Restless Souls

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

By: Alisa Statman, Brie Tate

Narrated by: Eliza Foss, Gabra Zackman, Therese Plummer

Length: 14 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The gruesome murders of the beautiful and talented actress Sharon Tate, her unborn child, and four others that same night at the hands of the notorious “Manson family” rocked the nation. As one of the most horrific crimes in modern history, these atrocities, the trial, and the subsequent conviction of Charles Manson and his followers caused a media sensation, spawning movies, documentaries, and best-selling books, including the classic Helter Skelter. A defining moment in an era otherwise associated with radical peace, love, and understanding, this incident is one that still resonates with millions today.

Yet while this crime left an indelible mark on society’s consciousness, it was, first and foremost, a shattering personal tragedy for those closest to Sharon—the loving family left to cope with the emotional devastation of her loss. Now, after nearly 40 years, their story is finally revealed.

Compiled by close family friend Alisa Statman and Sharon’s niece, Brie Tate, Restless Souls draws on a wealth of material, including interviews with the Tates, personal letters, tape recordings, home movies, public interviews, private journals, and official documents to provide a powerful, poignant, and affecting four-decade, three-generation memoir of crime and punishment, anguish and hope, rage and love, that is both a chronicle of death and a celebration of life.

Extending beyond all previous accounts, Restless Souls is the most revealing, riveting, and emotionally raw account not just of these heinous murders, the hunt and capture of the killers, and the behind-the-scenes drama of their trials, but of the torment victims families' endure for years in the wake of such senseless violence.

Tate family members here set the record straight, correcting media misinformation and delving well beyond the official storyline to provide information, much of it available for the first time. Intimate, honest, and heartfelt, Restless Souls reveals remarkable details, including:

• The dramatic role Sharon’s father, P.J., a retired Army intelligence officer, played in finding his daughter’s murderers
• The reaction P.J. had when he came face to face—alone—with Sharon’s convicted killer in a holding room during a parole hearing
• The threats and menace that extended beyond prison walls, haunting the victim’s family for generations later
• The fight Sharon’s mother, Doris, mounted to insure the rights of victims’ loved ones, particularly the right to make an "impact statement" at parole hearings—a legacy that has helped keep dangerous criminals behind bars
• The battles Sharon’s sister, Patti, waged with the entertainment industry as she tirelessly worked to prevent artists from glorifying her sister’s killers in music, art, and films

Told from the Tate’s extraordinary perspective Restless Souls offers a rare glimpse at the post-trauma survival of a family and their journey to find justice and, ultimately, peace—a glimpse that couldn’t be more timely as Charles Manson comes up for parole again in 2012.

©2012 Alisa Statman and Brie Tate (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Sharon Tate Family's Account

I liked the way that the story was primarily about the Tate family victimized by the Charles Mason family. I also enjoyed the story being told in the voices of Patti Tate (Sharon Tate's sister); her mother Doris Tate; and Patti's daughter Brie.

The story helped me to learn about what life was like for them after Sharon Tate’s murder by Charles “Tex” Watson. I was glad to learn that Doris Tate became a strong advocate for the rights of victims. She also crusaded to keep Sharon's killers in prison at all costs.

In addition, I liked what Brie Tate (Patti Tate’s daughter) said in the last chapter:

"Sorrow may seem a pitiful emotion, yet I am blessed by it. For it has left me a legacy of love, determination, and courage handed down by my mother and my grandparents before her. They taught me that we learn our greatest lessons through hardship. And through that hardship, they taught me not about fear and retribution, but about giving."

It is an interesting, moving and heartbreaking story. I would highly recommend it.

Couldn’t put it down and I’m not one to write full reviews!

I rarely take the time to write out full reviews. I just put my stars and move on. Although I should more often as I, myself find them to be helpful when looking for a good book to read. That being said, I just couldn’t not write something on this book. That’s the impact it had on me.

It was not at all as I’d expected it to be! There were even times I’d find my husband come in and start listening with me, holding onto each word to see what happened next. That’s saying a lot, as he’s not into stories, books, or even movies very much. He’s more of a tech guy and it’s rare for him to be interested in something like this, let alone a book.

There are so many thoughts as I try to summarize everything it’s hard to get them all down. So I’ll just start with how amazingly informative and insightful it was. It teaches and shows so much goodness despite being revolved around unspeakable evil. Evil and crimes that are supposed to be in fiction novels, movies, or only exist in nightmares that wake you from the night.

The narration was the best I’ve heard in any book I’ve listened to. How it not only told and was performed by several different perspectives only made it hit home and reel you in so much more!

I would recommend this book to everyone! It was not sappy or drawn out. It was not told from a narrator that keeps a monotone voice despite what it’s describing through the story like so many other true crime stories. And if nothing else, there are so many lessons and inspiration of courage, fear, pain, loss, and goodness that are something we could all use a little more of in life!

Narrators enjoy the telling of murders

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

A stand-up comedian poking fun at a great American tragedy.

Would you ever listen to anything by Alisa Statman and Brie Tate again?

Perhaps a comic book or the announcement of their firings.

How could the performance have been better?

With respectful, serious readers who gave a damn about this great American tragedy - or who could at least fake the respect to which these victims and families are entitled. How dare they have gleeful tones.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Restless Souls?

All scenes read by these "happy" narrators. I don't expect doom and gloom but let's tone down the implied giggles.

Any additional comments?

Wish I could have continued this factual book as I felt the content was very interesting and credible.
Tried to ignore the narrators as the book went along, but the glee made me complacent in "enjoying" the destruction of innocent lives and the heartbreak of their families and many friends.
Seems to me the family must have been led astray as to the choosing of the narrators. How dare the narrators "enjoy" this reading. One of this century's most horrific and sad crimes SHOULD NOT be read as though one was skipping down the yellow brick road with Dorothy.

Strong mixed feelings

Truth be told, this book was a struggle to read. I had to stop within the last 5 hours because I was totally taken aback by Doris Tate. I sympathize tremendously for her because she lost her precious child in devastating and unspeakable way. In addition, I think she had some palpable internal strength that a wide audience could applaud her for. But at the same time, she was so bitter and cold from her perspective, but mostly her husband’s perspective too. I think it was selfish of her to push PJ away when he needed her most. I think she also belittled him and mistreated him to where it rather offended me. I also really wish she didn’t discuss the macabre and revolting murder of that innocent two year old girl in Ventura County. Hearing the details nearly made me vomit. I pray and hope Sharon, Patty, and Doris Tate are reunited in harmony in a very happy and blissful place. But, she was something else, Doris Tate was…

Starts off strong ...

Would you try another book from Alisa Statman and Brie Tate and/or the narrators?

perhaps

Has Restless Souls turned you off from other books in this genre?

nope

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I think the narrator did a good job.

What character would you cut from Restless Souls?

Well, if I could cut Manson out Sharon Tate would still be alive.

Any additional comments?

This book captured my interest in the beginning, but then became about a moral battle against pornography and lost my interest.