The Legacy

by Stephen W. Frey

When he receives word that his estranged father has died, commodities trader Cole Egan discovers that he has inherited a previously unknown videotape of the John F. Kennedy assassination, which may hold the key to a thirty-year-old conspiracy. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Action

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

For the last 15 years I’ve been lucky enough to be a novelist. Until recently the books were set in the worlds of Wall Street and Washington. In addition to writing, I’ve also had a career in finance with specialties including merger & acquisition advisory and private equity at firms like J.P. Morgan in New York City and Winston Partners just outside D.C. in northern Virginia.

So, it seemed natural to write about those two worlds and, fortunately, the publishing industry agreed. My first book was published in 1995, The Takeover; about a secret group of men who were trying to destroy the U.S. monetary system by engineering a massive corporate takeover. I have followed The Takeover with 13 more novels all set in high-level finance and national politics.

Recently, I decided to alter the theme. The novels will still have a financial focus, but Wall Street won’t be the backdrop. We’ll get out into the world more. And there will be a man versus nature element for the hero in every novel. Hell’s Gate, available August 2009, is set in Montana and involves forest fires and why many of them start.

I live in southwest Florida with my wife, Diana, and we have since 2004 after moving down here from northern Virginia. Given the new direction of my books, it seems like a hurricane ought to make an appearance in a novel sometime soon.

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This plot has holes the size of the Grand Canyon. It made little sense. The premise was good but the bombshell tape became a mere footnote at the end. What happened after it was aired? Jim took the tape from Andrea/Mary BEFORE he joined DIA? Why? Who slowly poisoned her over weeks and months? Just so they could search her house??? And Tori was neer arrested or charged with anything? Her mom must truly have been influential. Was Cole really that naive? I saw through Bennett right away. He threw Cole a fairy tale story at the camp site and Cole swallowed it?? I'm not a sophisticapted NYC bonds trader but I didn't buy it for a second. The whole thing was silly.

[allother · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read that continues the JFK conspiracy theory.

[Lucile Barker · Rating 1 out of 5]

58. The Legacy by Stephen W. Frey
Pot boiler thriller. How many more times will we have novels about the Kennedy assassination? And why did I pick it up? Because I was in a hospital cubicle waiting for results that took over a day to come. A young over-extended broker who thinks his father is dead gets a mysterious package, and finds out that both his parents were involved in the assassination. He survives several attempts on his life (boy, those CIA guys should learn to shoot) and is also followed by a determined young woman reporter. In the end he escapes, (don’t they always) and there is an ambiguous ending, just like my tests. This is the second waiting room book I have read by this author. It’s the assassination of fiction.

[Carolyn (in SC) C234D · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this about nineteen years ago, and all I marked in my book record was that it was a thriller about a stock market trader trying to find a tape of JFK’s assassination. I also wrote that “these books are rather annoying, wouldn’t buy them.” Not sure exactly which books I was referring to, maybe JFK assassination books in general, but since I finished it I’ll give it two stars. “Annoying” doesn’t sound very enthusiastic; I hesitate to give it three stars since I didn’t note anything positive about it.

[Carol Sturm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Frey is rightfully being compared to some pretty heavy thriller authors. This story centers around the Kennedy assassination and the thought that there may or may not be a tape out there that can shed a new light on who may have been responsible for this tragic event. Lots of twists and turns and a couple of, "I never expected that to happen" moments on my part. I think it's an older book that I found on the discount table at my local Jewel Foods. You never know what good reads you'll find for $5!

[Patty Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of Kennedy assassination what if’s, this one is pretty straightforward and sticks to the possible.
Most of the book you could forget was taking place in 1998. Fast paced story with tons of action, and the items that stand out as being very specifically 1998 are short and fast. Really the only scene I would nit pick (and it is a picky comment) is the baggage claim scene - those things can be more dangerous than the book makes them seem and I do not think that is a post 9/11 security feature. They just are not designed to transport people.

[Alastair Carthew]

Always interested in American politics so this book was of interest. It did not disappoint. While the Kennedy assassination has been, um, done to death; this book creates a believable plot in which a bond trader has left a key by his estranged father which can open a safe deposit box containing a videotape of the John F. Kennedy assassination. Frey managed to spin a good yarn.

[Dee Ohliger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author, he keeps the story moving and I think it’s one of those “one more page” stories. Did someone else in the crowd record Kennedy’s assignation from a different position? How far would the government go to make sure this film is not seen by the public?

[Joe Esposito · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok

The story was interesting but it felt like a very long journey to get to the end. It is one of those books where I find myself thinking "... and then that happened ... and then that happened..." Like the author just kept adding scenes until he got to an end.

[Sari · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit hard to get into at first, as I was irritated by something about the author's style. Once I got further into the story, the premise was engaging enough to finish the book.

[Jen Rasanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it because parts of it took place in areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin I am familiar with. A real page turner while trying to figure out who was telling the truth.

[Mark Lawrence]

:D

[Lynne Block]

not a bad story but a bit of a stretch

[Lafina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, action packed and quick read.

[Norla Chee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the "surprises" were to be expected, but there were a few unexpected ones toward the end which made the novel worth the time.

[LDean · Rating 3 out of 5]

S, L

[Monzenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

High three stars. An okay book. Didn't really have too much finance stuff, and the conspiracy plot is okay. Enough thrills to be interesting though there are many more interesting thrillers.

[Rachel Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

spellbinding

Wow. What a story. And twists and turns. I’ll have to look up the author to see if there are more books I would like.

[Corky]

Bond trader receives an inheritance of a video tape of the Kennedy assassination showing a second gun. Everyone wants this tape.

[Geoff Atwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice attempt at an action thriller on a topic that simply resonates with conspiracy. Only three stars were given due to overuse of a plot device. In this case the main character can act because something was done in a prior scene to make this possible, except the author did not mention this in the prior scene. Occurring once, or even twice, could be acceptable. However when this device occurs as many times as in this novel, it wrecks credibility. This story could have been much better.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the revelation of the conspiracy that murdered J.F. Kennedy. What is it about Kennedy that makes everyone want to write about the "real" conspiracy, the unrevealed conspiracy, the covered up conspiracy, the lack of a conspiracy involved in his death? In this version it was the mafia and the scum bags among the politicians who brought it about so that they could control what was happening and thereby line their own pockets. The sequence of political effects is confusing because what the author is really writing is the danger filled chase to recover the tape of the shooting that was taken from the opposite angle to the Zapruder one and shows a rifle poking over a fence behind the 'grassy knoll'. The tape was seized by a Dallas policeman, who knew it would be important. The tape remains hidden for 30 years and is passed to the policeman's son as a Legacy. There is much chasing back and forth around the U.S., the usual trying to hide one's actions and identities as everyone, including a secret group of security people, try to lay their hands on the tape, or the copy. I don't like books which portray politicians and security personnel as all on the take and violent when crossed, aligned with mobsters and willing to arrange for accidents to happen to their opponents. Most of the politicians I've met may have a desire for power but are ready to fight in the open. They will lie, but I don't think they sell out to crime. The line they won't cross has moved over the years and we have to monitor what happens to prevent our government and justice systems being turned over to criminals.
There may well have been a conspiracy involved in Kennedy's death but what matters now is what is happening now. I have never read a book that so many people changing sides and revealing who they really are over and over, different every time. The number of bodies found floating in rivers, thrown to alligators, or just left to lie is disgusting.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and remembered that is was a really good novel that kept me at the edge of my seat. A real "page-turner." So I decided to read it again. And I wasn't disappointed!

Our hero Cole Egan is a self-made man having been raised by his aunt and uncle after his mother died when he was 1 yr. old. His father left him with relatives and only drops into his life every other once-in-a-while. Cole finds out that his father has died and left him with a safe-deposit key. In that safe-deposit box he finds a tape of the Kennedy assasination but from a different angle than the famous Zapruder film we all know. This version clearly shows a gunman on the grassy knoll who delivered the killing shot!

Needless to say, there are many people who don't want this tape to become public. There are also people who want to get their hands on it to sell it to the media. So Cole is in a race to save his life as well as the tape that can change history!

Great read! Highly recommended.

[Val Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot remember how I came across this book, however, the plot sounded great, a film comes to light of the man shooting from the grassy knoll. The story attracted me as it draws from much of the controversy surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

The story starts when Cole Egan’s estranged father dies, leaving Cole the key to a safety deposit box. Inside the box Cole finds a videotape of the JFK assassination – filmed from the other side of Dealey Plaza. The tape offers absolute proof that Lee Harvey Oswald had not acted alone, if, indeed, he acted at all.

The book is an easy read and sustained me for the length of a train journey to London. However, I did find myself rather disappointed. The hero was saved so many times at the last minute it was totally unbelievable. I think it unlikely that I will look for more books by this author, Stephen Frey, although he is a best-selling author who writes novels set in the financial world. He is a managing director at a private equity firm, and lives Florida with his wife and daughters.

[Gerald Kinro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole Egan is sinking securities trader in New York—losing money and deeply in debt. Then he inherits a videotape from his estranged father. This videotape is one of the President Kennedy assassination taken from a different angle than what is familiar. It clearly shows that there was a second gunman. While there is money to be made, there is danger, for there are those who want the tape for their own financial reasons and those who wish to keep it suppressed. The drama involves the highest levels of our country’s government.

Frey creates very good suspense in this thriller. However, characters, to me, were caricatured. At times I questioned the reality of a financial broker’s ability to evade professionals in the intelligence and crime communities time and time again. Yet, despite its flaws, it was a good read, especially since the Kennedy assassination is one of the most shocking events in my lifetime.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another 5-star thrilling novel from Stephen Frey. A good plot, involving a tape of the Kennedy assassination but from the opposite direction of the famous Zabruder cine film. This is not another Kennedy assassination conspiracy story although the events of the assassination seen in the tape form the backbone of the rest of the book. It is a thrilling tale of murder, espionage, undercover agents, political subterfuge, double-dealing and a whole load of twists and turns. My only negative is that there always seems to be a Wall Street financier who suddenly is able to outwit all of the professional agents and villains. If you can get your head around that slightly far-fetched scenario, you are on to a thrilling ride.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts with Cole Egan getting notified at work that his father is dead and he needs to go to a safety deposit box to pick up his inheritance. When he goes to the box all it contains is a video tape when watching it he sees a video of another angle of the JFK assassination. This opens a can of worms as people are now trying to kill Egan to get the tape and the bodies start dropping. Okay read.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have oft wondered about the JFK conspiracies about what really happened if they happened at all. I would like to believe yes there was a second gunman on the grassy knawl and this is what Stephen Frey was capable of making it quite the possibility. A great journey and action packed, and one hell of a twist!! Two thumbs up!!

[Fyreball13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for historical fiction. This book is essentially about what would happen if an every day guy got ahold of the "other" angle of the Kennedy Assassination. In short, all hell breaks loose. I'd rank this among one of the better historical fiction books that I've read, Ludlum's stuff included. (Yes, I like Ludlum).

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just alright. There’s double-crossing, fake double-crossing, and double-double-crossing. The action seems written more for a movie screen. And Cole makes a couple of deductive leaps that don’t really make sense. It was good to pass the time with, but not for much more.

[Jaypee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Stephen Frey book that I have read. And judging from my initial reaction and response, I got hooked. Stephen Frey narration is precise with his dialogue never failing into a " wobbly mess".