Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice

I have read many books and articles about Sharon Tate and some were good, some not so good. This book is solidly in the good category. This book is a collection of journals written by Patti Tate, Doris Tate and Lt. Col. Paul Tate. The book discusses much more than the events of August 8th and 9th, 1969. It touches on times and events before Sharon's death and after as experienced by the Tate family. Some of the writings just broke my heart and I cannot begin to fathom what the Tate family went through after Sharon's death. This book does not linger on the Manson family and their crimes, which I completely understand. Sharon was so much more than Roman Polanski's wife and a Manson family victim and I feel that this book brings Sharon a bit more to life. Jane Fonda said that she thought Sharon was a "pure soul", and indeed she was. I would have enjoyed hearing from Patti's sister, Debra, but she is not part of this book at all. I don't know exactly why she is not in it although I've read a few things about a falling out between Patti and Debra in the press. Regardless, this is an excellent book and contains a lot of things that I didn't know about Sharon and her family. If you are planning to read a lot about her murder and the Manson family, you will be disappointed. This book focuses on the Tate family so you should know that going in. I truly liked the book and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to know more about Sharon and her family.

I have read Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi about a half dozen times. This book by the Tate family confirms Bugliosi's take on the Manson Family and includes additional information and insights.Sharon's mother and sister were very active in the victim's rights movement. Her mother helped to pass multiple laws that created rights for victims and their families and tougher sentences for violent offenders.They also fought year after year to keep the killers in prison. Once the Supreme court overturned all death sentences, the only remaining sentence available was life with the possibility of parole after serving as little as 7 years. Most people convicted of murder got out in 11 years.The family's view of Sharon's husband, Polanski, was consistent with Bugliosi's. He was a non-stop philanderer who had not wanted to marry or have children. Sharon kept her pregnancy secret as long as possible to avoid being pressured into an abortion.None of the Manson Family prisoners have been consistent in their stories about their roles in the murders. They altered the details many times over the years, often reducing their degree of involvement to try to gain parole.These changing accounts have been cited repeatedly by the parole board for denial. However, without the work of the Tate family, all of the Manson Family murderers would have been paroled.The Parole Board didn't even read the prisoners' files to know the details of their crimes in the 1970's. No one showed up or even knew they could attend parole hearing to speak against parole.Mrs. Tate and Bugliosi's assistant prosecutor attended dozens of parole hearings to keep these murderers locked up.Don't be fooled by anything the Manson Family members have said from behind bars. They did not change.While heading for his car after a parole hearing for Patricia Krenwinkle, the assistant prosecutor found her standing behind the prison fence that was next to the parking lot. She let him know that she knew his home address to threaten him.Most of the Manson Family members were not involved in the murders and were free - and threatening. The La Bianca family was so frightened by the death threats that they did not participate in the parole process until decades later. Mrs. Tate fought to keep the La Bianca killers in prison.

I was 10 yrs. old when these horrific murders took place. On a camping trip one summmer with my cousins to Big Sur in 1976 California, I brought along the book Helter Skelter. Let's just say I quickly learned that it wasn't the best book for light reading when one is camping in the mountains...secluded. Anyway, ever since then I was intrigued by this case. This book, Restless Souls, is taken from the families point of view. It is brilliant!! It irons out a lot of misconceptions and outright lies that surrounded and infiltrated that first book, AND it intoduces a whole new window into the lives and day to day goings on of Sharon's family from the morning they received that terrible, shocking call about their daughter's murder. This is an excellent read that holds tons of new information regarding Sharon, Roman, their doomed friends that horiffic night, as well as a front row seat into the relentless and inspiring efforts put forth by Sharon's family and especially her mother as she tries to make some sense of the unthinkable. She is my champion in this book. This book delves into that deep, dark and painful place where intense loss that only ones who have lost a child can understand, and how one family, especially Sharon's mother finds her way above that dark hell by tirelessly helping others who have gone through the same thing. Oh...it's so much more too. You've got to read this!!! It truly inspires one. Love, tragic loss, and the undeterred determination from loving but heartbroken parents trying to understand....Why?

Reading this book I felt so heartbroken for the Tate family. You get an insight into their lives and how they felt before, during and after those monsters carried out their killing spree. Their pain must have been unbearable at times. It shows how callous and cold the killers were and still are. The words "I'm sorry" have never came into their vocabulary. I for one, hope the remaining killers never freedom again. They don't deserve sympathy or a parole hearing. They knew what they were doing. This is the most heartbreaking book I've ever read.

It's rather a shame this book was published 2012, making the summation out of date. As Audible downloads and AudioBooks on CD are increasing in popularity, I am of the opinion that this is an errant issue, and it is time to make Audio books more quickly available.This is a fantastically brilliant read to listen to. I would have liked to have heard it when it was published, it has to be a bestseller for its content that never shys away from the truth of one of the most heinous murders of all time. Wherever you are you will be moved.

This is a perfect account and tribute of the Tate Family. Makes me wish I knew them myself. A lovely family touched by tragedy, their drive to honour their daughter/ sister and advocate for victims rights is inspiring. This book has helped me see past the names and appreciate the wonderful people taken on that terrible weekend in 1969.

A great book and insight to how the family coped during this terrible time. Doris was amazing and did so much to keep Sharon's memory alive and keep them cowards locked up. As proud as she was of Sharon i know it was mutual for Sharon for her mum. I have loved Sharon from the moment i first saw her at the age of 10 after seeing her in the Fearless vampire killers. She in my opinion was the most attractive woman in the world and she was a fantastic actress. She was a gentle soul that would have done anything for anyone no matter what their background etc I hope wherever she is she's at peace with her baby mum and dad sister and friends. It was nice to hear finally the words and thoughts of the victims parents instead of the B******S that seem to put out book after book of what they did. I hope they rot..

Read through it a few times now and I've thoroughly enjoyed it , been obsessed with this case since seeing those awful crime scene photos and this book looks at the suffering that the murders caused the Tate family through the years , must admit the last couple of pages written so sensitively by Brie brought tears to my eyes