In December of 1968, a serial killer began orchestrating a campaign of terror in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not satisfied with the simple act of murder, he taunted law enforcement and the public by writing letters to local newspapers. Through often cryptic and bizarre content—including four ciphers, three of which have never been solved—the psychopath played a twisted game. Reporters dubbed the man...
The first installment in Cole’s three-part The Zodiac Revisited series sets the stage for a definitive exploration of one of the most infamous of true-crime obsessions. Amidst the bustling San Francisco Bay Area of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the so-called Zodiac Killer haunted parks and woodlands, preying upon couples and lone individuals, sending shock waves through the city, the nation, and the decades to come. Cole’s account follows the killings, the clues––including the riddling letters sent by the killer to area newspapers––and the crime scenes and the investigation team that found itself playing cat-and-mouse with an individual who, whether through cleverness or sheer luck, evaded justice for almost 50 years.Cole examines the individual cases that have long been linked to the Zodiac Killer as well as the time that lapsed between killings and between the killer’s intermittent communication with the press and police. A chapter posits that previous unsolved murders and disappearances may have been the Zodiac’s work as well, suggesting that the Zodiac may have been active longer than is widely known. Also covered are controversies, dead-ends, accusations of forgery of the letters, and the fizzling of the official investigation as the 1970s ended and the killer faded from the public eye. Cole closes this first volume on a note of despair, arguing that “many had reached the point where they would be happy with the story of the Zodiac simply going away.” Future volumes will cover later developments and attempt to tie this sprawling case together.
Cole’s examination of the case is expansive in its references, with extensive footnotes offering the inquisitive reader more avenues to explore should their questions remain unsatisfied. Despite the frustrations of a cold case, high emotions power each chapter, and what might at first appear to be a textbook-like reference guide proves itself a legitimate page-turner sure to seize the attention of experts, amateurs, and true-crime readers.
Takeaway: True crime enthusiasts will devour the first installment of this examination of the unsolved case of the Zodiac killer.
Great for fans of: Robert Graysmith, Gary L. Stewart and Susan Mustafa’s The Most Dangerous Animal of All.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Zodiac Revisited is a well-organized and brilliantly presented work. It’s highly recommended.
Must Read. An insightful and intriguing view of the reign of terror that unfolded for nearly a decade in San Francisco.
THE ZODIAC REVISITED (Volume 1: The Facts of the Case) is an extensively researched and faultlessly edited book that provides a compelling introduction to the infamous, unsolved case of the Zodiac Killer.
The Zodiac Revisited, Volume 1: The Facts of the Case was awarded the designation of Finalist in the True Crime category of the 2021 International Book Awards.
