Summary
Robert Graysmith's "Zodiac" plunges into the chilling real-life hunt for the Zodiac Killer, a hooded mass murderer who terrorized San Francisco and the Bay Area starting in 1968. Graysmith, a political cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle during the Zodiac's reign of terror, found himself increasingly consumed by the killer's cryptic letters and ciphers sent to local newspapers. These communications, often containing taunting clues and boasting about his crimes, became a twisted game that captivated and horrified the public.
The book meticulously recounts the Zodiac's known victims, starting with David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen in December 1968, followed by Darlene Ferrin and Michael Mageau in July 1969, and Paul Stine in October 1969. Graysmith painstakingly pieces together the details of each crime, examining police reports, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing the Zodiac's letters for hidden meanings. He delves into the various ciphers sent by the Zodiac, highlighting the efforts of amateur and professional codebreakers alike to decipher them, most notably the work of Donald and Bettye Harden, who cracked the Zodiac's initial cipher. This is followed by the terrifying details of the hooded man stabbing Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard at Lake Berryessa on September 27, 1969.
Graysmith explores numerous leads and suspects, including the unsettling phone call to Melvin Belli and other potential figures. The investigation is fraught with red herrings, interdepartmental jealousies among law enforcement agencies, and the frustrating elusiveness of the killer. Graysmith chronicles the development of composite sketches, the analysis of handwriting, and the painstaking efforts to link the Zodiac to other unsolved murders, such as the Cheri Jo Bates case in Riverside. In addition to the victims and main investigators like Toschi, the author also profiles potential suspects such as Andrew Todd Walker, creating a compelling narrative that is both detailed and comprehensive.
The book not only documents the facts of the case but also delves into the psychological aspects of the Zodiac Killer, exploring potential motives and personality traits based on the content of his letters and the nature of his crimes. Graysmith speculates on the Zodiac's fascination with astrology, occultism, and certain films like "The Most Dangerous Game," suggesting that these elements may have influenced his actions and communications. The search for this elusive killer leads to an ending that is not a closure, but a lingering haunting story of a killer never caught.