Curt Gentry, Co-Author of HELTER SKELTER, Dies at 83

Curt Gentry, American writer, best known for co-authoring (with Vincent Bugliosi), the 1974 book Helter Skelter, on the Charles Manson murders has died of lung cancer. He was 83 years old. Gentry lived in San Francisco, California.

Frame-Up was a nominee for the 1968 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Fact Crime book.

J. Edgar Hoover won the 1992 PEN Center West Literary Award for Non-Fiction.

Helter Skelter (1974) presents his firsthand account of the cases of Manson, Susan Atkins,Patricia Krenwinkel, and other members of the self-described Manson Family.

The book recounts and assesses the investigation, arrest and prosecution of Charles Manson and his followers for the notorious 1969 murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, actress Sharon Tate and several others.

The book takes its title from the apocalyptic race war which Manson believed would occur, which in turn took its name from "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles. Manson had been particularly fascinated by the Beatles' White Album, from which the song came. Helter Skelter won a 1975 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Fact Crime book.