No comments about Murder Casebook 18 ; the Hillside Stranglers , Bianchi and Buono.

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5 comments about Two of a Kind: The Hillside Strangler.

1. I don't know who is stranger? This author or Angelo Buono. The biggest hero in this book is a alcoholic philandering cop who, when he gets liquored up he shoots off his gun. I am inclined to believe Angelo Buono was innocent after reading this geeks view of the world.



2. I reread this book every couple of years. This is an must read for any true crime junkie. It was so well written and showed all sides of the story. It made me realize random acts of violence against women was the "high" for these two idoits. They killed women they knew as well as someone they just spotted on the street. They were cold blooded murderers ...and ended up where they needed to be... a premanet resident of the state prison. As a female it made me more aware of my surroundings and I never get out of my car without looking around first for weirdo's lurking. :)



3. "Two of a Kind: The Hillside Stranglers" is a book I have been anticipating reading for quite some time. The fact that is out of print made it somewhat difficult to acquire a copy. As a whole, it was worth the wait. The book is well scripted and informative on the subject of two of America's most noted killers and perhaps most famous killing duo.
   
   Angelo Buono had his way with women, but his anger toward his mother and failed relationships caused something to crack inside him. While he was violent and neglectful of women, it was not until he formed an unholy alliance with his cousin Kenneth Bianchi that he began to kill women. The duo killed ten women who were mostly prostitutes through the means suggested in the book's title. However, the murder of two school girls certainly raised my ire toward them. Although the duo was under suspicion, it was not until the pair "broke up" that the heat rose. Bianchi killed two women on his own to satiate his lust, but was not nearly as efficient without his cousin.
   
   The one aspect of the book I disliked was that there seemed to be more focus on the detectives than the criminals. This was a small flaw in the grand scale. The book was well written and tough to put down. Even knowing the results of the trial, the writing managed to keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what might happen next. I even doubted the possibility of conviction for a moment. Although it is often verbose and quite lengthy at times, I would recommend this work of true crime.



4. I was arrested on March 30, 1978 as the Hillside Strangler. The Media with their TV camera's were present when the LAPD arrested me when I come home from work and took me downtown. My picture was on the local and national news and in Newsweek magazine.
   I spent four days in jail, where my life was threatened. Chief Gates released me for lack of evidence and issued me a public apology. The LAPD advised me to leave LA and California because "vigilantees" were looking to harm me.
   I flew back to Boston under an assumed name and filed a slander and defamation of character lawsuit. Ten years later I was awarded a 5 figure amount by ABC Television which sent it's Boston reporter to LA to follow me and film my arrest.
   I have written an account of my ordeal of Media and Police abuse entitled, "Disposal People".I will send a copy to anyone who wants one.I believe I know who murdered two "copycat" Hillside Stranglings and I give their names and details in my story.
   I have been trying to get a "No-Name Law" passed that would prevent the Police from giving suspects' names to the Media until they are charged with a crime. There should be no disposable people by murders or by the Police and Media. Peter Jones



5. although im sure the author did his utmost to be accurate... there are certain things about this case that we will never know for sure... all in all its a very good read... while it gets boring towards the end(painting the trial of buono with bianchi the key evidence)i enjoyed every page... and i would suggest this book to anyone who wants to get to know kenneth bianchi and angelo buono a little better ;)

3 comments about The Hillside Strangler: The Three Faces of America's Most Savage Rapist and Murderer and the Shocking Revelations from the Sensational Los Angeles Trial!.

1. I am a big serial killer buff and have a fairly large collection of books and videos about mass murderers. This is easily one of the best I've ever read:it places you inside Bianchi's warped mind and discusses possibilities for why Bianchi killed. Ranks up there with The Only Living Witness, Buried Dreams, Confessions of Son of Sam, and Silent Rage.



2. This book was written before the police psychologists realizedthat Ken Bianchi was faking multiple personality disorder. For the real story of the Hillside Stranglers (there were two of them, Bianchi and his cousin Angelo Buono), read Darcy O'Brian's "Two of a Kind: the Hillside Stranglers" instead.



3. Firstly, there is a new paperback version of this book, which I have been very impressed with, good quality and nice cover. (Get that one!) Now to review: This guy HAS done his homework, has NOT been "duped" and was in fact on an E! special all about the Hillside Strangler. This is an excellent book about Ken Bianchi, and regarding the so called "faking" Schwarz explained that Bianchi could indeed have been a multiple when first arrested, but throughout all the interviews, multiple psychological testing, it was likely that these multiple personalities became self-aware.

2 comments about The Hillside Strangler: A Murderer's Mind.

1. This guy HAS done his homework, has NOT been "duped" and was in fact on an E! special all about the Hillside Strangler. This is an excellent book about Ken Bianchi, and regarding the so called "faking" Schwarz explained that Bianchi could indeed have been a multiple when first arrested, but throughout all the interviews, multiple psychological testing, it was likely that these multiple personalities became self-aware.



2. I remember ordering and reading the book after I saw the television movie about the Hillside Stranglers, Ken and Angelo, Bianchi and Buono. The author mentions about the killer's trying to use a multiple personality defense which was totally insulting to those who have multiple personalities from similar trauma as the girls they abducted, lured, terrorized, tortured, and finally murdering them and leaving their bodies on the Hillside. The ten victims in the Los Angeles case and two victims in Bellingham should not be forgotten. Bianchi and Buono, both cousins, had a sick, twisted agenda. I don't remember reading about their childhoods or any abuse in their lives. The case was a travesty because of Ken's decision to fake or feign illness. They should have been on death row but because Ken got life so did Angelo who died in prison anyway.

5 comments about The Hillside Stranglers.

1. 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.



2. 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



3. 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.



4. This true crime story tells the tale of two revolting human beings and their crime spree in the late ninteen 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.



5. 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.

1 comments about Hollywood: Scene Of The Crime: A Self Guided Tour Of Tinseltown's Most Infamous Celebrity Crime Scenes.

1. I had a chance to follow this route the last time I was in the Los Angeles area. It was fascinating and very emotional to see where some of my favorite icons fell victim. I felt like I had a chance to memorialize their loss. The background on the crime or event is well researched, easy to read and really made the tour interesting. Good directions too. There are too many sites for one day, but you can do it in a weekend. It's a great gift for anyone visiting the LA area.

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