Book Recommendations

[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.

[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]

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.

[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

[Abby Normal]

agree about graysmith but i think he got right suspect.

[Herlock Sholmes]

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

[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

[barnflatwyngarde]

thanks tom. Ive read graysmith and always thought the lass murder was iffy for the zodiac. whats not a stretch is the domigas/edwards murder a few years earlier. same mo as the later murders...young lovers together in a secluded spot, bound and as they tried to escape shot and killed. same ammo. police thought probably linked.

imho probably zodiacs first or at least early attack.

Hi Abby, the Graysmith book is so riddled with fibs that it is difficult to believe anything he writes.

The first two volumes of Mark Hewitt's are pretty good.

[barnflatwyngarde]

I have to say the new release by Michael Butterfield entitled The Zodiac Killer is probably the most accurate and informative book on the Zodiak murders I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Yours truly,

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.

[Abby Normal]

I may have Monster of Florence on Kindle! I need to check. As for Zodiac, I was surprised to learn in the book that Donna Lass' (proposed by Robert Graysmith to be a Zodiac victim) body was found in 1986 but not identified by DNA until 2024. She's no longer supposed to be a Zodiac victim, though it's not clear to me why.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

thanks tom. Ive read graysmith and always thought the lass murder was iffy for the zodiac. whats not a stretch is the domigas/edwards murder a few years earlier. same mo as the later murders...young lovers together in a secluded spot, bound and as they tried to escape shot and killed. same ammo. police thought probably linked.

imho probably zodiacs first or at least early attack.

[Tom_Wescott]

thanks for the rec Tom, i will check it out. After tje ripper, the zodiac is probably my favorite unsolved case.

another great one Is the Monster of Florence, a whacky unbelievable unsolved serial killer case from Italy, in which at one point tje Author was arrested for suspicion in the case. just a crazy tangled web.

I may have Monster of Florence on Kindle! I need to check. As for Zodiac, I was surprised to learn in the book that Donna Lass' (proposed by Robert Graysmith to be a Zodiac victim) body was found in 1986 but not identified by DNA until 2024. She's no longer supposed to be a Zodiac victim, though it's not clear to me why.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[c.d.]

Yeah, I read Monster of Florence. It was good. The Italian police took incompetence to a new level.

c.d.

[Abby Normal]

I have to say the new release by Michael Butterfield entitled The Zodiac Killer is probably the most accurate and informative book on the Zodiak murders I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

thanks for the rec Tom, i will check it out. After tje ripper, the zodiac is probably my favorite unsolved case.

another great one Is the Monster of Florence, a whacky unbelievable unsolved serial killer case from Italy, in which at one point tje Author was arrested for suspicion in the case. just a crazy tangled web.

[c.d.]

And another famous poem by Robert Service that probably every Boy Scout has heard recited around the camp fire.

The Cremation of Sam McGee:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45081/the-cremation-of-sam-mcgee

c.d.

[c.d.]

A good collection of photos from that era:

https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/klondike-gold-rush

c.d.