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Conspiracy: Legends: Murders, Lies and Cover-Ups

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In Legends , David Gardner delves into the world of celebrity to investigate legendary stories that continue to fascinate and intrigue to this day.

If people famously remember where they were when JFK was assassinated, many also recall where they were and what they were doing when Elvis, Princess Diana and Michael Jackson died. As for Marilyn Monroe, the candle flickered out long ago, but only now can the truth be told about how and why she died.

After combing through thousands of recently declassified FBI files, interviewing key witnesses, crime analysts and forensic experts during years of research, investigative writer David Gardner has unearthed new information that will transform the way we look at these iconic tragedies as well as include new insights on the conspiracy theories that surround the deaths of Bob Marley John Lennon, and even the Queen.

For the first time, Legends provides many of the answers that have been so elusive for so long, while explaining what it was about these enduring legends that made them so memorable.

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

40 people are currently reading
126 people want to read

About the author

David Gardner

101 books55 followers
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5 stars
27 (14%)
4 stars
65 (35%)
3 stars
70 (37%)
2 stars
17 (9%)
1 star
6 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Don.
100 reviews25 followers
April 3, 2024
Very interesting read, the Elvis and Princess Diana chapters were particularly eye-opening.
Profile Image for Jessica Thien.
179 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2025
Conspiracy: Legends: Murders, Lies, and Cover-Ups (2016) is a provocative compilation that delves into the mysterious deaths and enduring conspiracy theories surrounding some of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. The book examines the untimely demises of individuals such as Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, and JFK, exploring the various narratives and speculations that have emerged over the years. 


🔍 Overview & Themes

The book presents a series of case studies, each focusing on a different celebrity or public figure whose death has been the subject of controversy. It delves into the official accounts, juxtaposing them with alternative theories that suggest foul play, cover-ups, or other clandestine activities. For instance, it questions the circumstances of Princess Diana’s fatal car crash, the assassination of JFK, and the overdose of Marilyn Monroe, among others.

The narrative aims to shed light on the inconsistencies and unanswered questions that fuel these conspiracy theories, encouraging readers to consider the possibility that the official stories may not tell the whole truth.


🧠 Tone & Approach

The book adopts a speculative tone, presenting various theories without asserting definitive conclusions. It invites readers to explore the evidence and form their own opinions about the plausibility of each conspiracy. While it doesn’t provide new revelations, it compiles existing theories and information into a single volume, making it accessible for readers interested in these topics.


📚 Audience & Reception

This compilation is geared towards readers who have an interest in conspiracy theories, unsolved mysteries, and the darker side of fame. It serves as an introductory overview rather than an in-depth investigative work. As such, it may appeal to casual readers or those new to these subjects, but might not satisfy readers seeking comprehensive analyses or new insights.


✅ Final Verdict

Conspiracy: Legends: Murders, Lies, and Cover-Ups offers a curated look at some of the most enduring conspiracy theories surrounding celebrity deaths. While it doesn’t break new ground, it provides a consolidated resource for those curious about these mysteries. 

Rating: 4/5 – An engaging compilation for newcomers to conspiracy theories, though lacking in-depth investigation for seasoned readers.
Profile Image for Amy.
75 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2025
Even though it was conspiracies it was good to find out more details I didn't know about the celebrities that are actuallly factual.
6 reviews
December 28, 2024
It was good, I loved the bob marley section so so much, same as the Kurt cobain and princess Diana bit but I thought the Queen section was unnecessary and the Elvis section was v boring- that’s just personal to what I like though and nothing to do with the book itself. Very well written, often entertaining and has taught me a lot!
Profile Image for Mangelethe Sneha Menon.
75 reviews8 followers
January 26, 2024
Conspiracy: Legends: Murders, Lies, and Cover-Ups guides us through the journeys of 8 individuals; exploring their lives, challenges, successes, setbacks, heartaches, and obsessions that ultimately led to their demise.

This audiobook proved to be eye-opening, offering insights not only into the conspiracies surrounding figures like Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, JFK, Queen Elizabeth, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Princess Diana but also revealing the rebellious nature of their lives. The book delves into intriguing details like Elvis assisting the FBI in apprehending the mob, the dynamics between RFK and Marilyn, the potential connection between Diana's activism against mines and her demise, and the cause of Elizabeth's death.

Conspiracy refers to a clandestine scheme or cooperation among a group of people aiming to carry out an illegal or detrimental action, often characterized by deception or intrigue. Over the past few years, conspiracy theories have become pervasive, touching upon various aspects of life and affecting numerous individuals. Often, it seems to be a manifestation of the human psyche attempting to inject mystery into the mundane. However, certain stories and incidents give the impression of authentic conspiracies.

The storytelling was captivating, and numerous questions were sensibly answered without any unnecessary embellishments.
Profile Image for Diana Jaques.
Author 2 books24 followers
May 30, 2024
I loved the way David Gardner has written this book. He doesn't force his thoughts and opinions on to you when he writes. Everything in the book is to be taken into consideration, but if you don't want to believe it, you don't have to.

Every time Gardener begins to tell you the conspiracy's about each person, he starts with a brief history and an overall touch up on who that person was.

From the likes of Kurt Cobain to Princess Diana, this book has quite a few celebrities with their own chapters filled with conspiracy. There are lots of little details throughout the book such as, suicide letters, death records and even unseen FBI files.

Who is in this book?:
Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, The Queen, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and Princess Diana.
Profile Image for Olly Mason.
4 reviews
April 16, 2024
Good book with solid arguments and facts. I did find it quite repetitive at some points, but the knowledge and articulation of the author kept it interesting. Thank you :)
30 reviews
January 8, 2025
Nothing you haven't heard before, just goes into a bit more detail. Elvis 1 was an eye opener and the jfk conspiracy will always raise eyebrows due to the evidence. Give it a go
1 review
January 13, 2025
Dnf- I so nearly finished this book however I thought the segments of the book so a bit too long so I found it a little boring after a while :(
Profile Image for Amanda.
344 reviews13 followers
August 3, 2025
found the book boring. It's not for me
66 reviews
September 18, 2025
Found it so interesting and learnt a lot about cases/ people/ plots I didn’t know much about (Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Bob Marley and Kurt Cobain
16 reviews
October 2, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, i learnt a lot of new theories about famous deaths and i would reread if i wanted to recall information again about these deaths.
Profile Image for Amy Jones.
99 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2026
Discussed some of the biggest Celebrity deaths and possible conspiracy theories. This was a good read as it detailed a lot of their life and debunked a lot of the theories.
Profile Image for Rae Gerard.
40 reviews4 followers
June 14, 2025
The book definitely put interesting takes to some very notable deaths in history. Whether one chooses to believe any of the theories is entirely their preference, but it was cool to read nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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