almost daily. However, the conversations between Manson and Neiswender have never been published: most of their talks were off the record, and Neiswender refused to write about them until after Manson’s death in prison in 2017. In Charlie and Me Neiswender finally reveals their conversations and the insights she gained from her time with Manson, a complicated man, a killer, and a figure of intense interest in American crime culture.
My Thoughts:
I read reading Helter Skelter when I was younger. I couldn't watch a documentary. Too scary and brutal.
Mary Neiswender was the first and primary journalist that the notorious serial killer Charles Manson was willing to talk. She was the only reporter who had access to him during his trial. Neiswender tried to see Manson at the end, but didn’t make it in time to say goodbye. I couldn't imagine interviewing that monster.
Thanks NetGalley, Potomac Books and Author Mary Nesiwender and Kate Neiswender for the advanced copy of "Charlie and Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#PotomacBooks
#MaryNeiswender
#KatieNeiswender
#CharlieandMe
#TrimeCrime
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Mary Neiswender
✍🏻Kate Neiswender
Blurb:
Charles Manson, arguably the most famous killer in American history, remains a source of fascination more than fifty years after the Tate–LaBianca murders that shocked the nation. In previous books about the 1969 murders, writers focused on trial testimony and scrambled to find anything new that would provide insight into what happened. The information they had was orchestrated by the prosecution, which used cult images and sex orgies to shock. But who was Manson, really? Was he the racist, Helter Skelter, mind-controlling cult master portrayed in the media? Or was there more? Only one journalist—Mary Neiswender—was able to meet Manson in person during the year-long trial in 1970.
After Manson’s arrest, Neiswender spent more time with Manson than any other person, except maybe his prison guards. Manson and Neiswender spoke in person at the county jail or on the phone almost daily. However, the conversations between Manson and Neiswender have never been published: most of their talks were off the record, and Neiswender refused to write about them until after Manson’s death in prison in 2017. In Charlie and Me Neiswender finally reveals their conversations and the insights she gained from her time with Manson, a complicated man, a killer, and a figure of intense interest in American crime culture.
My Thoughts:
I read reading Helter Skelter when I was younger. I couldn't watch a documentary. Too scary and brutal.
Mary Neiswender was the first and primary journalist that the notorious serial killer Charles Manson was willing to talk. She was the only reporter who had access to him during his trial. Neiswender tried to see Manson at the end, but didn’t make it in time to say goodbye. I couldn't imagine interviewing that monster.
Thanks NetGalley, Potomac Books and Author Mary Nesiwender and Kate Neiswender for the advanced copy of "Charlie and Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#PotomacBooks
#MaryNeiswender
#KatieNeiswender
#CharlieandMe
#TrimeCrime
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 28, 2025
Received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s always enlightening to read the perspective of a female reporter in the days when it was extremely tough for a woman to get a foothold in the newsroom. The author managed to ensure that she was not assigned to fluff, and wound up being one of the very few reporters who was able to get close to, and correspond with, Charles Manson before, during and after his infamous trial for the Tate/La Bianca murders.
Unfortunately, the book is quite repetitive, and the fact that the author does admit that she considers Manson “a friend“ leads to what feels like bias as she repeatedly casts doubt on whether Manson ordered, or was involved in,the murders at all. She dismisses some witnesses while giving much more credence to some of Manson’s female followers, who of course were going to profess Charlie’s innocence.
For those interested, the book written by Dianne Lake, aka “Snake,” who was a very young teenager when she was involved with the Manson family, is a much more honest look at the way Manson manipulated and abused his female followers.
Many of Manson’s letters to the author are reproduced here, and while they make for interesting reading, they don’t shed any new light on Manson or the case.
This is pretty much for completists who want to read everything they can about the case and about Charles Manson. I would be very interested in reading more from
the author about her career as a newspaper woman though.
It’s always enlightening to read the perspective of a female reporter in the days when it was extremely tough for a woman to get a foothold in the newsroom. The author managed to ensure that she was not assigned to fluff, and wound up being one of the very few reporters who was able to get close to, and correspond with, Charles Manson before, during and after his infamous trial for the Tate/La Bianca murders.
Unfortunately, the book is quite repetitive, and the fact that the author does admit that she considers Manson “a friend“ leads to what feels like bias as she repeatedly casts doubt on whether Manson ordered, or was involved in,the murders at all. She dismisses some witnesses while giving much more credence to some of Manson’s female followers, who of course were going to profess Charlie’s innocence.
For those interested, the book written by Dianne Lake, aka “Snake,” who was a very young teenager when she was involved with the Manson family, is a much more honest look at the way Manson manipulated and abused his female followers.
Many of Manson’s letters to the author are reproduced here, and while they make for interesting reading, they don’t shed any new light on Manson or the case.
This is pretty much for completists who want to read everything they can about the case and about Charles Manson. I would be very interested in reading more from
the author about her career as a newspaper woman though.
October 31, 2025
In 1970 while the world was captivated by the Charles Manson and family trials, reporter Mary Neiswender was granted a special privilege, a friendship with Charlie himself. Mary was the only one Manson would speak to during his trial and their communication lasted until his death. In Charlie and Me we get to see Neiswender's insight to the trial, Manson's own words, and even recreations of some of his letters to her.
I enjoyed this book but had a few issues with it as well. With her admitted friendship with Manson there is definitely some bias in her telling of the story. I do appreciate her shedding a little light on the lawyers throughout the trial, especially Bugliosi. I just found the book itself not very ground breaking and very repetitive. Neiswender stated the same facts repeatedly, sometimes only paragraphs away from each other. It became a bit tedious.
That said, it was very interesting to see Manson's handwritten letter and read his words to someone he considered close. If you are into true crime and especially interested in the Manson Family, I'd say this is a solid read to add to your collection.
I enjoyed this book but had a few issues with it as well. With her admitted friendship with Manson there is definitely some bias in her telling of the story. I do appreciate her shedding a little light on the lawyers throughout the trial, especially Bugliosi. I just found the book itself not very ground breaking and very repetitive. Neiswender stated the same facts repeatedly, sometimes only paragraphs away from each other. It became a bit tedious.
That said, it was very interesting to see Manson's handwritten letter and read his words to someone he considered close. If you are into true crime and especially interested in the Manson Family, I'd say this is a solid read to add to your collection.
December 14, 2025
Mary Neiswender was the first and primary journalist that the notorious serial killer Charles Manson was willing to talk to. She did so at a time in history in which women in journalism were exceedingly rare, and she put up with a whole lot of crap, first in order to remain in her field, and then later to rise to its pinnacle, receiving a Pulitzer nomination.
My thanks go to the University of Nebraska press and NetGalley. This book is for sale now.
Charles Manson was the leader of a group that called itself “The Family,” almost entirely made up of girls and young women that had nowhere else to go. However, people came and went within it, and so those that spoke of it as a cohesive entity were mistaken. Manson was handsome and charismatic despite his small physical form, and he was convicted of the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders even though he was almost certainly not present at the time.
Neiswender regarded him as a killer, but also was convinced that he hadn’t had a fair trial. She makes a good case. She delayed writing this book until Manson’s death in prison in 2017, as she had promised to keep much of what he said off the record. Once he died, she considered herself to be freed from that agreement. Neiswender died in March of this year, and her daughter has assisted her in seeing that the book was completed and published.
I don’t read a lot of true crime, but I couldn’t put this book down. Neiswender’s observations and insights are fascinating, and she does a fine job of bringing Manson to life—in a way that the public can appreciate without the physical threat the man represented in person.
Highly recommended.
My thanks go to the University of Nebraska press and NetGalley. This book is for sale now.
Charles Manson was the leader of a group that called itself “The Family,” almost entirely made up of girls and young women that had nowhere else to go. However, people came and went within it, and so those that spoke of it as a cohesive entity were mistaken. Manson was handsome and charismatic despite his small physical form, and he was convicted of the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders even though he was almost certainly not present at the time.
Neiswender regarded him as a killer, but also was convinced that he hadn’t had a fair trial. She makes a good case. She delayed writing this book until Manson’s death in prison in 2017, as she had promised to keep much of what he said off the record. Once he died, she considered herself to be freed from that agreement. Neiswender died in March of this year, and her daughter has assisted her in seeing that the book was completed and published.
I don’t read a lot of true crime, but I couldn’t put this book down. Neiswender’s observations and insights are fascinating, and she does a fine job of bringing Manson to life—in a way that the public can appreciate without the physical threat the man represented in person.
Highly recommended.
November 8, 2025
not that enlightening, unfortunately. the writing is good, but as she acknowledges multiple times in there she's biased because she considered him a dear friend, and she does seem to consistently do her best to show that perspective in this, which makes it hard to use as a source. I would be very interested in her memoir more broadly. 3 stars. tysm for the arc.
November 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Potomac Books, University of Nebraska Press, Mary Neiswender, and Neiswender for the free ebook advanced copy.
While there are other books about Charles Manson, this author had a first hand account of of Charles Manson from his mouth. It provided interesting information some of which was known and not known. It presented both sides of the man, some good and some evil, but always in the back of the mind whether either one were a reliable narrator. It was a quick read and definitely worth my time.
While there are other books about Charles Manson, this author had a first hand account of of Charles Manson from his mouth. It provided interesting information some of which was known and not known. It presented both sides of the man, some good and some evil, but always in the back of the mind whether either one were a reliable narrator. It was a quick read and definitely worth my time.
October 30, 2025
I always enjoy reading about Manson, as I find it all fascinating. What I liked the most about this book is the showing that Bugliosi wasn’t that great, and some of his book may be false or exaggerated. A solid addition to true crime about Manson, and it was well written. This will be out in December of 2025.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews