The Bookmaker

by Chris Fraser

You were right to be suspicious…
It wasn’t Oswald in the book depository. It wasn’t Sirhan Sirhan in the Ambassador kitchen. It wasn’t a massive conspiracy or government cover-up. It was one man with one agenda.
For small-time Huntington Beach bookmaker and wanna-be writer Trent Oster, it all started with a chance to collect a debt. Instead he’s offered an opportunity of a lifetime. Days later he finds himself on a sprawling southern estate in Oxford Mississippi, balancing the roles of houseguest and biographer for town legend Preston Walker—the man responsible for the most controversial murders in American history; and he’s finally ready to talk.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Thriller, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2011

About the author

The Bookmaker is Chris Fraser’s debut novel. Chris currently lives in Arizona with his wife and young son. His latest novel Flanagan's by the Sea will be out Summer 2014

Reviews

[Amy Budge · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Honestly, without all the f-bombs(they were unnecessary and irritatingly distracting) this might have been an ok book. The writer is definitely talented, I just couldn't find the characters believe able, a "good southern gentlemen" isn't going to go around saying the f-word. I've only met a few people in my life who actually talk like that, so having two old men speaking that way was ridiculous. Also, I just couldn't see Preston's character-a wealthy old man with lots of old money- saying things like "we good?" There probably was a good story underneath everything irritating, and I found myself enjoying the Kennedy stories, but I am much more inclined to enjoy a book with believable characters and intelligent writing,

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was one of those that I had to force myself to put down in order to not get caught up reading all hours of the night. It is funny because when I first realized the Kennedy angle the book was going to take I thought it would be over the top conspiricy theory. But it wasn't. I felt the author did a great job of portraying very real flawed characters. And he did a superb job creating an environment where you felt conflicted knowing that because of his actions you should dislike the main character, while at the same time not being able to. All in all I really enjoyed this one.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Bookmaker has a few things going for it, primarily the idea. Kennedy clan are the closest America has ever had to royalty and their tragic fates were major events of the last century. Fraser came up with an alternative explanation for what happened. And so, his lowlife yet college educated bookie protagonist gets a chance of a lifetime when he's invited to a southern plantation to hear a wild yarn (would be tale up north, but must be yarn in the south) spun by a profoundly repulsive character who wished to unburden his consciousness before dying. Therein is one of the major problems with the book, Preston Walker is a thoroughly reprehensible character, the worst stereotype of a southern gentleman, racist, violent, narrow minded, uber conservative, bigoted hypocrite. Not to mention selfish and possibly insane. Yet he is wealthy and so he gets away with a lot and indulges massively, having his story made into a book is just another indulgence. Should his story be known...that is another question. Is it interesting...yes, it's an creative concept matched up neatly to actual historical events. But it doesn't necessarily make for a good book, if the writing is never elevated above average and the characters are uninteresting, clichéd or morally reprehensible (and not in a charming way either). There is entirely too much football talk in here which to me is about as appealing as the south itself. No one has real i.e. legal jobs, which doesn't stop anyone from luxuriating in the humid luxury of the Walker Manor. Outside of the original premise, this book doesn't offer much to like or care about. It is just ok.

[Pamela Beckford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't like a conspiracy theory, especially about a family like the Kennedy's? It is quite a risk for an author to take on events still recent enough to be remembered.

Preston Walker was portrayed as a larger than life wealthy, but dying, old man. Some of the characters felt a bit too contrived to me and the book could have used another run through by a proofreader. However, the book was thoroughly engaging and kept me wondering what was next.

I would recommend this book, as long as you can read without picking apart things that probably couldn't really happen. It was purely entertaining and a great weekend read

[Jennifer Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this one up without reading the blurb. I thought it was about a librarian or someone that made books. I was so wrong. It's about a booky. I don't know anything about football or gambling so I didn't understand most of the book. The rest of it focuses on the life of this guy obsessed with the Kennedy's. Since I am not American, this story line didn't mean as much to me as was probably intended. In short, I was absolutely not the target audience, but I'm no quitter and I finished the book anyway.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick (read in one day/evening) and enjoyable diversion, with a speculative storyline -- connected to the Kennedy clan -- that wasn't too unbelievable to me. I loved the setting in Oxford, MS and recognized some well-known landmarks, but understand from some other readers that there are a few inaccuracies. There are also a few typos, but for a free Kindle book, I found this well worth reading.

[Brian Borgford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting speculative history. Well researched and pulled together. A bit slow moving at times, but still suspenseful. This book offers a fictional alternative to the Kennedy tragedies. Nothing that will make you change your mind about events, but I don’t think it is meant to do anything other than entertain, which it does very well.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well what can I say. Slow to start but an interesting read. Definitely a twisted fictional explanation of the "Kennedy Curse". Detested the excessive use of foul language and drug references.

[Barb Blasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually 4 1/2 stars. I wonder ---is this really fiction.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story required a willingness to suspend belief, unless you are a die hard conspiracy theorist regarding the Kennedy curse, but the author sucked me in with, for me, what turned out to be an very entertaining read.
Basically, a low level bookie receives a proposition from an indebted client: Write the life story of his grandfather in exchange for payment on his debt and a bonus on completion. Looking at it as basically a free vacation, the bookmaker, Trent, agrees. The family of Preston Walker have all heard the stories and take them with a grain of salt. The dying Walker wants his accomplishments, and he views them as such, to be known after his death. Trent’s view of history gets turned upside down as he listens to Walker’s account, and while he works to fulfill his assignment, he tries to decide whether his client is delusional, scary enough, or factual, even scarier.
The support system of friends and family around Preston Walker add to the story. The setting is interesting to me. The first person narration helped keep the balance of historical information and conspiracy. Fun, easy read and pleasant surprise!

[Marli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out interestingly enough but quickly developed into a drunken, pot-smoking spiral of football games intersperced with stories of one man's confession and personal vendetta against the Kennedy family.
The book is well researched as far as the Kennedy family goes and that part of the book was clever but with no real character depth and repetative mood swings, Preston's character just got on my nerves after awhile.
The insta-love between Trent and Corinne was yawn inspiring. The effort at fleshing things out by including a mostly non verbal child always being cared for by the faithful black retainer came off as offensive. Also the gay relationship seemed to be added as an afterthought.
The end was strange but also not particularly interesting or surprising. The main point is, if you have enough money, you can get away with anything.
If you like endless drinking, pot smoking, misogeny, racism, insanity, football, a touch of homosexuality, and lots of killing, this book is for you.

[Jenny Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I'd found an historical mistake placing the Titans in Memphis when I knew very well their stadium is in Nashville, but turns out - sure enough - they played out of Memphis while their stadium was being built. So the only problem I found was a Muslim not knowing what a scapegoat is. I was pretty sure that Trent was going to end up buried on the grounds though, as we ALL knew happened to his predecessor. It is important for me to like the protagonist in a story and while I wasn't a huge fan, I found myself actually caring what happened to him.

I know different patients suffer ALS at different speeds but I think Preston's probably would have progressed faster than depicted. But as a physician I couldn't really complain too much about the medical aspect.

I look forward to our book discussion on this one.

[Lisa Denn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Chris Fraser's book The Bookmaker recounts the relationship between two college roomies - Joe Kennedy and Dixon Walker - and their families through the eyes of Walker's youngest son Preston.

Within the pages of the book, Fraser convincingly weaves a mesmorizing tale of what happened and why during the final moments in the lives of Joe Kennedy, Sr and his children Joe, Jr., John, Bobby, Katherine and grandchild John, Jr.

Fraser's creative mind is amazing! Weaving a fictional narrative around real life events as he has done in The Bookmaker speaks volumes to Fraser's talent.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was upset when I downloaded this book accidentally (happy fingers clicked too soon), but decided to give it a try anyway. And I'm glad I did. It really kept my interest. And although somewhat farfetched, there was enough truth to the story that it gave me definitely caused me to think! I found myself googling some of the names in the book, to find that they existed and could have been involved as described. I would have rated the book higher, but the typos throughout were distracting to me. Other than that, definitely glad I downloaded the book.

[Ethan Wilson]

When it comes to choosing a reliable bookmaker, it's important to look for a platform that offers a wide range of betting options, competitive odds, and strong customer support. One of the websites I recently came across is site https://paripesa.co.ke/, which provides detailed reviews and insights into various bookmakers. It offers valuable information on licensing, payment methods, and user feedback, ensuring that players can make informed decisions.

[barnabas barnabas]

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[Markopolskiman]

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[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginative and Compelled

Chris Fraser writes an intriguing tale that conspiracy theorists should love. An imaginative and compelling tale with colorful characters and an unbelievable plot. A great read#

[Sarah Hamster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!!! I enjoyed this book from the first to the last page. I now am going to look for more books by this author. It's a bit of a conspiracy theory book, which I like, and almost believable.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing book about a small time crook hired to write the biography of an elderly, wealthy man. Quite a few twists & turns, a totally different conspiracy theory about the Kennedys brought to life in the book. Not great literature, but still interesting.

[Shelly Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

An unbelievable epic tale about a southern family and it's secrets. Was it real or was it a delusion? You decide.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Carol Bosselman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concept was interesting, and sort of renewed my interest in history, but overall, I didn't like the characters. No empathy for any of them.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original plot. Well written.

[Doreen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

Hum, did he or didn't he do it? I am still unsure, but it sounded convincing. Read and post your opinion of what you think.

[Helene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Quite a story if you believe in conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy family

[David Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I couldn't put it down. This is the only book by the author I could find on Amazon. I need more by him.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the hardest to rate to date. Who is this author? Why did he choose Oxford, Mississippi, as the location for all the forces of his story to come together? I want to point out some of the mistakes I think the author made. This story occurred in 1998-99. Highway 78 was by that time a four lane interstate highway. It does not lead from Memphis to Oxford. No one lolly gags on the Lafayette County Courthouse lawn drinking beer. We tend to drink alcoholic beverages inside restaurants, homes and the Grove on game days. The Deuce and Michael Vick are cousins (a little trivia). I can neither find nor recall who quarterbacked Deuce. If he and Eli Manning paired off, that would have been a match made in heaven. In trying to find the respective years that Eli and The Deuce played for Ole Miss, I did a Google search and was surprised to find that Eli was found dead yesterday. It took a while for me to figure out it was a hoax (pronounced in two syllables with a long 'o' {ho-axe}). Eli is not dead. Everybody breathe. Brett Favre (Southern Miss and Green Bay, the best quarterback to have ever played the game) and the Deuce would have made a team better than heaven. Model 1965-66 Ford Mustangs did not come equipped with CD players, but the radio sounded fine. One of the University's schools has grown marijuana for years. Some experiment of some kind, they say. Now, I never saw the university sanctioned field, but I believe it is behind the married students' trailer park community. I am finished with the author's erroneous material, I think. Now, I am about to tell you about the vulgar language that infuriated me. My fellow professionals use profanity, BUT not in public and not in the courtroom and not in the presence of ladies and children. My mother confirmed that people do not use profanity in everyday speak. She said we had one cousin that was loose with language, but he was careful in front of children. I have male children. If one of them let loose with profanity, I told him in the most severe manner to keep that talk somewhere other than in my presence or in the presence of any other female. This author used inappropriate language as a manner of everyday speech. That is not done in restaurants, elevators, on the street--do you get what I am saying? It is simply not done. As I read this book, I was quite embarrassed by Trent's language. He seemed like such a fine young man until he talked.
Summation: I gave this book five stars sometimes. I took them away when vulgarities were used or when people who were not married just lived together. Have you not heard our president say that unmarried people should not shack up? The author's characters seemed too drunk or too stoned to have many productive days. The bookie situation, I loved! I have never put money on a game, but a couple I knew in school were known as The Bookie and The Brain. Football and assassinations. Neither had anything to do with the other, but I loved the book! By now you know where I come from, and Lafayette, Pontotoc and Union counties are God's country. You can put one foot in Pontotoc County, the other foot in Lafayette county and bend over to put a hand in Union county. Those are my roots.
I cannot leave without a Faulkner story. He was born in Union County in the St. Fransis Catholic Church rectory. My husband and I were married in that church. Anyway, Faulkner lived at Rowan Oak with his sister. Miss Faulkner sat on the porch in the daytime wearing pearls. Come five o'clock, she dressed for dinner and afterwards sat on the porch wearing diamonds. Decorum is important here. ABSALOM, ABSALOM is the first Faulkner book that anyone should read. Leave THE SOUND AND THE FURY alone until after you have read another or two Faulkner books. Otherwise, you will miss the nuggets of pure gold hidden within the many, many many words of TSATF.

Thank you, Mr. Fraser, for a good read.
LL

[Richard Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good tale about a story well known to many of us.

There are probably as many myths surrounding the Kennedy family as there are about the Greeks who resided on Olympus. The Kennedy curse crashes them all. This book's an interesting diversion. It's no more far fetched than any of the other conspiracies surrounding Kennedy's. The author is a good writer, and an inventive storyteller. Highly recommended.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally wouldn't read a book about a bookmaker but I am glad I gave this one a chance. I was immediately interested and it held my interest until the end. I found myself thinking about it when I was doing other things. So yes I liked the book.