Vincent Bugliosi is the American prosecutor who put Charles Manson, and three of his followers, behind bars for the murders of Sharon Tate, her houseguests, and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca on two broiling nights in August, 1969. The case was said to be so untenable that all the prosecution had was “two fingerprints and Vince Bugliosi”. In other words, diddly squat.

Eat your words, Mister District Attorney!

I have 4 of Mr Bugliosi’s books:

I really enjoy rereading them, because there is so much complex information that it’s difficult to retain all of it each reading. The detail of explanation is not difficult for a layperson to understand. Particularly, “Outrage” does feel, as Bugliosi intended, like an extended personal conversation with the reader, which makes it that much more enjoyable to read.

Does this qualify me as an obsessive fan?

I haven’t yet read And the Sea Will Tell – possibly because I am as yet unfamiliar with the case. But it’s sitting on our bookshelf.

I haven’t read his books about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, yet. I had to cease and desist reading Reclaiming History because of its physically gargantuan size. Its heaviness made it painful to hold for long periods.

However, his Four Days in November, a smaller volume that deals only with the four days around the assassination, is lighter in weight and might be more comfortable to hold.

I haven’t finished The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder yet, and I’ll have to start it over because it was a long time ago that I read it. Very sad, from what I remember. I’m a Canadian living in the UK, so my perspective of events is likely a little different from American readers. I have no love or loyalty for the former American president – indeed, he made a hash of his tenure. The book merely confirms and explains the reasons behind my suspicions. It is rather hard going because of my lack of extensive knowledge of American jurisprudence…

But that’s why Bugliosi is a great writer. He has that rare ability to make complex legal issues and matters readable, even enjoyable to learn about – for the lay reader. A good sense of humour generates the unexpected laugh while reading about very serious events. 

For example, in “Helter Skelter”, Bugliosi related the question an inept defense attorney asked one of the witnesses during the Manson trials:

Paul Fitzgerald: Have you, or any member of your family ever been the unfortunate victim of a homicide?

The judge interrupted this scintillating line of questioning to remark that, if the witness had, they probably would not be sitting on the witness stand.

Read and enjoy!