Oct 30, 2017bwinlr rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
I'm 300 pages into this 546-page book, and I'm beginning to wonder if this has been worth the time I've spent so far reading it. So many books have been written about the murder of JFK, that I was curious if this book would offer anything new. Not really, at least at this point.
The different angle that the author takes in this book is that he looks at the event through the eyes of the young staff lawyers who served on the Warren Commission. It doesn't paint a particularly favorable view of the powerful men (J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms, James Angleton, Gerald Ford, Earl Warren, etc.) who were directly involved in the investigation. Some of their efforts were simply petty (Hoover seemed most concerned about any information getting out that reflected badly on the FBI, and him), and others a bit more nefarious.
This is a gossipy sort of book that will appeal to folks who want a closer look at the machinations of politicians trying to protect their reputations, rather than a serious book exploring many of the curious events surrounding the assassination. For that, I would recommend James W. Douglas's excellent 2008 book, "JFK and the Unspeakable." Well-researched with facts that can actually be corroborated, it is a book for intelligent readers who disdain the semi-hysterical works by too many other authors attempting to profit from this very sad moment in history.
Oct 31: A Postscript:
I read another 50+ pages last night, and finally decided I had no interest in completing the book. That's a big deal for me, actually. The earlier comments still apply. Folks who read things like "People" magazine might enjoy this book. Me, not so much.
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A Cruel and Shocking Act