The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What's My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen

by Mark Shaw

Was What’s My Line TV Star, media icon, and crack investigative reporter and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen murdered for writing a tell-all book about the JFK assassination? If so, is the main suspect in her death still at large?

These questions and more are answered in former CNN , ESPN , and USA Today legal analyst Mark Shaw’s 25th book, The Reporter Who Knew Too Much . Through discovery of never-before-seen videotaped eyewitness interviews with those closest to Kilgallen and secret government documents, Shaw unfolds a “whodunit” murder mystery featuring suspects including Frank Sinatra, J. Edgar Hoover, Mafia Don Carlos Marcello and a "Mystery Man" who may have silenced Kilgallen. All while by presenting through Kilgallen's eyes the most compelling evidence about the JFK assassinations since the House Select Committee on Assassination’s investigation in the 1970s.

Called by the New York Post , “the most powerful female voice in America,” and by acclaimed author Mark Lane the “the only serious journalist in America who was concerned with who killed John Kennedy and getting all of the facts about the assassination,” Kilgallen’s official cause of death reported as an overdose of barbiturates combined with alcohol, has always been suspect since no investigation occurred despite the death scene having been staged. Shaw proves Kilgallen, a remarkable woman who broke the "glass ceiling" before the term became fashionable, was denied the justice she deserved, that is until now.

More about the book may be learned at thereporterwhoknewtoomuch.com or thedorothykilgallenstory.org.

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

352 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A former criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for USA Today, CNN and ESPN, Mark Shaw is the author of 25 books and counting. His most recent is "The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What's My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen." Additional books include "The Poison Patriarch," Miscarriage of Justice," "Stations Along the Way," "Down for the Count," "Beneath the Mask of Holiness," "Larry Legend," "Bury Me In Pot Bunker," and "How to Become a Published Author: Idea to Publication."

Mr. Shaw has written for USA Today, Huffington Post, and the Aspen Daily News. He formally was a host or correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's People, The World of People, Disney's The Scheme of Things and also hosted a three hour radio program in the Midwest. He is married to librarian Wen-ying Lu and lives in the San Francisco area.

More about Mr. Shaw may be learned at markshawbooks.com and on Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I mean really. It combined some of my favorite things, conspiracy theories, the Kennedy assassination, the mob, mysterious deaths, gossip, and celebrity. That should have made for a great book, but....NOPE!

The Reporter Who Knew Too Much was boring, meandering, boring, pointless, and did I mention boring. This book is boring.

I'm done. I don't ever want to see this book again.

2017 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Book published by a micropress.

[Sketchbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scary whodunit about the confounding makes-no-sense death of journalist-TV star Dorothy Kilgallen (1913-65) who refused to stop reporting on the JFK assassination, and, unwisely, told the world she was ready to crack the case. Then she was found dead, age 52, in her NYC townhouse -- dead in the wrong room, posed in bed with her fake hair and eyelashes still on. She had a prescription for Seconal, but two other more deadly drugs (Nembutal, Tuinal) were found in her blood, along w a lot of alcohol. The medical examiner ruled "accidental death," but that office, says author Shaw, was embedded w Mafia connections.

Kilgallen, a dedicated journalist whose columns were syndicated in 200 US newspapers, left a drunken, wastrel husband who killed himself, age 60, in 1971 (a brief mention in the book) and 3 children, the youngest of whom was possibly fathered by 50s pop singer Johnnie Ray. The kids refused to talk to the author: even today, many seem afraid to discuss her unresolved Exit....in 1965 ! Kilgallen scorned the Oswald loner theory and found connections to Jack Ruby, who died in jail after her death. The FBI insisted on the Oswald loner myth and wanted Dorothy silenced as did the Mafia, which had a raging anger at Joe Kennedy for letting Jack & Bobby investigate their crimes. A lot of dirt here, so her obvious murder was part of a devious coverup. Her Kennedy papers-research went missing.

During the last months of her life she was seeing a mystery man -- Ron Pataky, a sexy young reporter on a Columbus, Ohio, newspaper, still alive -- with whom she may have been indiscreet if he was "recruited" to find out what she was up to. She adored him. After doing the TV panel show, "What's My Line?" -- you can see her brains at work on YouTube -- she met someone for midnight drinks at the Regency Hotel, then got home...alone or taken by... "someone"... or was crudely surprised at home by "someone"... and had (or was forced into..) a tall deadly cocktail that ended her life at dawn.

Ready to solve the Kennedy killing, she had a new book contract and was scheduled to fly shortly to Europe. The press made it seem that she was a careless drinker (not true); our per-usual slumbering press reported exactly what it was told...Kilgallen, a crime reporter, would have asked questions -- that's the bitter irony.
=========
Author Mark Shaw's book is a labor of love. As others have stated, it is oft sloppily written, badly edited and so on...but he delivers facts, facts. For that reason, I give it a high rating. A legal expert, he's not Dame Agatha. He wants justice for Kilgallen. I read it in one sitting. So will any True Crime buff.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember listening to “What’s My Line” on radio in the early 1950s and then watching it on T.V. This book is primarily about Dorothy Kilgallen’s (1913-1965) death but Shaw does give a brief summary of her life. While I was reading this book, I stopped and looked up information about the author to help me determine how much belief I should put into the information. Mark Shaw is a criminal attorney and is a media legal analyst. At the time of the writing of the book, he worked for ABC, CNN and USA Today.

The book is well written and meticulously researched. To me, the research and method of presenting his argument is more in the style of an attorney than a journalist. One key item he presents is the medical examiner’s office has changed the case from accidental overdose to murder by persons unknown. This adds more weight to Shaw’s claims. Shaw’s basic claim is that Kilgallen was murdered by Mafia Don Carlos Marcello to stop her from revealing information she uncovered about Jack Ruby. Kilgallen covered the Ruby trial and in her newspaper column she states that she felt Ruby was not getting a fair trial. She was in the process of finishing one book entitled “Murder One” and it was published after her death. This book was about the various famous murder trials she had reported on. She was negotiating another book when she died. It was unclear if she was going to include information about Ruby in “Murder One” or if the new book would be about the Ruby trial. Kilgallen claimed she had information that would “blow the lid off the Ruby trial”. The manuscript and all her notes and documents disappeared at the time of her death. She was seen with the information hours before her death. Shaw goes through the suspects one by one and builds a case against each one. Shaw claims Kilgallen was the best crime reporter of her day. This is one of those book that each reader will need to weight the evidence and make up their own mind as to who did it.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is ten hours. Gabra Zackman does a good job narrating the book. Zackman is an actress, writer and audiobook narrator.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a tough one to review. I was itching to read this prior to it's release as I've been a long time fan and admirer of Dorothy Kilgallen's since I discovered What's My Line? when I was in college. I also love diving into anything surrounding the JFK assassination; and I do love a good conspiracy theory. The first half of this book was fantastic. I couldn't put it down as it told the story of Dorothy's rise to become one of the most important figures in journalism. Once Mark Shaw started in on the many theories surrounding her death, though, I started to have issues. A lot of the theories he presents are pretty thinly argued and almost as if he's looking for trouble where it doesn't seem to exist. Most of the arguments surrounding the "who dun it?" aspects were based entirely on complete hearsay.

Mostly, though, this book really needed another edit: Ridiculous typos, printing YouTube URLS when you could just footnote it and put a link on the website, the constant use of the term "this author" then suddenly switching to personal pronouns, redundancies (I nearly dropped the book when I saw yet ANOTHER chapter repeating the same information about that toxicology report. Don't assume your readers are dumb, please.), and then the full page of "Here's what the headlines might have looked like if Dorothy hadn't been killed that night" nonsense. Oh boy, that's when I skimmed to the end.

I get it. You want to try to clear the name of one of the most influential journalist to ever live and give her a legacy. I love that! I hate that she's pretty much been forgotten. I just think there isn't enough there, 50 years later, to compel another investigation.

[James Crabtree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started out REALLY liking this book, as the author has done a good job talking about Kilgallen, an exceptional investigative reporter and entertainer during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. However, with the assassination of President Kennedy she decided that the Warren Commission and the justice system were doing their jobs. She was, as I said, an accomplished journalist and perhaps she did have a file that she took with her to the set of What's My Line (where was it when she was on-camera?") but how is it that Kilgallen was right and everybody else was wrong? Where was the proof? Her columns dealing with the death of president were more along the lines of editorials than proof of anything nefarious. And her own death (which we know is coming because of the helpful countdown) just "proves" she was on the right track and "had to be eliminated." I was still going to give this book a chance but it just droned on and on and on about toxicology reports and hearsay evidence and so on and so on as a tool used by conspiracy nutjobs to "prove" things they've got no physical proof of. By the way, if Kilgallen was such a great reporter why didn't she discuss Oswald's attempted assassination of General Walker a few days before the JFK assassination? For the same reason NO conspiracy nutjobbers talk about it: because it contradicts the "Oswald was an innocent patsy" theory.

I found that I had to move on. I recommend the author do the same.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first learned of Dorothy Kilgallen’s importance in the JFK assassination investigations in Richard Belzer’s Hit List: An In-Depth Investigation into the Mysterious Deaths of Witnesses to the JFK Assassination. Elsewhere in the JFK literature you will find only a sentence or two, but Belzer lists her in the top 10, (along with Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby and Officer Tippit) of those who lost their lives in the cover up.

Mark Shaw brings it all together and in telling her story gives her the tribute she deserves. A short biography shows her status and influence. She had covered a lot of murder cases, most famously the Sheppard murder where her journalism propelled the case to the Supreme Court; Its decision led to a retrial which reversed Sheppard’s conviction. Long after Kilgallen's death (and many who remember this) Sam Sheppard was fully absolved by DNA.

In covering Jack Ruby’s trial, Kilgallen again picked up on things that eclipse most people. Why was Marvin Belli, a famous civil attorney, the defense attorney in a criminal case? Why was Ruby’s defense insanity? Kilgallen had connections and status. She was able to convince Belli to allow her to interview his client. This brief and private interview, from which Kilgallen was said to have had copious notes, was the only time Jack Ruby was interviewed. Her investigation gave her enough clues to take her to New Orleans, which suggests Carlos Marcello is in her sights. Shortly after this, Kilgallen is found dead.

Most of the book that follows focuses on the irregularities and inconsistencies of the circumstances and non-investigation of her death and how it came to be officially determined a suicide. There are a lot of tentacles with those most worthy of investigation being: 1) the “mystery man” of the night before (and the fishy behavior of “friend” Ron Pataky), 2) the positioning of her body as found (unusual clothing, not ready for bed makeup, hair and false eyelashes, upside down book, the specific drugs on the bedside table), 3) everything about the Medical Examiner’s report which was signed by a deputy in the Brooklyn office when the death was in Manhattan and 4) the most critical – Kilgallen’s files, notes and papers on the assassination were missing from her home.

Like many books, this book has a web site. Unlike any book, to my knowledge, the site (thereporterwhoknewtoomuch.com) has the video interviews covered in the book.

If, like me, you are interested in the JFK assassination here is another book for your “to read” list. It is not the most important book in the topic, but it documents the first credible challenge to the Warren Commission's conclusions. We do not know what she found, but she had the access and the platform to “blow it wide open” (as she claimed to friends) with far less information than is now known. In one sense, her death was the canary in the coal mine… warning, and most likely silencing, all but the very brave.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Mark Shaw! I, personally, have been waiting for this story to come out and was thrilled to find it when searching on Amazon. The author supplies facts and then reviews them with a fine tooth comb in later chapters. Some would find this redundant. While I didn't 'get' his writing style at first, once I understood his points, and his substantiating of facts it all 'fell into place'. This is an ABSOLUTE must read for those curious to know what happened not only to the fabulous Dorothy Kilgallen but the mystery of JFK, Oswald, and Ruby deaths (and even perhaps Marilyn Monroe). It all just makes sense. Mr. Shaw, in case you get to read this review, I cannot thank you enough for finally uncovering these injustices done in the last century. The story has to be told and I hope enough people are listening to put this not just on their reading radar, but more importantly, to reopen ALL these cases and put justice back to where it deserves. Many thanks!

[Randee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author makes a good case that in all likelihood Dorothy Kilgallen was murdered for information she had on the Kennedy assassination. I keep an open mind but I have always thought there was a lot more to the JFK assassination than what was reported. Old man Kennedy had screwed over the Mafia and Bobby was busy going after them but it never made sense to me that Ruby was able to shoot Oswald in a county jail with cops all around. Ruby seemed like he was a sleaze and not the type to be so incensed with Kennedy's supposed killer that he would shoot him from a passionate hatred, etc.
I can't understand why all of this hasn't been investigated comprehensively. As far as the book reads, there is quite a bit of repetition that was unnecessary but it is rich in detail and if nothing else, makes one wonder what really happened.

[Janet Miles]

Interesting read but I would have serious problems with the editor. Lots of typos and the author's use of adjectives leaves something to be desired IMHO. If you can get past that, you'll probably enjoy it.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review of The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What’s My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen must begin with a disclaimer (and add another one later). The reviewer is too quick to see conspiracy by tying the slimmest of threads together. Although finding myself less skeptical than I once was about the assassinations of the Kennedys, there is still a great deal of discomfort in my mind about the inadequacies of the Warren Commission Report and the belated release of certain papers related to JFK’s final hours. The Reporter Who Knew Too Much both feeds on that discomfort and adds a new mystery to the mix—the strange circumstances surrounding the death of Dorothy Kilgallen, television star and newspaper columnist/reporter. And, if nothing else, it answers some of the questions my younger self used to have as to why this woman in the fancy clothes was always on the What’s My Line game show and why she was so good at playing the game.

Shaw uses his own interviews and those performed earlier by investigative journalists (cynics would call them sensationalists) to weave a plausible case for, most likely, a hit ordered by famed Mafia boss Carlos Marcello. Of course, I wouldn’t spoil that if it weren’t more complicated than that and Shaw only offered that possibility. It’s just that it makes the most sense to me out of all the scenarios. [DISCLAIMER: I once interviewed a novelist who lived in Marcello’s mob domain. The novelist is now dead so I can reveal what he shared with me “off the record.” There was a distinctive character in most of this novelist’s work (a recurring antagonist who sometimes acted as a patron). I asked him if said character was modeled on anyone in particular. “Off the record,” he told me that it could be fatal if he told me. Later, after he was assured I wasn’t going to print it, he said it was the New Orleans mob boss. So, I have to admit that my mind has a pre-disposed fertile receptivity to suggestions that Marcello may have ordered the death of Kilgallen as part of a JFK conspiracy cover-up. BTW, said author died of natural causes which even I have been unable to package into a conspiracy. (chuckle)]

Even if one doesn’t buy into any of the nefarious possibilities presented by Shaw, the research points to a definitely botched toxicology report with pretty convincing (deliberate) incompetence and negligence in the investigation of the famous reporter’s death. The conspiracy comes in because Kilgallen had never been satisfied with the Warren Commission’s report, had leaked confidential material (the interview with Jack Ruby), had talked to Jack in confidence about the killing of Oswald, and had just met and was planning to meet again a secret source in New Orleans that would, in her own words, break the JFK story wide open. She died before that second meeting.

Her death was ruled either suicide or accidental death by overdose. The timing was an inconvenient coincidence concerning what she was about to do during the week she died and the combination of barbiturates (two for which she was not prescribed of which one of those two would be fatal if mixed with her prescribed Seconal). Conspiracies loom concerning the thick JFK assassination file she carried around with her which was conspicuously missing and has never been found. And, it was strange that she was found dead in a bed in which she hadn’t slept for years on a floor of her Manhattan townhouse where she hadn’t slept for years. Plus, there was the “mystery man” with which she was seen only an hour or so before her death.

And what I have shared here is merely the tip of the iceberg, the carefully qualified iceberg in which Shaw carefully paints a canvas of possibility, maybe even probability, without going over the line of false accusation or libel. Think the mafia is the only suspect? Consider Shaw’s presentation of the CIA (not chartered to spy on its own citizens) with a 20-page dossier on Kilgallen (having contacted more than 50 CIA offices in its compilation—p. 165) or the ever more villainous (the more one reads about him) J. Edgar Hoover not only detested but obsessed on Kilgallen. However, he doesn’t look like a good suspect to this reviewer since the bureau was still seeking the illusive JFK file that had disappeared in 1975, twenty years after her death (p. 178).

The Reporter Who Knew Too Much: The Mysterious Death of What’s My Line TV Star and Media Icon Dorothy Kilgallen is as exciting (and cynics would argue as fanciful) as a fictional thriller novel. As in all conspiracy books, there are times that it seems like the author is pushing on a string of evidence to make his case. At other times, he seems to bend over backwards to be fair (perhaps, on attorney’s advice, but being a former attorney himself…). This book will be stimulating to anyone who is interested in those events of November, 1963 and any potential aftermath within the next couple of years. It is the perfect book for an aging baby-boomer like myself who will never forget that incredible image of the guy in the hat sliding between two policemen to shoot Lee Harvey Oswald point-blank.

BTW, the start date on reading this book is ironic, don't you think?

[TXGAL1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting theories presented pertaining to Kilgallen's death.

Somehow I expected a more polished presentation.

[Shabra Bendrix · Rating 1 out of 5]

Intriguing subject obscured by dreadful editing & writing

I was turned on to the story of Dorothy Kilgallen after watching the film "Can You Ever Forgive Me,” the story of late writer Lee Israel, portrayed with shambling verve by Melissa McCarthy. Curious about Israel, a down-on-her-luck writer who turned to forging letters of dead celebrities in order to pay her bills, I read up on her and her pre-criminal career. One of her books was a biography of Kilgallen. It is hard to find, but Mark Shaw’s “The Reporter Who Knew Too Much” quickly popped up in online searches.

Alas, Shaw’s book is s so poorly written and edited that after a few pages I turned back to see if it had been published by a vanity press. Nope; Simon & Schuster! Somebody there should be fired.

I’ve caught Shaw on a few podcasts and it's clear he has a real affection and admiration for Kilgallen -- an intriguing figure in U.S. and journalism history who deserves more attention and a thorough telling of her life, work and unexpected death at age 52. (A nationally syndicated newspaper columnist as well as TV celebrity, she was researching a controversial angle about the JFK assassination in 1965, a time when few questioned the single-gunman explanation.) But Shaw’s “The Reporter Who Knew Too Much,” unfortunately is not that telling. Breathless superlatives ladled throughout the text do not a good read make (just the opposite, in fact; it calls into question the writer's credibility). Beyond being told (multiple times) that Kilgallen's dad was a newspaper reporter for Hearst, there's scant information about Dorothy's drive to be a journalist, or her development as such. We're told she was a phenom from the word go, and that she bashed through the glass ceiling – but are never shown what that looked or felt like. She just swanned in and became a star. It doesn't seem that Shaw talked to any of her family members, early friends or newspaper colleagues. To be fair, Shaw is not a trained writer but a lawyer, more recently a legal consultant/talking head on various cable TV news programs. In podcasts (where I turned because I could not make it through his book), Shaw offers little further insight. He speaks of the “staged scene” of her death as if that’s an undisputed fact, and offers some of the details that raise questions about her death — such as the many hours it took family/friends to call in police or EMTs, or that her file of notes on Jack Ruby were never found — without talking through how (or if) he pursued those threads, what various explanations were offered, or what they might be.

I just ordered Israel’s “Kilgallen;” let’s hope that one’s worth it.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early promise didn’t deliver. That’s all I can say.

[Terry Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember Dorothy Kilgallen from watching 'What's My Line' reruns with my parents when I was growing up. I didn't know that she was a reporter, or that she had died in such a mysterious way. Shaw definitely shows that the NYPD 'investigation' in her death was shoddy at best, and the resulting autopsy certainly left more questions than answers. There is no smoking gun here, but by the book's end I agree that Kilgallen's death doesn't seem a plausible suicide or accidental overdose. Although she had several enemies, most of Shaw's motive goes into Kilgallen's investigation of the JFK assassination, primarily Jack Ruby's role. She had collected materials for an upcoming book on the subject, and these files were missing after her death. Whether organized crime interests, the CIA, the FBI or others were involved is speculative. I doubt there will ever be a definitive answer as to who was responsible for Kilgallen's death.

Several years ago, I read the Warren Commission Report--definitely a one -sided project that seemed to be a report that tried to prove their preconceived objective of a lone gunman, leaving out the testimony of several key witnesses. A few years ago I read 'Crossfire' by Jim Marrs, a Texas based reporter who covered the assassination and trials--including the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the 1970s. They came to a different conclusion than the Warren Report. Unfortunately the committee was disbanded--maybe they were getting too close to some uncomfortable information. Interesting that even now, our current administration (Biden) won't divulge classified information regarding the assassination--maybe they think the American people can't handle the fact that some form of federal government collusion took place.

I would give the book a higher rating, but by the time I got to the epilogue it seemed repetitive. A follow-up to the first edition repeats much of the epilogue, but does give more recent developments although they don't really lead anywhere. A good read if you don't know about Kilgallen, and an interesting snapshot the early 1960s.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read “Murder One” & Lee Israel’s “Kilgallen” and was very happy to see this book. There is so much info and a website to check out. It's so obvious that she was murdered. Very powerful folks silenced everyone concerned.

She apparently was an incredibly gifted investigative reporter. She loved what she did and didn’t notice she was in a traditionally male field. She asked the right questions, noticed details, and wasn’t afraid to persist. I did wonder why she didn’t pursue Marilyn Monroe’s murder further than she did. Wonder if all her notes were destroyed.

I had forgotten or didn’t know the extent of her relationship with Johnny Ray. And it was interesting that she didn’t divorce her husband, he needed her more than she needed him. I suppose everybody’s life has its complications, and it’s all the more interesting if you are in the public eye.
Sad she is not remembered. My guess if there was anyone who wished to do anything to honor her work were “kept” very, very quiet. Maybe somebody might try a movie, unless not enough time has passed?

http://www.thereporterwhoknewtoomuch....
http://thedorothykilgallenstory.org/

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

In essence, this is a story of the life and death of Dorothy Kilgallen (1913-1965), who, during her lifetime, earned a reputation as one of America's toughest, most saavy, fearless, most respected, and best investigative journalists. She was also widely popular as a panelist on the highly rated TV show, 'What's My Line?'

Mark Shaw also sets out to establish that Kilgallen's death was not accidental as has been commonly believed. Indeed, according to him, "[i]n all likelihood, the timing of Dorothy Kilgallen’s death [on November 8, 1965] cannot be a coincidence. The fact is that it occurred within days of telling friends she possessed evidence pointing toward who killed [President Kennedy] and why. This provides good cause to believe that plans were in place to murder her on the very weekend her body was discovered.”

[Marybb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I also wanted to like the book, but did not. Could have been been much better with some editing, both for content and length. I read the Kindle edition and also found quite a number of what I call typos, not sure whether they exist in the dead tree text or not. Many of the errors were distracting because they were errors not of spelling, but grammar errors of case, number, reference and gender so that I had to reread a paragraph to try to make sense. Ultimately unsatisfying.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I became addicted to watching What's My Line on Youtube-I mean the old version from the fifties and sixties- I have become interested in the panelists and stars that appeared on the show.

Dorothy Kilgallen was a well-known reporter back then, although obscure today. What intrigued me, though, was that she died from a barbiturate and alcohol overdose. Nowadays that doesn't surprise us at all, since famous people not only make no effort to appear decent, but actually try to seem even more outrageous than they actually are as a way of promoting their career.

We all have come to realize that a famous person dying "unexpectedly" is code for an overdose or suicide.

As clean cut and classy as Dorothy came across on TV, she abused alcohol and drugs, had multiple affairs (one of her children may not even be her husband's) and was a tigress when reporting.

I will take this moment to say that, even though no one was any more innocent back then than they are now, I found the veneer of decency that was required of television shows and personalities back then to be a relief. I don't care who is sleeping with who or who made a video mostly naked. Oh, to return to a time when classy, not trashy, was fashionable.

Mark Shaw has written a book that I suspect he is hoping will get him a Pulitzer, or at least credit for re-opening an investigation on-not only Kilgallen's death- but also President Kennedy's.

According to Shaw, Kilgallen was murdered by the mafia because she knew that JFK was not really killed by a lone crazy person craving notoriety, but a plot by the mob to avenge the push-back Robert Kennedy gave to certain crime bosses.

To be honest, I don't know. But I can't say that Shaw's book persuades me one way or another. It primarily consists of speculation, peppered with a lot of sentences beginning with, "What if...?" and "Common sense dictates..." or "therefore it is logical to infer..."

What I liked came in the first half of the book: a biography of Dorothy Kilgallen. Smutty dark underbelly aside, she was an interesting person. She was also an ambitious, hard-nose, relentless and at times, savage, reporter and writer. One would not suspect that from the sweet persona one sees on What's My Line.

Shaw probably did not intend this, but the conclusion I formed of Kilgallen is that she chased after a Kennedy conspiracy like a pit bull because she couldn't resist seeing her name in lights. No doubt she imagined a Pulitzer or even Nobel Peace prize as the spoils of her efforts. I think she wanted her name to go down in history as the one who blew the lid off the Kennedy assassination cover-up.

Instead, she is primarily known as a panelist on a game show.

The second half, if I may be so blunt, comes across as Shaw's starry eyed notion of himself as Kilgallen's savior. He hopes that justice may finally be served as more and more people, especially "young, educated, intelligent" people come to understand how "ludicrous" and "absurd" the notion is that Oswald acted alone.

By the end of the book, his writing reads like a man who has stayed up late at night, drinking numerous bottles of whiskey. He gets increasing maudlin and grandiose as he winds up his book. It got a little silly.

It is also interesting to note that Kilgallen's children, all of whom are alive, refused to speak with this author.

As I mentioned before I have no idea if Oswald acted alone or was part of a conspiracy. To me President Johnson had the most to gain from Kennedy's death. He was from Fort Worth and got voted in through corrupt cronyism and organized crime outfits locally. Why has no one suggested him as a suspect? He was a lousy president. Thanks to his "war on poverty" an ever-growing portion of our population has become increasingly dependent on government assistance and we now have generations of families who no longer understand what a work ethic is.

But I digress. In conclusion I found it to be an OK read, hence the two star rating.

[Jennifer Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a revealing and intriguing look at the extraordinary life and mysterious death of the multi-talented columnist/TV personality Dorothy Kilgallen. It a juicy hybrid of celebrity bio and true crime. While the author does often get into the weeds when it comes to the technical aspcts of Kilgallen's death the book is worthwhile, especially for fans of this complex and very unique woman.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Justice is a big rug. When you pull it out from under one man, a lot of others fall too." -- Dorothy Kilgallen

As a huge fan of What's My Line (seriously, go to YouTube and watch any episode--they're amazing), a long overdue book and focus on just what happened to Dorothy. At the time of her death, WML had 25 million people tuning in on Sunday nights (for compare, Sunday Night Football/Big Bang Theory averages about 18 million now). Dorothy Kilgallen's column was syndicated in over 200 newspapers and she also had a top rated radio show. She covered every big trial from The Lindbergh Baby to Dr Sam Shepherd (whom she was instrumental in helping free) and the Profumo affair. Oh, and she was the last to interview Jack Ruby, killer of Oswald. None of that saved her from being murdered and it's spooky how easily it was swept up and covered up.

When Marilyn Monroe died, Kilgallen was one of the first to wonder about the state of the house; why was MM's door atypically locked; "If she was just trying to get to sleep and took the overdose of pills accidentally, why was the light on?"; "Why did the first doctor have to call the second doctor before calling the police?...Why the big time gap in such a small town?..The real story hasn't been told, not by a long shot." -- and the irony is that pretty much all the same questions can be raised about Kilgallen's death + more.

Why was Kilgallen found in a bedroom she never used, all tucked in, wearing a nightgown she never typically wore in full makeup, what happened to her clothes from the night before?, how come a book was placed next to her (as if she fell asleep reading), when her reading glasses were missing (and it was a book she had already read), what about the glass of water next to her that was found laced with a deadly sedative?, or the 3 knockout drugs in her system, 1 of which was a controlled substance (used now for executions), what about the huge length of time before her body was discovered and the police were called?, what about the doctor that signed her death certificate stating now he never saw the body and didn't know why he signed it?, what about her absolutely fucked up autopsy by a doctor "not fit to wash test tubes"?

Also, as someone who has read a ridiculous amount of books on Joan Crawford--what was Joan Crawford doing at the scene before the cops even showed up??!?

And most importantly, where the HELL did her bulging file about the Kennedy assassination disappear to? The one she never left out of her sight? And "Dorothy wouldn't stop with the JFK assassination investigation. She had it all. She told me this. She said this was the case of a lifetime, the story of a lifetime. That she would prove who assassinated the president."

Police never questioned anyone, never took fingerprints, never interviewed witnesses at the hotel bar she was last seen at meeting someone, or looked into who tapped her phones or threatened her just a few days before her death. Virtually all her friends and coworkers stated that she was murdered. Instead the authorities "grinned" and told one underling "Keep this under your hat. It's big." The only official look it seems was the House Select Committee on Assassinations, which was an investigatory body formed to look into JFK and MLK assassinations in 1978, whose chief counsel said they thought her death was "fishy" but "we were not able to solve it and do JFK and MLK assassination investigation at the same time."

Even though her file was stolen after or before her murder, it's still pretty clear who she suspected--Carlos Marcello, a crime boss of New Orleans, who had connections with Ruby (and it turns out she was the only reporter who connected Ruby and Oswald--with Oswald doing odd jobs at Ruby's nightclub). And she also suspected a traitor from within her circle leaking information and I think the author does a very good job in laying out the case for her new boyfriend of the time, who is still alive. After her death he bragged about his connection to mobsters, worked as a policeman (though unclear if he was fired after he hit 5 cars trying to injure a woman or when he fired a gun at a football player in a drunken rage), and to complete his scumbaggery went to Bob Jones University, found Jesus, and published a book of poems that had 2 OJ Simpsonesque "If I Did It" themes? If Ron Pataky didn't kill Kilgallen, it seems semi-obvious just based on his many lies that he probably facilitated it.

Author interjects himself a bit too much in the last chapters and some of the information could have been consolidated a tad (the toxicology parts seemed to be repeated) but extreme props for the number of photos and reproduced columns and extra media on his website. All non-fiction history books should do this and I'm glad Mark Shaw's efforts have led to NYC re-opening an investigation (though looking it up, see no new articles since the DA Cyrus Vance announced this).

The author's anger at how Kilgallen's reputation was smeared after her death (as a drunk & druggie, when she did neither) and the total inaction and shrugs that her death elicited from government/authorities. She deserved far more and it's almost sad at her faith in her fellow reporters since she believed that even if she failed with the JFK investigation, others would pick it up. Totally brave--from refusing to give up her sources to the CIA, stating she'd rather die, to walking into a burning building to rescue an infant dressed in a sequined evening gown, to racing around the world--it's maddening to think of how it all ended for her.

[Joseph J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As A kid I recall Dorothy Kilgallen on What's My Line. This book details her background as a crime reporter, New York columnist and overall celebrity. The focus is on her dogged pursuit into the Kennedy assassination via her coverage of the Jack Ruby trial. Her suspicious death is the climax of her investigation. Did her digging inflame the wrong people? This book will strongly appeal to conspiracy theorists, those interested in organized crime and anyone interested in the post World War II culture. New York journalists were once powerful people. Kilgallen encountered persons from JFK to Sinatra to Dr. Sam Sheppard and even Nikita Krushchev. She had friends in high places, but she had her enemies also. I won my copy through Goodreads giveaway.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore Dorothy Kilgallen and investigative journalism. I have no specific interest in JFK assassination theories.
Book needs an editor and a proofreader. I speed read through it to see items of interest because painful to see typos and repetition. I do appreciate author's appreciation of Dorothy and believe he did his best.
Example of poor proofing: At the top of each page it says THE REPORTER THAT KNEW TOO MUCH, which irritated my small brain constantly. THAT? Then I looked at the cover and the title said THE REPORTER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. So they caught the error and fixed the cover but...things like this made it an irritating read and a magazine article would have said all that needed to be said.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been an investigative and courts reporter myself, Dorothy Kilgallen was the best. A great read.

I'd give it five stars, but the editors at Post Hill Press did a very sloppy job proofreading. I was also bothered by the small size of many of the graphics. The author did not always provide text explaining what was in the graphic or print in the book's text was was in the graphic, expecting the reader to review the content him/herself in these poor images.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a time to be reading a book about government conspiracies and government corruption and the danger to those who uncover it! For the most part, the book was interesting and engaging but could have used some editing. There was too much tiresome repetition of spurious medical and autopsy reports with no new information given. Still, the case was made that Dorothy Kilgallen's death was not suicide or by accidental or natural causes.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember Dorothy Kilgallen from What's My Line and do recall seeing her byline in the newspaper, so, when I saw this book was available, it was calling my name.
I learned things I didn't know, including her dogged investigating of JFK's assassination and her dalliance with Johnny Ray. The book was very interesting until I felt it became repetitive. (Didn't he say that already?) Still, all-in-all, I'm glad I read it.

[Cheri Vause · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinated by JFK's assassination and Oswald, I try to keep up with any new information coming out about the investigation. This book is another in seeing The Warren Report as a coverup, led by J. Edgar Hoover and LBJ's encouragement. Something other than what has put forward actually happened. This latest book actually hits closer to the bull's eye than all the others. Kilgallen was murdered, that is a fact, but by whom is still a bit murky.

My only objection to this book is it's a bit redundant. Still, I looked forward to reading a few chapters every night before bed. It was hard to put down because I had to know. I learned a few things I didn't know, and that was completely worth it. Where the investigation will go next I'm looking forward to. My biggest question is why the children of Kilgallen are unwilling to have the Attorney General of New York open an investigation. Have they been threatened as their mother was on multiple occasions? Do they know where her file on JFK and Oswald's assassination is? The whole thing stinks and it falls at the feet of the Mob, Hoover, and all of those still out there trashing Kilgallen. She knew too much and was about to print what she discovered, making the conspirators very nervous.

For all those who are still wondering about the assassinations, this should be one of the books at the top of your list. The redundancy is a bit annoying, but it's still worth reading.

[Tony Siciliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy Kilgallen was perhaps the best news reporter, crime writer, and columnist of her time. She became a power unto herself over the years, wielding power to greatly help or destroy others, including celebrities and politicians. She made her personal life as tidy as she could, despite being married to a man who was neither faithful nor ambitious. Most of this book deals with Kilgallen's determination to discover the real killer(s) of John F. Kennedy in November, 1963. The author describes in great detail her investigations and interviews and (probably) conclusive knowledge of who actually killed the president. Kilgallen died in November, 1965 amid circumstances both suspicious and not properly investigated. The author, successfully in my opinion), links Kilgallen's sudden death to the Kennedy assassins. While not terribly interested in conspiracy theories, I found much to believe in this narrative. The author is annoyingly repetitive, but he is very thorough and convincing.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Reporter Who Knew Too Much is a true crime murder mystery. Mark Shaw, the author, is an investigative reporter, legal analyst, and a former criminal defense attorney.

The reporter who knew too much is Dorothy Kilgallen. This book covers the life and the suicide/murder of Dorothy Kilgallen. She was born in 1913 and died in 1965. Ms. Kilgallen was a brash investigative reporter and a regular on What's My Line.

Dorothy Kilgallen wrote stories for Journal-American about Frank Sinatra, the Mafia, JFK assassination, Oswald, and Jack Ruby. She pursued the truth about conspiracies and those who believed they were above the law.

I recommend The Reporter Who Knew Too Much. I truly enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading The Poison Patriarch by Mark Shaw.

[Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about an interesting woman. I was oddly enough a huge fan “What’s My Line” when I was a child and vaguely remember when Dorothy Kilgallen died. Her life and career was fascinating, beginning with her coverage of the Lindbergh kidnapping case and continuing through parallel careers in newspapers, radio, and television.

The author is clearly an admirer of Kilgallen and unabashedly praises her on every page, some of which is warranted and other seemingly overblown. The author is forced to entertain a number of interesting, but implausible theories. I am not sure for instance that even had Kilgallen lived that she would have been able to tie up all the lose ends in the Kennedy assassination for certain. No one will know, as her findings in this, her last investigation into the Kennedy case, remain unknown.

There is certainly more than enough smoke to raise suspicion about the circumstances of Kilgallen’s death, but the author undermines whatever case he seeks to make by entertaining odd assumptions, the more sensational the better. There is an over reliance on certain sources (Dorothy Kilgallen’s hairdresser for instance) If anything this makes me more inclined to seek out Lee Israel’s book on Kilgallen as this book’s flaws leave me oddly unsatisfied.

[peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief summary of the life, career, and untimely death of reporter, Dorothy Kilgallen, was an eye-opener for me. I remember seeing Kilgallen on the TV game show as a child but I never realized how powerful her journalism had been in the 1960s. Kilgallen was definitely a force to be reckoned with.
According to Shaw, Kilgallen’s tragic death was directly related to the research she was doing on the JFK assassination. Unfortunately, it appears Kilgallen shared her findings with the wrong person and became the reporter who talked too much. The information she shared apparently led to her demise. But I suppose we mustn’t blame the victim.
Shaw’s research appears to be thorough and the conspiracy theory it supports is credible.
While I appreciate the content of Shaw’s book, I feel that the book could have been better organized and more concise. Much of what I read seemed redundant and, obviously, inconclusive. If I had known that Shaw published another book on this subject in 2020, I would have opted to read his updated version of the Kilgallen saga.
I would recommend this book for its content but not for Shaw’s style.

“Seal up your lips and give no words but mum.”