This book was dry and straight forward. If you are looking for a dramatic, fast-paced retelling of the Zodiac Killer, you should skip this title. I really wanted to like it, but I felt like it was a list of facts rather than a suspenseful story.

⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book! ⭐️

A thorough review of the unsolved Zodiac Killer! He walks through the events in a chronological way that helps you feel that you are traveling back in time to when it all took place. A great read for a lover of true crime!

I always love reading about true crime. As the title implies this book is about the Zodiac Killer.

This book is a deep dive into the killings in a rather to the point and dry fashion. Giving more information as opposed to embellishing the story. I love how the book is sectioned out into different parts, laying out the crimes, the theories and then suspects.

It was a decent read that offered information for people who might not be familiar with the Zodiac Killer.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

"The Zodiac Killer" by Michael Butterfield is an intense, gripping story about the infamous Zodiac Killer, a man whose identity continues to remain a mystery to this day. Butterfield investigates that heinous acts and the psychology behind them in his novel, and while the premise is intriguing, I personally felt like the second half of the book fell flat. Learning about the victims was interesting, as there are parts that most common Wikipedia pages don't describe, but I think the blocky paragraphs made me have to re-read them a couple of times. Separating these ideas to make them easier to swallow would have, in my opinion, been better. The second half of the book, which delves into the investigation of the Zodiac Killer, follows a similar pattern with blocky paragraphs, but the information was thorough and detailed. Overall, I very-much enjoyed reading this novel! The psychology behind the Zodiac Killer has always intrigued me, and Butterfield does justice to explain to readers the horrible legacy the Zodiac Killer has left behind.

i really enjoyed reading this book and finding more about the zodiac killer This was a great detail book a lot of information to take in but very intriguing on the mystery of who may be the person

it was a great read and getting into more of it after 50 tears
Thank you for letting me read it

All the theories, suspects and potential Zodiac murders all rolled up into one book.
There was so much to unpick and follow, with so many different directions of the various police departments, Butterfield did a great job at laying out the information in a chronological but also logical and easy to follow manner.
I didn't really care for the inspirations section, but I found the rest really interesting.

Michael Butterfield’s The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer is a meticulously researched and gripping account of one of the most infamous serial killers in history. With decades of expertise on the case, Butterfield presents a thorough examination of the Zodiac’s reign of terror, unraveling the cryptic letters, coded messages, and media frenzy that kept the mystery alive for over fifty years.

What sets this book apart is its commitment to separating speculation from verified facts. Butterfield carefully dissects the evidence, debunking myths while shedding light on the most credible theories surrounding the Zodiac’s identity. His writing is both engaging and methodical, making this an essential read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by investigative journalism.

Beyond the case itself, The Zodiac Killer explores the killer’s lasting impact on popular culture, from films to copycat crimes, demonstrating how the mystery continues to captivate the public imagination. Whether you’re new to the case or a seasoned follower of Zodiac lore, Butterfield’s work offers a compelling and authoritative perspective on one of America’s greatest unsolved crimes.

(A special thanks to the author and publisher for providing this ARC. It was a privilege to explore this fascinating investigation before its official release!)

3.5 Stars

✨✨✨Serial Killers are Fascinating ✨✨✨

This is a very informative novel on The Zodiac Killer murders. It lays everything out clearly and concisely but unfortunately without much pizazz. It was a little dry and factual to be honest.

The Zodiac Killer is a fascinating and interesting read though. Plus, it has some good photos and whatnot!! I really enjoyed the chapters 4-6 the most. Especially the ones about theories and the accused!! Those were very interesting.

I love true crime so of course I enjoyed this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was released May 1, 2025 (today!) and is available now!!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. This read like a research paper or a textbook. It was very dry, and I found myself struggling to pay attention.

As the title implies. The Zodiac Killer is a deep-dive into the murders of the infamous killer in the late 60’s that terrorized the San Francisco area, and later spawned numerous copycats. The story is told in a rather dry fashion, with each killing that was attributed to The Zodiac meticulously detailed, sourced from police reports, interviews, etc. Later chapters are devoted to the innumerable suspects, all eventually cleared, as well as details on several copycat killers, movies and television specials that speculated on the identity of the killer, and the mostly preposterous theories about the murders. While this book was definitely exhaustively researched, no new ground is broken, and scant mention made of the investigation itself, save for snippets here and there. Overall, a bit of a disappointment. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly. I am in love with this book. It was incredible!!! I recommended it to everyone on my Facebook book group and to my avid reader family members and friends. Will be getting them copies. So glad I was able to read it!!

The Zodiac Killer by Michael Butterfield is a fascinating book. The Zodiac Killer started taunting America in the late 1960s. He sent many cryptic letters and coded messages to the local newspaper.

Michael Butterfield has been investigating the Zodiac Killer case for more than 30 years. In this book he present the book in chronological order of facts of what is known. He then lists popular theories and suspects. He manages to separate fact from fiction.

If you are new to the case this is a great book to read. If you already know the story this book doesn’t give any new information but it is nice to read the facts in chronological order. I love the way the book is laid out.

~Thank you NetGallery and Arcturus Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC.

Few serial killers are surrounded by so many myths as the Zodiac. There are tons of books, documentaries and podcasts and they all seem to tout their own favorite theory or suspect.
Butterfield has chosen a different direction with this book and has written an overview or maybe a primer. He presents the known facts in chronological order and then lists popular theories and suspects. All without much bias.
A helpful book for those who are new to the case or want a quick overview. Well written and without any glaring mistakes (as far as I could see). He also does a good job of dispelling some of the false myths that surround the case.

I thought this was a fine example of true crime writing. It contains well researched, referenced information about the crimes and the victims. It is factual and respectful in describing the crimes, without any inappropriate melodrama or glorying in gory details. It includes the details of the correspondence from the killer, as well as images of police sketches and writing samples. I enjoyed the final part of the book, in which the author indulged in some speculation as to possible suspects and why they were discounted. It’s well written and informative. I would say this is one of the best accounts of these terrible murders.