Book description
Before Charles Manson, there was Tony Costa-the serial killer of Cape Cod
1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love... and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten…
Why read it?
1 author picked Helltown as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I like crime journalism, especially when it breaks new ground or reveals a shocking story.
It’s hard to believe we aren’t well-versed in this Cape Cod serial killer, Tony Costa, since this 1969 case of multiple murders inspired two major writing talents, Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut, to compete for a scoop.
Sherman, who happened to stumble upon the story, brings out these authors’ personality quirks and describes the strange things they’d do for a shot at publication. At the same time, we learn about Costa’s predatory maneuvers and the way the investigation was handled.
I found this book to…
From Katherine's list on true crime books that teach you about the minds of murderers.
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