1 comments about Zodiac [UNABRIDGED].

1. I have just recently begun to listen to books on cd. I had read Zodiac many times and also read the follow up book Zodiac Unmasked and they are still best-sellers today. This is extremely well researched and well presented. I loved having this book on cd and I don't think any other author could have done a better job on the topic. I listened it to it on a road trip and it was so entertaining and scary.. Even in the daytime!
   
   This book is VERY good! Robert Graysmith worked at the San Francisco chronicle during the time period this all happened and he did his share of research. He put together a very informative book about one of the killers who taunted police while killing many and GETTING AWAY WITH IT! I think this is a must read for any true crime fan and especially fans of the Zodiac. I thought Robert Graysmith did an excellent job on writing this book and I learned a lot about the case from this book.
   
   It is above and beyond your typical and ever-so-predictable generic ... true crime paperbacks. This book is the best about the most enigmatic case in the history of true crimes story. I love good written book and this book is very very well written. I give this one 5 stars because of the drama, the tension and the facts that give action to this book.
   
   Full/comprehensive account of the most chilling (in my opinion) true-crime story of the 20th century. If you don't mind hearing a writing style comparable to a Police Report, than you'll really enjoy this. I can't imagine a more detailed analysis of those crimes and, since Graysmith was close to the action, his opinions carry weight. From what I can tell, this is the best account available of these crimes and I would recommend this audio cd highly.

No comments about The Case of The Zodiac Killer (Crime Scene Investigations).

2 comments about Solving the Zodiac: The Zodiac Killer Case Files.

1. Evidence is the core basis for solving any homicide and ensuring a conviction. Without strong evidence, the prosecution will never accept a case because they know a jury will never convict. As an investigator it is your responsibility to research, locate, analyze and tie physicial evidence to a suspect. In the case of The Zodiac, this has never been accomplished. Instead, there have been dozens of suspects, many who have been tried in the court of public opinion, yet none whom have been tied to any physical evidence. Conspiracy theorists, amateur sleuths, reporters and even law enforcement authorities have named suspects as the killer, but nobody has ever been able to bring The Zodiac to justice.
   
   Perhaps with this book you can take the foray into the evidence, by reading the police reports (typed up and yes, even redacted properly) perusing the crime scene photographs or perhaps even solving the 340 symbol cipher (good luck on the 340 cipher)
   
   All of the information in the book is readily available elsewhere, like on Tom Voigt's site, however it's quite nice to have the police reports in a typed form and to have the letters and ciphers all in one handy and elegant book.
   
   A full scale reproduction of the letters with the envelopes, because the envelopes have a story to tell and are also very important evidence. Also a more verbose bibliography and index would have been welcomed.
   
   If you're familiar with the case, this book might not be for you, but for the beginner I can't recommend this book enough!



2. The author either wrote the other review him or herself or had someone do it; clearly it paraphrases the books foreward and is not genuine. This book can only be described as a poor practical joke. From the typos in the foreward that continue throughout (claims Arthur Allen Leigh was an "escape goat"?), lack of any editing whatsoever, and mistakes throughout, it leaves one wondering whether the author's retyped police reports are accurate at all (did Darlene Ferrin's sister really refer to her as "Charlene" in a police interview?). At times it is a direct plagiarism of Graysmith's book, then falls into simply being a supposed representation of photos and police reports. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy, I really can't believe anyone published this thing. Wait, there is no publisher, no mention of who this author is, this book is nothing but a second rate waste of time. I am really shocked Amazon wouldn't have standards in place to prevent readers from buying this on the basis of a phoney review.

5 comments about The Unabomber and the Zodiac.

1. This book is a remarkable analysis of the shared similarities of two high-profile killers; one of which (the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski) was captured after an 18-year hunt by authorities, but ONLY after being identified by a family member through his writings; the other (the Zodiac) still unidentified almost 40 years after his reign of terror, leaving behind a myriad of correspondences, coded messages and elusive clues to his mysterious identity.
   
   Chapter by Chapter, Douglas Oswell breaks down the parallels of known works of the Zodiac and known works of Kaczynski offering the reader a clearer insight into each similarity. He covers both pro and con of each situation, allowing the reader the ability to decide for himself as to whether or not these two could possibly be one-in-the-same.
   
   Of most particular interest and one that struck this reader with awe, is each killer's uniqueness for communicating through writing to the media (in some instances, the same media), the police and their victims; their knowledge and use of code; their need for public attention, their teasing ways of threatening the public (then withdrawing their threat) and their high-powered use of literary allusion.
   
   Bottom line - not only is this book an outstanding examination of these two murderous legends as it relates to the unsolved murders of the Zodiac, it presents itself as an extremely well-written, highly-educated and exceptional tool for use in any classroom of criminology or psychology.



2. I must confess that I began Doug Oswell's The Unabomber and The Zodiac with anything but an open mind. Having co-authored a book on the Zodiac case myself, the idea that Zodiac and the Unabomber might be the same person initially struck me as far fetched. From the very first chapter, however, Oswell's carefully reasoned, meticulous analysis put major dents in my skepticism. He reveals an amazingly detailed knowledge of both of these very complex cases. His reasoning is quite measured inasmuch as he does not assert in any final way that Zodiac and the Unabomber are one and the same. His analysis does succeed in revealing many startling and though-provoking similarities between Zodiac and the Unabomber. And, I must confess, his writing includes keen insights into the psychology of the Zodiac that I missed in my own analysis. While I'm still not fully convinced that the Unabomber is the Zodiac, I do now see the common threads in their underlying psychodynamics and I am far more open to the possibility that the Unabomber may be the Zodiac. Oswell's book is extremely well written and thought out. I recommend it without hesitation.
   
   David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
   co-author, This Is The Zodiac Speaking: Into The Mind of A Serial Killer



3. Instead of being a 250 page book, this would have been much better as a 5-10 page essay. I have read pretty much anything there is to read on The Zodiac. I was willing to read this with an open mind, but the author did little to impress me or make me believe in his theory. Could The Unabomberand the Zodiac be one and the same? Sure, anything is possible. To me the author himself came across as not open minded. It comes across as he has his opinion, and is out to prove it by twisting everything into one big giant piece of evidence to back up his beliefs. SOme of the things he says to use as proof is that both men used the word "statement" in their letters. Such as "in regards to the statement on the news". He says they used statement instead of "say, says, saying". WEll does the sentence " In regards to the saying on the news" make sense. They used the word "statement", because it was the logical word. Also his proof that both men were intellegent. Last i checked there were many intellegent people in the world. You can make many people look guilty of something if you try hard enough. This is what the author seemed to me to be doing here. Only using facts that would support his statement, and ignoring facts that would make it look less possible for them to be the same person. Also, i believe, in an attempt to make him look more intellegent, and therfor more qualified to author a book on this topic, the author seemed to go out of his way to use big words and intellegent sounding words, wich i feel slowed the book down, and would make people have to look up many of the words. Each paragraph was like reading the previous one. Just repeating the same thing over and over.
   I give the author credit for his obvious hard and dilligent work in trying to prove his theory. He obviously did do a great deal of research and work, however i feel he was only willing to print the part of his work that attempted to prove his point. Very single minded. The book should have been more of a chacne for the reader to reach his own conclussion, instead it was an attempt to make you agree with his. But to me and the way he came up with this theory, i could just as easily make my neighbor in Cleveland Ohio look like a possible subject. ANyone can look like a subject with the right twisting of the facts, proper wording, and developing of illogical theories.
   As i said at the begging i ahve read pretty much any thing that has been written on Zodiac, and read quit a bit on the Unabomber, though not hearly as much as Zodiac, and of all i have read on both subjects this by far the biggest waste of money i have spent.



4. Wow, I never would have even considered the possibility. Mr. Oswell has obviously performed a wealth of research in preparation for authoring this book. The many analogies, comparative data and statistical analyses were overwhelmingly convincing! It is hard to dismiss the possibility of the Unabomber and Zodiac killer being one in the same having read this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Unabomber and/or the Zodiac killings. It is packed full of detailed information and analysis on each notorious killer.



5. First let me suggest that if this is your first book on either subject I'd start with some other selections. My impression was that the author assumes the reader has a fundamental understanding of both criminal cases, so he does not go into detail explaining the grizzly events attributable to the killer/s. Again, this book is specifically about the similarities in the Unabomber and Zodiac and not about the actual crimes.
   
   
   The books strength is that it paints a new and intriguing picture of the Zodiac's profile and puts it in a real context - that being Ted Kacynski. The author provides an interesting contrast to some other recent books that profiles Zodiac as nothing more than marginally clever and very lucky. However, I'd ultimately categorize this book as trivia as it frequently succumbs to drawing ludicrous connections and assumptions that strain credibility. Had the author stayed focused on the similar pathology of both men it probably would have been a stronger book.

5 comments about Sleep My Little Dead: The True Story of the Zodiac Killer (St. Martin's true crime library).

1. Save your time, save your money, don't purchase this book.

   Yes, in NYC this guy was called the Zodiac, but this author uses California's infamous Zodiac Killer symbol, etc. on the cover. So much for imagination.

   The book itself is a total waste of time, the writing is poor, there are spelling and grammatical mistakes throughout. If I could have given this book a zero star rating I would have.

   If you want good true Crime check out books by Graysmith, Keppel, Rule, Bledsoe and Carlton Smith, these names are KNOWN in the True Crime genre, Crowley is not.




2. I've read material safety data sheets more engaging than this. Stick with Graysmith or others if you want a good read.



3. THIS BOOK GIVEs INSIGHT TO A SMALL PERSON WHO WAS NOT THE BIGGEST OR BEST OF THE SERIAL KILLERS I HAVE READ ABOUT. THIS PERSON WAS VERY RANDOM AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE HIMSELF A NAME.HE TRIED TO PATTERN HIMSELF AFTER THE ORIGINAL ZODIAC KILLER & DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB AT THIS. APPEARS TO BE A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAD MENTAL ISSUES THAT GOT TOTALLY OUT OF HAND & DESTROYED PERSONS LIVES IN THE PROCESS. A GOOD BOOK BUT NOT THE BEST I HAVE READ!!



4. I have not read this book but when I came across it at the book store one day I immediately recognized that the author uses the notoriety of the San Francisco Zodiac murders as his selling point. I am very familiar with the San Francisco Zodiac killings and I admit for a second that I thought the murders had been solved until I realized that the picture of the man on the cover looked too young to be the Zodiac from the late 60's. The release of ZODIAC in 2007 may inspire some viewers who are unfamiliar with the case to want to read the books by Robert Graysmith and may also buy this book as well thinking the case has been solved.



5. I think the other reviews of this book are unfair; yes some people may be confused and think this is about the original Zodiac killer from San Francisco. However, if you have even passing knowledge of the case, or at least have seen the movie, you wouldn't make that mistake. The person on the cover of this book, Heriberto "Eddie" Saeda (The New York Zodiac copycat) is clearly too young to be the Zodiac, who was always described as 30s, or even in his 40s, and who was a chubby white guy; clearly different than the trim, hispanic Saeda. Also, this picture and case came from the 1990s, so anyone would know that the Zodiac from San Francisco, even if he was only in his 20s during his active period, would be in his 50s or 60s already.
   
   Now that that's out of the way, let's get to this book: It is a little brief, and doesn't have a satisfying ending, mostly because it was written before the trial of Saeda concluded, but other than that, it was a very good read. This is one of only known copycat cases out there; they happen in the movies a lot but not so much in real life. It's a very interesting case. The New York Zodiac isn't as mysterious, or clever as the original, but he is just as brutal in his ways. One of the most intriguing aspects is how Saeda constructed his own guns, and also how he was able to actually kill people by their astrological signs (making him a more true zodiac killer.)
   Just because he is a copycat doesn't make his story less interesting; in fact the original zodiac was just a copycat. He got his name and famous crosshairs symbol from a watch; and his outfit and even some of his writings were knockoffs from the book and film of Most Dangerous Game.
   
   I wish this book had been finished after the trial, so it could contain a proper ending, however, everything up to the ending makes for a thrilling read

5 comments about Labyrinth13: True Tales of the Occult, Crime & Conspiracy.

1. I had a blast reading through Labyrinth 13, picking and choosing on any given night which spooky or strange phenomena I wanted to immerse myself in. The facts are presented without too much bias or conjecture, allowing the reader to ruminate on all possible explanations behind the mysterious stories. Read at night by candlelight!



2. The sheer collection of interesting tales and their variance makes for a five star publication.One has howling Dogs that are ghosts,and the Zodiac Killer.Darlene Ferrin was one of his victims.Let's keep that name alive anD the names of other vicTims.



3. Curt Rowlett brings a great deal of welcomed reasoned analysis to subject matter usually told with breathless, sensational hyperbole. Investigations into the usual cast of characters -- the Zodiac Killer, Son of Sam, Charles Manson -- are side-by-side with more obscure but equally fascinating uncanniness. This book's strengths are Rowlett's sharp compression of different sources and his own investigatory work and interviews. Even without the breathless hyperbole, there is enough creepiness in this book to make you sleep with the nightlight on.
   
   The chapter on Charles Manson, Son of Sam, and the Process Church is a good example. Rowlett makes clearheaded analyses while poking around at the stories' edges and their wild possibilities. (Who knew that the Son of Sam may have been the sons of Sam?) And Rowlett's not shy from taking on those who make wild claims ("smoke pumpers") for their own reasons.
   
   My favorite chapter is on Palmyra, a bucolic island with a creepy, bloody history. That the murder of a monied boating couple by two scraggly hippies could be as gripping as chapters on the Zodiac Killer and the Manson Family proves that Rowlett knows how to spin a tale while fleshing out what's real, what's possible, and what's been left unexplained.



4. One person who reviewed Labyrinth13 here at Amazon described reading the book as "a blast." I agree completely. I had so much fun reading this collection of "weird" topics that I forgot I was actually learning something in the process!
   
   As a researcher myself, I respect that instead of just presenting hearsay as fact as so many writers are apt to do, Rowlett obviously studies the available evidence relating to a given topic before sitting down to write. (For example, he consulted original Process literature and spoke with several former members of the sect before writing his essay on The Process.) Consequently, he is able to accomplish something admirable, namely, he explores offbeat/obscure topics without coming off like someone who has passed beyond the lunatic fringes of society.
   
   I hope Rowlett keeps the books coming for a long time to come.



5. For years, I was a true crime buff. I still possess more useless knowledge about some of America's infamous serial killers than I care to admit to. Give me a good "true" ghost story or A&E/ Travel Channel historical haunting feature or reality ghost hunting show and I'm glued to the television for hours. So, when Curt Rowlett approached us with his three books devoted to mysteries, murder, and the occult, I immediately wanted to read all of them!
   
   Labrinth13 is my favorite of the three, and covers the subject matter of the other two books which I will discuss in this review as well. L13 is divided into three sections: Occult, Crime, and Conspiracy. There is an outstanding introduction where Rowlett explains how this book was born out of a website he created by the same name to record his research while preserving his artistic integrity and capturing a reading audience. Rowlett even goes into great detail to explain where the title came from, giving a nice explanation as to the fear behind the infamous number 13 while citing a long list of historical events and information related to 13 including classical composer Arnold Shonberg who suffered from triskaidekaphobia which is a fear of the number 13. And he had a right to be afraid of it. He was born on Friday the 13th, and died on Friday the 13th and 13 minutes before midnight!
   
   Vampire fans will enjoy the first chapter of the Occult section where Rowlett explores the history of Bram Stoker's Dracula and how Stoker might have also been inspired by unknown vampiric history that took place on American soil. This is based on newspaper clippings found in Stoker's papers about a Rhode Island vampire named Mercy Lena Brown who might have inspired Stoker's character named Lucy. Rowlett also covers werewolves in another chapter for those of you who enjoy lycanthropy over vampires.
   
   Rowlett does an excellent job of weaving his research and theory into nice tight chapters that move at a decent pace, definitely keeping the reader interested, and also cause a few chills along the way. Take this opening paragraph as an example, from the story about a strange visitor to Edgar Allan Poe's grave:
   
   For over 50 years since 1949, on the night marking the anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth, a mysterious man-in-black has entered the cemetery where the master of the macabre lies buried, and, making his way through the dark shadows to Poe's grave, he places a partial bottle of expensive French cognac and three blood-red roses there, presumably as tokens of admiration and in tribute to the great author. This ritual completed, he then slips away into the night as quietly and as mysteriously as he came. The identity of this dark stranger -- dubbed "The Poe Toaster" by observers -- has never been revealed.
   
   My favorite chapter in the Occult section is Chapter 8, where Rowlett covers several "uncanny occurrences" in small sections including an odd tale about Mary Shelley and her deceased husband's heart, one about Mark Twain and a Ouija Board, and another coincidence concerning Poe and the unfortunate fate of a literary character and two different real life men all named Richard Parker. Writers will also enjoy the frightening tale about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and one man's "insane" passion for words.
   
   Part 2 of the book, Crime, starts off with an extensive piece about the Zodiac killer, followed by focus on Charles Manson, David Berkowitz, and the Process Church and what role Christianity and Satanism both played in bringing fear to America during the late 70s and early 80s. Rowlett lays out some fascinating research on symbolism and how it also played an important role during this time.
   
   Part 3 of the book, Conspiracy, begins with a bizarre look at how our government might have been involved in mind control and creating programmed assassins. Rowlett focuses on several well known gunman including Sirhan Sirhan, Lee Harvey Oswald (a favorite subject of mine in high school), James Earl Ray, and Mark David Chapman, pointing out their political ties, military background, and literary tastes. Rowlett also points out the odd rise of serial killers in the 1980s may have very well been "a stockpile of sleepers who woke up too early."
   
   Consider that for the most part, serial killers tend to prey on the so-called "undesirables" of society, such as prostitutes, drug addicts, homosexuals, and other targeted minorities of the ultra-right wing. (The FBI's Behavioral Science Unit has stated that as many as 150 serial killers may be operating undetected in the United States). Serial killers, like mind-controlled sleepers, outwardly appear normal to the rest of the world, but also seem to be acting under a programmed obsession to kill, usually in the same way, over and over again, as if trying to fulfill some sort of mission that is echoing around in their heads.
   
   I have to commend Rowlett on his research and attention to detail. The notes, resources, and appendix of this book is well over 100 pages.
   
   Rowlett's book, Riding on Your Fears, is a 67 page essay and more extensive look into the Manson Family and the murders they committed. Rowlett mentions Manson quite a bit in L13 and discusses in great detail the effect Manson might have had on the hippie movement.
   
   Could Manson be considered a true counter-culture revolutionary? Was he a well-intentioned, but ultimately misunderstood guru whose followers took it upon themselves to murder for him? Or was he, as the prosecutor at his murder trial portrayed him, simply a crazed cult leader and career criminal? This book contends that Manson is a varied combination of all of those things.
   
   Through research and interviews, Rowlett points out several mysteries behind Manson, his "family," and the infamous murders he's still known for today.Rowlett also discusses several rumors and urban legends that have followed Manson over the years.
   
   I have to admit I had never heard of Palmyra Island before reading Rowlett's book, The Curse of Palmyra Island. It's a small South Pacific atoll which is shrouded in mystery much like the Bermuda Triangle. It has a long history of strange events, supernatural occurrences, and murder. Much of Rowlett's 72 page essay is featured in L13, but in this book Rowlett also covers the history of the island along with a map and beautiful illustrations.
   
   Rowlett cites a book called And The Sea Will Tell which focuses on a sailing couple, Mac and Muff Graham, who were killed in 1974 on the island by another couple who were inhabiting it. Rowlett was later contacted by and given the chance to interview a lady named Sharon Jordan who actually discovered the remains of Muff Graham washed ashore on the island seven years later. Mac Graham's remains have still not been found to this day.
   
   When I see things like this in the news, or read of a murder in the newspaper, I'm always the one who questions everything and usually suspects the most bizarre and unusual thing to have happened. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Curt Rowlett's work because of my fascination with such stories. He is truly a well versed student and expert of the supernatural and occult.
   
   If you are a fan of such writing, theories, mysteries, and more, then you can visit Curt on the web and read more of his work at [...].

5 comments about This Is the Zodiac Speaking: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer.

1. "This is the Zodiac speaking" is an investigation into the Zodiac killings.
   What makes this book interesting is the psychological analysis by Mr. Van Nuys,chair of the Psychology Dept. at Sonoma state University.
   
   A quote from page 6 lays out the objective of the book- "We will begin this fascinating journey with facts-solid irrefutable facts and nothing more."
   With that in mind,the authors avoid speculating on the personal identity of the Zodiac killer.
   
   The authors explain the differences in the Riverside and Zodiac letters. They make a compelling argument for different writers based on the style of the letters with a different emphasis. By that reasoning,the man who murdered Cheri Jo Bates was not the Zodiac.
   
   The Santa Rosa hitchhiker murders were examined for possible links to the Zodiac. They seem to be un-related on various levels.
   
   It's obvious from the aftermath of the Stine murder that luck played no small part in the Zodiac avoiding discovery and arrest. You get the sense that he never recovered from his close call with the SFPD immediately following the cab driver's murder.
   
   "Overall,it appears that Zodiac was deteriorating psychologically and had now relegated himself to engaging in a strange fantasy dance with the media."-page 140.
   
   The British language connection was intriguing. Although witnesses state that he had no accent,one has to wonder where that connection came from. Were one of his parents of British origin?
   
   The change in tone in some of the letters,notably three from 1974,was examined. This "denoted a change in Zodiac's psyche that probably related to his ongoing and significant psychological disorder." He may very well have had two personalities. Another interesting theory has the change in tone as a positive result of therapy or medication.
   
   This book doesn't solve the Zodiac killings,but it does shed light on the psychology and evolution of the killer.
   After reading this book I have to wonder if Zodiac didn't succomb to suicide or by some means become more psychologically stable?
   We may never know the answer. I recommend this book as a clear,sensible investigation of the Zodiac murders.



2. A strange book. Starting with an engaging premise - the author worked with the Chair of the Psychology Dept. at Sonoma State University to create a profile based on Zodiac's letters to various newspapers - Michael Kelleher proceeds to swamp his book with potboiler-level prose. The psychologist, David Van Nuys' analyses maintain a degree of detachment that I appreciate with this sort of book, but his conclusions don't aid in understanding of the case or its perpetrator. Most of Van Nuys' conclusions seem facile, on the order of "He must have had a terrible childhood. Perhaps he was abused. He had great rage toward women and fear of male authority figures". In the end, though interesting, the book doesn't add anything to the literature about the case.



3. "This is the Zodiac Speaking" is a joint venture between authors Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys, Ph.D. and is a must-have for any serious researcher of the infamous Zodiac murders case.
   
   The Zodiac murders occurred in California's San Francisco Bay area during a period spanning the late 60s to the mid 70s. By all indications, the Zodiac was a highly intelligent and unusually enigmatic killer. He sent dozens of bizarre letters to area newspapers containing complex coded messages, a few which remain unsolved to this day. In his letters, "signed" with a distinctive crossed-circle symbol that was to become Zodiac's trademark, he detailed his crimes and taunted the police by threatening to commit future murders. The Zodiac murders remain unsolved and over the years, the accumulation of so many creepy and weird clues that have been uncovered by investigators, qualifies the Zodiac murders as possibly the strangest case of serial murder on record.
   
   The book paints a picture of an exceptionally cold-hearted serial killer whose propensity for violence was surpassed only by his incredible ability to play the media and to constantly adapt and evolve, a tactic that allowed him to stay several steps ahead of the police at all times.
   
   Kelleher and Van Nuys stick to the known facts of the case and don't repeat the glaring mistakes that other authors and researchers have made in the Zodiac case (such as focusing on a single suspect or claiming to have "solved" the Zodiac murders).
   
   Scholarly, well-written and highly recommended.
   
   Curt Rowlett,
   Author of Labyrinth13



4. If you want the facts with no exaggerations then this is the book to read on the Zodiac. Factual descriptions of the murders and a fascinating analysis of each letter received from the Zodiac showing (among other things) how his mental state changed during the years until he was heard of no more. The final letter, received after a very long silence is particularly spooky. The authors make some deductions and speculate on what may have become of him and most people I think will agree with their conclusions.



5. Let me say first of all that this is the book to own on the Zodiac Case. The authors are comprehensive in their summation of the facts and sober in their assumptions and conclusions based on the facts. There is none of the crazy assertions, half-truths and outright distortions of the Graysmith books, although the authors do credit Graysmith with the original ground-breaking work on the public case. This is the Zodiac Speaking is a fine introduction to what we know about the case coupled with some good analysis by a professional profiler. While a certain amount of supposition is required to create these profiles, the authors play it very conservatively based on what is actually known.
   
   My one quibbling complaint is the lack of professional editing. Another reviewer points out the ridiculous comment regarding a seven inch watch found at the Bate's crime scene (this pins the blame squarely on Flavor Flav I suppose). I am sure the writers were aware that they meant to say a seven inch watch band, but it shows an annoying lack of precision. Also, one would think that a person that works with words for living would know the difference between infer and imply, yet infer is repeated used when it is clear from the context that the writer means imply. It is quite jarring, and frankly, unacceptable from anything but a vanity publication.
   
   No matter. This is a good book and light-years ahead of the mess which Robert Graysmith has bequeathed us.

5 comments about Zodiac Unmasked: The Identity of America's Most Elusive Serial Killer Revealed.

1. I would have loved this book had the writing and organization been as well-executed as the author's investigation.
   
   Based on the content of the book, it would seem that the author is the most informed person alive regarding this case. There are multiple instances in the book of police departments buying bulk quantities of his 1986 book "Zodiac" in order to learn about the case as they worked on aspects of it.
   
   And there was a lot of information scattered throughout this book. But unfortunately, 'scattered' describes both the quantity and its organization at the same times.
   
   Long passages of quotation are often repeated. Observations are made repeatedly. There are numerous inexplicable non-sequitors within a given section. The order and delineation of chapters and their sub-sections seems as often as not to be totally arbitrary. Finally, the book features so many long quotations that at times it seems to be nearly all quotation - which alone isn't a bad thing, but the writing style deviates from standard formatting and attribution techniques, which often leaves you hunting around in an effort to remember just who is being quoted in a given passage.
   
   I suppose all of that is to say that this book was in dire need of a competent editor. By the last quarter of the book I would regularly encounter passages of quoatation for the third time and be able to quote them myself from memory as I read them. Just very poor structure and editing.
   
   I enjoyed the writer's style though - whenever I wasn't cursing his wandering mind.
   
   I haven't read any other Zodiac books. I found the subject matter very interesting, but I would advise anyone looking seriously at this book to search around and see if there aren't any books published since 2002 that are more competently edited.
   
   As for the subject matter, I walk away from the book with the distinct impression that the Vallejo PD had a very simple, solvable case within their grasp early on long before the Zodiac took to the media and for some reason just dropped the ball. The Darlene Ferrin case in particular appears (by the book's description) to be so very cut & dried that I'm left wondering just how they could not have solved it. Kinda left me thinking there's more to her story ... the book didn't dig into her apparent relationships with police officers very deeply.



2. To think this twisted mess actually made a lot of money (especially with that movie) is a *real* crime. At least the much better ZODIAC, made some attempt to be fair. Check the visual sightings reported in the first book that had a suspect in the 5'9" - 5'10" range, and about 185 to 190lbs. Graysmith's choice in late sixties was 6'0" and weighed around 240lbs. #
   The author twists and bends alleged events to somehow "prove" Allen was at that place when the horrible crime occurred. Allen allegedly went to Riverside in the sixties for auto races, so this means he probably murdered Cheri Bates, etc. etc. #
   Results of handwriting tests and lie detector tests that Allen passed are glibly explained by Allen's tremendous I.Q. (ala Prof. Moriarty?)or, devious drug taking. This slop came before the DNA test proved Allen's lack of guilt on the murders. We don't recall any child molesters that murdered co-ed types in their spare time. #
   Two stars at best, but you can spend better time watching GRAYSMITH UNMASKED (6 parts) on YouTube.



3. If you've always been curious or even haunted by not knowing who the Zodiac killer of the late 60's and early 70's in the Bay Area was, then you have to read this book. No one else but Robert Graysmith has or could have compiled such a detailed account of who the prime suspect was and still is. His name is...you've got to read the book.



4. I read the original Zodiac book shortly after its release and loved it. I have been fascinated with the case ever sense. It was well written and keeps the reader interested from start to finish. However, the Zodiac Unmasked is different. The author jumps back and forth in time and repeats information so many times it is nearly impossible to correctly follow what is happening. Though the book has some interesting information not included or available for the original book, it is a chore working through the book to get it. I was very dissappointed with this book after enjoying the first and the movie so much. Unless you are a die hard slueth that cannot get enough of this case, I would avoid this one and stick to the first.



5. Robert Graysmith has spent much of his professional life in the quest to convict Arthur Leigh Allen of the Zodiac killings. Well, convict is probably too reasoned a description. Libel, suggest without facts, accuse without merit would probably be closer to the truth. There is a problem of course. That being that in 40 years of "investigating" Graysmith has not produced one shred of physical evidence that ties Allen to the crimes. He has established that Leigh Allen was strange cat, but that doesn't really distinguish him much in California does it? Graysmith weaves a florid yarn of distortions, half-truths and downright lies to convince the reader that there is a case here where frankly none exists. The author soft-pedals the unpleasant reality that neither the partial dna, finger or palm prints collected through the letters from Zodiac and the crime scenes match his suspect. In addition, Allen's handwriting (right or left-hand) does match any known Zodiac sample. Police tossed Allen's trailer, cab and home on more than one occasion without finding any articles linking Allen to the crimes. This despite the fact that Zodiac was known to have taken "trophies" from his crimes. Undeterred, Graysmith proceeds to insinuate that Allen committed most of the unsolved murders in California during the last 30 years in addition to the five known Zodiac murders. Does the man have no shame? Ask yourself why Graysmith did not disclose the name of the Zodiac until after Leigh Allen's death. Well the question answers itself. Leigh Allen was very disturbed man by all accounts. Hell, he may be the Zodiac for all I know, but there is absolutely no evidence, other than pure circumstance, that would establish this.
   
   At the risk of piling on here, this is also one of the most poorly written books of the last century. Any self-respecting high school english teacher would give this a C- for effort and the number of words used. How an editor let this get to press is the only mystery involved in the Zodiac unmasked.

5 comments about Most Evil: Avenger, Zodiac, and the Further Serial Murders of Dr. George Hill Hodel.

1. Okay, when I first saw this I thought, "Yeah, right." But Hodel makes an interesting case with Most Evil, presenting some compelling evidence based on his 20+ years as a police officer. That's what makes this book different right off the bat - it's presented by someone who's made a living investigating crime, so Hodel has an inside edge. In his first book, Hodel steadily points a finger of guilt at his father for being the infamous Black Dahlia Murderer. With Most Evil, Hodel presents a ton of evidence asserting that his father was responsible for quite a few other murders, including the Zodiac killings. Hodel presents a steady stream of evidence to support claims that many will find far-fetched - after all, when you say that your father was the man behind the unsolved (?) Black Dahlia, Zodiac and other murders, you better bring the right cards to the game. It's like saying "I know who committed the Jack the Ripper murders" - you're automatically going on the defensive whether you like it or not. Hodel sidesteps the issue in Most Evil, presenting a ton of material with a steady hand. Hodel relies on his polce experience (as well as his first hand knowledge)and steadily peels the onion with evidence. After you read Most Evil you'll come away with a much better understanding of the cases, and it's as if Hodel is saying "My father did this - maybe" - he doesn't ram the evidence down your throat. He shows you his cards and let's you make the choice. And they're some set of cards. Unfortunately, there are those who don't ever want these cases to be solved, and have already made up their minds before they even opened the book.



2. Another fool tries to make money of the Zodiac case.
   
   Steve, use your lack of intelligence and integrity on something else!
   
   
   Do not buy the book!



3. Was George Hodell the Zodiac killer? Who can say? What I found annoying about the book was the lack of acknowledgement given to Mark Nelson and Sarah Hudson Bayliss for their work in tying Hodell's motives to the Surrealism movement, in their book 'Exquisite Corpse'. Not unlike Patricia Corwell stealing the research of the late Stephen Knight for her book on Jack the Ripper.



4. product was on time and in great condition as the buyer had stated. very happy!



5. This sequel by Steve Hodel to Black Dahlia Avenger shows how this genius, his father, used his intelligence to lure victims whom he would murder. Saying he was/is not a psychoanalyst, he offered only small bits of conjecture about how his father's mental illness developed, that is, his mother's severe restrictions when he was a small boy. Withal, the book is gripping, demonstrating the author's ability to remain at a good level of objectivity. I bought and read it without hesitation.

5 comments about Zodiac.

1. Long intrigued by true crime and cold cases, I've always been interested in the case of the mysterious serial killer who plagued southern California in the 1960s.
   
   Graysmith's book encompasses everything readers might want to know about the cases -- profiles on each of the victims, reproductions of the cryptic coded letters the Zodiac mailed to area newspapers, interviews with survivors, victims' families and law enforcement, information about the men most suspected to be the Zodiac. He skillfully combines a level of intense detail with a flowing narrative, immediately pulling readers into the mystery.
   
   Of course, there is some element of "fiction" -- Graysmith can't know what exactly was going through the minds of victims in their final moments, or even exactly what they were doing in their last hours. Yet taking known information and taking the liberty of putting it into a more anecdotal format only serves to make the book work better.
   
   Additionally, Graysmith provides a handy appendix with all known Zodiac facts -- timelines, victim information, etc. -- in case readers want an easy-to-access point of reference for their own research.



2. This book helped me like books, as ridiculous as that sounds. This is one that you can't put down. Graysmith lays everything out, I think few people outside of the criminal justice system actually know the case as well as he does. This book is one of my favorite reads, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves true crime stories and especially mysteries.



3. Robert Graysmith was the cartoonist on one of the papers who received letters from the serial killer named Zodiac. He was drawn to the case and went on to carry out his own investigations into who was Zodiac( for the record they never did capture him) yet Graysmith had his own ideas into who was Zodiac. For anyone who watched the recent film this is a must read. Chilling.



4. The shipping was a little slow, but it came within the time frame,had quite alot of water damage, but it was still readable so i guess thats all i needed it for. would buy from seller again.



5. Graysmith recounts the timeline of the unsolved serial murders of the "Zodiac" killer. I knew that Zodiac is still free, but it never really hit me that he's among us until after I read this book. This person (or possibly more than one person) is working with somebody, sleeping with somebody, cared for by somebody. Could be you. Could be me. Nobody is working on the case anymore. He's intelligent. He's possibly still killing. He's good at what he does (however horrible and gruesome it is). He's free.