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And the Sea Will Tell

By: Vincent Bugliosi, Bruce Henderson - contributor
Narrated by: David Colacci
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Publisher's summary

Alone with her new husband on a tiny Pacific atoll, a young woman, combing the beach, finds an odd aluminum container washed up out of the lagoon, and beside it on the sand something glitters: a gold tooth in a scorched human skull. The investigation that follows uncovers an extraordinarily complex and puzzling true-crime story. Only Vincent Bugliosi, who recounted his successful prosecution of mass murderer Charles Manson in the best seller Helter Skelter, was able to draw together the hundreds of conflicting details of the mystery and reconstruct what really happened when four people found hell in a tropical paradise. And the Sea Will Tell reconstructs the events and subsequent trial of a riveting true murder mystery, and probes into the dark heart of a serpentine scenario of death.

©1991 Vincent Bugliosi and Bruce B. Henderson (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Grips you by the throat from beginning to end." (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

What listeners say about And the Sea Will Tell

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intriguing and unique

A mystery that will truly never be solved. Good insight to the preparation of trial.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Killer true crime, masterclass in defense law

The first half is an edge-of-your-seat true crime tale threaded with beautiful nuance. Even if you know the story, VB develops the players’ characters with enviable skill. Appropriately, as much attention is given the victims as the (admittedly more intriguing and scary) villain and his judgement-deficient girlfriend. I was 100 percent invested by the second half, which provides a painstaking account of the trial. Not every reader will be into this level of detail but I loved it. I feel like I went to a semester of law school a la Elle Woods and had the experience of defending a most interesting case. And the conclusion was delivered with such masterful storytelling that I became emotional. Phenomenal. The author/lawyer might be proud or even arrogant but he has every reason to be.

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A brilliant tale

My two favorite genres being true-crime and anything nautical, this book did not disappoint. The author(s) and narrator were so logical, thoughtful and eloquent, I couldn't stop listening. I thoroughly enjoyed everything except the epilogue, which was written more for the law-student than high-seas sailor, but definitely a 5-star in entirety. Well-done.

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31 people found this helpful

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Fantastic!

Every attorney should read this, though those not in the legal field will likely find it just as enjoyable and informative as a breakdown of what isn't STILL working in the criminal justice system.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too much locus on the lawyer

What started out as a relatively interesting story about a murder on a faraway island, got horrifically bogged down in a blow by blow detailed account of the lawyer’s efforts in the case. He came off as quite grandiose and very pleased with himself, seeming to know more than every other lawyer before him. The book could’ve been cut in half had we not had to hear every moment of his “amazing” courtroom trial. I did like his other story, Helter Skelter, but this one was just too much about the author.

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Good to have V.B. on your side.

Very detailed account of background and murder trial of Stephanie Stearns, called Jennifer Jenkins in the book. Bugliosi explains every piece of evidence, strategy, tactics, preparation, etc. Virtually a case study in criminal trial best practices. Stearns was found not guilty and Bugliosi says he believed in her innocence. However, I suspect if he had been the prosecutor, she would have been found guilty.

Bugliosi and his writings are the exemplar of detail oriented.

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great book

Another great book by Vince Bugliosi!
I believe Vince has an ability to write about complex legal trials in a manner most people can understand. He also displays great personal integrity.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating g story, well told, but...

This is a well written and well narrated book about a decades-old double murder on a remote tropical island that I was not familiar with. A fascinating and haunting story, narrative at times a little self serving as the author almost gleefully recounts each courtroom point (some quite minor) and skillful manipulation scored as if this were a tennis match rather than a search for justice. The author repeatedly emphasizes how much he believes in his client's innocence, and claims that fighting for her acquittal WAS seeking justice, and he must have written the book in a way he hoped would influence the reader to his point of view (as he put the defense case together to do this with the jury). But for this reader, at least, the opposite happened, and I was left thinking he is lucky I was not on that jury! For all his confidence that he could with certainty show his defendant had no knowledge of the crime, was a "good" person (REALLY?), and did nothing more egregious than tell some lies (but for "understandable" reasons, as if that excuses them even if you buy the reason), she came across as manipulative, self-serving, and callous. And, for every neat scenario he put forth that showed her as an innocent, somewhat naive but good-hearted girl caught up in a terrible situation, each of which which he claimed was the only reasonable conclusion, I could think of others, in some cases to me much more plausible, but also much darker and clearly indicating her involvement in the crime at some level. Bottom line the book was interesting, engaging and made me curious for more information because of the disconnect for me between the author's opinion and mine.

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Great story (first half)

Very interesting first half. The second half is written with such incredible arrogance by the author about his great skills, that it was an incredible turn off. I also was not convinced about his defendant’s innocence and he was really trying to convince us!

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

very long.

good story and Vincent seems like a great Lawyer. but got repetitive at the end during the trial which i felt unnecessary.

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