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Gil Malloy #1
The Kennedy Connection
Librarian Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00HB62MD4.
Half a century after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, someone is killing people on the streets of New York City and leaving behind a bizarre calling card of that tragic day in Dallas.
In this bold and entertaining thriller from a true media insider, discredited newspaper reporter Gil Malloy breaks the story of the link between seemingly unconnected murders—a Kennedy half dollar coin found at each of the crime scenes. At the same time, a man emerges who claims to be the secret son of Lee Harvey Oswald and says he has new evidence that Oswald was innocent of the JFK killing.
Malloy, who has fallen from grace at the New York Daily News and sees this as an opportunity to redeem himself as an ace reporter, is certain there is a connection between the Oswald revelations and the NYC murders, but first he has to get someone to believe him. Convinced that the answers go all the way back to the JFK assassination more than fifty years ago, Malloy soon uncovers long-buried secrets that put his own life in danger from powerful forces who fear he’s getting too close to the truth.
Two tales of suspense fuse into an edge-of-your-seat thriller as Malloy races to stop the killer—before it’s too late.
Half a century after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, someone is killing people on the streets of New York City and leaving behind a bizarre calling card of that tragic day in Dallas.
In this bold and entertaining thriller from a true media insider, discredited newspaper reporter Gil Malloy breaks the story of the link between seemingly unconnected murders—a Kennedy half dollar coin found at each of the crime scenes. At the same time, a man emerges who claims to be the secret son of Lee Harvey Oswald and says he has new evidence that Oswald was innocent of the JFK killing.
Malloy, who has fallen from grace at the New York Daily News and sees this as an opportunity to redeem himself as an ace reporter, is certain there is a connection between the Oswald revelations and the NYC murders, but first he has to get someone to believe him. Convinced that the answers go all the way back to the JFK assassination more than fifty years ago, Malloy soon uncovers long-buried secrets that put his own life in danger from powerful forces who fear he’s getting too close to the truth.
Two tales of suspense fuse into an edge-of-your-seat thriller as Malloy races to stop the killer—before it’s too late.
368 pages, ebook
First published August 12, 2014
21 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
R.G. Belsky
14 books505 followersCo-author with Bonnie Traymore of Swipe (2025);Author of Broadcast Blues (Oceanview - 2024); It's News to Me (Oceanview - 2022); Beyond The Headlines (Oceanview 2021); The Last Scoop (Oceanview-2020) Below The Fold (Oceanview - 2019) Yesterday's News (Oceanview - 2018) Blonde Ice (Atria - 2016; Shooting for the Stars (2015); and The Kennedy Connection (2014).
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
Also writes thrillers under the pen name of Dana Perry.
Former Managing Editor of NBCNews.com
Worked as Managing Editor of NY Daily News; News Editor of Star magazine; Metropolitan Editor of NY Post.
Author of numerous other mystery novels including Loverboy and Playing Dead.
Contributing Writer for The Big Thrill magazine and BookTrib.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 27, 2016
"Everyone matters"
I knew after reading Blonde Ice that I had to go back and read the other two books in the Gil Malloy series. I loved Blonde Ice and I was excited to begin reading The Kennedy Connection. It took no time for me to become immersed in poor Gil's drama. Gil's is down on his luck. There is only one word that could describe his downfall: Houston.
Houston is the prostitute Gil based a whole series of newspapers articles on. There was just one tiny problem, no one could confirm Houston existed. Gil never really met her but he knew of her through all the people he interviewed. Although morally wrong he made the decision to print the articles despite not been able to prove she was real and when he was discovered, his credibility as a newspaper reporter plummets by the time the book starts. Due to recent panic attacks, Gil is forced to see a therapist and when a cop friend asks him to investigate a shooting that happened over a decade ago, Gil feels this is a way towards recuperating some on his own dignity. However, Gil is asked to interview a man who claims to be the son of Lee Harvey Oswald and he alleges he has proof his father didn't kill JFK. Gil can't turn down this opportunity without realizing this will take his life on a collision course, one he might not be able to drag himself out of.
Whoa... what a great way to spin of the murder of JFK! What if Lee Harvey Oswald is not the killer or sole killer of JFK? A lot of conspiracy theories say he wasn't and R. G. Belsky takes you on a formidable ride towards a different scenario.
It was a pleasure reading this thriller. There are so many things I liked about it. I loved Gil's relationship with his ex-wife. He was to blame for the distance he created in their relationship and later on their divorce, but he's willing to recognize his faults and remain friends with her. He told her how important she was to him. She's also the only person he truly trusts and cares for.
What I love the most about this book is how good Gil is as an investigative reporter. Once he has a lead, he doesn't quit until he knows there is anywhere else to go with the information.
I like that Gil had to understand that he needed help and by the end, he was willing to do whatever it took to make himself better as a friend, reporter, and altogether better human being.
I do have to say that I missed how brilliantly sarcastic Gil can be. In The Kennedy Connection, his sarcastic personality is there but not as predominantly as in the last book.
"Death is the great equalizer"
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 13, 2015
4.5* When journalist Gil Malloy was on top of the world with his reporting skills he did one thing he never wanted to do; lose his integrity. After publishing a fraudulent interview, Malloy lost his highly successful column with the New York Daily News, and was placed at the bottom of the pecking order with boring, uninteresting assignments. Feeling like the mythology god Sisyphus who was sentenced by the gods to forever push a heavy rock up a hill, only to see it roll back down to the bottom each time it was quite the never ending punishment. Malloy’s futile effort to change his life back to the way it had once been kept him trying to push his way back to the top. However, nothing ever remains the same for long, at least for some, and Gil Malloy was about to head back up the charts with not one story but two. The author has written an excellent mystery crime thriller by making his main character a believable and endearing human being. ‘The Kennedy Connection’ was a very entertaining book and definitely recommended.
February 8, 2021
I was unsure if I would like this as it's about a discredited new reporter jumping in a case who have JFK killing connection. But I was hooked on this book from the beginning to end. I really enjoyed the reporter Gil Malloy and the case was very interesting to follow. This is a series I definitely will read more from!
August 16, 2014
Nothing's ever perfect but The Kennedy Connection comes pretty close.
R. G. Belsky doesn't miss a trick: the conversations are right, the motives believable, the locations (mostly bars and newsrooms) accurate and filled with the right emotional associations The answers are all in plain sight, there's no sudden fact leaping in to explain everything. The plot is tight and wound like a DNA strand but more than anything it's the people. Belsky populates the book with real people who are scared and brave and evil and make mistakes.
I'm serious. A lot of books do some of these things but damn few do them all. This is the best mystery novel I've read in years and deserves to win awards and ring up sales. It's 2AM and I've been locked inside a different world for hours. Oh yeah, and all this is without even mentioning the excellent JFK aspects.
Any mystery fan who misses this book is making a terrible mistake. One that they'll regret tomorrow and for the rest of their life.
R. G. Belsky doesn't miss a trick: the conversations are right, the motives believable, the locations (mostly bars and newsrooms) accurate and filled with the right emotional associations The answers are all in plain sight, there's no sudden fact leaping in to explain everything. The plot is tight and wound like a DNA strand but more than anything it's the people. Belsky populates the book with real people who are scared and brave and evil and make mistakes.
I'm serious. A lot of books do some of these things but damn few do them all. This is the best mystery novel I've read in years and deserves to win awards and ring up sales. It's 2AM and I've been locked inside a different world for hours. Oh yeah, and all this is without even mentioning the excellent JFK aspects.
Any mystery fan who misses this book is making a terrible mistake. One that they'll regret tomorrow and for the rest of their life.
October 4, 2015
When I was standing in line at the Mystery Writers of America booth at BookCon in May, 2015, the people in the booth started putting out stacks of books and allowing those of us in line to chose any one copy. I picked this one based upon the title and cover description and I was not disappointed. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the protagonist, but appreciated that he is a complex character. The plot is tight and the conversations are good. After reading about half the book, I got online and ordered the rest of this author's books. Can't wait for the next one in the Gil Malloy series.
March 5, 2017
An intriguing take on the Kennedy assassination which tails off in the final pages as author R.G. Belsky tries to neatly tie up every single loose end. This latter move had me skipping pages and I felt the book suffered as a result. For most of the story though, Belsky maintains suspense as his "hero", disgraced news reporter Gil Malloy, tries to resurrect his career with a story which could exonerate Lee Harvey Oswald of killing the President of the United States.
However, in order to pursue the more glamorous story of that momentous day in November 1963 , Malloy breaks his promise to help solve an almost unknown New York gang killing. As the plot develops, Malloy meets a man who claims to be the son of Kennedy's killer. The "son of Oswald" has written a book which, he claims, shows that his alleged father was innocent of any involvement in the Kennedy killing. The book's sensational conclusion is that on that fateful day, Oswald was travelling on a bus from New Orleans to Dallas and couldn't possibly have been at a sniper's nest in the Texas School Book Depository when the assassination occurred.
From this promising start, there follows a thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns until, finally, the story of history's most written about assassination merges with that of a long forgotten gangland murder in a tangled web of conspiracy and corruption.
However, in order to pursue the more glamorous story of that momentous day in November 1963 , Malloy breaks his promise to help solve an almost unknown New York gang killing. As the plot develops, Malloy meets a man who claims to be the son of Kennedy's killer. The "son of Oswald" has written a book which, he claims, shows that his alleged father was innocent of any involvement in the Kennedy killing. The book's sensational conclusion is that on that fateful day, Oswald was travelling on a bus from New Orleans to Dallas and couldn't possibly have been at a sniper's nest in the Texas School Book Depository when the assassination occurred.
From this promising start, there follows a thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns until, finally, the story of history's most written about assassination merges with that of a long forgotten gangland murder in a tangled web of conspiracy and corruption.
June 23, 2014
“The Kennedy Connection” by R.G. Belsky, published by Atria Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – August 12, 2014
Gil Malloy is a reporter for the New York Daily News who has lost his integrity as a reporter. He was caught lying on a story about a prostitute named Houston, “Houston We Have A Problem”. He is kept on by the paper but only as a low end reporter.
Gil becomes involved in a young man’s shooting that took place years ago, in hopes that he can regain his star reporter status. This may be an opportunity to regain his notoriety and integrity, however these plans are changed when a bigger story is put in front of him.
Gil is asked by a book publicist to interview a person who claims he is Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr. and has written a book that tries to exonerate his father in the death of John Kennedy. The situation gets more intriguing when several people turn up dead with a Kennedy half dollar on their person. This is all happening on the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination. Gil travels to New Orleans and Dallas looking for clues. Gil begins to realize that the book may have some substance to it and may prove that Oswald was not even in Dallas when the assassination took place. It just so happens that his investigation falls short of his expectations and he is again accused of falsifying the story. The News has no choice but to fire him. It is in his firing that he realizes that his original story may be the one he should have been looking into in the first place. Gil is amazed when he finds out that in investigating this story he finds a direct link to the Kennedy story and three murders in New York.
A well thought out mystery that will have you thinking, and don’t be surprised if there are a few surprises along the way.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – August 12, 2014
Gil Malloy is a reporter for the New York Daily News who has lost his integrity as a reporter. He was caught lying on a story about a prostitute named Houston, “Houston We Have A Problem”. He is kept on by the paper but only as a low end reporter.
Gil becomes involved in a young man’s shooting that took place years ago, in hopes that he can regain his star reporter status. This may be an opportunity to regain his notoriety and integrity, however these plans are changed when a bigger story is put in front of him.
Gil is asked by a book publicist to interview a person who claims he is Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr. and has written a book that tries to exonerate his father in the death of John Kennedy. The situation gets more intriguing when several people turn up dead with a Kennedy half dollar on their person. This is all happening on the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination. Gil travels to New Orleans and Dallas looking for clues. Gil begins to realize that the book may have some substance to it and may prove that Oswald was not even in Dallas when the assassination took place. It just so happens that his investigation falls short of his expectations and he is again accused of falsifying the story. The News has no choice but to fire him. It is in his firing that he realizes that his original story may be the one he should have been looking into in the first place. Gil is amazed when he finds out that in investigating this story he finds a direct link to the Kennedy story and three murders in New York.
A well thought out mystery that will have you thinking, and don’t be surprised if there are a few surprises along the way.
May 9, 2015
PROTAGONIST: Gil Malloy, reporter
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #1
RATING: 3.5
WHY: Gil Malloy is a reporter for the Daily News who fictionalized a major story which resulted in his being disgraced. He's still at the paper but no longer a front page writer. He establishes a link between some murders where a Kennedy half dollar is left at the scene. At the same time, he is referred to the author of a new book about the Kennedy assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr., the son of the infamous man. I don't care for books that rewrite the Kennedy killing, but this went in an unexpected direction that turned out to be interesting.
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #1
RATING: 3.5
WHY: Gil Malloy is a reporter for the Daily News who fictionalized a major story which resulted in his being disgraced. He's still at the paper but no longer a front page writer. He establishes a link between some murders where a Kennedy half dollar is left at the scene. At the same time, he is referred to the author of a new book about the Kennedy assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr., the son of the infamous man. I don't care for books that rewrite the Kennedy killing, but this went in an unexpected direction that turned out to be interesting.
August 26, 2014
Great vacation read -- a twisty romp through the worlds of tabloid journalism and Kennedy conspiracy theories. The main character is Daily News reporter Gil Malloy. You'll love him and you'll hate him -- sometimes both on the same page.
December 2, 2023
I enjoyed this mystery, even if it doesn’t have the word gormless in it.
February 6, 2018
A real good book, surprised on how interesting it was. Hope the next 2 are just as good.
November 26, 2014
The Kennedy Connection is a spectacular book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“The most important thing a journalist has is his integrity. An old newspaper man taught me that once.”
Journalist Gil Malloy was at the top of his game, the star reporter at the New York Daily News, before making a choice that compromised his integrity, something he had sworn to himself he would never do.
That single misstep has left Malloy living a life he hates. The newspaper chooses not to fire Malloy, but because he has lost all credibility he remains in a state of suspended animation in work each day. He has been relegated to a desk in the corner of the newsroom and is assigned only fluff pieces, when he is lucky enough to be assigned anything at all.
As the disgraced Malloy struggles to deal with the seemingly irreversible ramifications of what he has done, he dreams that he will one day be trusted and respected again, both in his professional and personal life.
Quite suddenly two seemingly unconnected stories land in Malloy’s lap. His former literary agent comes to him with a story that she claims could blow the lid off the most famous murder in history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Meanwhile, a serial killer appears to be on the loose in NYC. At each of the murder scenes police find the killer’s calling card, a Kennedy half-dollar.
Whether or not the two stories are connected has to do with whether or not everything is what it seems and Belsky does a marvelous job throughout of keeping you guessing.
JFK’s assassination is so indelibly etched into the hearts and minds of Americans, Belsky took a risk by basing his story on it.
One might assume that Belsky has used the assassination as a cheap, attention-grabbing springboard to build a by the numbers mystery around.
The opposite is true. To his credit, Belsky displays proper reverence for his subject matter. His references to the assassination show that he knows his stuff and has very meticulously researched the facts of what happened in Dallas on November 22,1963.
By weaving together the real events of that horrific day with carefully crafted details of his own, Belsky creates a scenario that seems so plausible it’s extremely easy to forget that this is a work of fiction.
As Malloy searches for the truth behind who is responsible for the murders, both past and present, he also begins a quest to uncover long-buried truths about himself.
Malloy is no cardboard cut-out protagonist, but instead a complex and fully fleshed out character. His struggle to find and make peace with his authentic self is one that is so universal it is impossible not to relate to him.
Being a veteran journalist himself, Belsky very easily and credibly gives the reader a totally realistic glimpse into what it’s like to work in a big city newsroom.
The twists and turns that the book takes regarding the murders had me totally unsure as to who the real killers might be, despite my best efforts to solve the mystery myself.
To me, that is the sign of a truly great whodunit.
“The most important thing a journalist has is his integrity. An old newspaper man taught me that once.”
Journalist Gil Malloy was at the top of his game, the star reporter at the New York Daily News, before making a choice that compromised his integrity, something he had sworn to himself he would never do.
That single misstep has left Malloy living a life he hates. The newspaper chooses not to fire Malloy, but because he has lost all credibility he remains in a state of suspended animation in work each day. He has been relegated to a desk in the corner of the newsroom and is assigned only fluff pieces, when he is lucky enough to be assigned anything at all.
As the disgraced Malloy struggles to deal with the seemingly irreversible ramifications of what he has done, he dreams that he will one day be trusted and respected again, both in his professional and personal life.
Quite suddenly two seemingly unconnected stories land in Malloy’s lap. His former literary agent comes to him with a story that she claims could blow the lid off the most famous murder in history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Meanwhile, a serial killer appears to be on the loose in NYC. At each of the murder scenes police find the killer’s calling card, a Kennedy half-dollar.
Whether or not the two stories are connected has to do with whether or not everything is what it seems and Belsky does a marvelous job throughout of keeping you guessing.
JFK’s assassination is so indelibly etched into the hearts and minds of Americans, Belsky took a risk by basing his story on it.
One might assume that Belsky has used the assassination as a cheap, attention-grabbing springboard to build a by the numbers mystery around.
The opposite is true. To his credit, Belsky displays proper reverence for his subject matter. His references to the assassination show that he knows his stuff and has very meticulously researched the facts of what happened in Dallas on November 22,1963.
By weaving together the real events of that horrific day with carefully crafted details of his own, Belsky creates a scenario that seems so plausible it’s extremely easy to forget that this is a work of fiction.
As Malloy searches for the truth behind who is responsible for the murders, both past and present, he also begins a quest to uncover long-buried truths about himself.
Malloy is no cardboard cut-out protagonist, but instead a complex and fully fleshed out character. His struggle to find and make peace with his authentic self is one that is so universal it is impossible not to relate to him.
Being a veteran journalist himself, Belsky very easily and credibly gives the reader a totally realistic glimpse into what it’s like to work in a big city newsroom.
The twists and turns that the book takes regarding the murders had me totally unsure as to who the real killers might be, despite my best efforts to solve the mystery myself.
To me, that is the sign of a truly great whodunit.
June 24, 2015
A run-down, demoted journalist by the name of Gil Malloy meets New York literary agent, Nikki Reynolds, his former agent, at a restaurant on Park Avenue South. Ms. Reynolds offers a proposal to Gil to write a book about the untold story of the Kennedy assassination based on a manuscript offered up by a surprising source. Who is this mystery author? None other than the illegitimate son of Lee Harvey Oswald, the very same Mr. Oswald who was accused of shooting President Kennedy on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
Accused yes, but was he truly guilty of the crime? Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr. is convinced there is evidence that would prove otherwise. Evidence of which he intends to publish in his ambiguous, yet to be decided story called “The Kennedy Connection”. What Malloy does not realize, while eating his overpriced burger in Manhattan, is that he will discover a connection between the jaded author and a mysterious New York serial killer, leaving behind Kennedy half-dollars at the murder scenes.
As the story begins to spiral into a monstrous hurricane of conspiracy, lies, and bodies, the reader begins to breathe and think like Malloy. We become the journalist’s shadow, following him through all the twists and turns of the corporate New York City news world. There’s no way to predict the end that challenges the integrity and sanity of our flawed protagonist.
This is where author Belsky’s expertise is recognized and his wit and journalism experience radiate from each page. With what appears to be the first in a series of mystery novels, “The Kennedy Connection” begs to be finished from the first page to the last. Be prepared to stay at home all day with this book in hand!
Reviewer: Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile. Like any book reader, she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the Mystery Genre, caffeine is required: some stories are just too good to be interrupted by sleep.
Killer Nashville's Review of The Kennedy Connection: A Gil Malloy Novel
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
Accused yes, but was he truly guilty of the crime? Lee Harvey Oswald, Jr. is convinced there is evidence that would prove otherwise. Evidence of which he intends to publish in his ambiguous, yet to be decided story called “The Kennedy Connection”. What Malloy does not realize, while eating his overpriced burger in Manhattan, is that he will discover a connection between the jaded author and a mysterious New York serial killer, leaving behind Kennedy half-dollars at the murder scenes.
As the story begins to spiral into a monstrous hurricane of conspiracy, lies, and bodies, the reader begins to breathe and think like Malloy. We become the journalist’s shadow, following him through all the twists and turns of the corporate New York City news world. There’s no way to predict the end that challenges the integrity and sanity of our flawed protagonist.
This is where author Belsky’s expertise is recognized and his wit and journalism experience radiate from each page. With what appears to be the first in a series of mystery novels, “The Kennedy Connection” begs to be finished from the first page to the last. Be prepared to stay at home all day with this book in hand!
Reviewer: Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile. Like any book reader, she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the Mystery Genre, caffeine is required: some stories are just too good to be interrupted by sleep.
Killer Nashville's Review of The Kennedy Connection: A Gil Malloy Novel
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
November 16, 2015
"Page One" Caliber Writing
Belsky's sample drew me into buying "The Kennedy Connection," and I'm glad I did. You take a chance with a writer new to you, putting your trust in his or her ability to pay off on your confidence. Belsky, and his alter ego Malloy, do not disappoint.
My only gripe is that, by the last dozen pages or so, all the well-crafted mysteries were unraveled just a click too neatly. By then, though, you want Malloy to triumph, so my very small chagrin was trivial and evaporative.
The Malloy character grabbed me from the beginning. I love imperfect characters with glints of perfection, the rough-hewn heroes with something to prove and often no way to prove it. I'm a nascent novelist, but most of my civilian career was spent writing for magazines. The true-to-life depiction of Malloy (Yes, I know, R.G., fiction. You said that.) made me wish I had spent some of my writing career at a newspaper. I have high confidence that there are many Malloys out there. They are good men who only want to do the right thing—the write thing.
I hope they all get back with their spouses, too.
By the end, I was seeing this movie unspool in my head. I hope someone is working on the screenplay. If not, I'm available to collaborate.
Okay, excuse me. I gotta go buy the next one in this series now. You? Buy this book. Then buy the others, and tell your friends, too. If they like good stories, they will thank you later.
Belsky's sample drew me into buying "The Kennedy Connection," and I'm glad I did. You take a chance with a writer new to you, putting your trust in his or her ability to pay off on your confidence. Belsky, and his alter ego Malloy, do not disappoint.
My only gripe is that, by the last dozen pages or so, all the well-crafted mysteries were unraveled just a click too neatly. By then, though, you want Malloy to triumph, so my very small chagrin was trivial and evaporative.
The Malloy character grabbed me from the beginning. I love imperfect characters with glints of perfection, the rough-hewn heroes with something to prove and often no way to prove it. I'm a nascent novelist, but most of my civilian career was spent writing for magazines. The true-to-life depiction of Malloy (Yes, I know, R.G., fiction. You said that.) made me wish I had spent some of my writing career at a newspaper. I have high confidence that there are many Malloys out there. They are good men who only want to do the right thing—the write thing.
I hope they all get back with their spouses, too.
By the end, I was seeing this movie unspool in my head. I hope someone is working on the screenplay. If not, I'm available to collaborate.
Okay, excuse me. I gotta go buy the next one in this series now. You? Buy this book. Then buy the others, and tell your friends, too. If they like good stories, they will thank you later.
November 27, 2014
I won an advanced copy of this book on Goodreads. This book kept my attention from the first page to the last. Gil Malloy was a fun, interesting character to follow, and Belsky does a good job of developing him. The plot was also intriguing. A serial killer who leaves behind Kennedy half dollars follows one plot-line, and the illegitimate son of Lee Harvey Oswald follows another. Could these series of events be related? That's what Malloy wants to find out. He also makes a promise to find the killer of a former gang member, but with these more interesting stories, what reporter would focus on that? The suspense is there, the mystery holds your attention, and the characters make you want to read more. This has everything I look for in a good book. One of my favorite parts of the book is Malloy's trip to the Kennedy Museum in Dallas. I toured it this summer, and found that part to be quite neat because of that. Overall, this was a fabulous read, and I would gladly read more by this author.
February 25, 2016
Please Mr. Belsky write more Gil Malloy books.
Gil Malloy is a reporter in New York who made a story up and practically destroyed his career. One day he gets a call from an old police officer acquaintance asking him to look into the death of man who had been paralyzed since he was shot fifteen years earlier. After the officer gets killed in a hit-and-run Gil contacts some people associated with the cold case to see if he can find anything out.
Suddenly, he gets a call from an old friend asking him to do an article on a book written by Lee Harvey Oswald's illegitimate son. Oh and someone has started killing people and leaving Kennedy half dollars at the scene.
Gil gets teamed up with an up and coming young reporter named Carrie Bratton and they work the Kennedy connections until it all blows up in their faces. Gil becomes the scapegoat and gets fired.
He gets to looking into things and figures out who the real murderer is. All's well that ends well and I just finished another extremely enjoyable book.
Once again, please Mr. Belsky, write some more Gil Malloy.
Gil Malloy is a reporter in New York who made a story up and practically destroyed his career. One day he gets a call from an old police officer acquaintance asking him to look into the death of man who had been paralyzed since he was shot fifteen years earlier. After the officer gets killed in a hit-and-run Gil contacts some people associated with the cold case to see if he can find anything out.
Suddenly, he gets a call from an old friend asking him to do an article on a book written by Lee Harvey Oswald's illegitimate son. Oh and someone has started killing people and leaving Kennedy half dollars at the scene.
Gil gets teamed up with an up and coming young reporter named Carrie Bratton and they work the Kennedy connections until it all blows up in their faces. Gil becomes the scapegoat and gets fired.
He gets to looking into things and figures out who the real murderer is. All's well that ends well and I just finished another extremely enjoyable book.
Once again, please Mr. Belsky, write some more Gil Malloy.
May 9, 2016
Gil Malloy is a respected journalist on the New York Daily News with a hugh expose that turns into a fiasco because his source cannot be found to substantiate his story. Now discredited and kept on the paper only because it would be too embarrassing to fire him and have to admit they bought into his story, he is assigned the lowest stories and no byline. A policeman friend asks him to look into an old case that was never resolved, as a favor to him. Shortly thereafter the policeman is killed by a drunk driver, or so we're led to believe. Gil is going to follow through but is sidetracked by a chance to uncover the story behind a book written by a man who claims to be the son of Lee Harvey Oswald and a possible connection to three killings in New York. The son claims that Oswald did not kill President Kennedy because he was not even in Dallas when the president was assassinated. The further Gil digs the more he becomes involved in the cases. The story takes many unexpected turns making for a suspenseful, exciting read.
September 11, 2014
"The Kennedy Connection" is one of those page-turners you'll stay up late to finish despite the side-effect of a groggy next day at work. It's infused with veteran journalist and author R.G. Belsky's infectious love of tabloid journalism and the newsroom. My favorite passages were those that showed the banter among reporters and with their editors. Protagonist Gil Malloy, a former star reporter disgraced since he made up quotes in a moment of extreme bad judgment, is convinced there is a link between several New York City killings and the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination. You root for Malloy as he chases the big story and a shot at his redemption. But you don't have to buy into Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories to enjoy the book. I won't offer any spoilers here. But fans of Stephen King's "11/22/63" may enjoy Belsky's own fictional take on the infamous Kennedy assassin: What if Oswald had a secret son?
May 2, 2015
Journalistic integrity is at the heart of this wonderful thriller about a disgraced journalist searching for redemption and a 15 year old shooting case with lots of unanswered questions. Throw in a book from the possible love child of Lee Harvey Oswald who wants to prove his dad didn't assassinate JFK, and you have an interesting story to say the least.
This book was well written and flowed smoothly and the ending, well just let me say you will want to hang on for the ending when it all comes together for reporter Gil Malloy and the answers he searches for come back with some insightful meanings for him.
I love forward to more from Gil Malloy.
Enjoy!
This book was well written and flowed smoothly and the ending, well just let me say you will want to hang on for the ending when it all comes together for reporter Gil Malloy and the answers he searches for come back with some insightful meanings for him.
I love forward to more from Gil Malloy.
Enjoy!
September 8, 2014
R.G. Belsky sets the pages flying and the pulse pounding with "The Kennedy Connection," a mystery thriller that cleverly juxtaposes the most compelling whodunit of our times - the JFK assassination - with a series of modern day murders in New York. But Belsky's greatest creation is his anti-hero, Gil Malloy, a disgraced reporter searching for his soul as much as for the biggest story of his career. "The Kennedy Connection," filled with twists, satisfies at every turn while whetting the appetite for the next Gil Malloy adventure.
April 12, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was a quick, fun, thought-provoking read. Gil Malloy is a star reporter with the New York Daily News whose integrity is shattered after his big story falls apart. Now a new story falls in his lap, along with the opportunity to redeem himself. The chance to prove that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the man who killed JFK, no less. I enjoyed the author's writing style, Gil Malloy's voice, which is easy to read and kept this thriller speeding along. Witty and sharp. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
This was a quick, fun, thought-provoking read. Gil Malloy is a star reporter with the New York Daily News whose integrity is shattered after his big story falls apart. Now a new story falls in his lap, along with the opportunity to redeem himself. The chance to prove that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the man who killed JFK, no less. I enjoyed the author's writing style, Gil Malloy's voice, which is easy to read and kept this thriller speeding along. Witty and sharp. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
October 15, 2014
I wanted to read this book because I am fascinated by anything that is somehow connected to the Kennedy assassination. This mystery did not disappoint. It was well written, with all of the characters very well defined. It took me quite a while to figure out just exactly what was going on, which kept the suspense going through most of the book. This was the first book I've read by this author, but I do not expect it to be my last.
September 11, 2014
Disgraced tabloid reporter Gil Malloy is on the trail of story that could change history. Or could it? Who is threatening his life? How many killers are on the loose? The questions kept popping up as I was reading The Kennedy Connection, and my guesses were all wrong. This book kept me guessing right up to the end, and R.G. Belsky's breezy style made this is a very fun read. I can't wait for the next one.
April 17, 2015
This book is so cleverly written, I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction. He wove the facts of that great tragedy into a quite believable and highly entertaining story. I was intrigued by his descriptions of the ups and downs of a career in journalism as well as the various forms of law enforcement, but most intriguing was the really great story he crafted using all of that. It was hard to put the book down and I look forward eagerly to more Gil Malloy stories.
January 5, 2016
This book caused me to lose some sleep. Not because it is scary, but because I had trouble putting it down. The mystery is well put together, and keeps you guessing until the end. And the protagonist is likeable (overall).
On top of this, the book gives you a good insight into what makes a good newspaper reporter, and how easy it is to fall from grace.
I really liked this book, and I look forward to the next book coming out.
I received this book in the Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!!
On top of this, the book gives you a good insight into what makes a good newspaper reporter, and how easy it is to fall from grace.
I really liked this book, and I look forward to the next book coming out.
I received this book in the Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!!
February 5, 2016
I found this book on sale at Barnes and Noble and I picked it up and was hooked just by reading the back cover. I couldn't go to sleep at night without reading at least 1 chapter. The writing is amazing. The main character is witty and likeable. I didn't want this book to end. I purchased the other Gil Malloy books and read them all in less than a week. My only complaint is there aren't more to read! Do yourself a favor and read this book. You won't regret it.
November 16, 2014
I received this through goodreads and I really enjoyed it.
At the beginning I wasn't sure of it and almost stopped reading it as I thought it was too journalistic but I am glad I stuck with it and thought it was well written and I good book and would love to read the next book of Gil Malloy.
I would recommend this book to friends and family
At the beginning I wasn't sure of it and almost stopped reading it as I thought it was too journalistic but I am glad I stuck with it and thought it was well written and I good book and would love to read the next book of Gil Malloy.
I would recommend this book to friends and family
October 27, 2014
This is exactly what I love about goodreads.com ~~ I won this book and was introduced to a wonderful new author! Started this book and kept feeling the pull back to it every time I laid it down. I so enjoyed taking this journey of discovery with Gil Malloy and look forward to reading R.G. Belsky's other books now that I know about him!
December 29, 2015
An enjoyable mystery/thriller involving a disgraced NYC journalist and some corrupt police officials. The plot nicely connects the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination. Plausible, if a little predictable. Things do get a bit hokey in a rom/com sort of way but all in all a good beach read or on the sofa at home.
August 26, 2014
Being a kid when Kennedy was shot I do like reading about it. This book has an interesting story, very believable. The characters are well written and the thrill and mystery keeps you wanting to read till the end
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