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5 Best Books About the JFK Assassination

The assassination of John F. Kennedy is one of the best known events in American history and with so many files from the assassination finding themselves classified, it’s an event that has always attracted conspiracy theorists. Over the years the subject has been discussed extensively, and many books on the subject have been written. You’d think we may have exhausted the subject but with the release of a cache of classified files last week, the subject is back in the forefront of the minds of many.

So today, we’re looking at some of the best and most informative books about the assassination of JFK, fiction and nonfiction, and all offering their own insight into the tragedy that rocked the USA.

The Report of the Warren Commission: The Assassination of President Kennedy

This was the first volume to deal with the assassination of JFK and every book written afterwards was a response to this book. Published in September of 1964, this investigative nonfiction book concludes that Oswald acted alone, firing two bullets into Kennedy’s head and neck.

The Report of the Warren Commission US
The Report of the Warren Commission UK

On the Trail of the Assassins – Jim Garrison

Jim Garrison was sceptical of the findings of the Warren Commission and this book, which featured key source material for Oliver Stone’s movie JFK, suggests that the president was executed by a vast cabal of businessmen, gangsters, politicians. Cuban dissidents and spooks.

On the Trail of the Assassins US
On the Trail of the Assassins UK

American Tabloid – James Ellroy

American Tabloid is crime fiction, but it starts with Castro’s coup and ends with the Dallas assassination with the back story also leaning on a conspiracy involving Cuban interests, the CIA and the Mafia.

American Tabloid US
American Tabloid UK



11/22/63 – Stephen King

King also spun an entire fiction tale around the assassination of JFK, throwing in some time travel for good measure. In it we see Oswald fraternising with the Russians, the CIA and other criminal forces and the entire story is hung on whether Oswald was a lone wolf.

11/22/63 US
11/22/63 UK

Oswald’s Tale: An American Mystery – Norman Mailer

We’re finishing our list with a book that we think no list on this subject would be complete without. Norman Mailer used KGB material released in post-Soviet Russia to shine light on the formative period that Oswald spent in the USSR as a young man.

Oswald’s Tale US
Oswald’s Tale UK

This list is by no means extensive, the number of books on this subject are endless and we suspect given the current news may grow again, but these books are the ones we think show this crisis in the most interesting and informative light.



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One Comment

  • Sherry Sharpnack says:

    “11/22/63” was simply an excellent novel. I loved the time-traveler knowing what was going to happen and trying to prevent it. Just a riveting page-turner.

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