Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation's Most Elusive Serial Killer

Great True Crime Book. A Must Read.

Fun read

"Zodiac" by Robert Graysmith has been on the best seller list for many years. Because of the release of the David Fincher 2008 movie, it has been reprinted in paperback, together with its sequel "Zodiac Unmasked." Both works by Mr. Graysmith are well researched and written and highly recommended. What is so special about this edition of Robert Graysmith's "Zodiac" is that it is the original and only hardcover pressing. All the other editions, including the current one with the colorful Golden Gate Bridge picture, are paperback and not ideal for the serious Zodiac researcher. In addition, the original "Zodiac" hardcover edition has pictures which do not appear in any of the paperbacks. One word of frustrating news about the hardback edition, which this review is based on: it is very hard-to-find. Expect to pay at least $30.00 or more for a copy. It is well worth the money. Anyone who wants to study Mr. Graysmith's "Zodiac" and "Zodiac Unmasked" should have a hardback of both titles. The latter, published in 2002, is easier to find then the former. However for a serious Zodiac researcher, having hardback copies of both editions is a must. The text is the same as those in the paperbacks. For someone who wants something to read after viewing the Fincher movie, by all means, buy the paperback editions of "Zodiac" and "Zodiac Unmasked." They are available through Amazon.com. In addition, Amazon.com may be your ONLY source to find the original hardback editions. Both Graysmith books are very well written, detailed and documented that the reader will find the material very intersting - perhaps even addictive for more Zodiac books. Unfortunately, there are not too many titles available, which carry my recommendation. Just key in the tag line "Zodiac" and you will find my other reviews and recommendtions on books about the Zodiac killer, all available from Amazon.com. Zodiac Unmasked: The Identity of America's Most Elusive Serial Killer Revealed

I really couldn't put down this book. It reads like a first rate fiction book. It is horrifying to think that all the events in this book actually took place, and more terrifying still that the serial killer is still at large after over 30 years of evading the police. The killings are gruesome, with some victims repeatedly stabbed to death, while others shot at close range with a hand gun. None of the victims are sexually molested, and they are not robbed of their personal belongings. The killer derives pleasure from killing his victims. As he later tells police in letters sent to newspapers, he kills in order to collect his victims as slaves for the next life! There was one instant where the killer might have been caught. After the Zodiac (as the killer calls himself) shoots a taxi driver, a police car is called to the scene after the gun shot is heard. However, witnesses mistakenly reported a black man at the scene. The Zodiac is a chubby white man. When the police arrive near the scene, they see the Zodiac walking, and stop by him to ask him if he had seen a black man in the area. He says yes and points to the direction he allegedly saw a black man with a gun running. If the police would have stopped and interviewed the Zodiac more carefully, they would have seen his bloody hands. There is no telling what would have happened then. The police could have been shot dead, or maybe it could have been the other way around (there were two policemen in the car.) The Zodiac also called the police after committing some of the crimes - from phone booths adjacent to police stations! Another chilling instant was when the Zodiac stopped a pregnant woman and her child on a road claiming that her back tire was wobbling. He volunteered to fix the tire, and while the woman watched from her side view mirror, he appeared to do just that. However, as soon as she drove off, the back tire completely came off and she had to stop. She was then kidnapped by the Zodiac and driven around for almost an hour, as if the Zodiac was looking for an ideal place to kill his victim. However, the woman together with her child manage to jump out of the car, and escape death! Not all of Zodiac's victims died. Although some victims were repeatedly stabbed, some survived! In all, it is believed that the Zodiac might have killed about 37 people. He is still at large! It was quite amazing how an amateur code breaker was able to break the coded letter of the Zodiac within a day and night. After the coded letter was published in a newspaper, neither the FBI nor the police were able to decipher the letter. However, an amateur man did! The FBI should have hired him! This book will keep you reading throughout the night. It includes photos of the letters sent by the Zodiac that will send a chill up your spine. I just couldn't put this book down.

good condition

Well written, thoroughly researched, and quite interesting even after all this time since it happened. I bought the audiobook (unabridged) and it is read clearly and well-paced. Fascinating story.

Such a good read for any Zodiak and history buff.

Used this to help with a college project and it was extremely helpful for me.

映画が非常に面白かったので原作を買ってみましたが、開始20ページで早くも挫折しそうな感じです。というのも、記録なので情報量がとにかく多く、例えば、最初の犯行シーン。 「10時50分。ボルヘス夫人がレイクハーマン通りの牧場についた。ベティとデビッドの車から丁度2と10分の7マイルの位置である。… 11時。ユア夫人とその夫ホーマーがレイクハーマン通りを金色の67年製グランドプリックスに乗って走っていた。彼の会社が近くのポンプ小屋に取り付けているパイプをチェックするためである。 11時10分。ベニシアのハンブルオイルに務める男が帰りにランブラーの近くを通り過ぎた。… ベティは悲鳴を上げ、北へ向かってバレーホへ向かう通りと並行に逃げた。銃が突き出され、彼女から10フィートも離れぬところから男はベティを５回撃った。男は彼女の背中右上辺りを集中して撃った。… ベティはランブラーのリアバンパーから丁度28フィートと8インチの場所で倒れ、息絶えた。… ボルヘス夫人はベネシアに向かうため電話を切り、義母と娘を呼んだ。キッチンの時計を見ると、11時10分だった。… ボルヘス夫人がデビッドの車が停まっている場所まで辿り着くのに時速35マイルで4から5分かかった。夫人が鉄フェンスの角を曲ったとき、ヘッドライトの中に恐ろしい光景が写し出された。… ボルヘス夫人はベネシアへの狭い道を助けを求めるべく加速した。スピードは時速60から70マイルに達した。インターステート680の北でベネシアのパトロールカーを見つけ、ホーンを鳴らしたりライトをオンオフして合図した。東2番通りのエンコステーションの前に車を停め、夫人は恐ろしい光景について話した。11時19分だった。…」 と、こんな感じの無機質な文がずっと続きます。著者の知りうる情報を全て載せたという感じですが、実際そうなのでしょう。情報を頭に入れながら読むのはけっこう辛く、映画を見ていなかったら面白いとも思わなかったでしょう。 同じノンフィクションでも「冷血」のような文学臭のあるものとは異なり、こちらは完全に記録です。あまり文学的なことは期待しないほうが良いかもしれません。 それにしても、犯人が捕まっていないというのが何とも気味が悪いですね。

The package was excellent. The book is same as in the photo

C'est le bouquin à lire sur l'affaire. Il fourmille de détails, suit des pistes, les abandonne pour d'autres, pose toutes les questions. Et derrière, l'acharnement d'un type qui va y consacrer sa vie. C'est de la non-fiction brute, comme les carnets d'un détective. Épatante base de données sur laquelle David Fincher s'est largement appuyé - et qu'il a enrichie, comme le précise cette édition mise à jour. L'un des meilleurs ouvrages documentaires sur une affaire criminelle que j'aie pu lire. Arrivé dans les temps.

Buena condición , sin problemas y nada

Ótimo livro.