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And the Sea Will Tell
Alone with her new husband on a tiny Pacific atoll, a young woman, combing the beach, finds an odd aluminum container washed up out of the lagoon, and beside it on the sand something glitters—a gold tooth in a scorched human skull. The investigation that follows uncovers an extraordinarily complex and puzzling true-crime story.
Only Vincent Bugliosi, who recounted his successful prosecution of mass murderer Charles Manson in the bestseller Helter Skelter, was able to draw together the hundreds of conflicting details of the mystery and reconstruct what really happened when four people found hell in a tropical paradise. And the Sea Will Tell reconstructs the events and subsequent trial of a riveting true murder mystery, and probes into the dark heart of a serpentine scenario of death.
Only Vincent Bugliosi, who recounted his successful prosecution of mass murderer Charles Manson in the bestseller Helter Skelter, was able to draw together the hundreds of conflicting details of the mystery and reconstruct what really happened when four people found hell in a tropical paradise. And the Sea Will Tell reconstructs the events and subsequent trial of a riveting true murder mystery, and probes into the dark heart of a serpentine scenario of death.
729 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Vincent Bugliosi
50 books1,119 followersAmerican attorney and author, best known for prosecuting Charles Manson and his followers for the murder of Sharon Tate and others.
In his books he claimed that O.J Simpson and Lee Harvey Oswald were guilty of the crimes they were accused of.
In his latest book he states that George W. Bush should be prosecuted for murder.
Bugliosi lived in Pasadena, CA.
In his books he claimed that O.J Simpson and Lee Harvey Oswald were guilty of the crimes they were accused of.
In his latest book he states that George W. Bush should be prosecuted for murder.
Bugliosi lived in Pasadena, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
October 1, 2008
Vincent Bugliosi is the best and bravest defense lawyer who ever lived. You know how I know? He told me in this book.
Not a bad account of a crime and the trial of the woman accused, but please, Vinnie, get over yourself already.
Not a bad account of a crime and the trial of the woman accused, but please, Vinnie, get over yourself already.
February 20, 2024
And the Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi is a 2006 W.W. Norton Company publication.
Last year I read a novel that might have been partly inspired by this true crime case. The author mentioned this book in her notes at the end of her novel, which triggered a memory of both this book and the made for television mini-series based on it. Although the novel jogged my memory- reminding me of the bare basics of this case, I had long forgotten the specifics. So, I thought I’d try to locate a copy of this book and re-read it sometime.
Though this edition was published in 2006- the book was originally published in early 1990s. The case in question began way back in the mid-1970s, when an affluent couple- Mac and Muff Graham took off on a long voyage aboard their sailboat- ‘The Sea Wind’- (this boat is actually called at ketch).
Apparently, Muff had a strong feeling of foreboding before embarking on this journey- and sadly, her intuitions proved correct.
Expecting the island of Palmyra to be uninhabited, the Graham’s were a bit irritated by the presence of Buck and Jennifer- a scrappy looking couple who were obviously ill prepared-the seaworthiness of their vessel is highly debatable- they are very low on provisions and are hanging around waiting for someone to bring them more supplies.
Meanwhile, the two couples would have to resign themselves to sharing the island. But, when the Graham’s go silent, not answering any attempts at communication, it raises serious questions. When Buck and Jennifer subsequently arrive in Hawaii aboard the Sea Wind attempting to pass the boat off as their own, they don’t fool anyone- and are eventually arrested for theft.
Years pass-
Then the skeletal remains of Muff Graham are discovered. Buck and Jennifer are arrested for murder- But they are tried separately.
This is where Bugliosi comes in. The attorney became a household name when he prosecuted Charles Manson. But at this time, he is trying to transition from prosecution to criminal defense -and this case would a good one to bulk up his reputation- which is how he came to be Jennifer Jenkin’s attorney.
In this book, Bugliosi takes the reader through the entire case from start to finish. Although Bugliosi was a very good attorney- no matter what side of the debate- he is not exactly humble, and this comes through in the tone of this book. He is also verbose to the extreme. The book really should have been trimmed down by half- I’m not joking- because the author tended to go on long diatribes that made for dry reading at times.
Eventually, he gets down to brass tacks, leading to the ultimate courtroom showdown.
The argument was that Buck was guilty of murder- but Jennifer was totally clueless about it. Bugliosi was convinced of her innocence. But, even after reading this book twice now- I still don’t feel like we know the whole truth of what happened on that island.
To this day the body of Mac Graham has never surfaced…
Overall, despite being overly long this is a compelling murder mystery and a riveting courtroom drama.
3.5 stars
Last year I read a novel that might have been partly inspired by this true crime case. The author mentioned this book in her notes at the end of her novel, which triggered a memory of both this book and the made for television mini-series based on it. Although the novel jogged my memory- reminding me of the bare basics of this case, I had long forgotten the specifics. So, I thought I’d try to locate a copy of this book and re-read it sometime.
Though this edition was published in 2006- the book was originally published in early 1990s. The case in question began way back in the mid-1970s, when an affluent couple- Mac and Muff Graham took off on a long voyage aboard their sailboat- ‘The Sea Wind’- (this boat is actually called at ketch).
Apparently, Muff had a strong feeling of foreboding before embarking on this journey- and sadly, her intuitions proved correct.
Expecting the island of Palmyra to be uninhabited, the Graham’s were a bit irritated by the presence of Buck and Jennifer- a scrappy looking couple who were obviously ill prepared-the seaworthiness of their vessel is highly debatable- they are very low on provisions and are hanging around waiting for someone to bring them more supplies.
Meanwhile, the two couples would have to resign themselves to sharing the island. But, when the Graham’s go silent, not answering any attempts at communication, it raises serious questions. When Buck and Jennifer subsequently arrive in Hawaii aboard the Sea Wind attempting to pass the boat off as their own, they don’t fool anyone- and are eventually arrested for theft.
Years pass-
Then the skeletal remains of Muff Graham are discovered. Buck and Jennifer are arrested for murder- But they are tried separately.
This is where Bugliosi comes in. The attorney became a household name when he prosecuted Charles Manson. But at this time, he is trying to transition from prosecution to criminal defense -and this case would a good one to bulk up his reputation- which is how he came to be Jennifer Jenkin’s attorney.
In this book, Bugliosi takes the reader through the entire case from start to finish. Although Bugliosi was a very good attorney- no matter what side of the debate- he is not exactly humble, and this comes through in the tone of this book. He is also verbose to the extreme. The book really should have been trimmed down by half- I’m not joking- because the author tended to go on long diatribes that made for dry reading at times.
Eventually, he gets down to brass tacks, leading to the ultimate courtroom showdown.
The argument was that Buck was guilty of murder- but Jennifer was totally clueless about it. Bugliosi was convinced of her innocence. But, even after reading this book twice now- I still don’t feel like we know the whole truth of what happened on that island.
To this day the body of Mac Graham has never surfaced…
Overall, despite being overly long this is a compelling murder mystery and a riveting courtroom drama.
3.5 stars
January 15, 2020
A shocking true story of of murder on an a tiny tropical Island by the name of Palmyra. The story and the details of the trial are extremely well documented and I enjoyed being the extra person on the Jury and forming my own opinion of after reading and listening to all the evidence.
I enjoyed this read although it was extremely long winded and a little indulgent from the writers point of view, but seeing as Vincent Bugliosi had a front row seat at the trial I am sure writing this book was a passion and he felt he needed to get as much information as possible into the story.
An extremely complex story involving two couples who happen by chance to arrive together on the small uninhabited Island of Palmyra, each expecting to have the Island to themselves and to live for a while on this remote and exotic Island where time rolls slowly by but all is not what it seems and when years later a body is found on the island an Investigation leads to a trial of one of the couples.
This is one of those books where I enjoyed it but would be reluctant to recommend it to others as its not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but for readers who enjoy true crime stories where court trials are detailed and factual and the author goes to great pains to paint the picture of before and after then you may love this gripping story.
I had a hard copy and an audible version of this one and am thanking my lucky stars for both as the book is over 700 pages long and the audible helps get through this a little quicker although the narration was quite poorly done but I became used to the narrator as time went on.
I very nearly didn't read this one and as when the book arrived I was a bit irked to see that the Author’s name was in very large font while the title took second place in smaller font below the authors name and I felt this was a little indulgent of him as seemed to scream “ you should know who I am as I am”. (Which I didn't) Anyhow I did read the book and enjoyed it, extremely well written and researched and I did come to my own conclusion after ploughing though the evidence and Mr Bugliosi may well be glad I wasn’t a jury member at this trial.
An interesting and well written account but tbh could have done with being about 200 pages shorter and still lost nome of its appeal.
I enjoyed this read although it was extremely long winded and a little indulgent from the writers point of view, but seeing as Vincent Bugliosi had a front row seat at the trial I am sure writing this book was a passion and he felt he needed to get as much information as possible into the story.
An extremely complex story involving two couples who happen by chance to arrive together on the small uninhabited Island of Palmyra, each expecting to have the Island to themselves and to live for a while on this remote and exotic Island where time rolls slowly by but all is not what it seems and when years later a body is found on the island an Investigation leads to a trial of one of the couples.
This is one of those books where I enjoyed it but would be reluctant to recommend it to others as its not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but for readers who enjoy true crime stories where court trials are detailed and factual and the author goes to great pains to paint the picture of before and after then you may love this gripping story.
I had a hard copy and an audible version of this one and am thanking my lucky stars for both as the book is over 700 pages long and the audible helps get through this a little quicker although the narration was quite poorly done but I became used to the narrator as time went on.
I very nearly didn't read this one and as when the book arrived I was a bit irked to see that the Author’s name was in very large font while the title took second place in smaller font below the authors name and I felt this was a little indulgent of him as seemed to scream “ you should know who I am as I am”. (Which I didn't) Anyhow I did read the book and enjoyed it, extremely well written and researched and I did come to my own conclusion after ploughing though the evidence and Mr Bugliosi may well be glad I wasn’t a jury member at this trial.
An interesting and well written account but tbh could have done with being about 200 pages shorter and still lost nome of its appeal.
October 18, 2010
This was probably one of the most interesting stories I've ever read... until you get to the actual trial. Like Helter Skelter, Bugliosi's egotistical style of writing is hard to get past but it was cool to read this after Helter Skelter because in this trial he was a defense lawyer. The first half is unbelievable and shocking. The second half is a snore. Great mystery with an ending that leaves you VERY unsatisfied. Beware.
September 2, 2021
“It is said that the principal element that distinguishes a profession from a business is that in a profession, one’s primary obligation is to those he serves, not to himself.”
― Vincent Bugliosi, And the Sea Will Tell
I like a good True crime book every now and then and I had already read Bugliosi's book about OJ Simpson so I tried this one. It is extremely long and very wordy. It is also a creeper of a book, all together more of a creeper because you are reading non fiction.
So I had a few thoughts. The first one is that there was so much packed in here and some parts were more interesting then others. There was ALOT of courtroom jargon and some aspects of this book were extremely difficult to follow. I also did feel my mind wander at some of the more legal aspects of the book.
But it is exceptionally well written and just horrifying to read about. It is much different then his book about Simpson.
So yes it is a well written and interesting book but it is quite long and took me awhile. If you are a true crime fan you will most likely want to read this.
― Vincent Bugliosi, And the Sea Will Tell
I like a good True crime book every now and then and I had already read Bugliosi's book about OJ Simpson so I tried this one. It is extremely long and very wordy. It is also a creeper of a book, all together more of a creeper because you are reading non fiction.
So I had a few thoughts. The first one is that there was so much packed in here and some parts were more interesting then others. There was ALOT of courtroom jargon and some aspects of this book were extremely difficult to follow. I also did feel my mind wander at some of the more legal aspects of the book.
But it is exceptionally well written and just horrifying to read about. It is much different then his book about Simpson.
So yes it is a well written and interesting book but it is quite long and took me awhile. If you are a true crime fan you will most likely want to read this.
February 26, 2022
This book would have gotten a higher rating if the trial(s) section, which took up 2/3 of the narrative, was shorter or not a self-aggrandizement of the author who was the defense attorney.
This true story itself is extremely interesting as a "hippie" couple from Hawai'i,, Buck and Jennifer, decide to buy an old boat, refurbish it, and sail to an uninhabited island in the Pacific to live off the land. Buck is escaping from law enforcement for drug related crimes and is currently on parole. Big mistake! The boat is barely seaworthy, their supplies are inadequate, the couple know little about open ocean sailing, and the island, Palmyra, has a very unwelcoming environment for human habitation. They finally get there and discover that another couple, who are well known experienced sailors and have a professional sailboat, are already there.
The story follows the relationship of the two couples and how it deteriorates over the short period that they are together. And then Buck and Jennifer show up back in Hawai's on the couple's boat with the couple nowhere in sight. Thus begins the examination by police and friends as to what happened to the original owners. So far, so good.
Buck and Jennifer are brought to trial for murder based on the finding of human bones and other clues discovered on Palmyra. This is when, in my opinion, the book falls apart. The author, who is famous for his prosecution of Charles Manson, takes on the defense of Jennifer and proceeds to tell the reader what a great attorney his is. This got old really fast and it was difficult to finish the book.
I had read his book on the Manson trial (Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders) and truly enjoyed it but felt that he struck out with this one. Case closed.
This true story itself is extremely interesting as a "hippie" couple from Hawai'i,, Buck and Jennifer, decide to buy an old boat, refurbish it, and sail to an uninhabited island in the Pacific to live off the land. Buck is escaping from law enforcement for drug related crimes and is currently on parole. Big mistake! The boat is barely seaworthy, their supplies are inadequate, the couple know little about open ocean sailing, and the island, Palmyra, has a very unwelcoming environment for human habitation. They finally get there and discover that another couple, who are well known experienced sailors and have a professional sailboat, are already there.
The story follows the relationship of the two couples and how it deteriorates over the short period that they are together. And then Buck and Jennifer show up back in Hawai's on the couple's boat with the couple nowhere in sight. Thus begins the examination by police and friends as to what happened to the original owners. So far, so good.
Buck and Jennifer are brought to trial for murder based on the finding of human bones and other clues discovered on Palmyra. This is when, in my opinion, the book falls apart. The author, who is famous for his prosecution of Charles Manson, takes on the defense of Jennifer and proceeds to tell the reader what a great attorney his is. This got old really fast and it was difficult to finish the book.
I had read his book on the Manson trial (Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders) and truly enjoyed it but felt that he struck out with this one. Case closed.
July 30, 2022
Very detailed account of the 1974, "Sea Wind" murder on the Palmyra Atoll in the northern Line Islands, southwest of Hawaii.
It starts out reading like a very well written mystery Whodunnit.
Then proceeds to the building up of the trials of the two suspects (no spoilers).
And continues on ad nauseam through the trial of one. Personally, I think Bugliosi is a nitwit who got finagled. He defended a surely guilty client.
A tad long on Bugliosi's braggadocious story telling. According to him he must be the best lawyer who ever lived.
3 stars.
It starts out reading like a very well written mystery Whodunnit.
Then proceeds to the building up of the trials of the two suspects (no spoilers).
And continues on ad nauseam through the trial of one. Personally, I think Bugliosi is a nitwit who got finagled. He defended a surely guilty client.
A tad long on Bugliosi's braggadocious story telling. According to him he must be the best lawyer who ever lived.
3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2013
I did enjoy the book. It however, fall far short of my expectations. I had 3 main issues with it. 1) the write up on the back cover indicates that Bugliosi solves the mystery and pieces together what happened.. he pieces together a conjecture of what happened...don't expect this solved 2) there were too many descriptions of the case and trial that seemed self serving to an arrogance of what a "great" lawyer Bugliosi was 3) I was left with a lingering sense that Bugliosi a)outright concealed the truth, b)skewed the truth, or c) was a fool.. none of these sat well with me. It did not escape my notice that after the high profile prosecution case of the Manson Murders that a high profile defense case would be an extra special feather in his cap... I don't think his motives for taking on the case were as altruistic as he presented. Good points of the book: it was very interesting, behind the scenes life of a case and trail were interesting, book has a great sense of an eerie atmosphere. Ironically, I think the best thing about this book is the things that are unsaid..some things couldn't be written in black white by these authors.Read between the lines, and this book becomes much more interesting.
December 6, 2017
In 1974 I was pregnant with my second child and living in the very small and remote village of Puako on the big island of Hawaii. While visiting my best friend and neighbor, Gerri, there was a frantic knocking on her door. The woman standing on the porch said she needed to use the phone and that it was a dire emergency. We could see a large yacht anchored offshore and a dinghy beached on the primitive landing that local fishermen used to launch their skiffs. We asked if that was her boat and she said yes and that an emergency had required them to anchor and seek a phone which the neighbor nearest the landing told her that Gerri had. My husband worked for Gerri's husband who had a small house painting business and they had one of the only phones in the village. The woman said it would be a collect call and Gerri led her to a back bedroom where the phone was and she closed the door. Several minutes later the woman came out of the bedroom and ran out the door back to the dinghy which we watched her row back to the yacht.
3 days later we saw the woman's picture on the front page of the Honolulu newspaper; she and her boyfriend had been arrested for stealing the yacht from a remote island in the South Pacific about a thousand miles away from Hawaii!
After Vincent Bugliosi left the L.A. DA's office he went into private practice. One of his cases was the defense of Stephanie Stearns who along with her boyfriend, Buck Duane Walker, was accused of murdering Mac and Muff Graham on a remote atoll in the Pacific called Palmyra.
The couple was arrested for stealing the Grahams' boat 3 months after the Grahams' had disappeared in 1974. Stearns got 2 yrs for the theft and Walker got a 10 yr (+ 5 for the Ecstasy sales) sentence but escaped prison in Washington State and was recaptured in 1981. 1981 was not a good year for Buck Walker as that was also the year the dis- membered and mutilated remains of Muff Graham were found in a metal box washed up on a beach on Palmyra...the two then faced murder charges.
They had separate trials with Walker having a public defender and Stearns' affluent family hiring Vincent Bugliosi. Walker got life and Bugliosi got Stearns aquitted.
There is not a doubt in my mind that this woman was just as guilty as her boyfriend. She said she had no knowledge of any part of the crime but how are you one of only four people on a deserted island that doesn't hear a chainsaw or gunshots or many other things that apparently happened on the day of that murder??
Bugliosi was a great attorney. He was a narcissistic man, of that there is no doubt...and a very long-winded and self-serving writer. Without the help of his co-authors of both Helter Skelter and this book neither would have made very enjoyable reading. He changed Stephanie Stearns name to Jennifer Jenkins in the book...to protect her innocence? He definitely knew his way around the criminal justice system and the law. I'd hire him in a heartbeat if I was charged with murder if he was still alive today.
I don't believe he really gave a damn if she was innocent or not, but was only interested in winning his case.
Walker was paroled in 2007 because of poor health and moved to Willits California where lived in a small trailer outside of town. He wrote a book called Palmyra: True Story of an Island Tragedy, in which he asserted he was having an affair with Muff and that when Mac caught them in the act he had to kill him in self-defense. He died of a stroke 2 years later before his book was published. I believe it was finally published in 2015.
Stephie Stearns lives in Hawaii, a free and "innocent" woman.
Vincent Bugliosi died in June of 2015 at the age of 80 and his legacy lives on ...no matter what you thought of him.
To me this is a much more interesting true crime story than Helter Skelter... but meeting one of the perpetrators of the crime has probably swayed my judgement.
3 days later we saw the woman's picture on the front page of the Honolulu newspaper; she and her boyfriend had been arrested for stealing the yacht from a remote island in the South Pacific about a thousand miles away from Hawaii!
After Vincent Bugliosi left the L.A. DA's office he went into private practice. One of his cases was the defense of Stephanie Stearns who along with her boyfriend, Buck Duane Walker, was accused of murdering Mac and Muff Graham on a remote atoll in the Pacific called Palmyra.
The couple was arrested for stealing the Grahams' boat 3 months after the Grahams' had disappeared in 1974. Stearns got 2 yrs for the theft and Walker got a 10 yr (+ 5 for the Ecstasy sales) sentence but escaped prison in Washington State and was recaptured in 1981. 1981 was not a good year for Buck Walker as that was also the year the dis- membered and mutilated remains of Muff Graham were found in a metal box washed up on a beach on Palmyra...the two then faced murder charges.
They had separate trials with Walker having a public defender and Stearns' affluent family hiring Vincent Bugliosi. Walker got life and Bugliosi got Stearns aquitted.
There is not a doubt in my mind that this woman was just as guilty as her boyfriend. She said she had no knowledge of any part of the crime but how are you one of only four people on a deserted island that doesn't hear a chainsaw or gunshots or many other things that apparently happened on the day of that murder??
Bugliosi was a great attorney. He was a narcissistic man, of that there is no doubt...and a very long-winded and self-serving writer. Without the help of his co-authors of both Helter Skelter and this book neither would have made very enjoyable reading. He changed Stephanie Stearns name to Jennifer Jenkins in the book...to protect her innocence? He definitely knew his way around the criminal justice system and the law. I'd hire him in a heartbeat if I was charged with murder if he was still alive today.
I don't believe he really gave a damn if she was innocent or not, but was only interested in winning his case.
Walker was paroled in 2007 because of poor health and moved to Willits California where lived in a small trailer outside of town. He wrote a book called Palmyra: True Story of an Island Tragedy, in which he asserted he was having an affair with Muff and that when Mac caught them in the act he had to kill him in self-defense. He died of a stroke 2 years later before his book was published. I believe it was finally published in 2015.
Stephie Stearns lives in Hawaii, a free and "innocent" woman.
Vincent Bugliosi died in June of 2015 at the age of 80 and his legacy lives on ...no matter what you thought of him.
To me this is a much more interesting true crime story than Helter Skelter... but meeting one of the perpetrators of the crime has probably swayed my judgement.
October 11, 2015
I was so looking forward to reading this book. It's about the Palmyra murder case, which I'm extremely interested in, and it was written by Vincent Bugliosi, who became one of my all-time favourite writers after I read Helter Skelter, which was brilliant.
Sadly, this book is not brilliant.
The first part was really interesting, as it starts before Mac and Mutt Graham and Buck and Jennifer head to the supposedly deserted island. I found the details of their lives on the island fascinating.
Unfortunately, the second (and longest) part of the book is all about the trial, and seems mostly to consist of Bugliosi bragging about what a great lawyer he is and taking us behind the scenes of his process. Maybe some found this interesting, but learning that he writes everything out on a yellow legal pad was not my idea of a riveting read.
He must be an incredible lawyer, though, because I never once thought that his client, Jennifer Jenkins, was innocent of Muff's murder, and yet, he got her off. The only proof of her innocence appeared to be Bugliosi insisting that his instincts told him she "must" be innocent. Even he didn't sound fond of her--she comes across as an unlikeable, difficult client and a pathological liar with a thing for thugs.
The fact that she was so broken up over Mac and Muff's disappearance that she immediately moved into their boat, ate their food, and helped herself to Muff's clothing seems despicable to me. I can't imagine wearing a dead woman's clothes, even if that woman had passed away in her sleep.
I gave this three stars only because the first section was great.
Sadly, this book is not brilliant.
The first part was really interesting, as it starts before Mac and Mutt Graham and Buck and Jennifer head to the supposedly deserted island. I found the details of their lives on the island fascinating.
Unfortunately, the second (and longest) part of the book is all about the trial, and seems mostly to consist of Bugliosi bragging about what a great lawyer he is and taking us behind the scenes of his process. Maybe some found this interesting, but learning that he writes everything out on a yellow legal pad was not my idea of a riveting read.
He must be an incredible lawyer, though, because I never once thought that his client, Jennifer Jenkins, was innocent of Muff's murder, and yet, he got her off. The only proof of her innocence appeared to be Bugliosi insisting that his instincts told him she "must" be innocent. Even he didn't sound fond of her--she comes across as an unlikeable, difficult client and a pathological liar with a thing for thugs.
The fact that she was so broken up over Mac and Muff's disappearance that she immediately moved into their boat, ate their food, and helped herself to Muff's clothing seems despicable to me. I can't imagine wearing a dead woman's clothes, even if that woman had passed away in her sleep.
I gave this three stars only because the first section was great.
January 2, 2015
This is a dichotomy of a book; the first half (presumably written by the second author) is enjoyable and everything you could want in a true crime book - if only he could have written the whole book. The second half of the book was a trudge to read; The trial sequence part of the book is usually one of my favorites, but I found I had to make myself read it here.
I think the biggest problem with this book arises out of my expectations going in, which I concede may not be a fair way to judge the book. I was expecting a neutral, fact-based telling of the story from beginning to end, but the second half of this book is anything but neutral. In fact, while it purports to be the story of a murder on Palmyra Island, it seemed to me to be a vehicle for Vince Bugliosi to celebrate himself at the expense of anyone else mentioned in the book, including his client. (As an aside, I don't believe that he actually said half the things he said to the judge in this case, and I think he was a bit deluded about his client's character.) In short, in my opinion, I found Vince Bugliosi to be one of the most self-serving, pompous, biased, annoying, and self-aggrandizing characters, let alone authors, I have ever seen. He definitely put me off of this book. In fact, I bought Helter Skelter at the same time I bought this book to read, but I don't want to put myself through another Vince Bugliosi self-worship session, so I think Helter Skelter is going to Half Price Books at my earliest convenience along with this book. The sad thing is that this could be a really good book in the hands of a different author.
I think the biggest problem with this book arises out of my expectations going in, which I concede may not be a fair way to judge the book. I was expecting a neutral, fact-based telling of the story from beginning to end, but the second half of this book is anything but neutral. In fact, while it purports to be the story of a murder on Palmyra Island, it seemed to me to be a vehicle for Vince Bugliosi to celebrate himself at the expense of anyone else mentioned in the book, including his client. (As an aside, I don't believe that he actually said half the things he said to the judge in this case, and I think he was a bit deluded about his client's character.) In short, in my opinion, I found Vince Bugliosi to be one of the most self-serving, pompous, biased, annoying, and self-aggrandizing characters, let alone authors, I have ever seen. He definitely put me off of this book. In fact, I bought Helter Skelter at the same time I bought this book to read, but I don't want to put myself through another Vince Bugliosi self-worship session, so I think Helter Skelter is going to Half Price Books at my earliest convenience along with this book. The sad thing is that this could be a really good book in the hands of a different author.
July 12, 2010
Every bit the equal of Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter," this book is a comprehensive ripper of a true-crime yarn that feels structured like an Agatha Christie tale.
To wit: Four people are on a remote, even spooky South Pacific island named Palmyra. Two, a married couple, disappear and are presumed dead. The other two — a hippie with a murky criminal past and his maybe-not-as-naive-as-she-seems girlfriend — turn up months later in Hawaii with the boat belonging to the vanished couple. The man is found guilty of murder nearly a decade later, after the bones belonging to one of the missing turn up. But was the other guilty as well? Bugliosi, who switches to the defense table in this tale, insists that she isn't. He does a good job of convincing a jury nearly two decades after the slayings ... but will you be convinced as well?
You'll have fun trying to put together the pieces of the bizarre true 1970s and 1980s story of Paradise Found — and Paradise Lost. It's a story in which physical evidence, by necessity, must take a backseat to circumstantial offerings and character assessment. And being readers, we love to judge. And put our wits against those of Bugliosi, who is one of the sharpest legal minds in American crime. He makes his case, lays out all the facts, put his own spin on them ... but never tries to unfairly prejudice anyone's opinion. No, his prejudices are there — but fairly and honestly rendered — and that's what ultimately keeps the reader in the game amidst an intimidatingly high stack of facts and suppositions.
Good fun, good story, good storytelling. "And The Sea Will Tell" is another in my short stack of books I know I'll read again and again.
To wit: Four people are on a remote, even spooky South Pacific island named Palmyra. Two, a married couple, disappear and are presumed dead. The other two — a hippie with a murky criminal past and his maybe-not-as-naive-as-she-seems girlfriend — turn up months later in Hawaii with the boat belonging to the vanished couple. The man is found guilty of murder nearly a decade later, after the bones belonging to one of the missing turn up. But was the other guilty as well? Bugliosi, who switches to the defense table in this tale, insists that she isn't. He does a good job of convincing a jury nearly two decades after the slayings ... but will you be convinced as well?
You'll have fun trying to put together the pieces of the bizarre true 1970s and 1980s story of Paradise Found — and Paradise Lost. It's a story in which physical evidence, by necessity, must take a backseat to circumstantial offerings and character assessment. And being readers, we love to judge. And put our wits against those of Bugliosi, who is one of the sharpest legal minds in American crime. He makes his case, lays out all the facts, put his own spin on them ... but never tries to unfairly prejudice anyone's opinion. No, his prejudices are there — but fairly and honestly rendered — and that's what ultimately keeps the reader in the game amidst an intimidatingly high stack of facts and suppositions.
Good fun, good story, good storytelling. "And The Sea Will Tell" is another in my short stack of books I know I'll read again and again.
August 5, 2015
Probably the worst book I've ever read. So so soooo tedious, repetitive and so long winded- about 600 pages too long. Has the potential to be a great story (couple murdered on a deserted island) but it was just so badly conveyed and did nothing for me whatsoever. Admittedly I did skip about 200 pages in the middle to avoid the risk of my own suicide and went straight to the verdict of the trail- which btw was NOT GUILTY- yawn. Given that it was written by the defence lawyer he's hardly gonna do 700 pages on a trial that he lost. Sorry for the spoiler but you'll all thank me in the long run. Goodnight and God bless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2014
Put it down once the trial starts.
October 1, 2016
I read and loved Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders and Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder, so even though I'd been warned that this one wasn't nearly as good, I decided to give it a shot. Bugliosi has his problems, no doubt, his overweening ego being chief among them. He has one of the biggest heads I've seen in law (and as a lawyer myself, I've seen some that could rival the Goodyear blimp), but at least he's put in the hours to earn the rep. So I can kind of take a deep breath and skim past those parts. Ali had won a few fights before announcing "I'm the greatest!", so to speak.
And then this.
THIS.
The first part, no doubt written by the co-author, read like a novel and was very interesting and enjoyable. It could not have been written by Bugliosi, because it was in this part of the narrative where Jennifer's complicity, at least passive if not as an active participant, became clear. As legal maneuverings commenced, no matter what Bugliosi said, her guilt and what I would speculate is her sociopathic personality soon was as obvious as getting hit in the face with one of the infamous sharks from the lagoon.
As difficult as it may be for those who have only read this book and not the two I mentioned earlier to belief, Bugliosi is actually a very good, intelligent attorney, and an excellent investigator. Why regarding this particular client he suddenly turned stupid and broke all the most basic rules of a criminal defense attorney, of ANY attorney, legitimately baffles me. After much discussion with the person who recommended the book to me, who is also an attorney, we have come to the conclusion that all of his bluster about believing in the innocence of this criminal mastermind must have been added later, as it was more palatable than his real reason. She was so clearly, obviously, blindingly guilty, that he wanted to see if he, The Great and Powerful Oz, could successfully fool the munchkins into letting a homicidal maniac go free. He'd do everything else he'd set out to do in his career and there were no challenges left; why not try something new and different?
But of course he couldn't put that in the book, so he went back and white washed his motives later, even knowing it would make him look willfully blind or inept at reading character. Better that than the truth, in this case.
Apparently there is a rebuttal book that is only available in e-book format that I am going to be hunting down, but in the mean time, I am seriously disappointed in Bugliosi. I had planned to read the rest of his books, but now I don't know if I will. If I do, I'll at least read the one where he's on the prosecution side, and he doesn't feel the need to dress up his motives. Those should be easier to stomach than this nonsense.
And then this.
THIS.
The first part, no doubt written by the co-author, read like a novel and was very interesting and enjoyable. It could not have been written by Bugliosi, because it was in this part of the narrative where Jennifer's complicity, at least passive if not as an active participant, became clear. As legal maneuverings commenced, no matter what Bugliosi said, her guilt and what I would speculate is her sociopathic personality soon was as obvious as getting hit in the face with one of the infamous sharks from the lagoon.
As difficult as it may be for those who have only read this book and not the two I mentioned earlier to belief, Bugliosi is actually a very good, intelligent attorney, and an excellent investigator. Why regarding this particular client he suddenly turned stupid and broke all the most basic rules of a criminal defense attorney, of ANY attorney, legitimately baffles me. After much discussion with the person who recommended the book to me, who is also an attorney, we have come to the conclusion that all of his bluster about believing in the innocence of this criminal mastermind must have been added later, as it was more palatable than his real reason. She was so clearly, obviously, blindingly guilty, that he wanted to see if he, The Great and Powerful Oz, could successfully fool the munchkins into letting a homicidal maniac go free. He'd do everything else he'd set out to do in his career and there were no challenges left; why not try something new and different?
But of course he couldn't put that in the book, so he went back and white washed his motives later, even knowing it would make him look willfully blind or inept at reading character. Better that than the truth, in this case.
Apparently there is a rebuttal book that is only available in e-book format that I am going to be hunting down, but in the mean time, I am seriously disappointed in Bugliosi. I had planned to read the rest of his books, but now I don't know if I will. If I do, I'll at least read the one where he's on the prosecution side, and he doesn't feel the need to dress up his motives. Those should be easier to stomach than this nonsense.
February 26, 2008
This book is not just a true story, but it is comprised of actual journal entries. If you like crime drama, this book is amazing. It is split into two parts, first part is journal entries, the second part is ths story of the trial.
This book is definitely one of my all time favorites.
*heads up-language and adult themes.
This book is definitely one of my all time favorites.
*heads up-language and adult themes.
June 29, 2016
Riveting Intense, Heart Pounding, Tragic, Haunting, Mesmerizing & Creepy! A Chilling Read! I Loved It!
August 28, 2021
I found this book at my local used book store and was intrigued. I had never heard of the murders on Palmyra Island. Hell, I never even heard of Palmyra truth be told. I liked Helter Skelter by the same author so I thought I would try this one as well.
Mr. Bugliosi was a great lawyer. I don't think anyone would argue that. And I would think his ego would be a bit on the bigger side because he hadn't lost a case yet. His constant stating this though was a bit much. That being said he knows his stuff.
I did not like Jennifer Jenkins. I could not understand why Vincent thought she was amazing or stay and deal with her obvious complacency through the prepping of the trial. It was infuriating to read.
I do agree with the outcome though even if I didn't like her which speaks to Vincent Bugliosi's skill.
I am glad I took a chance on this book. It was a fascinating read.
Mr. Bugliosi was a great lawyer. I don't think anyone would argue that. And I would think his ego would be a bit on the bigger side because he hadn't lost a case yet. His constant stating this though was a bit much. That being said he knows his stuff.
I did not like Jennifer Jenkins. I could not understand why Vincent thought she was amazing or stay and deal with her obvious complacency through the prepping of the trial. It was infuriating to read.
I do agree with the outcome though even if I didn't like her which speaks to Vincent Bugliosi's skill.
I am glad I took a chance on this book. It was a fascinating read.
December 26, 2012
I really liked the first third of this book but the last two thirds was drawn out and I found Vincent/lawyer/author doesn't ever hesitate to tell us how great he is!!
September 26, 2022
Rating is averaged out between the story and the narration
This audio was fine as far as the narration goes but it was waaay too long. Vincent Bugliosi is clearly enamored of himself and his role as an attorney. The things that worked for me in Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders were tedious and wore out their welcome this time around.
Probably the bulk of my disappointment stems from the fact that the defendant, Bugliosi's, client, is/was unsympathetic to me. I didn't believe her story as a sort of victim to Buck Walker. To me she was someone who like many others at the time, took a vacation from her life, got a shock and returned to live an upper middle class life. There's no shame in that but this was after aiding & abetting or perhaps even participating in the murder of two people. I could be wrong but those are my two cents. Meanwhile the author not only defends his client as any attorney should but is/was clearly enamored by her or under some kind of spell to the point where he substitutes only her name in the recounting of the whole tale.
Additionally the reader/listener is regaled with a précis on law, cases, and case law. Make of this whatever you will.
It didn't work for me but if you're interested the late 70s or early 80s this will add to that picture. As usual YMMV.
This audio was fine as far as the narration goes but it was waaay too long. Vincent Bugliosi is clearly enamored of himself and his role as an attorney. The things that worked for me in Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders were tedious and wore out their welcome this time around.
Probably the bulk of my disappointment stems from the fact that the defendant, Bugliosi's, client, is/was unsympathetic to me. I didn't believe her story as a sort of victim to Buck Walker. To me she was someone who like many others at the time, took a vacation from her life, got a shock and returned to live an upper middle class life. There's no shame in that but this was after aiding & abetting or perhaps even participating in the murder of two people. I could be wrong but those are my two cents. Meanwhile the author not only defends his client as any attorney should but is/was clearly enamored by her or under some kind of spell to the point where he substitutes only her name in the recounting of the whole tale.
Additionally the reader/listener is regaled with a précis on law, cases, and case law. Make of this whatever you will.
It didn't work for me but if you're interested the late 70s or early 80s this will add to that picture. As usual YMMV.
January 7, 2016
Absolutely riveting true legal drama! But be warned, unless you're excited by the courtroom proceedings and the chess play that happens between defence and prosecution, you might find most of the book tedious and slow. The first 1/3 of it is an intriguing reenactment of the events leading up to the tragedy, and the other 2/3 is pretty much a court transcript. True, Mr. Bugliosi can be a little full of himself, but he built an incredible defence case, and managed to hit almost any curveball flying in his direction. There is a lot to learn for students of law.
October 9, 2018
Let me summarize this book in a few sentences
Jennifer Jenkins was on Palmyra an island in the Pacific when a murder occurred, but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins was on Palmyra an island in the Pacific with her ex-convict, short fuse lover Buck Walker and he probably killed the other couple but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins and her ex-convict, short fuse lover Buck Walker stole the sailboat of a couple who were murdered and never ever reported their deaths, but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins was tried for the murder of the other couple but her attorney Vince Bugliosi has a gut feeling she’s innocent so she’s innocent and you know not a murderer.
Jennifer Jenkins was acquitted due to the unbelievable skills, talent and charisma of Vince Bugliosi but uh yeah she might be a murderer or at least she really knew what was going on.
That’s it. That is the whole book.
Jennifer Jenkins was on Palmyra an island in the Pacific when a murder occurred, but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins was on Palmyra an island in the Pacific with her ex-convict, short fuse lover Buck Walker and he probably killed the other couple but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins and her ex-convict, short fuse lover Buck Walker stole the sailboat of a couple who were murdered and never ever reported their deaths, but Jennifer Jenkins is not a murder.
Jennifer Jenkins was tried for the murder of the other couple but her attorney Vince Bugliosi has a gut feeling she’s innocent so she’s innocent and you know not a murderer.
Jennifer Jenkins was acquitted due to the unbelievable skills, talent and charisma of Vince Bugliosi but uh yeah she might be a murderer or at least she really knew what was going on.
That’s it. That is the whole book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2013
My son snagged this from the family lake cottage; it was a discard from the local library which my sister had picked up. I was sucked in immediately by the mystery in Book One, "The Crime." However, Book Two, "Justice," began about a third of the way in, and it was hard going from then on. If you are a fan of court procedurals, or want to be a trial lawyer, you may find this book fascinating, but if you're a layperson like me, you'll start flipping pages. Obviously, I was interested enough to want to learn the outcome of the murder trial, but 574 pages is a lot of flipping.
February 12, 2017
I just finished the thrilling 'experience' of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" and now realize that "And The Seat Will Tell", and many other true crime books I've read, owe their very existence to Capote's masterpiece. Not only did I feel that Bugliosi was unable to 'prove' his case within "And the Sea Will Tell', but it all simply plays out as Capote's invented blueprint for this genre.
June 10, 2019
this is a true story and is a movie
February 7, 2015
Great book.
December 12, 2024
Giant book about a sensational murder case on a remote Pacific island 50 years ago. I’d never heard of it, but the case wasn’t that fascinating honestly. However, one defendant was represented by the author, who was also the prosecutor on the Manson case. All in all, my favorite section of the book was when he discussed judges and how they’re merely a combination of a lawyer and a politician, and despite how much the public respects them in polling, he refers to them as straight partisans, and says it goes all the way to the Supreme Court. And this was in the 1970s.
August 10, 2025
This is a decent true crime read. With podcasts able to distill a case in 90 minutes or so it’s not easy for me to pay attention to a 15+ hour audiobook on one case like I used to, so it’s a testament to the book that the fascinating case held my attention.
That said, Vincent Bugliosi’s self aggrandizing is pretty insufferable. He is a very good attorney, and boy does he know it. He’ll tell you at length in every chapter.
That said, Vincent Bugliosi’s self aggrandizing is pretty insufferable. He is a very good attorney, and boy does he know it. He’ll tell you at length in every chapter.
February 26, 2015
You get the impression, reading this book, that you wouldn't want to have Vincent Bugliosi round for dinner. He is arrogant and constantly berates his client, which I found particularly egregious considering taking a plea deal--one of the things they clashed over--seemed quite sensible. Not to mention it was suggested by his long suffering co counsel, who is clearly the voice of reason in the duo and often has to work behind Bugliosi's back.
That said, it's hard to imagine a truly effective defense attorney in particular with a different personality. If anything can be said for good old Vince, it is that he is passionate and prepared down to the last detail. If I'm ever falsely accused of something, I'm dialing his number first.
And the proof is in the pudding; he gets his client acquitted. Personally I think Jennifer is either a sociopath or unforgivably stupid and naive. At the very least her emotional responses are often stunted and inappropriate, a fact noted by Bugliosi himself. For example, after her brilliant hardworking attorney has just given the performance of a life time and won her her freedom, she spends the celebratory dinner afterwards criticizing such minutia as the color of his tie and how his hair is combed,
Personally, I doubt very much that she's completely innocent. But that's not the standard we hold defendants to in the U.S. For that reason I feel that Bugliosi championed the proper result: acquittal. Without anything definitive to show that she knew about the murders, she has a right to her freedom.
I am sorry for Mac and Muff, because they sound like interesting people, if a bit judgemental towards people who don't live their highly privileged lifestyle. Muff's feelings about the trip (a deep sense of foreboding) only drive home the point that many true crime books do, that people should in general trust their instincts. How many lives would be spared if those people had just given weight to their instincts?
I also found the trial details and the workings of a defense case fascinating.. Knowing how and why certain arguments are made was illuminating and riveting. I especially appreciated that each argument was laid out in the back of the book. However, I felt that Bugliosi made several huge missteps. Keep in mind I am not a lawyer, and hell, he won so he obviously did something right. However, he spends a long time asserting that Jennifer may not have heard gunshots thanks to the noise of the fauna on the island and the rushing of the wind and water. But after making this perfectly serviceable argument, he speculates that Mac and Muff's bodies may have been cut up with a chainsaw! Well shit, it's likely she would have heard a chainsaw, right? Luckily for him nobody seems to have picked up on this. He also invokes Hitler and Eva Braun to make a point, which I thought would automatically lose people.
That aside, it's a good book. If you have any interest in crime or the law, give it a whirl.
That said, it's hard to imagine a truly effective defense attorney in particular with a different personality. If anything can be said for good old Vince, it is that he is passionate and prepared down to the last detail. If I'm ever falsely accused of something, I'm dialing his number first.
And the proof is in the pudding; he gets his client acquitted. Personally I think Jennifer is either a sociopath or unforgivably stupid and naive. At the very least her emotional responses are often stunted and inappropriate, a fact noted by Bugliosi himself. For example, after her brilliant hardworking attorney has just given the performance of a life time and won her her freedom, she spends the celebratory dinner afterwards criticizing such minutia as the color of his tie and how his hair is combed,
Personally, I doubt very much that she's completely innocent. But that's not the standard we hold defendants to in the U.S. For that reason I feel that Bugliosi championed the proper result: acquittal. Without anything definitive to show that she knew about the murders, she has a right to her freedom.
I am sorry for Mac and Muff, because they sound like interesting people, if a bit judgemental towards people who don't live their highly privileged lifestyle. Muff's feelings about the trip (a deep sense of foreboding) only drive home the point that many true crime books do, that people should in general trust their instincts. How many lives would be spared if those people had just given weight to their instincts?
I also found the trial details and the workings of a defense case fascinating.. Knowing how and why certain arguments are made was illuminating and riveting. I especially appreciated that each argument was laid out in the back of the book. However, I felt that Bugliosi made several huge missteps. Keep in mind I am not a lawyer, and hell, he won so he obviously did something right. However, he spends a long time asserting that Jennifer may not have heard gunshots thanks to the noise of the fauna on the island and the rushing of the wind and water. But after making this perfectly serviceable argument, he speculates that Mac and Muff's bodies may have been cut up with a chainsaw! Well shit, it's likely she would have heard a chainsaw, right? Luckily for him nobody seems to have picked up on this. He also invokes Hitler and Eva Braun to make a point, which I thought would automatically lose people.
That aside, it's a good book. If you have any interest in crime or the law, give it a whirl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2009
There was a book I read a long time ago, The Lord of the Flies, about a group of young British boys from affluent families who survived a plane crash in an isolated island. Deprived of adult supervision and having to fend for themselves in order to live, it didn't take them long to revert to barbaric practices, turn on each other and descend to murder. I told myself that was fiction, and now I read this book based on a true crime.
Once I started reading the book, there was no way I'm going to put it down. I was so engrossed by the story, I carried the book everywhere I went. Fascinated and repelled, I couldn't believe this happened in the 20th century, in an island that, although isolated, is within the control of the mighty U. S. of A. Murder perpetrated by a man and a woman who are in full possession of their faculties, are not being coerced by anybody. Then there is an opportunistic lawyer who also profited, indirectly, from their crime. I don't think OJ ever read this book, but his lawyers certainly did. I'm really very sorry with Mac and Muff - twice victimized.
Why the 4 stars? I'm not going to explain why. Suggest you read the book.
Once I started reading the book, there was no way I'm going to put it down. I was so engrossed by the story, I carried the book everywhere I went. Fascinated and repelled, I couldn't believe this happened in the 20th century, in an island that, although isolated, is within the control of the mighty U. S. of A. Murder perpetrated by a man and a woman who are in full possession of their faculties, are not being coerced by anybody. Then there is an opportunistic lawyer who also profited, indirectly, from their crime. I don't think OJ ever read this book, but his lawyers certainly did. I'm really very sorry with Mac and Muff - twice victimized.
Why the 4 stars? I'm not going to explain why. Suggest you read the book.
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