Zodiac by Robert Graysmith Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Zodiac
Book Review: One of the most infamous books on true crime ever written
Summary: 1 Stars
Where to begin? Were this book only an objective, fair presentation of the fascinating Zodiac fase, it would be the ultimate dream of a true crime fan. Unfortunately, Robert Graysmith filled it with notorious errors, misinterpretation and fact-bending serving only to implicate suspect A.L.A. (named "Bob Starr" in the book) in the crimes (Arthur, the suspect, is obviously innocent of being the Zodiac and has been cleared TWICE by the police and the FBI). It's really too bad that Graysmith is so obsessed with A.L.A. that he changes facts and fabricates a lot (as with his ridiculous and often rightfully bashed "decoding" of the actually still unbroken 340-symbol cipher written by the Zodiac, or the laughable idea with the Zodiac "forging his handwriting"). If he just presented But he achieved the reason for writing this - i.e. gained money and fame, and is in fact often named a "Zodiac expert" (sic!). This book is great for Zodiac researchers who know enough to separate Graysmith's mistakes from the truth, but the general public will only be left ill-informed. If you don't know much of the Zodiac, you'd do better buying the "Zodiac: Case Reopened" video from Amazon first, and only then reading Graysmith, remembering that he's so notorious for making mistakes that Zodiac researchers already coined two negative terms named after him: "to be graysmithed", for misled, and "a graysmith", for a blooper!Book Review: Robert Graysmith's 'Zodiac' : why you should read it..
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm English, from England. Ten years ago, I spent half of 1992 in the USA, travelling. I bought 'Zodiac' in NYC that June and proceeded to navigate anti-clockwise around the country : 'Zodiac' along with me, for the ride. On arriving in California and washing up at Vallejo, I sat on the hood of my car in a milky sunshine and reflected on the book I'd read twice by that time, watching the world go by....Graysmith sets out in scarifying detail the creepy-crawly stuff that happened in the Bay Area in the Age Of Aquarius for which Zodiac is believed responsible. The narrative has pace and time and place : a vivid picture is painted as his investigation unfolds. The book describes a vile tragedy with verve and sympathy : nothing is mishandled and the result is a full-tilt entertainment. Because the elusive, cryptic Zodiac never was apprehended (at least not in the sense that he got captured), the tale remains intruiging in much the same way as that of Jack The Ripper. It is truly a mystery as to 'who' and 'why'.
I have read many 'classic' 'true-crime' accounts. For me, Zodiac is the best. You will not forget it.
Next month, Robert Graysmith's sequel - Zodiac Unmasked - to this original gets a release. I suspect that I'm far from alone in anticipating it.
That's because of this marvellous original. It's a (the) masterpiece of its kind and THAT's why you should read it. That's all
Book Review: So good, I bought a hardcover to replace my paperback!
Summary: 5 Stars
An incredible telling of the events of the Zodiac murders that will leave you breathless. I couldn't put it down! For those of you familiar with the SF Bay Area, a very eerie read.Book Review: Solution to killer's second cipher is bogus.
Summary: 5 Stars
The definitive day-by-day detailed book on the case, with the many messages Zodiac sent to the media, police, and others. Graysmith offers a solution to Zodiac's second long cryptic message, however it appears to be bugus. This is a very minor gripe about a fast-paced book I couldn't put down. The drawing of the Zodiac in the creepy costume he wore when butchering the couple at the lake is as creepy as Graysmith's account. Even scarier is the wild ride the woman had who escaped from his car.Book Review: The Kat's Meow!
Summary: 4 Stars
Since I wrote a lousy short review about Zodiac Unmasked, in all fairness, I thought I'd say that I personally thought this book ZODIAC is excellent. Its an easier read than Zodiac Unmasked. I bought it when it first came out and have read it 5 times. Yes, it scared me. I have been interested in the Z since I was a teen living in Marin county CA at the time of the killings. Last year my step son asked if he could borrow this book. I said NO WAY! This copy doesn't leave my house. If you are new to the Zodiac, read this book. If you want to be frightened, read this book. Every time I go through Vallejo, I think of the Z. As a teen he invaded my thoughts. My friends and I were afraid of him and the subject came up a lot. Once, in 1971, I was riding my horse with a friend and we saw someone in a white, or light-color car acting totally nuts. Who do you think we thought of? For those of us who have been obsessed and haunted by the Z, this book meets our desires.