"A major work in elegant prose that will captivate and challenge anyone who thinks they know the story of Charles Manson." - Dr Stephen Harper, author of Madness, Power & The Media, University of Portsmouth

Based on thirty years of research, the story of notorious outlaw, musician and folk devil Charles Manson is revealed to be one of the most twisted and depraved cover-ups in American history.

A landmark in cultural reportage, Nikolas Schreck’s epic long-read shows with meticulous detail how a confluence of Hollywood, the music industry, organized crime and the judiciary colluded to conceal the real motives for the 1969 “Helter Skelter” killing spree.

Structured like a proverbial helter skelter, this groundbreaking work cracks open the official story to reveal the interconnected aspects of Charles Manson as philosopher, musician, revolutionary and patsy.

An essential textbook for scholars and a mighty “true crime” book for the general reader, The Manson File reveals a secret history of America in a narrative as artful as a great novel.