Customer Reviews

The Hillside Stranglers

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

The book is now 20-plus years old and in the meantime the author Darcy O'Brien has passed on. So, why comment on a work this old. For one thing, it's probably the most complete account of the notorius string of LA murders available to the public. For another, the serial dynamic is unusual in that it breaks the usual "lone wolf" pattern of most repeat killers. Here we have two cousins locked into a spiral of torture-thrill killings of the most cold-blooded type. Their skills (such as they are) blend well to produce a pretty effective killing machine that had the sprawling city both mesmerized and terrified for months at a time. (And on a minor note, even 20 years later, the stranglings appear as background on episodes of Seinfeld.)

Author O'Brien did considerable research in developing the work, and takes us through the early lives of Buono and Bianchi, the murders of the ten women in grisly detail, and finally through Bianchi's insanity hoax and Buono's interminable trial. For the most part, it's a gripping read with few apparent punches-pulled.

Nonetheless, the narrative is weakened by two rather pervasive defects. First, O'Brien offers slim grounds for the conversations he provides between the two cousins that interlace the first part of the book. Now, Truman Capote pioneered this technique in his classic In Cold Blood, but also tried to provide appropriate grounds based on conversations with the culprits themselves. However, I could find only a weak justification for taking similar liberties here. That indirect justification occurs in the book's Preface (p.xxiii), but is pretty meagre to say the least. Perhaps, as O'Brien avers, the recreation of certain scenes does contribute to understanding the psychology of the two killers; nonetheless, these recreations are fictional accounts and the reader should be kept aware. The text would have been strengthened had the author discussed the question more forthrightly than he does.

Second, author O'Brien acknowledges a close relationship with detective Grogan who worked much of the case. Now there's nothing necessarily wrong with that since authors often develop a rapport with their sources. However, in this case, the rapport comes close to adopting someone else's point of view and allowing that pov to color the narrative. In short, the text at times sounds like detective Grogan speaking through the author. As a result, the book's objectivity is seriously undermined, no matter how sound the conclusions. Now it's hard not to view the two stranglers as human belly-crawlers-- their crimes are that horrific. Nonetheless, Grogan's pov is also allowed to frame the conduct of both Buono's defense attorneys and the initial DA team, along with O'Brien's boyhood chum, presiding judge Ronald George. Such non-objective framing would appear to undercut a fair-minded account of the trial prceedings, no matter how much we and the author may root for the prosecution.

To me, such defects cast seriously into question the reliability of much of the text. I have no doubt that the two were guilty, nor that their crimes deserve the strongest possible legal punishment. However, despite the book's many redeeming features, the account is told from a definite, and sometimes fictionalized, point of view. And whether or not the many forensic details plus the author's narrative skills are sufficient compensation is up to the reader to decide.

When I moved from northern california to southern california, I thought I was escaping from the current "missing young women" events dominating the headlines at the time. Theodore Bundy was making his mark in the northwest and the terror easily spread down to Humboldt County. I recall being warned by a local detective to be vigilant as the women targeted appeared similar to myself. So, it was with a sense of security that I departed the north for the south.

However, there was no escaping the similar circumstances in southern california. The so called "Hillside Strangler" was gripping the area with fear as more and more young women were found discarded like a bag of rubbish on the roadsides. When the case finally broke, the next surprise was it was handsome, smooth talking Kenneth Bianchi AND his cousin, Angelo Buono. The similarity between Kenneth and Theodore Bundy struck me at the time, but the more disturbing aspect of the case was the how these two cousins systematically developed a routine for abusing and ultimately murduring their helpless victims.

The book written by Darcy O'Brien expertly delves into these tragic murders. Profiling two of the most heinous killers in recent times, the author could never provide an answer as to why these things happen to innocent people nor provide a sense of comfort to the family survivors. Ms. O'Brien expounds quite efficiently with clues, insights and background into the personalities of the killer cousins and the details surrounding the crimes.

There are really no words to express the horror one feels after reading the cruelties perpetrated by Bianchi and Buono on their unsuspecting victims. While there is no doubt that these two men were atrocious separately, taken together, they became a deadly pair of sociopaths, each feeding off the other. One has to wonder not only WHY, but how it was possible for the two of them to have committed so many murders before they were caught. While these murders occurred in the days before sophisticated computerized databanks were available, one has to wonder how many clues were missed. To me, it would have been helpful if this book had addressed police procedurals to give some ideas how it was that women were being murdered one right after the other and nobody had an inkling of who the killers were. The only clue they had was that there were two of them.

However, despite this drawback, and some of the other drawbacks other reviewers have mentioned about this book, I think THE HILLSIDE STRANGLERS is a highly worthwhile read, because it provides a glimpse into the terrifying period in our nation's history, in which women were being terrorized by these two highly sadistic and perverted individuals. If nothing else, it is a cautionary tale and should be recommended reading for young women who are leaving home for the first time and going off to live on their own. As the philosopher George Santayana has said, "One must know the history to keep from repeating the mistakes of the past."

This true crime story tells the tale of two revolting human beings and their crime spree in the late nineteen seventies. Together, they brutally murdered, tortured and sexually violated a number of young, innocent women in California. The media named the killer the Hillside Strangler, in complete ignorance of the fact that not one but two killers were on the loose.

The Hillside Strangler would ultimately turn out to be the Hillside Stranglers, Kenny Bianchi, and his truly evil cousin, Angelo Buono. A more loathsome duo would be hard to find. The book details their odd relationship and their insatiable blood lust and depravity. Their eventual capture, arrest, and trial would fascinate the media and the public for some time.

While it is evident that much research went into this book, leaving little doubt of the guilt of these two fiends, the way in which the author wrote the book was a little disconcerting, melding fact with much fictionalized dialogue without much basis for his artistic license. Still, this does not take away form the core of the story, which will fascinate those who enjoy the true crime genre.

I read this book immediately after a debate with my husband about whether his hometown of Rochester, NY had more famous serial killers than my hometown in California. I read this book with the intent of learning more about the people and cultures of Rochester, NY and Los Angelos, CA. I was not disappointed, and found the descriptions of familiar places and familiar cultures to be very realistic, which added a very real chill because I've been to the places mentioned in this book. I had also researched the ABC murders in Rochester, and found that one of the Hillside Strangler's was a suspect in those unsolved murders.

I could not put this book down, and could not sleep for two nights because of the disturbing subject matter. I was originally afraid that the sexual details would make this book too emotionally upsetting. However, the author didn't describe the sexual aspects of the crimes with much emotion or with much detail. I found that his fictional scenes with dialogue made the book more interesting and readable for the general public, though a historian or academic might protest his use of dialogue in a nonfiction book. As a psychologist, I was very impressed with the commentary and analysis of how professional psychologists are used to interview and assess suspected murderers, especially those who are pleading insanity. I've always doubted the reliability of policies allowing "experts" to determine the psychology of serial killers when they are influenced by the charming first impression that so many sociopaths possess. The author tried to find answers for the survivors, such as how someone could commit such a horrible crime, and why, but these are questions that have no emotionally-satisfying answer. His explanation is good enough for the scientist and the psychologist, but not for the average reader. Indeed, who would want to understand the mind of a serial killer, when understanding requires much empathy?

I found the historical details and grueling research of the author to be fascinating and admirable. So many criminals are not prosecuted today because there is a lack of evidence, evidence is not allowed in court, or other technicalities that allow criminals to walk free. The frustration of the law-enforcement who worked on this case helped me to understand the larger picture of what is happening in our American justice system, without any political bias whatsoever.

I lived thru these two maniacs!! This book comes close to what really happened. But, be warned....this is not for the squeemish!!!

It should be noted that if you're looking for a factual account of the murderers, this is not the book to read. It consists of fanciful dialogue that has no basis in testimony or anything else. As a *novel* it's alright, but it is NOT a factual description of how the murders occurred.

I totally agree with ellitahlie. None of the facts in the book are correct. Its like he made everything up just to write a book. Don't bother with it. buy Two of a Kind by Darcy O'Brien