Book Recommendations

[jmenges]

Graysmith receives a well-deserved beating in the new Butterfield book. And I agree with Barn about Hewitt. The first two are excellent and the third jumps the shark.

JM

[Herlock Sholmes]

I just got the Kindle version of Butterfield’s book for just £2.99.

[Abby Normal]

agree about graysmith but i think he got right suspect.

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Tom, It has been a major frustration of mine that there is a dearth of good, accurate, non-sensational books on the Zodiac case.
The first two books by Mark Hewitt were good, but in his third book of the trilogy he, to my mind, spoils it by going for an unlikely suspect.

Anyway, on your recommendation, I have ordered the Butterfield book, it arrives tomorrow.

I don't believe I've read Hewitt. You'll enjoy Butterfield.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[scottnapa]

I acquired the kindle version of Butterfields book. $4.99.
So far so good.
The other Zodiac volume I was interested in is In the Shadow of Mt. Diablo.
Has anyone readMike Rodelli's book?
The Graysmith book lead to Fincher's exceptional movie, Glad for that.

[barnflatwyngarde]

I acquired the kindle version of Butterfields book. $4.99.
So far so good.
The other Zodiac volume I was interested in is In the Shadow of Mt. Diablo.
Has anyone readMike Rodelli's book?
The Graysmith book lead to Fincher's exceptional movie, Glad for that.

Yea, I've read the Rodelli book.
It's not a bad book, but the book is written from the author's point of view as he follows the twists and turns of the case, and gradually homes in on one particular suspect.

To my mind, Rodelli's suspect is probably the most outlandish suspect ever mooted in the case.

If you are looking for a good introduction to the case, I would rcommend the first two books by Mark Hewitt, but not the final book in the trilogy, where as JMenges astutely observes, the author "jumps the shark".

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunted-Zodiac-Murders-Serial-Killer/dp/B075GJ4W8F?crid=13APCAZ0YPLOB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KJ5-jEAd3-0p2OsDtXikiDiTuiU4YUUEWrg4rfes-AJBFxr_PDBnRFegjcVKa7S1CWrx6grZ9MLxzcMnXPzTiMpYxIN7cd0Mrb8Z6FzlKtw.7kwTmlbosU5RPyi40SVHUXMRzZw1y_CLMviNtdl7GDc&dib_tag=se&keywords=mark+hewitt+zodiac&qid=1748188398&s=books&sprefix=mark+hewitt+zodiac%2Cstripbooks%2C339&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Profiled-Zodiac-Examined-Serial-Killer/dp/B07D6T769C?crid=13APCAZ0YPLOB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KJ5-jEAd3-0p2OsDtXikiDiTuiU4YUUEWrg4rfes-AJBFxr_PDBnRFegjcVKa7S1CWrx6grZ9MLxzcMnXPzTiMpYxIN7cd0Mrb8Z6FzlKtw.7kwTmlbosU5RPyi40SVHUXMRzZw1y_CLMviNtdl7GDc&dib_tag=se&keywords=mark+hewitt+zodiac&qid=1748188398&s=books&sprefix=mark+hewitt+zodiac%2Cstripbooks%2C339&sr=1-2

[scottnapa]

Yea, I've read the Rodelli book.
It's not a bad book, but the book is written from the author's point of view as he follows the twists and turns of the case, and gradually homes in on one particular suspect.

To my mind, Rodelli's suspect is probably the most outlandish suspect ever mooted in the case.

If you are looking for a good introduction to the case, I would rcommend the first two books by Mark Hewitt, but not the final book in the trilogy, where as JMenges astutely observes, the author "jumps the shark".

Thank you for your helpful comments.
The Zodiac is a compelling mystery with much better suspects than the Ripper.
I haven't read Hewitt. I will consider that next.

I don't think I need an introduction to the case. I live on Monticello Road. CA Hwy 121. I am 15 minutes from Lake Berryessa.
The Napa killing is the most revealing crime: the Zodiac Costume, Knife not gun, He talks to them. He isn't very efficient with the knife.
Both victims survived the attack, Shepard lived for two days after the murder.
I have met someone who thinks he saw the Zodiac at the Main Street car wash pay phone.

[c.d.]

Just finished Code Talker by Chester Nez. It is the first and only memoir by one of the original code talkers of World War II. American messages were being intercepted by the Japanese who were able to break any code that was devised up till then with devastating consequences. Navajo marines were tasked with coming up with a code based on the Navajo language. The Japanese were never able to break it and it contributed greatly to the American war efforts in the Pacific. The book starts with his life as a child on the reservation and Navajo customs and ways. He was sent to boarding school where he was given the English name Chester Nez and beaten for speaking Navajo. Although native Americans could not vote at the time he still chose to join the Marines and defend the country. Because of the code talkers ability to quickly send and translate messages it was necessary for them to be in the middle of some brutal battles in the Pacific. Nightmares and depression followed him home finally resulting in a healing ceremony from his tribe. He comes across as a man who simply tried to do his best in all circumstances but still was very proud of his Navajo heritage and what he and his fellow code talkers accomplished. Not a page turner but if you have any interest in the war in the Pacific I think you will find it interesting.

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Talker-M...9911698&sr=8-2

c.d.

[c.d.]

This is a good website for book recommendations and reviews. I think you need to join only if you want to post a review. Free to browse.

https://www.goodreads.com/?ref=nav_hom

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

I just finished a great book which I picked up from the Samuel Johnson Museum in Gough Square London recently. It’s called UPROAR: Satire, Scandal and Printmakers in Georgian London by Alice Loxton. I believe that this is her first book so I’ll be on the lookout for further ones. Her writing style can certainly never be called stuffy or dry but it never becomes anything less than fitting to the subject matter. She focuses, naturally, on three artists - Thomas Rowlandson, Isaac Cruickshank and James Gillray. I’m really interested in this period and Loxton writes about it with relish. It helps that I’m a big fan of the work of the three artists in question but apart from them there’s a great cast of characters and the story of political satire and its effects in Georgian England is fascinating. Politicians, Royalty, Society ladies…all were fair game.

Highly recommended.

[c.d.]

Just finished The Measure by Nikki Erlick. Fiction with a very interesting plot. One morning everyone in the world over the age of 22 wakes to find a small, wooden box outside their door. The box has their name on it and in a language they can understand is an inscription that says "inside is the measure of your life." People are completely freaked out and no one knows what to do or where the boxes my have come from. Are they from God, the government, pranksters? Eventually curiosity gives way to fear and many people open them. In every case, their is a small string inside. Scientists conclude that the string lengths correspond to how long your life will be. Short stringers start to face prejudice. Fired from jobs. Dropped from health insurance plans. Couples with different length strings break up. And it all gets worse for short stringers. The book focuses on several different characters with different string lengths and how they deal with it.

The book does get a little hokey and preachy as you can imagine given the plot but I did enjoy it. It certainly does make you think about things you normally take for granted. So, a recommendation.

Over 38,000 reviews on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Read-...s%2C283&sr=8-1

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

I've recently finished Murderland by Caroline Fraser.

Could there be a link between the epidemic of serial killers in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970's and 80's and the stratospheric levels of lead and arsenic from smelters in that area?

She makes a very good case for it in this well written and extremely readable book.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/01/murderland-by-caroline-fraser-review-what-was-behind-the-1970s-serial-killer-epidemic?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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