James Buddy Day

First, thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read many books on the Manson Murders and, of course, like anyone else fascinated by this "Helter Skelter" was the bible of the crime. I was only ten years old when this occurred so I didn't really come into the story until later but when I did I read everything I could and watched everything as well.

James Buddy Day does a great job in telling a thought provoking job of making you take a different view of not what happened because we pretty much know what happened but WHY. James asks Charlie Manson the tough questions - the questions we would probably ask if we had the spine and the opportunity to do so.

The interesting part of all of this is that 50 years later, would the trial still have been handled any differently? When you see docs like Making a Murderer or The Staircase you just have to wonder.

An great read and written so well you won't want to put it down. I finished it in one day it was that good!… (más)

I'm a true crime documentary enthusiast. I watch more than my share of DiscoveryID and True Crime YouTube Channels. I listen to true crime podcasts all the time. And, I read many, many related books and websites. Not to mention that my fiction library is mostly mystery novels. Given all of that -- of course I'm going to read a book about Charlie Manson's last interviews before he died in 2017!

Before I even opened this book, I was well aware that most of the interviews/quotes would be in Charlie-speak. I remember watching the 1988 interview with Geraldo Rivera where Charlie went into some of the strangest rants and bizarre behavior I have ever seen. The man was crazy....totally Bat-S crazy. So, I went into this book with the knowledge that nothing this man said would make any sense.

And I was right.

I'm glad I read this book. I can see the benefit/interest in writing about Manson's last thoughts about his past, the trial, his incarceration, and the murders.....even if everything that popped out of that man's mouth was pure crazy. Kudos to James Buddy Day for managing to write an interesting, coherent book about Manson, despite the man himself making very little sense. Manson's main point: He wasn't present during the murders, stated he didn't directly order the murders, so he wasn't guilty of any crime. Whatever you say, Charlie.

Very informative. This book doesn't pull any punches -- the murders are outlined in detail. Portions of this book are not for the faint of heart. If you can't handle descriptions of what his groupies did, Charlie's truth and strange rants....then pass this one by. It gets down to the dirt....or maybe blood is a better word in this case.

I enjoyed this book. I would definitely read more by this author. But I think I will pass on more Charlie rants.....this book outlines his last interviews. So....it's a good place to stop giving the man any space in my head. Bye, Charlie. Can't say I'm glad you are gone.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Optimum Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**… (más)

Documentary maker James is shocked when he receives a phone call from Charles Manson. Through phone calls with Manson, and interviews with those involved in the crimes and subsequent trial, James presents an alternate theory of the crimes. He claims that the concept of Helter Skelter was made up by the prosecution and used to convict a man who took no actual part in the crimes. He also claims that those involved in the crimes, should have been let out of prison long ago, and that they are victim's themselves.

This book was a jumbled mess of the author's experiences, Manson's ramblings, and conversations that James had with other people. As far as his alternate theory, I had the reaction of "so what." The criminals were using psychedelic drugs - there is no telling what kind of crazy stories and rants they were telling at the time. The prosecution didn't come up with the phrase "Helter Skelter," they took it from the crime scene. Of course the prosecution embellished the cohesiveness of the group, and exaggerated the negative aspects of Manson and the Family. That's what a good prosecutor does. The alternate theory doesn't make the prosecutor's theory wrong. Overall, this book was a bust.… (más)