Laughing Gorilla: A True Story of Police Corruption and Murder

Police corruption, scandal and mis-use of power during a 1920's murder investigation in San Francisco.

Robert Graysmith paints a vivid picture of San Francisco during the late 1920's to 1930's. This is not only the story of Captain Charles Dullea and his rise up the latter to Police Chief but also a history lesson of San Francisco's old Ferry Building. As usual the author does a superb job of researching his subject and gives details accounts of all the players involved. Engrossing to read part murder mystery part history lesson.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another intriguing true tale by Graysmith.

I loved this book!

Bridget's Review

The Gorilla Man was the first serial killer to travel from place to place. After strangling a woman, he would proceed to violate her dead body. Onlookers who saw this beast attacking a woman, said that he laughed like a lunatic and he appeared to be an apelike figure. Most of his victims made the mistake of letting people know that they had a room available in their home.

Charles Dullea was an honest man and the police captain in San Francisco. He's probably the only honest man on the police force at that time. He was trying to track down this maniac but at the same time was faced with corrupt officers everywhere he looked. He was determined to get this killer off the streets but what he found shocked him more than his fellow crooked cops.

I don't know what to say except that I loved this book! Certain things were hard to read because it is based on a true story. If you like to read about bad cops and murderers, pick this book up! You won't want to miss it. Now I'm going to have to purchase Robert's other books, ZODIAC and ZODIAC UNMASKED.

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