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The Manson Family: More to the Story
Three gruesome, blood-spattered crime scenes in the Hollywood Hills…
Ten innocent people slaughtered by drug-crazed hippies during the tumultuous
Woodstock Era…
A psychopath who convinced a cult of runaways and dropouts that they could start the Apocalypse and rule the world…
A spellbinding trial and a motive beyond comprehension…
Fifty years later, you’ll be shocked to discover that when it came to Charles Manson, the Manson Family and the Helter Skelter murders - there was more to the story than we were told.
Ten innocent people slaughtered by drug-crazed hippies during the tumultuous
Woodstock Era…
A psychopath who convinced a cult of runaways and dropouts that they could start the Apocalypse and rule the world…
A spellbinding trial and a motive beyond comprehension…
Fifty years later, you’ll be shocked to discover that when it came to Charles Manson, the Manson Family and the Helter Skelter murders - there was more to the story than we were told.
- GenresCrime
574 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2019
174 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 27, 2020
I am updating this just a bit and adding another * because I finally ended up finishing it after much debate. The 2nd * is strictly for the effort it took to put this together because my opinions haven't changed.
The irony and bullshit in this crap is hilarious and the facts of the case as the author see's them (from other writers and documentarians mostly) and his/her own thoughts is sad. The mistakes literally started from the introduction of the supposed 'Family members' and I am not talking about the actual people. The last time that I checked mail fraud is NOT a capital crime and neither is using a stolen credit card. Oh yeah...and neither is drug possession...especially not in the 1960's. I am assuming this is self publicized since the author also makes it appear to have written other books but they are all just sections about specific people taken from this book once you read the fine print.
This crap was released in 2019 when so many were trying to cash in on the 50th year of the murders. I can't even continue to comment on my thoughts and the mistakes about actual events and the criminal justice system (I have a B. A. in Criminal Justice) because it's just pissing me off. The author calls Charles Manson a Fame Whore...WELL DUH!! The comparison to him is made along side the idiot skanks on the E! channel and the Bachelor shows but someone trying to cash in on the 50th year of heinous murders by saying they wrote a book isn't seeking fame?
Just F.Y.I Charles Manson was a SOCIOPATH. He DID NOT love the people that made up his so called family. He was in everything 100% for himself and that is it. He used absolutely everyone that he met and was so materialistic that it was pathetic when you read all of the shit he spouted to the followers about those sorts of the things. He didn't give a shit about the 3 sons he had and never met any of them besides Mary's son who was adopted when he was still a baby. They weren't in his heart just in his thoughts as to what they could do for him and only him. He wasn't a guru he was a tiny, mysognistic, bastard who may not have been a murderer but he was also NOT a Guru he was a PIMP. Plain and simple and not hard to figure out. Manson himself has said that he was only 5'2 so he didn't magically shrink 5 inches just because Vincent Bugliosi seemed to make the author mad by using this height difference numerous times.
The author contradicts themselves in this book so many times and I was really annoyed by the constant opionions given and the Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda theories the entire way.
These are a few of mine opinions based on this writers thoughts....I have studied this case extensively so I think I can merit allowing myself these....
I without a shadow of a doubt believe that Linda Kasabian was a damn good Hippie little girl actress and that she would have gone to prison had Vincent Bugliosi not been so desperate to make this case that I believe she was coached and it's known that he never recorded his interviews with her. She was a major drug addict who literally had such mind blowing sex with Tex Watson a man that she had literally just met that she voluntarily went and stole $5,000 because he told her that she should and she did it no questions asked. She was with the group at Spahn less than 6 weeks but was so privy to their world that she knew absolutely everything imaginable going on which I don't believe either. I will never believe that she did not go into the house on Cielo Drive the night of the murders which I think she was very much a part of but not in the murderess sense to those victims but I do believe that she was involved with the death of Steve Parent in some capacity.
I believe that Mary Brunner got away with murder and should have gone to prison as well and had it not been for the insane press coverage and the name MANSON that those involved with the actual death of Gary Hinman would have already been released from prison minus Susan of course. She never kept custody of her son as the author stated because Michael was adopted by her parents as Michael Brunner and they have a decent relationship but not wonderful.
I also think that Paul Watkins sure seemed to have quite a little memory for such a drug addict and that Danny DeCarlo was without a doubt coached like Hell by Bugliosi to help with his Helter Skelter bullshit (which I did not call bullshit when I met Bugliosi who signed my old worn copy of his book).
My final thoughts are in regards to Susan Atkins. I think that she was a truly lost and damaged soul who deserved to be in prison and I do not give a shit about her sexual orientation (as the author ponders a lot). I don't think that it was about gender it was about love and finding that which she longed for her entire life. She clearly was so desperate for attention and affection that she claimed to taste Sharon Tate's blood (this was a lie) and said so many other things. She was a major major drug addict and add that to her desire for affection she basically slept with anyone who said yes. I believe that she tried very hard to love her son who she never laid eyes on again after her arrest but she was so far damaged that it was just not possible. Finally, she was so skanked up with syphillis and gonorhea and whatever else crotch rot she had for so many many years that I think it damaged her brain which is something known to happen. It was so bad that she couldn't wear shoes for the blisters and almost died in the hospital more than once. In the end, she died in prison and seems to have made peace with herself which is her choice and not for anyone else to judge.
My only interest in this book was the author found more information than I have about many past members of the Spahn clan and where they are now. I will say that I don't think that Manson's middle son Charles Luther ever had children because he has vanished and has been rumored to have been dead since the 70's when he was killed after committing robbery as a teen here in my home state of Ohio but as I said it's not concrete.
P.S. I think one point that the author mentions several times has a possible simple explanation...the reason why the people going to the LaBianca house drove around for hours before finally supposedly settling on the Waverly Drive home. Manson didn't do everything half assed and I think that he probably did this just to make it seem random especially since it ended up being in a neighborhood familiar to most of them.
The irony and bullshit in this crap is hilarious and the facts of the case as the author see's them (from other writers and documentarians mostly) and his/her own thoughts is sad. The mistakes literally started from the introduction of the supposed 'Family members' and I am not talking about the actual people. The last time that I checked mail fraud is NOT a capital crime and neither is using a stolen credit card. Oh yeah...and neither is drug possession...especially not in the 1960's. I am assuming this is self publicized since the author also makes it appear to have written other books but they are all just sections about specific people taken from this book once you read the fine print.
This crap was released in 2019 when so many were trying to cash in on the 50th year of the murders. I can't even continue to comment on my thoughts and the mistakes about actual events and the criminal justice system (I have a B. A. in Criminal Justice) because it's just pissing me off. The author calls Charles Manson a Fame Whore...WELL DUH!! The comparison to him is made along side the idiot skanks on the E! channel and the Bachelor shows but someone trying to cash in on the 50th year of heinous murders by saying they wrote a book isn't seeking fame?
Just F.Y.I Charles Manson was a SOCIOPATH. He DID NOT love the people that made up his so called family. He was in everything 100% for himself and that is it. He used absolutely everyone that he met and was so materialistic that it was pathetic when you read all of the shit he spouted to the followers about those sorts of the things. He didn't give a shit about the 3 sons he had and never met any of them besides Mary's son who was adopted when he was still a baby. They weren't in his heart just in his thoughts as to what they could do for him and only him. He wasn't a guru he was a tiny, mysognistic, bastard who may not have been a murderer but he was also NOT a Guru he was a PIMP. Plain and simple and not hard to figure out. Manson himself has said that he was only 5'2 so he didn't magically shrink 5 inches just because Vincent Bugliosi seemed to make the author mad by using this height difference numerous times.
The author contradicts themselves in this book so many times and I was really annoyed by the constant opionions given and the Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda theories the entire way.
These are a few of mine opinions based on this writers thoughts....I have studied this case extensively so I think I can merit allowing myself these....
I without a shadow of a doubt believe that Linda Kasabian was a damn good Hippie little girl actress and that she would have gone to prison had Vincent Bugliosi not been so desperate to make this case that I believe she was coached and it's known that he never recorded his interviews with her. She was a major drug addict who literally had such mind blowing sex with Tex Watson a man that she had literally just met that she voluntarily went and stole $5,000 because he told her that she should and she did it no questions asked. She was with the group at Spahn less than 6 weeks but was so privy to their world that she knew absolutely everything imaginable going on which I don't believe either. I will never believe that she did not go into the house on Cielo Drive the night of the murders which I think she was very much a part of but not in the murderess sense to those victims but I do believe that she was involved with the death of Steve Parent in some capacity.
I believe that Mary Brunner got away with murder and should have gone to prison as well and had it not been for the insane press coverage and the name MANSON that those involved with the actual death of Gary Hinman would have already been released from prison minus Susan of course. She never kept custody of her son as the author stated because Michael was adopted by her parents as Michael Brunner and they have a decent relationship but not wonderful.
I also think that Paul Watkins sure seemed to have quite a little memory for such a drug addict and that Danny DeCarlo was without a doubt coached like Hell by Bugliosi to help with his Helter Skelter bullshit (which I did not call bullshit when I met Bugliosi who signed my old worn copy of his book).
My final thoughts are in regards to Susan Atkins. I think that she was a truly lost and damaged soul who deserved to be in prison and I do not give a shit about her sexual orientation (as the author ponders a lot). I don't think that it was about gender it was about love and finding that which she longed for her entire life. She clearly was so desperate for attention and affection that she claimed to taste Sharon Tate's blood (this was a lie) and said so many other things. She was a major major drug addict and add that to her desire for affection she basically slept with anyone who said yes. I believe that she tried very hard to love her son who she never laid eyes on again after her arrest but she was so far damaged that it was just not possible. Finally, she was so skanked up with syphillis and gonorhea and whatever else crotch rot she had for so many many years that I think it damaged her brain which is something known to happen. It was so bad that she couldn't wear shoes for the blisters and almost died in the hospital more than once. In the end, she died in prison and seems to have made peace with herself which is her choice and not for anyone else to judge.
My only interest in this book was the author found more information than I have about many past members of the Spahn clan and where they are now. I will say that I don't think that Manson's middle son Charles Luther ever had children because he has vanished and has been rumored to have been dead since the 70's when he was killed after committing robbery as a teen here in my home state of Ohio but as I said it's not concrete.
P.S. I think one point that the author mentions several times has a possible simple explanation...the reason why the people going to the LaBianca house drove around for hours before finally supposedly settling on the Waverly Drive home. Manson didn't do everything half assed and I think that he probably did this just to make it seem random especially since it ended up being in a neighborhood familiar to most of them.
September 10, 2022
My interest/fascination with this case began when I was in 4th grade and my mother started reading the newly-released “Helter Skelter”. I remember thumbing through the rather large photo section of that book and it scared the daylights out of me … especially that iconic Manson photo with the glaring eyes. That photo was actually zoomed just to show the eyes/nose/mouth that triggered a jack-in-the-box scare when you turned the page and saw it … it literally jumped off the page and into your face (pretty effective marketing tool). This happened over 40 years ago and here I am today, still reading yet another Manson-related book (I’ve read most of them).
The title of this book lured me-in ( … “More to the Story”) and I’m glad I read it. Most Manson-murder books take a single -angle approach to the story. Even the spectacular “Helter Skelter” was simply the prosecutor’s account of what won Bugliosi’s case against Manson. The entire story, from beginning-to-end, is far more complicated and compelling. H. Allegra Lansing manages to make use of all those other books, articles, court transcripts and even her own extensive research to piece together a more complete account of the entire Manson Family story like no other book has been able to do.
While it is now common knowledge that the term “Helter Skelter” was used as the primary motive to ensure a CONVICTION, it was not the likely or logical primary, secondary or even tertiary motive. Lansing’s account of Manson’s prison release in the late 60s and the story of each (and likely) every “family” member brought into his fold reveals so much more than Bugliosi’s book ever attempted to accomplish. Seeing how the family grew and functioned daily, as well the compelling who/how/why details surrounding their interactions with those outside their group certainly enhances the clarity of the Manson saga.
I found Lansing introducing so many new angles to the story that were quite fascinating. Thankfully, she also sheds so much more light on the victims. Even better, she manages to combine all these details into chronological, interesting, easy to read, bite-sized chapters. My only gripe is there are no page numbers in the book. I also appreciate the author’s rather neutral stance throughout the book.
It appears Lansing felt the same frustrations I was experiencing in that that there were so many stories/books out there that only told part of the story. Thankfully, she took action and pulled everything together to provide a one-stop-shop effort that finally put this case to rest for me. A worthy read.
The title of this book lured me-in ( … “More to the Story”) and I’m glad I read it. Most Manson-murder books take a single -angle approach to the story. Even the spectacular “Helter Skelter” was simply the prosecutor’s account of what won Bugliosi’s case against Manson. The entire story, from beginning-to-end, is far more complicated and compelling. H. Allegra Lansing manages to make use of all those other books, articles, court transcripts and even her own extensive research to piece together a more complete account of the entire Manson Family story like no other book has been able to do.
While it is now common knowledge that the term “Helter Skelter” was used as the primary motive to ensure a CONVICTION, it was not the likely or logical primary, secondary or even tertiary motive. Lansing’s account of Manson’s prison release in the late 60s and the story of each (and likely) every “family” member brought into his fold reveals so much more than Bugliosi’s book ever attempted to accomplish. Seeing how the family grew and functioned daily, as well the compelling who/how/why details surrounding their interactions with those outside their group certainly enhances the clarity of the Manson saga.
I found Lansing introducing so many new angles to the story that were quite fascinating. Thankfully, she also sheds so much more light on the victims. Even better, she manages to combine all these details into chronological, interesting, easy to read, bite-sized chapters. My only gripe is there are no page numbers in the book. I also appreciate the author’s rather neutral stance throughout the book.
It appears Lansing felt the same frustrations I was experiencing in that that there were so many stories/books out there that only told part of the story. Thankfully, she took action and pulled everything together to provide a one-stop-shop effort that finally put this case to rest for me. A worthy read.
June 17, 2021
Really Great Read!
This is hands down one of the very best books about the Manson Family I have read. The author has a very authentic voice and I feel like I am sitting and having a chat about a really compelling subject. The book is really well organized and the author’s explanation of motive is spot on. I really connected with the author in the final arguments where I am asked to reflex on myself and my vulnerability to being manipulated by someone like Manson. I also really loved the awesome vocabulary words I have added to my schema reading this book. I love learning new words and this author’s vernacular is amazing! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!
This is hands down one of the very best books about the Manson Family I have read. The author has a very authentic voice and I feel like I am sitting and having a chat about a really compelling subject. The book is really well organized and the author’s explanation of motive is spot on. I really connected with the author in the final arguments where I am asked to reflex on myself and my vulnerability to being manipulated by someone like Manson. I also really loved the awesome vocabulary words I have added to my schema reading this book. I love learning new words and this author’s vernacular is amazing! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!
March 16, 2023
A surprisingly well researched book for those of us who 60+ years later are still fascinated by this true crime story. With the prosecuting attorney's best seller "Helter Skelter" still considered the most well rounded Manson book, we've all been spoonfed that idea as the reason for the infamous acts of August 1969. Lansing makes a very convincing argument that Helter Skelter was only one of several motivations that Charles Manson had. It was also the one most likely to get a conviction. If the world of Charles Manson and his followers still frightens you, stay tuned and discover myriad reasons the Family found for committing heinous acts.
June 7, 2021
Well worth seeking out. It provides more background info on the Family, instead of making Charlie the main focus. It lets us see the human side of people that, while they participated in monstrous acts and did deserve punishment, were not necessarily monsters.
The coverage of Susan Atkins was particularly illuminating. Read Atkin’s two books, and this one, and your opinion of her which is likely based on Helter Skelter, may just change somewhat.
This book was written in a very engaging and readable style, and is filled with information. Highly recommended.
The coverage of Susan Atkins was particularly illuminating. Read Atkin’s two books, and this one, and your opinion of her which is likely based on Helter Skelter, may just change somewhat.
This book was written in a very engaging and readable style, and is filled with information. Highly recommended.
February 2, 2021
Long but well researched
While at times this book was a slog to get through, at 571 pages, it is bound to be, this book was very thought out and well done. The author does tend to go back and forth on the timeline, but with the amount of people involved, it had to be done. Bravo for her use of the most recent of resources, up to 2020! At the time of publishing, the EPIX documentary had not been released. It has since and is well worth a look if you get the channel.
While at times this book was a slog to get through, at 571 pages, it is bound to be, this book was very thought out and well done. The author does tend to go back and forth on the timeline, but with the amount of people involved, it had to be done. Bravo for her use of the most recent of resources, up to 2020! At the time of publishing, the EPIX documentary had not been released. It has since and is well worth a look if you get the channel.
July 2, 2020
Great Read!!!!
I have read many books about the Manson family and this one is an interesting take on the Helter Skelter theory and adding many more backstories to this being the primary motive. I would definitely recommend this book which seems to be highly researched by the author.
I have read many books about the Manson family and this one is an interesting take on the Helter Skelter theory and adding many more backstories to this being the primary motive. I would definitely recommend this book which seems to be highly researched by the author.
January 20, 2023
This is truly an atrocity of the many works attributed to writings about Charles Manson and his “family”. It is sloppy, mostly copied and pasted from other works, sources cited are incorrect, basically everything you could imagine wrong with a book is in it.
Reading even 30 pages of this book makes even less sense than anybody else’s perceived motives of these crimes. Reading more pages into the book, I was starting to feel disgusted. The author is truly delusional, or has some kind of other psychological damage of their own. There are so many blatant lies and names, places are virtually all incorrect. I would have thrown in the book away or requested my money back had it not been borrowed from a friend.
I don’t know what is wrong with this author, because they have clearly not done sufficient research into the case in order to formulate any ideas of their own.
Out of all the books about this topic, this is definitely the worst one.
Most bookstores have names for these kinds of books - “kindling”.
Reading even 30 pages of this book makes even less sense than anybody else’s perceived motives of these crimes. Reading more pages into the book, I was starting to feel disgusted. The author is truly delusional, or has some kind of other psychological damage of their own. There are so many blatant lies and names, places are virtually all incorrect. I would have thrown in the book away or requested my money back had it not been borrowed from a friend.
I don’t know what is wrong with this author, because they have clearly not done sufficient research into the case in order to formulate any ideas of their own.
Out of all the books about this topic, this is definitely the worst one.
Most bookstores have names for these kinds of books - “kindling”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2020
It was good. The writing was very well done but I felt like the author kept implying that there would be new information.
July 17, 2022
#70 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022
Read
February 18, 2023Repetitive in a lot of areas but I learned a lot of new details about the Family and the victims. Some photos would have been nice.
August 1, 2023
Deaths
They did the unthinkable.its surprising how many celebrities were mentioned here. Also I think that no one should have been paroled. They need stay in jail.
They did the unthinkable.its surprising how many celebrities were mentioned here. Also I think that no one should have been paroled. They need stay in jail.
March 22, 2024
Youtube
January 31, 2021
Great content, poor editing
Well researched and logically presented. Will we ever know the whole story? The Bugliosi prosecutorial version may have clinched the convictions but it always left that "close but no cigar" feeling. This version, even when regurgitating known facts, presents a much more likely (foot noted) chronology of facts and events. This is a must read for anyone still unsatisfied with the 1969-70 version of events. The editing needs lots of help though, detracting sufficiently from my rating. Well done!
Well researched and logically presented. Will we ever know the whole story? The Bugliosi prosecutorial version may have clinched the convictions but it always left that "close but no cigar" feeling. This version, even when regurgitating known facts, presents a much more likely (foot noted) chronology of facts and events. This is a must read for anyone still unsatisfied with the 1969-70 version of events. The editing needs lots of help though, detracting sufficiently from my rating. Well done!
July 29, 2019
An excellent book about the Manson murders. Gives lots of background detail on the killers. The author offers up a very plausible set of motivations for the killings, and updates the reader on what has happened to the key characters in the intervening years. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews