Ο Δολοφόνος

by Jerry Weissman

A novel based on the still-unsolved San Francisco murders of 1968-69.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Karschtl]

I first heard of the Zodiac killer when watching the David Fincher movie couple of years ago. This book here is only loosely based on the incident, with some similarities but also a lot of artistic freedom.

It is written mainly from the perspective of a young man who turns into a killer and calls himself Zodiac. The viewpoint is rather unusual, very often such books are written from the PoV of the investigator or the potential victim. Here it is the culprit, with some passages later written from the perspective of the female journalist covering this case.

The murder itself weren't that many or gruesome if compared to other mass murderers in the US. I think what's more fascinating here is the lack of motive, the 'public' appearances of the killer via letters and the fact that this case has never been solved - and probably never will be.

The book was written in 1979, and yes you can feel that it's a bit dated. But nevertheless readable. I finished the book yesterday afternoon and had to watch the Fincher movie right afterwards.

[Kyle Brooky]

Interesting take on the unsolved Zodiac killings. For those looking for a factual retelling of events look elsewhere, as Weissman takes the then-decade old crimes as a draft to write his 'what-if' concept of who the killer could have been and why his murders stopped.

I quite enjoyed the book, though it comes to an abrupt ending which left me somewhat unsatisfied. Perhaps a comment on the real life killings which halted after the killer's boldest attack?

[Angie]

Chilling.......

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης]

lazy writing in its finest
i only read it because it was part of a series i wanted to collect/complete/read
avoid it by any means