This Is the Zodiac Speaking: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer

by Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys

Book Overview

California was thrown into a paralysis of fear in 1969, distraught over the unsolved murders of the Zodiac killer. The Zodiac became the most elusive and frustrating adversary ever encountered by the law enforcement community in the San Francisco Bay Area. A series of letters, allegedly written by the murderer himself and published in local newspapers, only added to the mystery and panic. Over 30 years after he exploded onto the headlines of the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275973387
• ISBN13: 9780275973384
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best book ever written on the Zodiac case

This is the Zodiac Speaking is a joint venture with David Van Nuys, Ph.D. and is a must-have for any serious researcher. The book paints a picture of an exceptionally cold-hearted killer whose propensity for violence was surpassed only by his incredible ability to play the media and to constantly adapt and evolve, a tactic that allowed him to stay several steps ahead of the police at all times. Kelleher and Van Nuys stick to the known facts of the case and don't repeat the glaring mistakes that other authors and researchers have made in this case (such as focusing on a single suspect or claiming to have "solved" the Zodiac murders).Scholarly, well-written and highly recommended!

The controversy is compelling, the read is even better.

I find it interesting how much controversy has been stirred up by this excellent book. For example, reading the other reviews, I noticed one by Bill Nelson. This gentleman attempted to write a book that connected Charles Manson and his "family" with Zodiac. It was one of the most horrific books I've ever seen, filled with errors, typos on every page, and virtually unreadable. Yet, he somehow finds this book difficult to manage. One has to wonder about his motivation.The truth is that this is an excellent read. However, it takes a very different position on the Zodiac killer. In essence, the authors find that this killer was anything but a genius. He was, in fact, brutal, not particularly educated but naturally bright and manipulative. In othe words, much like one would expect from his crimes. However, this concept apparently upsets any number of alleged "Zodiac investigators" who consistently portray the killer as some kind of demigod of exceptional genius. This point of controversy may lie at the heart of why this book has received so many glowing reviews and a few absolute "pans." It is clear from the "pans" that they were written by alleged "Zodiac investigators" who seem to hold fast to the killer as something special. This obviously flies in the face of what the authors of this book believe. It also would seem to fly in the face of common sense, at least from a law enforcement perspective.Is is possible that by portraying the Zodiac killer as a rather ordinary, definitely sick, and clearly evil individual these "Zodiac investigators" have, themselves, been brought to a more mundane role? It would seem so.This is an fine read, different, and definitely controversial. For those who have a closed mind about the Zodiac killer, or view themselves as the ultimate authorities about a crime that has never been solved, it can be unsettling. For those who want a better understanding of this killer, it's a must read.

More frightening than fiction

This is not only a great read, it's a frightening one! Fifteen years ago, Robert Graysmith also wrote about the Zodiac killer, but in a very different way. He gave us the details -- the story of Zodiac's crimes, along with his own speculation about a few suspects. Kelleher and Van Nuys have worked this killer from the inside-out, taking us through his mind by using the killer's words. It's hard to imagine anything more real than this. What makes the book even stronger is that it is exceptionally well written. It's in the "can't put it down" category.Highly recommended!

Some new, fresh and fascinating

After so many years of no information, this book puts a spotlight on the Zodiac serial killer case. It brings the case up to date, provides a balanced and authentic view of the facts, and, most importantly, probes deeply into the killer's mind.This is the best of both worlds for true crime reading -- the history and details of the crime and a deep analysis of motivation.It's one of those true crime books that you can't put down.

A real thriller in true crime . . .

A thrilling detective story that many of its readers will not be able to put down, Kelleher and Van Nuys have done their homework in spades; the result is a book that explores those dark and dangerous dimensions of the human psyche that many people tend to ignore.Stanley Krippner, Professor of Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School.