1.75

Reading this book was a rollercoaster. I was unsure of how I felt about it in the beginning, as the narrative jumps from Tony Costa, the killer, to authors Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut. But once I started looking at the book more as an exploration of the time period rather than a pure true crime I started to get invested. And then the book kept going.

Ultimately, I think I understand what Sherman was trying to do, but the convoluted storytelling was unsuccessful in my mind and adding in all the extra details about the era and Mailer/Vonnegut just made the book feel too long and uneven.

I also wasn't the biggest fan of this particular style of narrative nonfiction. Towards the beginning of the book, specifically in the Vonnegut portions, it was hard to tell if Sherman's information came from actual sources about Vonnegut's life or if he just took the "autobiographical" parts from Slaughterhouse-Five. And throughout the book Sherman "recreates" full on conversations and internal dialogue that may or may not have actually happened and in one particular instance recreates a scene that in his author's note he says is a theory "as plausible as any" but with no indication in text of it being a theory. For me, the kind of nonfiction that toes the line into fiction doesn't work.

Fascinating! A nonfiction book that reads like fiction, and also involves some of the most famous names in literature in the MOST bizarre ways, this is a must read for anyone who is fascinated with serial killers and their motives. Highly recommend!

Reader, if you like true crime books this one is enjoyable as it seemed to me well-written, paced, & researched. Any readers out there who are sensitive & like to avoid reading about gruesome murders & horrible things done to women you may want to stay away.

*I have seen reviews where others mention this book contains a lot of fiction, after reading the very beginning I understood that the author had to fill in as needed to create a voice for the dead which is what makes Helltown interesting to read instead of textbook style.

This book is all over the place. It starts by leading into some back ground but then intersperses a story about Vonnegut. I was unfamiliar with the serial murders that took place in Provincetown (Helltown), Mass committed by Tony Costa in 1969. While this book is listed as True Crime that’s not entirely the case. It’s true crime containing a great deal of narrative fiction. The murders and the trial actually happened but much of the rest of it rings false. The dialogue is trite and a lot of the interactions, personal thoughts etc. are fabricated. This is full of stuffing. The filler includes Kurt Vonnegut, Norman Mailer, Chappaquiddick, Apollo 11, the Charles Manson murders, as well as speculation regarding the perpetrator of an unsolved murder. If you think this sounds convoluted, you would be correct. I also found entire chapters on Kurt Vonnegut and Normal Mailer unnecessary and just made the book that much more frustrating. Half of this book is fictional and it shouldn't be especially since it is labeled as NON FICTION. I was not impressed and disappointed in this book.

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

Helltown, the Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod, by Casey Sherman is a true crime/partially fictionalized story of the serial killer, Antone (Tony) Costa, who terrorized Provincetown/Ptown/Hell Town from 1964 til his capture, and indictment in 1970.

Antone Costa was a charismatic, almost godlike figure for the lost. He was well read, articulate, and engaging. He had a knack for drawing people together as a family unit. He also had a very dark side.

The “family” he brought together included hippies, drug addicts, misfits, and those seeking a father figure. His favorite author was Herman Hesse, and his favorite book, Steppenwolf. He fancied himself as “the wolf of the Steppes.”

He was a drug addict and handed out drugs to his disciples, and family members like candy. He especially enjoyed LSD which he believed to heighten his senses.

Costa had a large Marijuana patch in the Truro woods, which would prove to be a crucial part of his murderous plan. He was also a novice taxidermist, the impetus for the killings.

Tony believed that his so-called “family” could surpass the Manson family in notoriety, and depravity. Get better goals, people!

Casey Sherman weaves a vivid narrative that takes the reader along on Tony’s wild killing spree, his capture, and the circus-like atmosphere of the trial. At the time several famous novelists were living in Ptown at the time of these murders, and the author allows the reader to see how this case relates to each of them.

The author also highlights other historical events that may have been connected to the case. The rest of the characters you meet in Hell Town are the officers, victims, and victims’ families.

The fictionalized portion deals with self-speak, and the timeline of events that took place within the book. It does not detract from the true crime aspect of the story.

The most startling portions of Hell Town are true. I am not easily made nauseous by true crime, but this was brutal.

Casey Sherman’s writing style and description of the events are brilliant and nightmare-ish.

I remember hearing of these murders when I was young. There was coverage of both Costa and Charles Manson in the local Newspaper/TV. I was mesmerized by these crimes.

I became so invested in the story that I had a few nightmares. It was frightening, riveting, and exhausting to hear what people could do to each other.

I love true crime novels, and gory tends to be the language of the genre. However, Hell Town takes the gore factor to a whole new level.

If you are squeamish, this book is not for you. Otherwise, true crime buffs will thoroughly enjoy this well-written, in-depth look at “the wolf of the Steppes.

Helltown was an interesting book. It was so far the best book I have read about Tony Costa. However I only gave it 3 stars because this was supposed to be a True Crime book, but there where too many fictional elements tossed in for my liking. At places the books felt a little scattered, Tony Costa was the main subject of the book but, in my opinion, Mailer, Vonnegut and even Manson got way more pages devoted to them then they should have.
That being said it was an interesting book and if a TV show based on it comes out I will be watching.

This was a strange book. It read like a mix of fiction and nonfiction with so many details in it that seemed wholly unnecessary for the progress of the book. I was initially intrigued by the Vonnegut/Mailer angle but then lost interest as I didn't see how it really pertained to anything. I had high hopes for this one but it definitely fell flat for me. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read it!

I love true crime and serial killer reads. However, my biggest qualm with this is that it is written like fiction despite being non fiction. This was immediately off putting to me and if a person didnt know any better they’d think this is just another thriller novel

I'm still not sure how to review this book just yet.

More to come once I'm able to put into words my thoughts.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This is not my typical genre but what a good read! I finally got my hands on a physical copy and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc(though i missed downloading it) for an honest review!

This is a great story of gruesome murders in Provincetown in the late seventies. I loved the use of characters, including Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., to tell the story of a horrific time in such a peaceful, idyllic place.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I found this book to be long-winded and full of irrelevant details. It also incorporates the stories of other tragedies as well as the lack of who the deceased really were. In my opinion, it sensationalized the murderer which was exactly what he hoped for. I found my mind wandering while reading which is something I’ve never done with a good book. Difficult to finish this as well as attempt to follow the multiple stories that really weren’t pertinent to the story. Maybe a different title would have allowed readers to decide if they wanted to read this book…I wouldn’t have if I would have known that is was only partially related to the actual story of the Costa murders.

Helltown is a blend of real life events and ficticious elements. I was surprised I had never heard of Tony Costa, since I'm morbidly fascinated by heinous crimes. I was surprised how much Helltown focused on other major events and the rivalry between Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut. I honestly could have done with less of it, but overall enjoyed this read.

I can’t remember the last time I didn’t finish a book. Even if I don’t care for it, I usually suck it up and make it to the end. I couldn’t do it with this one. I made it to 30% and decided to move on with life. The style of writing was chaotic, the description of some of the murders was so gory I just skipped it, and the beef between Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer seemed pointless.

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC, my apologies for not being able to finish it.

I attempted this prior to the release date and found the lengthy discussion of Vonnegut and Mailer dull and dry, and struggled to find any real point to it in relation to the serial killer. I assumed it would tie in later, but the prose was tedious and I didn't want to keep reading. After the publication date, I bought the audiobook so I could complete this feedback, and assuming it would be easier to get through on audio. I was wrong. The prose does not improve upon listening. It feels like the author is trying to do too much, adding in the nonsense with the two authors, digging into "hippie culture", and detailing the murders, and not succeeding at any of it. The book needs a narrower, tighter focus. I also question labeling a book nonfiction that contains so much internal dialogue and conversations between victims. Yes, having dialogue often makes a book flow better, but if you write what you "think" happened or "think" someone said and write it as if it were actual fact, not hearsay, then you've deviated from non-fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

A journalist takes the reader with a moderately fictionalized account of the Cape Town murders on the East Coast in the 60s.

Tony Costa, known as "Sire" by his tiny legion of followers (mostly girls) sells any drug her can get his hand on. He develops an alter-ego, pushed by his defense team as having started due to the sheer amount of drugs he was taking and caused by a pill prescription by a doctor, and his alter-ego murders and mutilates four women (that we know of).

A grotesquely descriptive book that is all over the place, from the West Coast to the East Coast to Chicago, touching on Charles Manson, JFK and other Kennedys, Kurt Vonnegut and his military past and subsequent PTSD, Normal Mailer and his many, many women. NASA.
The author notes at the end that he took artistic liberties to fill in some of the gaps in the story, including a potentially unrelated (but disturbingly similar) murder of the lady in the dune that took place after Costa's arrest.

See my full review on YouTube.

Disclaimer, I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an honest r3view.

This is a DNF @13%, which is surprising. I love True Crime books, but this book kept telling what the dead were thinking and feeling., which felt like fiction . I just want the facts. There is no way of knowing what people were thinking and feeling without interviewing them (impossible since dead) or a journal etc. Plus, I couldn't stand the constant dialoque about authors Kurt Vonnegut Jr and Norman Mailer. Maybe if I would have finished I would have figured out why we kept hearing about them, but I just couldn't.

Side note, I skipped to the end to read the Author's Note, where he admits to taking "fictional liberties. This makes me wonder how this is a work of non-fiction then.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and the author for the chance to read this book.

I thoroughly really enjoyed Helltown and for any fan of true crime it really is well done. I didn't see the need for or like the consistent mentioning of Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut, jr. It felt forced, almost like the author was name dropping. Until they were writing about the crimes themselves, they were quite useless to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

I was very intrigued by the description of this book which is why I didn't hesitate to request a copy to read. I am a huge fan of true crime and thriller/mysteries and I also visit Cape Cod every year so I felt the story would offer some kind of familiarity.

Although this was a true crime story, there were moments that were fictionalized. I was confused when starting the book when it was focused heavily on these two dueling authors. I also wasn't a fan of the overly graphic details of the murders.