Zodiactually: The Real Story of a Fake Serial Killer

Who was the Zodiac Killer?
A sadistic murderer who claimed thirty—seven victims? A master manipulator who taunted the police with cryptic letters and mind—bending ciphers. Or a shadowy figure who terrorized California—and the nation—with an almost supernatural ability to evade capture?

In an era when nearly 80% of homicides were solved, how could this killer escape justice? And more than half a century later, why does his identity remain one of history’s greatest mysteries? What if the shocking truth is this: the Zodiac Killer… never existed?

In Zodiactually, former police officer Eddie McNamara peels back decades of myth and sensationalism to expose the chilling truths behind one of the world’s most infamous cases. Through painstaking research of original police files, deep dives into newspaper archives, and analysis of thousands of pages of court records, McNamara delivers a groundbreaking revelation: the Zodiac Killer wasn’t a single, unstoppable predator but an urban legend amplified by the media and public imagination.

Zodiactually unveils the hidden truths and forgotten stories surrounding the murders that captivated the world—and the fear that turned them into legend. This groundbreaking book will challenge everything you think you know about the Zodiac and force you to confront how myth, media, and hysteria shape history.

Eddie McNamara is the author of the crime novel Brooklyn Hardcore, the vegetarian cookbook Toss Your Own Salad, and the short story collection Two Fare Zone. In a former life, he was a 9/11 first responder, police officer, and a columnist for Penthouse magazine.

“What if the reason his identity remains a mystery until today is that the Zodiac was a hippie—era media boogeyman and not a real person?” The answer lies in a later question and answer: “But who benefits from a serial killer who can’t be caught? So, so many people.” This is about the assholes who profited. A welcome salve to the true—crime scars wrought by Helter Skelter.
From the first chapter — “Everything You Know About the Sixties is Bullshit,” McNamara signals we are in for an honest trip through the past. Today,. we are fed bullshit from every side; ‘news,’ ‘authorities,’ ‘social media,’ on and on, every one of them with their own ulterior motives, usually following his assessment, “It’s not conspiracy, it’s commerce.” Eddie McNamara tells the story of the ‘Zodiac Killer,’ clears up a whole lot of bullshit, and tells us how we got to this synthetic, mercenary society we find ourselves mired in today."   — Theodore Van Alst, Jr., author of The El and Never Whistle At Night.

"Eddie McNamara takes us on a journey back to the 1960's. He challenges a lot of commonly held beliefs about the Zodiac Killer mystery. Eddie is always skeptical, but it provides some well needed skepticism in one of America's most famous unsolved mysteries."  — Ned DeHan, Black Box Online Radio.