What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters from Elvis: Shocking Revelations to a Secret Confidante
Letters from Elvis may be the most important and revealing book ever written about 'The King.' It is based on material contained in hundreds of handwritten and authenticated letters that Elvis and his friends-Marlon Brando, Harry Belafonte and Tom Jones-secretly wrote to their spiritual guide, Carmen Montez. Never has such an intimately revealing collection of letters surfaced about such a well-known celebrity.
- GenresNonfiction
314 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
75 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 4, 2018
I just finished your book and all I can say is "WOW", but not in a good way. There is a lot here, which the author points out, seem to be quite ludicrous. First, it just seems so strange that Elvis would send such intimate details to someone he never met. Was there more in these letters about his spiritual quest and questions? That was what I was hoping to get out of this book. However, none of that is discussed in this book, not stories about things that seem so crazy and implausible.
I mean supposedly Elvis was sodomized by a hot poker? Wouldn't he have died or it would have taken months for him to recover something like that? We know that Elvis was almost never alone. He was surrounded by family, Memphis mafia, staff. However, he was some how kidnapped and tortured in his home. Where was everyone? Even if they happened to all be out on some of these events, where were they following the events? Wouldn't they be concerned or want to know where Elvis was? The actions and episodes talked about in this book just don't seem plausible and I'm not sure how the author could publish this book. HE said he has spent 30 years trying to get this book published he should have waited another 30 or tried to corroborate these stories. One last point, Elvis and Marlon moving boxes? What, why not have the guys move them or Elvis and the Guys? He called Marlon to help him move boxes?
We also know that he had other people he talked deeply about spiritual matters (Daya Mata, Larry Geller, Co-stars such as Donna Douglas, and many others, so why this woman? Also, why Brando and others would share the same details about Elvis?
There is just so much here that would be easily checked to see if anything was actually true or happened. Tom Jones getting shot at a party. You think that someone would have talked and it would have came out somehow. Also we know of a number of events that happened with Elvis around this time and he doesn't seem to mention them in the letters. It could be that he did and those letters were lost, but that would be a little strange.
I could go on and on. I was hoping to gain some more insight into Elvis, but I didn't get that. So don't waste your time, unless you want to read some crazy stories about Elvis, but you won't gain anything. There are plenty of "good" Elvis books out there. Some errors that are in the book:
Following are some errors in the book.
Page 21 - You say Bill Goldman, I assume you mean Albert Goldman
Page 46 - You mention "Dixie" who lived in Graceland until she died in 1993. This was in fact Delta who lived at Graceland and died in 1993.
Page 54 - You mention Jailhouse Rock and an insinuate that he didn't watch the movie because of him thinking about his father. It is true that he wouldn't watch this movie after it was made, but that was Judy Tyler was killed shortly after the movie was finished. Also, you contradict yourself with the comment because on page 222, you mention how Marlon went over to Elvis' house to watch Jailhouse Rock. Elvis didn't normally watch his movies and he certainly wouldn't have watched that one.
Page 110 -"his old girlfriend Nancy Sinatra". This is the first time he met her, so she can't be his old girlfriend.
Page 119 - Viva Las Vegas was filmed in 1963, released in 1964. Not 1966 as you mention.
Page 214 - Elvis met Ed Parker in 1960 not 1959 (as he was still in the Army).
Page 245 - Elvis did not live at the 1350 Ladera Circle address in 1970. He only rented that place from 66-67.
I mean supposedly Elvis was sodomized by a hot poker? Wouldn't he have died or it would have taken months for him to recover something like that? We know that Elvis was almost never alone. He was surrounded by family, Memphis mafia, staff. However, he was some how kidnapped and tortured in his home. Where was everyone? Even if they happened to all be out on some of these events, where were they following the events? Wouldn't they be concerned or want to know where Elvis was? The actions and episodes talked about in this book just don't seem plausible and I'm not sure how the author could publish this book. HE said he has spent 30 years trying to get this book published he should have waited another 30 or tried to corroborate these stories. One last point, Elvis and Marlon moving boxes? What, why not have the guys move them or Elvis and the Guys? He called Marlon to help him move boxes?
We also know that he had other people he talked deeply about spiritual matters (Daya Mata, Larry Geller, Co-stars such as Donna Douglas, and many others, so why this woman? Also, why Brando and others would share the same details about Elvis?
There is just so much here that would be easily checked to see if anything was actually true or happened. Tom Jones getting shot at a party. You think that someone would have talked and it would have came out somehow. Also we know of a number of events that happened with Elvis around this time and he doesn't seem to mention them in the letters. It could be that he did and those letters were lost, but that would be a little strange.
I could go on and on. I was hoping to gain some more insight into Elvis, but I didn't get that. So don't waste your time, unless you want to read some crazy stories about Elvis, but you won't gain anything. There are plenty of "good" Elvis books out there. Some errors that are in the book:
Following are some errors in the book.
Page 21 - You say Bill Goldman, I assume you mean Albert Goldman
Page 46 - You mention "Dixie" who lived in Graceland until she died in 1993. This was in fact Delta who lived at Graceland and died in 1993.
Page 54 - You mention Jailhouse Rock and an insinuate that he didn't watch the movie because of him thinking about his father. It is true that he wouldn't watch this movie after it was made, but that was Judy Tyler was killed shortly after the movie was finished. Also, you contradict yourself with the comment because on page 222, you mention how Marlon went over to Elvis' house to watch Jailhouse Rock. Elvis didn't normally watch his movies and he certainly wouldn't have watched that one.
Page 110 -"his old girlfriend Nancy Sinatra". This is the first time he met her, so she can't be his old girlfriend.
Page 119 - Viva Las Vegas was filmed in 1963, released in 1964. Not 1966 as you mention.
Page 214 - Elvis met Ed Parker in 1960 not 1959 (as he was still in the Army).
Page 245 - Elvis did not live at the 1350 Ladera Circle address in 1970. He only rented that place from 66-67.
January 5, 2019
This book is a bunch of garbage. Don’t waste your money. I just skimmed through this book and if you know anything about Elvis . The articles are ludicrous!
If you look at other reviews on Amazon other readers name actual contradictions.
Elvis loved his gospel roots ! He loved to sing gospel songs. If you ever watched his reaction when J.D. Sumner and the Stamps quartet. Sang Sweet Sweet Spirit you wouldn’t have a doubt in your mind of how he felt.
This author said he waited 30 years to publish this trash. He should have waited another 30.!
People write books filled with sensationalism stories to sell books. Well I got my money back !
This author spoke more about other celebrities than Elvis.
He also couldn’t show one letter from supposedly Elvis.
BEWARE OF THIS BOOK !
I wouldn’t have given 1 star for it but to post a review , I had to.
If you look at other reviews on Amazon other readers name actual contradictions.
Elvis loved his gospel roots ! He loved to sing gospel songs. If you ever watched his reaction when J.D. Sumner and the Stamps quartet. Sang Sweet Sweet Spirit you wouldn’t have a doubt in your mind of how he felt.
This author said he waited 30 years to publish this trash. He should have waited another 30.!
People write books filled with sensationalism stories to sell books. Well I got my money back !
This author spoke more about other celebrities than Elvis.
He also couldn’t show one letter from supposedly Elvis.
BEWARE OF THIS BOOK !
I wouldn’t have given 1 star for it but to post a review , I had to.
June 9, 2019
I'll admit to being a big Elvis fan, though I'd not read any of the books written about him. This was the first and I was excited to see the letters. Finally, with much build-up, we are told on page 129 that that is not going to happen for legal reasons. Buying the book from Amazon, I was not at liberty to see the one sentence disclaimer in the second paragraph on the back cover. Lindberg goes through reasons for all the delays, suspicions and steps he took to finally authenticate that the letters were indeed authored by Elvis--and Marlon Brando (who garners most of the space past the authentication), Tom Jones and Harry Belafonte and obtained from the estate of Carmen Montez, their Spiritual confidante.
Now disappointed, I trudged through the rest of the book that is not in chronological order, but instead goes back and forth to previously mentioned events and from one star to the next. It is like Lindberg couldn't quite decide how to write it, focusing on one of the four he writes about and then going on to another, out of timed sequence. Then there are enough inconsistencies in some of the events in the letters that Lindberg speculates on what might have happened and when. I felt he didn't let the letters speak for themselves, because he couldn't/wouldn't include them due to potential legal action at some point for the letter writers' private thoughts. Three (Elvis, Marlon and Carmen) are now deceased and two (Tom and Harry) are still living as I write this.
The biggest lesson learned from this book was that Elvis' life--at least from the author's standpoint--was one of misery, strife, sodomization and brutality for all the joy he brought to millions worldwide. The best thing Lindberg did was to give a chronological history as an appendix so there is more clarity of the order of happenings. Disappointed.
Now disappointed, I trudged through the rest of the book that is not in chronological order, but instead goes back and forth to previously mentioned events and from one star to the next. It is like Lindberg couldn't quite decide how to write it, focusing on one of the four he writes about and then going on to another, out of timed sequence. Then there are enough inconsistencies in some of the events in the letters that Lindberg speculates on what might have happened and when. I felt he didn't let the letters speak for themselves, because he couldn't/wouldn't include them due to potential legal action at some point for the letter writers' private thoughts. Three (Elvis, Marlon and Carmen) are now deceased and two (Tom and Harry) are still living as I write this.
The biggest lesson learned from this book was that Elvis' life--at least from the author's standpoint--was one of misery, strife, sodomization and brutality for all the joy he brought to millions worldwide. The best thing Lindberg did was to give a chronological history as an appendix so there is more clarity of the order of happenings. Disappointed.
November 23, 2018
Elvis internal torments
Not an easy read due to the slow start with the subject matter and later because of the horrific atrocities allegedly suffered by these men. Takes an open mind to try and understand the spiritual connection of these friends and their mutual confidant. A part of me can believe this happened. A part of me remains very skeptical.
Not an easy read due to the slow start with the subject matter and later because of the horrific atrocities allegedly suffered by these men. Takes an open mind to try and understand the spiritual connection of these friends and their mutual confidant. A part of me can believe this happened. A part of me remains very skeptical.
April 13, 2021
Very surprising revelations in this book from the letters Elvis (and his closest friends) sent to their spiritual confidante, Carmen Montez. Having this as background does explain some previously unexplainable events in his life, like the rambling monologues he sometimes did on the stage, or the desire to stick close to the well-secured Graceland estate.
Having said that, the legal difficulties the author faced in trying to convey the gist of the letters while not being legally permitted to either print the content or post images of the physical letters is daunting. It cannot help but detract from the book's ability to prove to us that Elvis actually wrote them or experienced the events he describes. Yes, the author did have several examples of the letters from Elvis and the other stars authenticated by handwriting experts. And still I realize this might not convince and convert the skeptics out there.
The one gap in the authentication of the letters is correlating the place and date of the letters with his whereabouts on those dates. We cannot say he was out on tour when a letter was supposedly written from California, or Graceland, or wherever. We cannot say either that his schedule corresponds perfectly with the letters, because we just don't know for sure.
The attacks from a mob-connected director that Elvis crossed do ring true. We do know that the mob has a stranglehold on at least some corners of the entertainment industry.
Read the book and make up your own mind.
Having said that, the legal difficulties the author faced in trying to convey the gist of the letters while not being legally permitted to either print the content or post images of the physical letters is daunting. It cannot help but detract from the book's ability to prove to us that Elvis actually wrote them or experienced the events he describes. Yes, the author did have several examples of the letters from Elvis and the other stars authenticated by handwriting experts. And still I realize this might not convince and convert the skeptics out there.
The one gap in the authentication of the letters is correlating the place and date of the letters with his whereabouts on those dates. We cannot say he was out on tour when a letter was supposedly written from California, or Graceland, or wherever. We cannot say either that his schedule corresponds perfectly with the letters, because we just don't know for sure.
The attacks from a mob-connected director that Elvis crossed do ring true. We do know that the mob has a stranglehold on at least some corners of the entertainment industry.
Read the book and make up your own mind.
November 15, 2018
Amazing, horrible, why, a must read.
March 14, 2019
I know the author. My wife and I attended a presentation and a book signing in St. Paul in December 2018. Letters from Elvis, Marlon Brando, Tom Jones, and Harry Belafonte, who all shared their secrets with Carmen Montez, their spiritual guide.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, this book is not for you. Brutality and unspeakable acts of depravity; how any of these performers survived is amazing, but black arts and magic rituals may have been ongoing for nearly thirty years. Keeping these men and women alive only to brualize them over and over.
Another book may be forthcoming. As mentioned at the author talk, suitcases full of letters acquired at auction wait to be read and organized.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, this book is not for you. Brutality and unspeakable acts of depravity; how any of these performers survived is amazing, but black arts and magic rituals may have been ongoing for nearly thirty years. Keeping these men and women alive only to brualize them over and over.
Another book may be forthcoming. As mentioned at the author talk, suitcases full of letters acquired at auction wait to be read and organized.
June 8, 2019
Whether you believe the stories in this book or not, it was an extremely fascinating read. I could have done without the exhaustive writing analysis as well as the explanation of the laws behind why the actual letters could not be published because I just wanted to get to the shocking revelations that are promised in the title. They were indeed shocking and I don't really doubt their authenticity simply due to the fact that people act atrociously to other people sometimes. Overall, a good read
September 21, 2019
Boring
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews