The Most Dangerous Animal of All

Searching for My Father…and Finding the Zodiac Killer

De: Gary L. Stewart, Susan Mustafa

Narrado por: Gary L. Stewart

Soon after his birthmother contacted him for the first time at the age of thirty-nine, adoptee Gary L. Stewart decided to search for his biological father. His quest would lead him to a horrifying truth and force him to reconsider everything he thought he knew about himself and his world.

Written with award-winning author and journalist Susan Mustafa, The Most Dangerous Animal of All tells the story of Stewart’s decade-long hunt. While combing through government records and news reports and tracking down relatives and friends, Stewart turns up a host of clues—including forensic evidence—that conclusively identify his father as the Zodiac Killer, one of the most notorious and elusive serial murderers in history.

For decades, the Zodiac Killer has captivated America’s imagination. His ability to evade capture while taunting authorities made him infamous. The vicious specificity of his crimes terrified Californians before the Manson murders and after, and shocked a culture enamored with the ideals of the dawning Age of Aquarius. To this day, his ciphers have baffled detectives and amateur sleuths, and his identity remains one of the twentieth century’s great unsolved mysteries.

The Most Dangerous Animal of All reveals the name of the Zodiac for the very first time. Mustafa and Stewart construct a chilling psychological profile of Stewart’s father: as a boy with disturbing fixations, a frustrated intellectual with pretensions to high culture, and an inappropriate suitor and then jilted lover unable to process his rage. At last, all the questions that have surrounded the case for almost fifty years are answered in this riveting narrative. The result is a singular work of true crime at its finest—a compelling, unbelievable true story told with the pacing of a page-turning novel—as well as a sensational and powerful memoir.

©2014 Gary L. Stewart and Susan Mustafa (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Very Compelling Story and Evidence

Would you listen to The Most Dangerous Animal of All again? Why?

I am re-listening to the book already after just finishing it.

What did you like best about this story?

The compelling story and evidence.

Any additional comments?

I just finished the audio version of Gary’s and Susan’s book. They did a fantastic job of telling Gary’s life and research. The evidence is extremely compelling. Please seriously consider buying this book for your library as it will undoubtedly not only become a game changer of this long-standing mystery but a template of how to honestly research and present such important revelations. Kudos to the authors and for Gary to publicly reveal these difficult, personal truths.

Compelling Personal Story, Not Entirely Convincing

This is really more of a story of self-discovery than it is an investigation. The story begins when a very ordinary everyman in his early middle age is contacted by his birth mother for the first time in his life. This starts the narrator down the road of tracing his roots and learning where he came from. A majority of the book is spent retelling the story of his father's life, as the narrator had pieced it together. His father, Earl Van Best Jr. (there's your first clue, so many serial killers go by their middle name), has a story that is itself very eccentric and weird. In a bizarre way, it kinda reminded me of Forrest Gump because you see an unknowing character weave through the modern history we in the present are all familiar with (and there are a surprising number of big, recognizable people whose lives intercepted Earl Van Best Jr.). There were also a bunch of odd diversions from the story. The author spends time discussing other crime events in 70's California (Charles Manson family, the zebra murders, the "Black Doodler") and the backstory of some inconsequential characters. The suspect does have the odd tertiary connection or two to some of those crimes and I didn't quite mind reading about them, but they seemed like odd things to include. I am fascinated with the Zodiac case, so I was a little impatient for the author to get to the actual Zodiac case. It seems I'm not alone in this respect; most of the 1 star reviews on here are from people upset with how long it took to get to the crimes and/or skipped ahead. However, this story soon had me hooked. Regardless of any final verdict, Earl Van Best was a disturbed and morbidly fascinating individual.

Now, as for the evidence...
Stewart peppers in a handful of interesting details as he recounts his father's life that will jump out to people familiar with the Zodiac case. At some point the story morphs into speculation though, where he just portrays the Zodiac Killer as his father. Granted, he has done such a good job at painting a portrait of his father as a sociopath, that it doesn't feel like a huge leap in logic at the time. It isn't until the book's final third where it follows the author connecting the dots. Almost all of the evidence is circumstantial, but it is compelling. Then it isn't until the very, very end when the author starts to come up with some real evidence (handwriting analysis, fingerprints, possible cipher solutions). The author basically says his inquiries were stonewalled by the San Francisco Police Department, so it ends on a bit of a question mark.

If you follow the book, he makes a case that can be very convincing. But, it should be noted, that he isn't the first person to come forward with a good argument on who Zodiac is (he's not even the first to make the case that they were the son of the Zodiac, not even the second or third actually...). The cipher solutions are interesting, for sure, but the degree in certainty he has in his answer seems a bit much. There are enough symbols and potential permutations in the cipher to see whatever you want.

Overall, the book is very compelling and worth reading, but be aware that it is mostly a personal narrative. If you just want to read a thorough investigation into Zodiac in obsessive detail, read Robert Graysmith's book "Zodiac" if you haven't yet. It became the basis for the excellent 2007 David Fincher movie of the same name. Either way, this book would make a great pairing to read after Graysmith's.

Got me hooked

When I read the description of this book. I thought sure his father is the Zodiac killer. I am a believer after reading/listening to this book.

Great story

Well told and it was really riveting - Gary told the story with such emotion I really enjoyed this! Amazing story

Finding My Zodiac Killer Father

An interesting book by the alledged son of the Zodiac Killer telling readers how he sought his father, who abandoned him in early childhood before becoming a serial killer. The author is sincere and insightful, a sympathetic character, unlike his father.

Bravo!!!

Amazing story of courage, dedication and persistence. Not to mention great love all around. Closure and inspiration are very good things.

Very slow.

The story was bland and the narrator is very monotone. I struggled to stay awake. Wouldn't recommend this book unless you're needing something to fall asleep to.

Wow

I have been a fan of true crime since forever and this is one of the best books I've read on the subject. A must for anyone interested in the Zodiac. Great story, great narrator.

The Final Part Will Leave You Speechless

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Most Dangerous Animal of All?

Hearing Author Gary L. Stewart's voice breaking as he fought back tears in a few sections of his memoir.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Read a little smoother.

Did The Most Dangerous Animal of All inspire you to do anything?

Buy my dad a decent Father's Day gift

Any additional comments?

I think the Zodiac killings are fascinating and was exciting to download the newest in the serial killers' saga. I found myself disenchanted with this book until the final part. If you are a fan of true crime and/or the Zodiac killer, stick it out until the final pages of the book and you won't be disappointed.

Interesting, but not what I expected

I enjoyed this book at first, but is seemed to drag on forever before it ended. I am sure it is because they wanted to get all of the facts about the killer in the story. I gave it 4 stars.