The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe: A True Crime Thriller

by James Patterson, Imogen Edwards-Jones

Her rise, her triumph, her tragic loss—only James Patterson can tell the full story of America's tragedy.

In the early hours of Sunday, August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe’s live-in housekeeper wakes with a sinking feeling. She knocks loudly at her employer’s locked bedroom door, and when there is no answer, she calls Monroe’s psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson.

Greenson breaks into Monroe’s bedroom and finds a horrifying the thirty-six-year-old movie star lying naked, lifeless, face down on her bed, still clutching the telephone receiver.

At 4:20 a.m., Greenson alerts the LAPD.

It is established protocol for the chief medical examiner to conduct celebrity autopsies, but inexplicably, junior medical examiner Dr. Thomas Noguchi performs the procedure on the five-four, 118-pound actress. When you are a coroner, Noguchi believes, you start from the assumption that every body you examine might be a murder victim.
​
In those final summer days, did Marilyn Monroe have more enemies than friends?

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography, History, Audiobook, American History, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

Official US Site
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JIMMY Patterson Books
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published December 1, 2025.

A strong 4.4 stars.

I wasn’t at all sure about this one. Marilyn taken on by….James Patterson (well, really, Imogen Edward-Jones writing on behalf of Mr. Patterson (it’s said he does an outline for the books written under his name. I guess for this one it was I. Birth, II. Life, III. Death. I could outline books. And isn’t “Imogene Edward-Jones” the most English sounding name you’ve ever heard? I don’t know that she’s British. Just spitballing here.))

The story doesn’t just cover Marilyn’s “last days,” but her whole life, with most of the emphasis in her time in Hollywood, of course. I read BLONDE by Joyce Carol Oates, but I don’t recall reading any other books about Monroe, so I learned a lot here. She made far more movies than I thought and she set up her own production company. However she comes across as terribly naive, almost childlike at times. I don’t know enough to know whether that is true to life or it just the way she is generally portrayed, so they went with it here.

Because obviously this is a total fictionalization of Monroe’s life (it came from the Kingdom of Patterson, after all, and that moneyed behemoth does not care to be sued, thank you.). Conversations and some events are likely wholly created, but I gather it follows the timeline and what is known.

I found this a well-written, entertaining book and would recommend to someone who doesn’t know much about Marilyn Monroe.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and listened to many many books on Marilyn Monroe. I found this had quite a bit I hadn't known before. an interesting take on what really happened to her

[Keely · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had noticed who was one of the authors before reading and buying the book, I probably wouldn't have touched it but alas, I didn't notice. Also, the title is a lie. This is more of a mini biography. It barely spends any time exploring the conflicting information of Marilyn's death. It's like two or three small chapters. The rest of the book is an overview of her life, some pieces are looked into some detail, others are skipped. It was okay, I'm sure there is better, this is just isn't what the title says it'll be and that is irritating to me. And it's no thriller.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up. Everyone knows Marilyn Monte and most know her story. Poor Norma Jeane Baker, the girl who had nothing who became the woman that had everything. But back in August 1962, her light burnt out and the most famous woman in the world was no more. This book looks back on her life and lets the reader consider her death. Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Or was it murder?

While I did feel that the title of this book was a little misleading, as only a small part of the book concentrates on the final part of Monroe’s life, I nevertheless still found it interesting. With short chapters perfectly capturing important scenes, the book tells the remarkable story of her early years and her stardom and of course her final few days.

It’s a well researched and unflinching story of a troubled life. I turned the pages with increasing dismay as I learnt more of Marilyn’s struggles and her relationships with doctors who would happily hand out uppers and downers with no hesitation. I knew where her story was headed and after reading this can’t help but think her death was inevitable. I don’t think Marilyn was ever going to find her happy ending.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve long been a fan of James Patterson, so I was interested to see what he’d do with the woman I have read more about than anyone else. Will he bring something new to this familiar story? Will he tell it with the sensitivity it needs and deserves?

The answer is yes to both questions - sort of. Firstly, this is not a book about the last day of Marilyn Monroe as the title suggests, rather a complete memoir of her life. Though I found the movie star’s childhood years are glossed over rather quickly, there is a fictional storytelling aspect to the narrative that makes this fun and enjoying to read, much like one of Patterson’s crime books with its trademark short chapters and clipped sentences.

Marilyn’s movie star years are given more depth, and there were a few stories included I’d not heard before. But like any story on Marilyn, you have to wonder how much is truth and how much myth. The authors go into the backstories on the movie sets, which is always intriguing, and much time is spent on Marilyn’s three marriages to James Dougherty, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, as well as her relationships with the Kennedy brothers.

I liked how the authors turned a sensitive lens to the complicated personality of Marilyn Monroe, painting her as a fragile, naive and damaged woman on the one hand and an intelligent, warm and determined woman on the other.

As to her last days? It’s largely left open for the reader to speculate whether her death was suicide, murder or accident.

[Natalie Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books on Marilyn Monroe having always found her life story heartbreaking, this one didn’t bring anything new but I felt like it was more respectful than others. Does not go into too much detail but I couldn’t put it down.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, impeccably well researched and written account of the months leading up to the death of one of the most recognisable faces of the 20th century.

As a Marilyn fan, and reader of many biographies about her, this ranks up there with the best. It is also my first James Patterson book, but I’m certain won’t be the last. The author avoided the trap of sensationalising the parts of Marilyn’s life that some other biographers thrive on, and he documented the many intricate layers to her personality and what fuelled her decisions regarding her life both privately and publicly.

The only minor thing I would have loved to see would be some photos chosen by the author to accompany the highly detailed descriptions of times in her life, such as notable events like film premiers, photoshoots and her weddings. Otherwise, this was a near faultless book.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book but details her whole life not just last days

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

a no nonsense fact filled book very pacey it was good to learn the truth about Marilyn

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

While entitled the “last days,” this book chronicles the rise and fall of a glamorous movie star who was beset by so many inner demons, her life was not so glamorous. And, as subtitled “A True Crime Thriller” the true essence of the book is an examination of the mysterious circumstances of her death - a death that really has never been resolved.

Marilyn Monroe as written in this book seemed to me to have created her own reality and persona and eventually fell victim to it. She knew the persona wasn’t real but she worked very hard at it. While she wanted to be taken as a serious actress, comedy and light movies were really her bailiwick and this frustrated her. Because her persona strove to be taken seriously, when she got involved with Jack and Bobby Kennedy, she grew to envision herself as First Lady - it was always the illusion she was after. This is all subtly revealed in this book - with some new details not previously known up until this book, I’ve always thought Anthony Summers’s book, Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe (Macmillan 1985), was the best book written about Marilyn, but I’m putting this book side by side with the Summers book because the two compliment each other and both found her “ending” baffling and mysterious: murder or suicide?

Patterson is known for his short chapters and fast pacing which is also evident in this book. He and his co-author have created an easy to read narrative thriller. The book builds thriller tension. And while the ending leaves you wanting more, it’s this very ending that makes Marilyn’s death so bizarre and unanswerable. I kept thinking that Marilyn’s tragic ending begins at her beginning: discarded by a single mother who had demons of her own and raised by people who really didn’t love her. All so tragic.

[Judy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is a well researched and tastefully written book that is captivating.

Marilyn Monroe's story is a heart breaking one that is well known and this book presents her life well.

The book delves into her life, her marriages, her drug addictions and how she was not only naive but seemed to attract those that would exploit her and bring her tumbling down.

I didnt realize that she made as many films as she did.

You will certainly know why people say that she did not kill herself but met with foul play.

James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones do a fantastic job of showing the vulnerable side of Marilyn and detailing her sad story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the privilege of reading and reviewing The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe.

[Klare · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-organised and well-researched retelling of Marilyn’s last few days and the life of heartbreak and hardship Monroe endured, how the men around her manipulated and used here. Nothing new is covered in the well-told historical events so it’s like many other books about the enigma that is Marilyn Monroe. But it is still worth a pursue and a read.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Being titled ‘The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe’ I expected there to be more than 10 pages being about her last days. The blurb on the book states ‘drawn from rigorous research, this book seeks answers’ but is just a rehash of every other Marilyn biography. I thought this book would describe the controversy surrounding her death but her death was only mentioned in the last 10-20 pages.

[Alice Jackman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title’s a bit misleading - it’s not a thorough examination of MMs last days but a pretty standard biography. There’s nothing new here but I suppose it’s a reasonable starting point for anyone interested in Marilyn. I felt a bit disappointed.

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is a gripping true-crime biographical account of Marilyn’s life and final days. The book doesn’t invent fictionalized scenes or characters—it’s all based on real events, research, and accounts from people close to her! James Patterson’s signature fast-paced storytelling is very much present in this book. The book is co-written by Imogen Edwards‑Jones, a British journalist and author known for her research expertise. Together, they’ve written a book that is insightful, suspenseful, and entirely bingeable and gives readers a rare glimpse into Marilyn’s early life and tumultuous rise to stardom and mysteries surrounding her final days!

The prologue begins with Marilyn found dead under suspicious circumstances. From there, the story goes all the way back to her childhood and moves forward in what feels like a countdown to her tragic end. There’s so much detail of her life—from a teenage failed marriage to early modelling days to her determined years to make it as an actress. Her extensive film career, being caught up in Hollywood glamour/party scene (and the darker realities behind them), and multiple high-profile marriages and betrayals are depicted in an addictive way that will keep readers turning pages! The story is told from a 3rd-person POV centred on Marilyn that fully immerses readers into her world. All of her insecurities, abandonment issues, fleeting romances, and the pressures that weighed heavily on her are fully explained and make her such a compelling character!

Although the book is marketed as a true-crime thriller, it’s really a biographical nonfiction book. The only true crime aspects appear in the prologue (when she’s found dead) and in the final chapters of the days before and after her death—suspicious figures with potential motives and details “that don’t add up” are laid out for readers to mull over!

If you’re someone who’s always been fascinated by Marilyn but doesn’t know much about her life, acting career, or the time before her death, this book will deliver big time! The chapters are short and punchy, and the tension steadily rises like a “race against time” narrative. The ending is reflective and poignant with some compelling last words directly from Marilyn herself—but it's the lingering mystery of her death that's truly being acknowledged and may lead readers on their own true-crime investigation afterwards!

Overall, The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is a must-read for anyone fascinated by Marilyn, the Golden Age of Hollywood, celebrity culture, and the darker realities of fame! With so much detail about Marilyn’s films, costars, and marriages, readers will feel compelled to look up clips while reading for an even more immersive experience! If all of this sounds appealing, don’t hesitate on this one for a second! Marilyn’s story is really like no other!

[Marcus Coles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Countless books have been written about the life and mysterious death of Marilyn Monroe. I’ve probably read most of them and I’m guessing many of the people who buy this book will have read most of them too. It’s written in the present tense and in the style of a novel. Other than that, there’s nothing new here, nothing interesting thought-provoking or controversial. There’s been no new research done, there’s no fresh take and there’s nothing to add to what’s already been written. Indeed, I thought the opposite was true. The book is not about the last days of Marilyn Monroe. The last twenty pages are, but the rest of the book is a skim across the surface of her life, a very shallow dive into the life of one of the world’s most famous women. If you don’t know anything about her then this might whet your appetite. Even then, you may as well go straight to Goddess by Anthony Summers, the classic Monroe biography. As far as her last days go? What a disappointment. A breathtakingly huge anti-climax. Very little was said about her affair with Bobby Kennedy. The hugely consequential weekend she spent at the Cal Neva Lodge was mentioned very briefly. There was no mention of the controversy and mystery of her last night. No explanation of the conflicting accounts that led to her death. Was it suicide or murder? Accidental overdose or a well-executed assassination? The cover-up by the LAPD was completely absent as was the discrepancies in the stories of those who were closest to her and who discovered her body. Overall, a very disappointing effort. There are many more bibliographies about Marilyn you could read instead of this one and they’re far better. I suggest you do.

[Andrea- The Shelf Life Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Norma Jeane Mortenson stepped out in her first role, I don’t think anyone was ready for Marilyn Monroe. A blonde bombshell that was recognized everywhere. Everyone from Athletes, Politicians, Actors and the everyday Joe wanted her time. The young lady that came from nothing that all of a sudden has it all. Unfortunately, in August of 1962, newsrooms everywhere were reporting her death. Her death was ruled a suicide, or was it a well plan of murder that took power and money to make it look like a suicide?

I was very excited to read The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, but it really did not live up to the expectation of its title. While we did see a small part of her final days, it was mostly her life prior to those days. Nevertheless, I did enjoy it and found it interesting. The author gives us short chapters to really capture the important scenes. The book guides us through her remarkable life from her early years as Norma Jeane Mortenson to her stardom as Marilyn Monroe.

This book was a well-researched and unflinching story of her troubled like. Her relationship with doctors that had no hesitation on keeping her medicated. We all know how it ends, but I truly think that her death was inevitable. I really wish she would have been able to find the happiness that she had always been searching for.

Great read for all of those mystery fans that love to see an alternative ending.
My thanks to Little, Brown and Company, The Author, James Patterson as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe.

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

June 1, 2026, would be Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday. In life, she was a superstar. In death, she is a mystery. New true crime thriller by bestselling author James Patterson with Imogen Edwards-Jones focuses on her eventful rollercoaster life.

The title of this true crime thriller is misleading. It begins way before Marilyn Monroe's last days. In fact, it begins when she was a little girl named Norma Jean, through her teen years, multiple marriages, rise in Hollywood then finally to the months leading to her death. Longtime Bookhearts know how I am a stickler for titles. It has to fit and make sense. This did not!

I appreciate the authors starting with background but it should have been limited to the first couple chapters. Because of the title, I expected a detailed account of the literal days before her unexpected death. What led to it? Who did she argue with and what about? What was her state of mind? Who was around? Who did she last talk to, clutching the phone as she took her last breath? Who found her body and why did it take so long to call authorities? Was it an intentional or accidental overdose? While some of the questions were answered, I finished the book with even more questions. I doubt this was the authors' intention.

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is an extra long biographical article. A compilation of information I could have easily read and researched online. I recommend to readers interested in learning surface level information about the iconic Marilyn Monroe with no expectations of a deep dive.

Happy Pub Day, James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones! The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrative style mimics a typical Patterson thriller—short, punchy chapters—but without any pulse-pounding crime or thrill. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around why Patterson and his co-author, who likely shouldered most of the writing burden, chose to veer so far from the promised theme of Monroe’s final days or the conspiracies encircling her death. The authors suggest, almost in passing, that Robert Kennedy might have been in Monroe's home on the day of her death, leading to a quarrel that sent ripples through her already tumultuous life. The lingering questions of the FBI, the CIA, or even the Mafia lurking in the shadows go unaddressed. Then there’s the incident at the Cal Neva Lodge, only days before her death—a thread I wish the authors had tugged on, for in my humble opinion, it set off a chain reaction leading to her tragic end, whether by her own hand, a fatal accident, or perhaps something darker.

In the end, I enjoyed reading The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe. It’s a page-turner, albeit one with a misleading title that hints at a deeper look into her final hours yet somehow falls short. It sparked my interest, left me pondering the mysteries of a woman who, even in death, continues to enshroud herself in intrigue and allure. Sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction, especially when the legend is larger than life itself. ╌★★★½✰

Find my full review at https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/....

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

When I got the notice that this book was available from library, I immediately got the audiobook into my account. I am a really big Marilyn fan, and I love reading anything about her. When I heard this book was coming out, and that James Patterson was involved, it was exciting. I’d never read anything by him or Imogen Edwards-Jones before. So that, plus Marilyn, I was ready to dive in.

This book was very good overall. It was very detailed and I loved the timeline of how everything was laid out. I think her life is so interesting and I found the chapters to be really easy to get through.

I hate to say it, but I was a little underwhelmed with this just because of the title. The writing style was great and it was absolutely interesting and I loved hearing this take on what happened to Marilyn. She is such an icon.

I’d recommend to anyone looking for a book on Marilyn and the events of her life. Forever a fan of Marilyn ♥️

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 next year, which is what led me to pick up this book expecting a focused examination of her death in 1962. Instead, what I found was a broader biography—one that traces her life in full and gradually leads to her final days. In the end, that choice made for a richer and more engaging read than I initially anticipated.

While I ultimately didn’t find the title entirely accurate, the narrative itself was compelling. The book includes sources at the end, though I occasionally wished for more detailed citations woven directly into the text. At times, the storytelling felt so carefully constructed that I wondered whether I was reading a well-staged drama rather than strict biography. Then again, perhaps that sense of fragmentation and intensity is exactly how Marilyn Monroe’s life unfolded—lived in moments, pressures, and performances.

If that is the case, a more fitting title might have been Marilyn Monroe: A Life, A Tragedy.

[Cory Beyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley and James Patterson and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC. Everyone knows Marilyn Monroe and everyone has an opinion of this entertainer. Someone that was very talented but also had her demons. She came from very humble beginnings and worked hard to succeed only to die young. This book starts with her housekeeper finding her dead in bed, flashes back to her start in Hollywood and once again ending with her funeral. Though this book is very informational, there is a lot of names, dates, and movies that I couldn't keep up with. However, if you are any kind of Monroe fan, you should read this book! Also, it leaves you with an inkling of suggestion that maybe she didn't commit suicide after all..... #TheLastDaysofMarilynMonroe #JamesPatterson #ImogenEdwardsJones #LittleBrownandCompany

[Stephanie R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several biographies about Marilyn Monroe, including ones written by Anthony Summers, Donald Spoto, and Norman Mailer. If you have an interest in Marilyn Monroe, I would recommend reading any of those instead of this book. First, the title is misleading. It's not a thriller, and it covers more than her last days although the coverage is not concise. It felt like more of an overview. When trying to give this book the appropriate call number in our library collection, there was confusion. Some libraries had it listed as nonfiction while others had it as fiction. Having read the book, I understand the confusion. It felt like Patterson and the other writer couldn't decide if it should read like informational journalism or sensational journalism. It wasn't awful, but it also wasn't a comprehensive, in-depth look at Marilyn Monroe or her last days.

[Gwen Kubberness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew there was something going on with her death and I knew the Kennedy boys had something to do with it even though this book doesn't exactly come out and say that there's an innuendo there and man I really looked up to her and felt sorry for her until this book and now it's like there's so many things she could have changed and she really wanted to and why didn't people talk to her about her using these drugs and drinking I don't get it s*** all these people that cared about her and not one mention of anybody saying anything to her about getting help for this not even DiMaggio who obviously was still very much in love with her all the way to the time she died this is a really really good book I totally enjoyed it

[booksbydorothea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lukewarm recommend

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The authors appear to be repackaging a biography of Marilyn's life in a tabloid-like manner. They are using her just like all the other "users" in her life. Disgusting!

The writing is poor, the plotline is poor, and the character development is poor, with a deceptive book title. Horrible!

If you like poor writing, plots, and character development, this is your book!

For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/fsjnzew4

[Bert · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone who’s never dipped a toe into the Marilyn mythos, this is a perfectly solid starting point. It tracks her whole life and lays everything out in a super digestible, easy to read way.

But there’s just no meat on these bones, no real detail, no digging, nothing new. I think if you’re writing about Marilyn now, you’ve got to bring something to the table we haven’t already been served a dozen times before.

It’s also been marketed as a true-crime book, so I was expecting at least some exploration of the murder theory. Nope. This is a straight-up, standard biography that just happens to be written by a crime writer.

3.5 stars

[Bridget Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down. It was a good book and hard to put down. However, I was disappointed that there was nothing new here. I’ve read dozens of books about Marilyn Monroe and learned nothing from this one. Also the title is misleading. The majority of the book is not about “the last days….” Rather it tells her entire life story from birth to death. I was hungry for details but have read other books on the subject which were much more salacious. Finally, the book made an error by referring to Jackie Kennedy’s sister as Leigh. Her name was Lee. Sounds nitpicky but Patterson quality editing should have caught that.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book encompassed more of the early years in Marilyn Monroe’s life rather than her last days. I learned a lot that I hadn’t already known and remember seeing the pictures of her described throughout the book. It’s a shame no one was able to stop the drug use. Who knows what might have been. There are compelling reasons why certain individuals might have wished her dead, so we’re left to wonder what really happened. Accidental overdose, suicide, murder?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cheryl Wieser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what you expected

This book is very well written. The stories you have always heard about Marilyn Monroe and the men she was with was well written. You can almost feel that you are right there with her. Her feelings were brought to the forefront. Her life was not easy from the beginning but she did try to make herself into somebody everybody would remember. A very haunting story of her struggles. A very well written book of the most beautiful star! If she has always fascinated you I highly recommend you read this story.