Customer Reviews

The Zodiac / Manson Connection

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I bought this book back when it was available for a reasonable price, but it was still a waste of money. The book really seemed to be just a bunch of random things thrown together. The majority of the "links" between the Zodiac and the Manson family were ridiculous. Things like one of the Manson follower's nicknames was the same as the name of the street one of the Zodiac killings happened on....come on, really? The few interesting things in this book were buried by too many of these laughable facts. I was really looking forward to reading this book but I was extremely disappointed. I felt like the whole time I was reading this book, I was shaking my head and rolling my eyes. If you can find this book cheap, you may want to check it out if you feel like digging through it. However, there is no way this book is worth the inflated price it is going for now.

I was extremely let down by this book. I was hoping for a nice comparison of crimes, but a lot of it is misinformation bent to fit each case. First off, the book suggests Manson was having people (Namely Bruce Davis) kill in 1966 (Cheri-Jo Bates) when Charles Manson was still in Terminal Island. He surely was not directing murders from prison. Second, Bruce Davis met Charles Manson in 1967 (shortly) and later met back up with him. I don't care what the author says, they did not know each other back in 1966.

There's also the authors attempt at analyzing pretty much every Beatles song to fit the "mood" and Manson's supposed interpretation of it. That is a bit far-fetched since even the prosecution has admitted that the interpretation of the White Album was a "Family" activity, not something embedded in Manson. He also goes as far as insisting that he saw a Batman movie mentioning "Zodiac" crimes to suggest that is where the name came from. I highly doubt that. The book really grasps for straws with the whole "Interpret The Beatles" motive.

The author also quotes Paul Watkins' book "My Life With Charles Manson" an awful lot. Watkins is the least credible person of the Family. Watkins on a taped monologue released in 1989/1990 admitted Bugliosi pulled a lot of the Helter Skelter crap out of his ass. Secondly, Watkins was a bit... loony. He testified in court that Charles Manson reattached a severed penis with his "powers" and that he told Brooks Poston to "go die" and he did for three days. Watkins also said that miner Paul Crockett put up a psychic force field around Death Valley that would only allow people with true love in their heart to pass through. In fact Watkins said he rode the 10 hour trip from Barker's to Spahn's to tell Charlie this. Watkins was a loon who admitted that he sold his story for money, probably exaggerating it to get more money.

The book also has a lot of Manson Family members put in the Family before they were even IN the Family. The book talks about Stephanie Schram and Van Houten in 1968, when she joined in 1969 right before the murders as did Leslie Van Houten. Tex Watson met Charlie in 1968, but did not officially join his gang until a few months before the murders. The book has those key players in the gang much before they actually were.

The prosecution in the Manson case more than likely took the whole "Race War" thing WAY out of proportion. Charlie probably did talk about it, but about the black Muslims, not Black Panthers. Even during the trial Charlie, the girls and even Paul Watkins spoke about the black Muslims in context to what Charlie has spoken about. The scary thing is that in 1973 the Black Muslims did attack whites out of random in Southern California. They were dubbed the Zebra Killings and there were 16 officially linked murders, but as many as 71 were substantiated and over 100+ outside of California. Most of the killers were recruited out of prisons, and perhaps Charlie was told about these when he was trying to learn the Muslim religion. He did mention in an interview that he looked for insight in every religion including Islam, Scientology, Christianity and Hinduism. So, it is very possible.

All, in all, the book has some good information. Mostly about Bruce Davis and his supposed actions when he was away from Manson. However, the book tries to make Manson the mastermind behind the Zodiac Murders and it just fails miserably. There is a chance that Bruce Davis may have committed one or more of the murders suspected to be that of the Zodiac, but to say Manson was behind it is a bit absurd. Especially when Manson was in prison still for the first. People put way too much stock into the notion that Charles Manson has some sort of power to control. He doesn't; it's a fairytale. If he had any power no one would have snitched on him and he would not be in prison.

The funny thing is, that when you break down the evidence it seems that Charles WATSON was the real ringleader of the Tate/LaBianca killings. Whether or not it was in cahoots with Charles Manson may be a mystery, but Charles Watson was the maniac responsible for them. If there was any "Zodiac connection" he would have long ago spilled the beans, as would Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel, Bruce Davis, Clem Grogan, Paul Watkins, and so on.

In short, this book should be read for novelty reasons only. I found it to be horribly far fetched and nothing but another attempt to make Manson this almighty God who could get his way by mind control, which is completely absurd. The books tries to imply that the Zodiac letters were from Manson, sent by his followers in conjunction to important events around the trial. Which, they do coincide... coincidentally. He also implies that key words within the Zodiac letters were Manson trying to "program" people to kill for him-- that each murder was specifically chosen to coincide with lunar phases in certain parts of town to spark "Helter Skelter."

It's a bunch of crap. Truth is, the murders that the Manson gang were convicted of may not have been to spark any race war. That motive was never proven. The fact that the defense rested without putting on a minute of defense made that theory "fact." The key people testifying to that motive were either pushed out of the Family before it all "came down," or had ulterior motives to testify to that; immunity to crimes, cash rewards, to keep from having their babies taken away, and threats of a mental home.

this book's NOT unavailable..(Clears throat and looks around to see if anyone GETS It..)It's a good 25.95 book isn't it? That's what I paid for it yesterday..Um..It espouses a rather interesting and not far-fetched theory that the Zodiac was Manson's right hand man as some of his "Family" members claim. Apparently, the evidence is not ridiculous..It sounds Weird, but given the coincidental crime scenes, and the bizarre mentality surrounding the cases both, it sounds pretty reasonable especially since there was a lot to protest in the 60's. Manson's not always nutty. It was his racial war crap that really ate his brain if you asK me..The Zodiac had a similar anarchistic view. Actually Manson was known in Musicians circles well and Neil Young knew him. But he's about the only one who acknowledges this..He (Manson) was almost signed to Brian Wilson's label it's said! Embarrassing to many musician's apparently..Around all the time as Neil Young said.But not a bad folk singer.Just a weird one. I can't listen to him often (Manson that is..Neil is a staple on my cd plaYer..)

Dr. Howard Davis has hit the target with his investigation and analysis of evidence concerning the conspiracy between the infamous Zodiac Killer of San Francisco during the late sixties and the notorious psychotic Charles Manson. Dr. Davis masterfully ties in dates ,times and motives, and clearly shows,without a doubt that Charles Mansons right hand man was none other than the Zodiac Killer.

I'm glad Ms. John Lived.I'm glad I'm related to Ms. Pam who was Darlene's sister.WHy did Ms. Johns pick Bruce Davis out as the man who kidnapped her and her baby?I thanK my Lucky stars for PaM.. who But no more friEnd Pam? I'm relatedto. Why did you tell the truth about Darlene? You rock..I'd lovE to meet all the sister's.Whoever played Linda in the new film was f'n hot.. Do I respect the fact that you tried to be honest,..your pain oR try solVe a crime? I hope you contact me..Tell uS,Pam, about our family...Charles MAnsoN's families suspecteD of being behind this. with them? Many accusations shrouded.. Why does this book talk so openly? Talk so opeNly Pam! There is a shared hUmanitY in truth!Ms.KathleeN Johns (I'm going tO pursUe this. name At Amazon by the way? Yes!..But is it my little Cuz?..).SuccesS or not..Many interesting facts.Arthur Leigh Allen waS picked out by Mike Mageau as his killer wannabE..Two Zodiac's?Or did the Zodiac try to take credit for two crimes?Both Kathleen Johns and Darlene's sister Christina picked out Bruce Davis's face as someone who spoke to the victims:Kathleen lived,Darlene dieD.

Accuracy was very important to me and this book was researched with such minute detail. It is hard to understand why the police have not reopened this case. It is clear that there is a strong connection between the Zodiac murders and Manson that if the police do not open the case, someone should! Manson and his followers should never be allowed out of jail and if they were the Zodiac, they should be held responsible and accountable.

Howard Davis contacted Pen Power Publications after seeing author Bill Nelson on the Geraldo Show twice in October 1991. Nelson found his investigative focus hard to believe. He set out to try and prove Davis had the wrong man. After nearly seven years of working together, Pen Power Publications was pleased to help Davis publish his work. It is explosive! We often hear the different police departments asking for the public to help in solving crime, yet, in this greatest of all unsolved murder cases, law enforcement turns their back on Davis and his evidence. Now, everyone who wants to know more about the Zodiac murders can easily find answers. We are proud of his work! -The Publisher