Skelter

by Michael R. Perry

From the author whose brilliant imagination created The Stranger Returns--the novel that dared to ask: "What if Ted Bundy were still alive?"--comes an even more disturbing novel. This time, the children of Charles Manson, America's most brilliant and twisted killer, are about to do their daddy proud.

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

Reviews

[Gavcrimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the author of the slightly more infamous The Stranger Returns ('the novel that dared to ask ...what if Ted Bundy were still alive') comes another collision of true crime and Weekly World News type nonsense. Here modern day disciples of Charles Manson try to break him out jail while hunting down 13 illegitimate children spawned at Spahn ranch. A move that spells trouble for Trumbo Walsh, one of the Spahn sprogs, whose quest to find his hippy mother leads him to battle his way through bikers, cops and a brand new version of the Manson family. Skelter is surprisingly likeable and fast paced, with enough explosions, car chases and shootouts as a big budget action movie from the period. The fact that we also get a subplot about a disingenuous TV producer ruthlessly trying to cash in on Manson's notoriety, suggests Skelter should actually be taken as a satirical, self-aware dig at the crass commercialisation of the Manson case. While played straight, there are some legitimately funny moments to be had along the way too, especially Manson's addiction to playing his Nintendo Gameboy and the swipe at Paul McCartney 'Who could possibly mistake the guy who wrote "Band on the Run" and "Ebony and Ivory" for some kind of prophet?'. Perhaps because Manson was still alive at the time, the book keeps him at arm's length from any of the nastiness and even makes him the subject of a redemptive story arc, which might be the most audacious aspect of the book. Read today, it is also rather daunting how all of the book's then modern references to rave parties, Beverley Hills 90210, grunge music and New Age religions now feel as far away as the sixties culture must have felt when this came out in the 1990s. In terms of dating badly, there is an amusingly cringe worthy moment where a teenage runaway finds herself on the streets of Hollywood and wishes Bill Cosby would show up and take her to safety....little did we know that he lacked the integrity and good character of Charles Manson.

[Terri Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a work of fiction based around the insanity that was Charles Manson. I admit it had me drawn in because the author clearly has an interesting imagination. The ending regarding Manson is ridiculous but then again, so was he. I will probably read the author's fiction about Ted Bundy just for curiosity sake.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

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