Review: `Assassination is the extreme form of censorship.'
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2014
Frank Mankiewicz, former press secretary to RFK stated `I came to the conclusion that there was some sort of conspiracy, probably involving the mob, anti-Castro Cuban exiles, and maybe rogue CIA agents.' That is the level of the endless quandary about the derring-do of the government and the CIA in the still unresolved murder/assassination of JFK. Pacific Northwest author Jack Patterson writes with the verve that accompanies good journalism: he has written articles for some of our major newspapers such as The New York Times and is the recipient of many journalistic awards. That acumen is evident in this his fourth book (the first three dealt with sports, Patterson's obsession since childhood), a mystery thriller with the JFK assassination and controversy at its core. Though this topic continues to be a popular won among writers and playwrights and film writers, Patterson takes the intrigue a step further. He has said, 'Mixing fact and fiction can be an exciting venture--and a risky one, too. When I set out to tell this story, I didn't do so with the idea of creating a new theory on who was behind JFK's assassination. My extensive research on the subject leads me to believe--just like the findings from the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978--that there was a conspiracy. After looking through the evidence, it's easy to understand why there are plenty of theories. However, instead of creating something new, I wanted to synthesize several theories in order to create a thrilling plot that could be considered plausible. I wouldn't dare pretend that the theory proffered in the pages ahead should be added to the lengthy list already out there, though that's entirely for you to decide as the reader.'  Not only is it wise for Patterson to write this `disclaimer' about his book, but it also provides him literary license to use his thoughts as a story rather than as an archive.Of interest Patterson opens his book with a prologue set in Angola in 1954, a bit of information that he gestates through the story until the pieces fall into place. His main character is ex-CIA operative James Flynn writing as an investigative reporter for The International who early on in the story uncovers a document that has been under cover by the Warren Commission. The conspiracy theories blossom, hard evidence hidden from the public is uncovered such as a governmental agent `s deathbed confession, and as the pieces of this puzzle slowly fit together Flynn discovers a plot to assassinate the current President and a step toward the possible inception of a global nuclear war.Adding to the intense excitement of this topic, author Patterson has said,' The thing about reading documents in the archives is that you never know what you're going to find -- you just know that eventually you'll come across some good if you stay at it long enough. For me, the beauty of the archives is that EVERYTHING is in there. Such massive quantity of documents leads to some gems like the ones I found while researching for my novel, "The Warren Omissions." These came from letters written by every day citizens -- or every day felons -- to offer up their own theories or insights into who was actually behind JFK's death ... or how he was killed: 1- An inmate or jail guard shot JFK from the Dallas County jail located on Houston Street; 2. "Phoney Christian Charisma and Phoney Adoration" according to one letter, complete with misspelled words and all. This lunatic's manifesto didn't proffer who did kill JFK, but rather why he was killed. The title kind of says it all; 3. Richard Case Nagel, federal prisoner, claimed he knew ahead of time it was going to happen and explain in detail how he knew. Nagel didn't do it of course since he was in prison after firing off a gun in a bank in El Paso, Texas, about two months before JFK was assassinated. He said he did it to avoid being a patsy for killing JFK; 4. What conspiracy theory list wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of aliens. My favorite that I dug up was by some ex-pat living in New Zealand. His 12-page manifesto was articulate and well written until about page four when aliens were introduced; 5.  Lee Harvey Oswald had a look alike, also know as "the second Oswald" theory; 6. A secret assassin named "Saul" did it, as commissioned by George de Mohrenschildt.Obviously Jack Patterson has done his homework, and while the book will never stand as the next Great American Novel, it is a clean and compelling thriller. Grady Harp, February 14