Rating: Summary: Very convincing Review: This book may fall short of absolutely proving to the public that the Kennedys were responsible for Monroe's death- but that is because in the post-O.J. period, we are accustomed to bizarre conspiracy theories being propagated and accepted on behalf of the accused. Logic and common sense are not enough for us; nothing but watertight DNA evidence suffices to convince us of anyone's guilt (and sometimes even that doesn't suffice.) That is what will blind many readers to the fact that, by 1962 standards, the case this book presents against Robert Kennedy is absolutely overwhelming. After this book, Kennedy apologists will have to assume a conspiracy of monumental proportions was constructed by unrelated persons to defame the late RFK, by many individuals, over a long period, who had no obvious motive to do so. Then again, if there were a videotape of Kennedy personally injecting the needle into Monroe, the most vociferous Kennedy defenders would more than likely shrug their shoulders and say "Well, she had it coming anyway." For the rest of us, Wolfe has finally drawn all the strands of evidence into a consistent whole, and proven to most reasonable people what had once been dismissed as tabloid gossip. Five stars.
Rating: Summary: This book raises more questions than it answers. Review: As much as her fans would like to see the mystery of Marilyn Monroe's death solved once and for all, this book falls far short of that goal. The book is well-written, interesting, and thought provoking, to be sure, and Wolfe is one of the few authors who has written about her death that doesn't hedge his bets. Instead of saying "this is probably what happened," Wolfe's tone is, "I have proven that this is definitely what happened, when it happened, who did it, and why." But, merely having confidence in one's own conclusions, and claiming that they have been proven, doesn't make it so. Wolfe's main problem is that he relies too heavily on the account of Norman Jeffries, a man who spent 32 years known mainly as a minor character who saw Marilyn briefly on the morning of August 4. Somehow, Jeffries has become an important eyewitness who spent almost the entire day, evening, night, and next morning at Marilyn's house. Wolfe has no explanation for why we should believe Jeffries. How do we know Jeffries told Wolfe the truth? Why did it take him 32 years to come up with his story? These are important questions that Wolfe pretends don't need to be answered. Moreover, Wolfe is guilty of the same problem as other MM death theorists: he accepts the testimony of anyone who claims to have witnessed anything about her death. Everyone who claims Marilyn called them, everyone who claims she told them things she never confided in anyone else, everyone who claims they saw this or that person at her house -- all this heresay is repeated, without being subjected to any scrutiny or evaluation. If you're going to prove something, you have to do better than just take everyone who has anything to say on the subject at their word. Look, I don't believe Marilyn committed suicide, intentional or accidental. I believe she was murdered, and, in fact, I believe it went down pretty much the way Wolfe explains it. I just wish someone could prove it. Wolfe certainly hasn't.
Rating: Summary: Finally, the truth! Review: If you ever suspected foulplay to be involved in the death of Marilyn Monroe there will be no doubt left in your mind after reading this book. The circumstances surrounding her death are shocking, what is equally as astounding is the huge amount of evidence the author has provided to prove that Marilyn was infact, murdered. This book leaves you feeling very sorry for a naive lady who's young life whas tragically cut short by people who were more powerful than she was. A fantastic read.
Rating: Summary: The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe Review: This is the first book by Donald Wolfe that I have read. Excellent! This page turning book kept me wanting more. The detail of interviews that he takes you through is astonishing. I say "Bravo" to Mr.Wolfe on a book very well done! This book gave me information into Marilyn's death that I never knew about and her childhood. What a tragedy! I didn't want this book to end and I am looking forward to reading more of Mr.Wolf's books. Thank you!
Rating: Summary: The best book I have ever read about MM Review: This is a must read for those who liked her and those who didn't. An excellent expose from one who adored her. May she rest in peace.
Rating: Summary: But what was her motivation? Review: Wolfe's book reveals that Marilyn's day-to-day, existence was controlled by gang of card-carrying communists. Her psychiatrist, doctor, housekeeper, handyman, even her final public escort, sometime screenwriter Jose Bolanos, all were dedicated Marxists. Why? And this during the peak years of the cold war. Wolfe offers no explanation. Shouldn't this startling circumstance have aroused suspicion in the FBI, the CIA and among the Kennedys? For me the real question is was she a naive victim or willing accomplice? By this I mean did she deliberately embroil herself in affairs with both Kennedy brothers at the behest of her controllers in order to blackmail them into doing the Kremlin's bidding? Was her death an execution? And if so which faction, the Marxists or the Kennedys carried out the sentence? She was potentially a dangerous witness to both. But when she threatened to reveal all at a press conference whom would she have exposed? This is not just another simple indictment of the Kennedys. The people around her were far more dangerous to her--and to national security--than any possible affairs with either Jack and/or Bobby. At the end she led a strange Manchurian candidate-like existence, watched at all times by Eunice Murray who reported the slightest hint of a mood change to one of the doctors who would quickly sedate her. Inexplicably, she had even stopped driving and relied on Mrs. Murray to chauffer her. So, she was their virtual prisoner, allowed out only when it suited her captors. She went to work (the producer and screenwriter of that last, unfinished film were also party members)when she was well enough. How else could she have paid the salaries of these sinister hangers-on otherwise? Unfortunately, no one questioned any of this. If the Kennedys were guilty of anything it was lethal criminal negligence--which endangered the United States and the entire free world--for associating with someone who was so obviously a Kremlin pawn. The Marilyn-Jack-Bobby triptych screams setup.
Rating: Summary: Just Wonderful Review: I know that this is cliche but I could not put this book down. The author paints a wonderfully sensitive and sympathetic picture of Miss Monroe that is hard to erase from my mind. The end of this book will leave you outraged that more was not done to bring her killers to justice. A gripping story that reads easily and leaves you hungry for more.
Rating: Summary: A wonderful book! Couldn't put it down! Review: This was my first book on Marilyn Monroe, and I must say that it was a superb read! A real page-turner, and it was very difficult to put it down. Like most people who had never read anything in depth on Marilyn Monroe, I was unaware of circumstances surrounding her death. For instance: Robert F. Kennedy was at her home on two seperate occasions the day before she died. There was a heated argument between them. Her guest cottage (where she kept her diary in a file cabinet) was broken into that day, and her file cabinet was pryed open, and the diary and other papers was taken, never to be seen again. Another thing that you never hear about was the 700+ page autopsy report which was edited down to 54 pages. Alot of other things were missing, and no one can account for these very important papers. This may all sound very confusing to a person who has never read anything on Marilyn, but trust me, it's a truly riveting book. There's so much information on so many different people, and HOW they played a role in what ultimately cost Marilyn her life. The week before Marilyn died, she attended Cal-Neva (owned by Frank Sinatra and Sam Giancanna), which is a ranch-type resort on Lake Tahoe. Sam Giancanna was there, along with Peter Lawford, Frank, and others. Marilyn was kept in her room most of the time, and when Joe DiMaggio arrived (Marilyn had called and said she was afraid), they wouldn't let him stay there, and wouldn't put any of his calls through to Marilyn. That weekend, they drugged Marilyn to the point that she was unconcious, then took photos of different men having sex with Marilyn (sort of like an orgy). Frank Sinatra is in these photos, and it's obvious that Marilyn is passed out. (Sinatra's own photographer developed this film, and suggested that Frank burn the photos. Frank didn't want to do that because it was to be used as leverage over Marilyn to make her keep quiet about the Kennedy clan. Remember, Sinatra was a big Kennedy supporter, and this was all for JFK and RFK.) FBI surveillance of Sam Giancanna corroborates this story. The whole purpose of the Cal-Neva weekend was to get someting on Marilyn so that they could threaten her and make her keep her mouth shut about the dangerous secrets she knew about those wonderful Kennedys. I could go on and on, but all I can say is BUY THIS BOOK! You will be fascinated by it, Marilyn Monroe, and especially Norma Jeane. Kudos to Donald H. Wolfe, who spent 7 years researching and writing this book. It's a masterpiece!
Rating: Summary: Good research makes for good reading... Review: I plowed through this book a few months ago and I am still talking about it with my friends. The text almost reads like a novel, since it is so well researched that the theories provided by the author make for excellent reading. It is difficult to outline the content of the book without giving too much information away, but suffice it to say that the balance between the sad emotional tale of Marilyn's life and the specific details of her mysterious death are very well explained simultaneously. If you have ever had any curiosity around the life of this American icon, this book is a page turner!
Rating: Summary: Fascinating and compelling book! Review: I could not put this book down. I carried it everywhere with me for a couple of days until I finished it. This book is well researched and gives the reader a real sense of what Marilyn Monroe was really like. Buy this book if you want to know more about Marilyn.
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