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The Two Gates
The missed shot that changed history.11/22/63: In a twist of fate, President John F. Kennedy survives the assassination attempt in Dallas, Texas.
Political intrigue and infighting roil Washington in the wake of the assassination attempt, as JFK returns to the White House from the hospital to face a rebellious Vice President and a growing crisis in Vietnam that threatens America’s Cold War strategy. The president doesn’t trust the information he is getting from Saigon, where in the aftermath of the coup that toppled the U.S. supported government, the American military is engaged in a shadow operation to make things seem better than they really are.
So he turns to the one man he does Lt. Colonel Patrick O’Shea. A decorated combat veteran of Korea, O’Shea has been plucked from obscurity to be Kennedy’s military advisor, and is tasked by the president to figure out what is really going on in Vietnam.
The knives come out as O’Shea grapples with myriad threats to himself and the president he serves. The Pentagon, the CIA, the Corsican Mafia and the Chicago Mob are all conspiring against him.
The debut novel by Ken Davenport, The Two Gates is an exciting new addition to the military, presidential and alternative history tradition of W.E.B. Griffin, David Baldacci, Harry Turtledove and Philip Roth.
"A Tom Clancy-like thriller you won't be able to put down!"
Political intrigue and infighting roil Washington in the wake of the assassination attempt, as JFK returns to the White House from the hospital to face a rebellious Vice President and a growing crisis in Vietnam that threatens America’s Cold War strategy. The president doesn’t trust the information he is getting from Saigon, where in the aftermath of the coup that toppled the U.S. supported government, the American military is engaged in a shadow operation to make things seem better than they really are.
So he turns to the one man he does Lt. Colonel Patrick O’Shea. A decorated combat veteran of Korea, O’Shea has been plucked from obscurity to be Kennedy’s military advisor, and is tasked by the president to figure out what is really going on in Vietnam.
The knives come out as O’Shea grapples with myriad threats to himself and the president he serves. The Pentagon, the CIA, the Corsican Mafia and the Chicago Mob are all conspiring against him.
The debut novel by Ken Davenport, The Two Gates is an exciting new addition to the military, presidential and alternative history tradition of W.E.B. Griffin, David Baldacci, Harry Turtledove and Philip Roth.
"A Tom Clancy-like thriller you won't be able to put down!"
- GenresAlternate HistoryFiction
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2017
121 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Ken Davenport
5 books40 followersKen Davenport is an entrepreneur and novelist based in San Diego, California.
Ken’s built multiple businesses, lived in Switzerland as a kid, did his graduate work in London, spent a nomadic year in Tokyo, where he learned Japanese (or tried), and now spends much of his free time helping military veterans transition to the civilian world.
To learn more about Ken, his current and upcoming novels, news and updates, go to www.kendavenport.net.
Ken’s built multiple businesses, lived in Switzerland as a kid, did his graduate work in London, spent a nomadic year in Tokyo, where he learned Japanese (or tried), and now spends much of his free time helping military veterans transition to the civilian world.
To learn more about Ken, his current and upcoming novels, news and updates, go to www.kendavenport.net.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 8, 2017
Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Ken Davenport has written a thought-provoking slant on real events in his political thriller The Two Gates. “What if Jacqueline Kennedy had taken the killing bullet for her husband, and President John F Kennedy had survived the attack on his life in Dallas in the January of 1964?” The hypothesis is intensely credible because the people who surrounded the president talk and act as one can believe they would have, and it brings their fears and ambitions vividly alive. In Vietnam, General Nguyen Khanh executes a bloodless coup that threatens America’s Cold War strategy, and Lieutenant Colonel Patrick O’Shea is tasked with amassing accurate information. Will O’Shea succeed with powerful enemies such as Corsican Mafia, and others at the very heart of the Pentagon? Will JFK’s decision be to escalate the war or pull American troops out?
Alternative history makes for intriguing reading, and The Two Gates, is an in-depth, well-characterised, example. Ken Davenport avoids a rehash of the familiar Dallas tragedy and opens with the spread of the shocking news. JFK’s loyal brother, Bobby, plans to use it to oust Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson from office; Jacqueline Kennedy’s funeral proves more politically important than mourning a wife, and power-hungry General Nguyen Khanh, newly in command of Vietnam, lets loose opium in the hands of the Turks. The great strength of Ken Davenport’s writing is his ability to get under the skin of real people and show them as human, not just chess-pieces to be moved to suit his plot. I found The Two Gates intensely gripping, and I recommend it unreservedly to readers all over the world.
Ken Davenport has written a thought-provoking slant on real events in his political thriller The Two Gates. “What if Jacqueline Kennedy had taken the killing bullet for her husband, and President John F Kennedy had survived the attack on his life in Dallas in the January of 1964?” The hypothesis is intensely credible because the people who surrounded the president talk and act as one can believe they would have, and it brings their fears and ambitions vividly alive. In Vietnam, General Nguyen Khanh executes a bloodless coup that threatens America’s Cold War strategy, and Lieutenant Colonel Patrick O’Shea is tasked with amassing accurate information. Will O’Shea succeed with powerful enemies such as Corsican Mafia, and others at the very heart of the Pentagon? Will JFK’s decision be to escalate the war or pull American troops out?
Alternative history makes for intriguing reading, and The Two Gates, is an in-depth, well-characterised, example. Ken Davenport avoids a rehash of the familiar Dallas tragedy and opens with the spread of the shocking news. JFK’s loyal brother, Bobby, plans to use it to oust Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson from office; Jacqueline Kennedy’s funeral proves more politically important than mourning a wife, and power-hungry General Nguyen Khanh, newly in command of Vietnam, lets loose opium in the hands of the Turks. The great strength of Ken Davenport’s writing is his ability to get under the skin of real people and show them as human, not just chess-pieces to be moved to suit his plot. I found The Two Gates intensely gripping, and I recommend it unreservedly to readers all over the world.
November 6, 2017
Having lived through the JFK years and being able to remember clearly both the Cuban missile crisis and his assassination, I've always been fascinated as to how things would have gone if he had lived. This excellent novel, gives an alternative history of the events that took place after Dallas and puts forward the scenario that the USA didn't get involved in a protracted war in Vietnam. I really enjoyed the novel and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in that era.
October 18, 2017
I was given an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Having lived through this trying period I was fully involved from page one. The quick comments from participants draw you in and mentally you revisit TV film clips from the past. You see the faces and hear the accents. So real yet with unexpected twists and turns that make this alternative history so enjoyable. There are some heros to applaud and to hope for their future in Ken Davenport's mind! Looking forward to his next novel.
Having lived through this trying period I was fully involved from page one. The quick comments from participants draw you in and mentally you revisit TV film clips from the past. You see the faces and hear the accents. So real yet with unexpected twists and turns that make this alternative history so enjoyable. There are some heros to applaud and to hope for their future in Ken Davenport's mind! Looking forward to his next novel.
October 16, 2017
So excited to see this book published. A rip-roaring alternative history adventure that re-imagines the heart of the Vietnam War.
October 10, 2020
Great alternative history!
Loved the book, the writing style and the incredible detail put into it. Why only 4 stars? I HATED THE ENDING! It was almost as if the author got tired and bailed out. I found myself intensely disappointed.
Loved the book, the writing style and the incredible detail put into it. Why only 4 stars? I HATED THE ENDING! It was almost as if the author got tired and bailed out. I found myself intensely disappointed.
April 2, 2018
Excellent History of John Kennedy and Vietnam
Unlike many alternate histories, this book has full-developed, sympathetic characters and a gripping, well-researched and believable story. The only minus is that the ending is abrupt. Looking forward to other books by this author. One of the best alternate history stories I have read in a long time.
Unlike many alternate histories, this book has full-developed, sympathetic characters and a gripping, well-researched and believable story. The only minus is that the ending is abrupt. Looking forward to other books by this author. One of the best alternate history stories I have read in a long time.
November 3, 2018
I love how this book provided a glimpse into an alternate reality of 1960’s America. Despite the very interesting story line I found it less then exciting in some parts. Throughout the book I found that I started to really understand the characters and hoped for their well being. That’s why the ending was hard for me to accept. Don’t get me wrong, it was a perfect ending but just difficult to believe. I recommend this book to anyone who has a fascination with JFK and loves books about alternate history!
May 19, 2019
Page-turning read
This was a fascinating read for anyone interested in this period of history. The author did a great job capturing the thoughts, considerations and contrary viewpoints of the key players during this time, all the while building tension as it climbed to a jaw-dropping ending. Well done.
This was a fascinating read for anyone interested in this period of history. The author did a great job capturing the thoughts, considerations and contrary viewpoints of the key players during this time, all the while building tension as it climbed to a jaw-dropping ending. Well done.
June 15, 2019
What if...?
What if is a fun game to bbn play, but can a single man change history? Even the President of the United States has pressure of events that force a path. Can anything or anyone really make a difference?
What if is a fun game to bbn play, but can a single man change history? Even the President of the United States has pressure of events that force a path. Can anything or anyone really make a difference?
July 26, 2019
Interesting Change to History
The idea that JFK was not assassinated in ‘63 is intriguing although I am not certain I buy into some of the premise. While often historical fact is used some of the conclusions are written with the hindsight of knowledge of the Vietnam quagmire.
The idea that JFK was not assassinated in ‘63 is intriguing although I am not certain I buy into some of the premise. While often historical fact is used some of the conclusions are written with the hindsight of knowledge of the Vietnam quagmire.
January 26, 2020
I normally don't read "what would have happened if books" but this book kept my interest. It is hard to put down and I would recommend it to anyone. The idea that Kennedy survived the assassination is interesting. Would he have pulled US troops from Vietnam? What would the mob have done? These and other questions are answered in this book.
December 9, 2020
Interesting story
This was at an interesting twist on real events. Can't help but wonder what could have been had Kennedy survived. Wonder if one day we will find out who killed him.
This was at an interesting twist on real events. Can't help but wonder what could have been had Kennedy survived. Wonder if one day we will find out who killed him.
May 2, 2022
An interesting alternate history. I was surprised that I enjoyed this book. I don't know much about the Vietnam war from a factual perspective so didn't know what was based on fact and what was fiction. However I found the story engaging and hard to put down.
June 25, 2019
I had a hard time with this one. Number one is I couldn't picture the President without Jackie and then it made me realize that even Kennedy had his faults along with his brothers.
September 21, 2019
Fast paced history
I enjoyed this book. I was a teen when Pres Kennedy was killed so this story was especially relevant and I admire Ken’s imagination!
I enjoyed this book. I was a teen when Pres Kennedy was killed so this story was especially relevant and I admire Ken’s imagination!
January 16, 2026
WOW, if ?
Awesome story, I enjoyed it Immensely. The way used actual events and people. That was my era and thinking if could only be true.
Awesome story, I enjoyed it Immensely. The way used actual events and people. That was my era and thinking if could only be true.
May 18, 2020
An excellent what if? story of JFK surviving Dallas and what he does with the Vietnam situation.
October 6, 2020
Fantastic book
Great story , riviting, makes you wish even more that Kennedy would have survived and ended that terrible war, before it destroyed so many lives.
Great story , riviting, makes you wish even more that Kennedy would have survived and ended that terrible war, before it destroyed so many lives.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews