Goodbye Helter Skelter

by George Stimson

In August of 1969 the spectacular Tate-LaBianca murders rocked Los Angeles, the country, and the world. But even more shocking than those murders was the story behind them: the story of a homicidal maniac named Charles Manson, how he turned the sons and daughters of middle-class America into a Family of murderous slaves, and an insane plan to achieve world domination by sparking a race war called Helter Skelter.

But what if it was just a story?

Here is the first realistic and reasonable examination of the Tate-LaBianca murders and the true reasons behind them. Based on years of research and exclusive information from Charles Manson and many of his former and present friends, Goodbye Helter Skelter presents the conclusions of a long-time Manson associate -- conclusions that will likely change what you think about Charles Manson, his so-called Family, and some of the most infamous murders in the history of American crime.

Goodbye Helter Skelter includes material taken from hundreds of hours of tape-recorded conversations with Charles Manson. Never before has Manson's point of view been presented in such a complete and coherent format.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[John McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems like it's probably the closest thing to reality regarding Charles Manson. It lacks the sensationalism of Bugliosi, Sanders, GoRightly, etc., but should be part of any serious Manson collection/investigation.

[Buffalo Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectura obligada para cualquier persona interesada en el caso Tate-LaBianca. El autor nos cuenta el contexto de la época, importantísimo para lo que estaría por llegar, y cómo se desarrolló en el pintoresco grupo una espiral de paranoia desde el primer disparo a Lotsapoppa. Una concatenación de errores e intereses que desembocaría en lo que todos conocemos.

Stimson deja a un lado la sangre, el sensacionalismo y el morbo para centrarse única y exclusivamente en el relato de los hechos desde una perspectiva de investigador imparcial. Demuestra las inconsistencias de los testigos implicados comparando sus declaraciones, que cambiaban como una veleta con la dirección del viento.

Y demuestra lo más importante: que el móvil de Helter Skelter fue un invento –muy bien fabricado, eso sí– de la acusación para aglutinar todos los crímenes bajo una misma motivación y ganar el caso fácilmente.

Al final nos queda la sensación de que todo el mundo miente excepto Charles Manson quien, como dijo Doris Tate en una entrevista, "no suele mentir."

Puede gustarte o no, pero los hechos están ahí y George Stimson los recoge en Goodbye Helter Skelter.

[Myles Quist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well researched and he put a lot of time and patience into really understanding Charlie's point of view. The only thing this book is lacking is the "why?" This book explains in great detail why the whole "Helter Skelter" scenario is false but it never explains why it was ever even created! Why did all the District Attorney's and Judges and the Media want Manson incarcerated? Was it for a cover up? But why would someone even want to cover up the "get brother out of jail" reason, the real reason? Wouldn't incarcerating just the guilty ones, "The Family" been enough? I don't understand why Bugliosi needed this elaborate scheme. This book is well researched, a good read overall, and forms valid opinions as to how Manson didn't get a fair trial, but it left me with that giant question as to why Helter Skelter was even made up in the first place.

[Steve Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read Helter Skelter when I was in high school. Since then, I've been fascinated and often obsessed with the murders in Los Angeles on August 9-10, 1969. Over time I've become increasingly convinced that these events didn't go down quite as described in Vince Bugliosi's book. Poking around on the other side with Schreck and Stimson was potentially a demon dance but I was willing. As for this book, it is fine. Mr. Stimson goes to great lengths to discredit 'official' accounts and present his own version. However, I'm not buying a great deal of what is being sold though the motive he outlines is far less absurd than the one used to prosecute Manson and his codefendents. I can't get into my specific criticisms without spoiling the content. While I took exception to much of what was written, I think this is an important book for any self-proclaimed Mansonologist. I did enjoy The Aftermath chapter. The following chapter on Manson was filled with Charlie's pretzel logic and bizarre metaphors. I found the inclusion of Mr. Bugliosi's book proposal letter to be particularly interesting. It casts further shade on the ADA's complete motive.

[Silena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author presents another possible motive for the "Manson Family" murders and explains what he learned through decades of visits and correspondence with Charles Manson.

[Benji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally. A book that makes dots connect and things feel real. Authentic.