Helter Skelter

Helter Skelter is a true crime book by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. The subject of the book is the 1969 Manson Family murders and Bugliosi's own interpretation of the prosecution of Charles Manson and his followers. It is considered the definitive work on the subject.

Helter Skelter was first published in the United States in 1974 and became a bestseller. The book takes its title from the apocalyptic race war which Manson believed would occur, which in turn took its name from Helter Skelter by The Beatles. Manson had been particularly fascinated by the Beatles White Album, from which the song came. Helter Skelter won a 1975 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book and was the basis for two television films, released in 1976 and 2004.