Collateral Damage: The Mysterious Deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Kilgallen, and the Ties that Bind Them to Robert Kennedy and the JFK Assassination

by Mark Shaw

If there had been no cover-up of Robert Kennedy’s complicity in the murder of Marilyn Monroe in 1962 and he had been prosecuted based on compelling evidence at the time, the assassination of JFK by Bobby’s enemies would not have happened—changing the course of history and preventing the murder of media icon Dorothy Kilgallen.In a breakthrough book that is sure to be relevant for years to come, bestselling author (The Reporter Who Knew Too Much) and distinguished historian Mark Shaw investigates the connection between the mysterious deaths of motion picture screen siren Marilyn Monroe, President John F. Kennedy, and What’s My Line? TV star and crack investigative reporter Dorothy Kilgallen. A former noted criminal defense attorney and network legal analyst, Shaw provides an illuminating perspective as to how Robert Kennedy’s abuse of power during the early 1960s resulted in the murders of Marilyn, JFK, and Dorothy. Praise for Mark Shaw Books The Reporter Who Knew Too Much “The compelling story of Dorothy Kilgallen, the celebrated journalist once called ‘the most powerful female voice in America.’” —Nick Pileggi, author of Wiseguy and Casino Denial of Justice “A worthy sequel to the mysterious whodunit that snuffed out the brave reporter, Denial of Justice is a true crime thriller that seeks to undo the label attached to Ms. Kilgallen’s untimely demise. Mark Shaw has done an admirable and exemplary job in his work. Do not miss!” —San Francisco Book Review

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

790 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

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

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual very well researched and written. HOWEVER, I didn’t not appreciate the author inserting his own political opinions about Donald Trump. What does Trump have to do with JFK, Marilyn Monroe, or Dorothy Killgallen?
I lost respect for the author when he had to get his dig in. Don’t care that he doesn’t like Trump, but this isn’t a book about Trump so it doesn’t belong here.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Mark Shaw’s research and I love the addition of Marilyn Monroe and RFK’s roles in the Kennedy/Kilgallen story. That being said, I had anticipated this book would talk more about them but most of it was a reorganized version of The Reporter Who Knew Too Much and Denial of Justice. (Not something that would be a problem for new readers, of course, and some repetition is to be expected, but it was a lot of it here.) I hope in the future Marilyn will get a book with the same attention as Dorothy has from this author. Both accounts are so intriguing and Mark Shaw’s dedication to the research and justice is admirable.

Aside from the repetition of the first two books, my other major quip is the amount of jabs taken at Trump. I’m not reading a book about him. He has no relevance to these people whatsoever. I don’t care if you like or hate the man, I just want to read the subject at hand without distracting comments that disrupt the flow of the words. Something to consider.

[Taylor Walworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but I don't truck with books that have absolutely no narrative structure BUT do manage to include whole URLs in the middle of the friggin' text. I'll find a better written conspiracy peddler, thank you, bye.

[Krystyl E · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super excited to delve into something (I thought) was well written and straight facts. I've always been curious about the ties of the people in this book! I give a one star rating for two reasons; 1: the author is all over the place and has awful time table skills 2: when opening a book to read about facts of the 60's, I DO NOT expect (or care for that matter) to see the authors personal political opinions about current or past potus unrelated.

[Bella (Kiki) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not one for conspiracy theories. Not at all. But after reading Mr. Shaw's books on the deaths of Marilyn Monroe, JFK, and Dorothy Kilgallen, I'm convinced there is a definite connection and that RFK's hatred for the Mafia, and his desire to take them down, set everything in motion.

Mr. Shaw is a very good and thorough researcher, but he's not the greatest writer in the world. (He even admits that himself.) Parts of his books can be redundant. However, if you are willing to wade through the redundancies, you'll find that his research makes sense. And, eventually, you won't mind the redundancies at all.

Mr. Shaw doesn't form opinions out of the blue in this book. He backs up his research with official documents, some of them redacted somewhat, but enough left for us to know what and who they are about. You are free to make up your own mind, of course, but my thinking, with one exception, aligns with Mr. Shaw's.

The only thing I take issue with in Mr. Shaw's books is the fact that Ron Pataky was involved in Dorothy Kilgallen's death. I don't believe he was. I know Mr. Pataky personally and have known him since I was a child. I adore him. He is a sweetheart and one of my own loves. He dated my older sister, and she still considers him a great love. I don't believe he is capable of killing anyone, and even if he is, he was in Columbus, Ohio the night Dorothy died. I do believe this. Still, I do believe Dorothy was killed, probably by those who recruited and used Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby. Dorothy certainly didn't go to bed in her usual manner that night. Her death wasn't accidental. Something untoward took place. One doesn't have to be a researcher to realize that. Same with Marilyn Monroe.

These books are a little wordy. To those who say this information has already been presented, yes, much of it has. But Mr. Shaw is the only person who has pulled all three deaths together and connected them and then given us a very plausible reason for the three deaths, especially, the death of JFK. And, to his credit, Mr. Shaw uses primary source material all of the time.

Redundant writing aside, these books kept me spellbound once I got into them. I wish Mr. Shaw's research and books would be taken more seriously, and I hope he writes more, and more on this subject, at a later date. As I said, with the exception of Ron Pataky, Mr. Shaw has made a believer out of me, and that's something that isn't easy to do. And I'm even coming around to believing Mr. Pataky is capable of leading Dorothy to her death, much as I don't want to.

Edit: Ron Pataky passed away in May 2022. My sister and I will be visiting his caretaker and companion soon.

[Elizabeth VanDyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and informative...though I am very, very interested in the Kennedy assassination and conspiracy theories. I gave the book only 4 stars b/c it seemed rather disorganized. A Monroe chapter would follow a Kilgallen chapter. Not arranged chronologically for sure.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. But I was only barely 4 chapters in & bored with all the fan magazine type descriptions. I was already convinced that Kilgallen died because she was too close to the truth about JFK assassination
My main curiousity was ........










(Spoiler)
What evidence did Shaw uncover that implicates RFK in Marilyn's Murder. (I skipped ahead & read that) Im not convinced. But that part is the only new thing in this big book, IMO. JFK painted a big target on his back by announcing an intention to abolish the CIA & curtail the Federal Reserve. I just don't think its possible that they were not involved & it was only the mob. Although I *do* agree with Shaw's description of Marcello's motive.
I just don't think it was mob only. I think the CIA knew, aided and abetted Marcello. And JE Hoover covered it ALL. Everyone associated with the Warren commission died & Hoover launched no investigation? All the forensic evidence "disappeared" from the FBI? And we are supposed to think just 1 mobster did it all?
Nah.
So Shaw's little theory with the questionable centerpiece (Murder of MM) just does not account for all the details. And the rest of the book is just is not all that fascinating to me.

[Kaye Lynne Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collateral Damage is a well researched investigation into events which occurred in an era of mob rule and power politics, where corruption ran deep, deeper than I had ever realized. Shaw reveals a tale of intrigue, deceit and murder as he delves into three of the greatest mysteries in history.

Read my full review on my authors' blog, "Writing to be Read" here: https://writingtoberead.com/2021/11/2...

[Krista R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to give this book a higher rating, but the length (609 pages/21 hours) and the organization of information--and repetition of that information--made it a slog. Additionally the author engaged in too much conjecture which ultimately, in my opinion, got in the way of his objective.

[GeneralTHC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

A decent read if you're into this topic, but if you are there's nothing here that you probably didn't already know that's going to blow you away.

[Debbie Cowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at the deaths of these famous people.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting follow up to Shaw's Denial of Justice and the Reporter Who Knew Too Much. Shaw thoroughly researches his subjects and gives credit to his references. He presents his case on who caused the deaths of Monroe, Kilgallen and JFK is a clear and direct, easily readable manner. There are a few points where he steps back from an objective analysis to make his point on who the killer was. What Shaw believes is credible and as someone who was alive and old enough to remember these murders I can see his proofs are valid. The last few chapters offer conjecture on how each of the murders occurred which diverged from the fact based earlier chapters. Shaw has not given up to find Kilgallen's killer as seen by his continuing interviews and research added in the spring of 2021 shortly before the book came out.

One of several portions of the book that stands out for me are Shaw's chapters speculating how very different our work would have been if Monroe, Kilgallen and JFK had not been killed. All the things that would not have happened and the possibilities of all that could. So sad to think of the things that potentially one person kept from happening and, if Shaw is right, ultimately didn't care about the havoc he created.

I highly recommend the earlier books in this series as well as Collateral Damage. I have no doubt he will continue in his quest and look forward to his next entry to these horrific crimes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Mark Shaw, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He has written previously about Dorothy Kilgallen and JFK, and this book appeared to tie them and Marilyn Monroe into a larger conspiracy involving The Mob and RFK. A significant portion of the book spoke about Shaw's background, particularly in law and journalism, and set the stage for the rest of the book where he laid out his arguments about how the three deaths were all related.

I found the book very interesting, and I thought that it had been well put together with a very compelling and coherent argument as to why the deaths were linked and how. I had actually never come across the RFK theory, and it did not sound outside the realms of possibility! I will definitely be reading further about Dorothy Kilgallen - I had actually never heard of her, and she sounds like an amazing person.

I listened to an audio of this book, narrated by Greg D. Barnett. I found him a very enjoyable narrator - his voice really suited the material, and he had a lovely tone.

I feel this book would be interesting to anyone who is into theories as to why Marilyn died or who orchestrated the JFK assassination.

I received a copy of this audiobook courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

[Lindsay Ferris Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Having finished Mark Shaw's "Collateral Damage" I must say, my mind is still reeling from the whirlwind of theories and scenarios presented within its pages. Delving into the murky waters surrounding the deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Kilgallen, intertwined with the enigma of JFK, Shaw leaves no stone unturned in his exploration of conspiracy and corruption.

One cannot help but be captivated by the revelations within these pages. Shaw masterfully navigates through the labyrinth of theories, shedding light on the undeniable fact that neither Monroe nor Kilgallen met their demise by accident or their own hands. As the layers of deception are peeled away, the reader is left astounded by the lengths to which the corrupted will go to shield their misdeeds from the public eye.

Through Shaw's meticulous research, I found myself immersed in the lives of these three iconic figures, as well as their intricate web of relationships. Each revelation brought new insights, painting a vivid portrait of an era fraught with intrigue and deception.

However, amidst the wealth of information presented, one cannot overlook the occasional repetitiveness that creeps into the narrative. Despite this minor flaw, "Collateral Damage" remains a gripping and enlightening read, sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone intrigued by the dark underbelly of history.

[Marcus Coles · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only managed to read half of this book (300 pages) before I could bear it no longer. I’ve always had an interest in the life of Marilyn Monroe and know a lot about her. I’ve also read a lot about JFK but don’t know much about Dorothy Kilgallen. I thought this book would help me with a novel I’ve written about the death of Marilyn. It didn’t. Contrary to what other reviewers have said, I didn’t think it was well-written or well-researched. I didn’t like his sudden and totally random monologue about Donald Trump. I was disappointed that he put such great stock in the testimony of Gianni Russo. He’s a man whose mendacious claims about Marilyn are laughable and widely discredited. This author however believes he’s a reliable source. For example, Russo claims that the Kennedy brothers were at the Cal Neva Lodge the weekend before Marilyn died. Wrong. He is obviously a Kilgallen fanboy but I didn’t like how he took massive liberties assuming what she would have thought and felt. He often wrote things like, she would have concluded this, she would have felt that, she would have known the other. Very annoying. He was also at pains to compare Monroe and Kilgallen, desperately trying to prove they were kindred spirits. Overall, it was long and poorly researched. If you’re familiar with the subject material, there’s not much here that you haven’t read before.

[Amandatory Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook.

I’m giving this book 4 stars for the amount of information and research involved. It is an incredibly thorough book about Dorothy Kilgallen, JFK and Marilyn Monroe. The author takes the time to examine every angle for their untimely deaths. Anyone who’s not familiar with the lives of these 3 and how they intersected will learn much.

I do think the book was longer than it needed to be. Some chapters repeated info already stated in previous chapters. The author includes hearsay as well which I suppose serves a purpose, but wouldn’t hold up in court. The book jumps around a bit with the timelines of all 3 so that was frustrating. Due to the repetition and the fact that I know much of what the author wrote about JFK and Marilyn already, I did fast forward many parts of the book. I don’t need to know their backgrounds and rise to fame.

Otherwise another solid book by Mark Shaw!

[Angela Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this book another star but for the author's clear bias and crappy attitude/tone. He claims that Joe Kennedy and Donald Trump had similar personalities but I think Joe Biden is MUCH more like Joe Kennedy - both corrupt and dirty as hell. The book is very informative with a lot of good information but it is also a bit repetitive with unnecessary speculation and the author's "what-if" dreams. I really wish he'd have presented the information without his opinionated bitter and angry tone as it detracted from the argument and made me wonder if he was seeing some things because he WANTED to see them a certain way. Worth reading but the author seems to be a whiner and rather annoying.

[Ed Stock · Rating 2 out of 5]

You could probably get as much factual information about the Kennedys and Monroe by reading one of James Ellroy's novels and at least see how entertaining a skilled writer can be, especially a writer who has a competent proofreader and editor.
A grudging 2 stars from me, only because I realize there are still some people out there who have the patience to wade through yet more of the tedious work product of his obsession. I have no idea whether Kilgallen's death was a homicide or a horrible accident, but Shaw has certainly beaten the topic to death.

[Pete Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a really interesting insight and investigation into the deaths of each of these larger than life characters.

There’s been so many conspiracy theories that it’s undeniable that Marilyn Monroe, JFK and Dorothy Kilgalljn died under suspicious circumstances. Shaw’s approach to this brings in some fresh evidence and theories that do make sense. Of course, ultimately, we’ll likely never know the full extent of the truth, but this feels a little closer.

Shaw doesn’t hold back condemning authors who ‘should’ve known better’ when previously writing about these characters.

[Phillip Seeberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well researched and interesting book. I found that the first 100 pages were an outstanding biography of the Monroe, Kilgallen, and the Kennedy brothers. The remainder of the book does a good job linking them together. It does show that the FBI director and the mob had a lot of power back then. It’s a shame that Dorothy’s tv friends did not push for answers.
This was the first book of Mark Shaw’s that I read. So I can state that it is very clear and understandable on its own. No need to read the other books first.

[CD]

There are lots of words to get to the end of this book. Part history and journalism, and part conspiracy/anti-conspiracy theory themes litter this work.

For JFK conspiracy junkies, Marilyn fans and all that goes down these rabbit holes this is a must read. For others, ehhh. Not greatly well written.

There is a better book repeatedly mentioned in this one about Dorothy KIlgallen. Read it instead!

[Joe Sharkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly written. Fanboy for Kilgallen and Monroe, who nevertheless definitely were interesting and whose deaths were very suspicious, given the context. This book is a clip job ineptly assembled from other reliable books and old newspaper articles. Not worth wasting time on.

[Don Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historian and former criminal defence lawyer Mark Shaw delves into the vast collection of clues linking the murders of US President John F. Kennedy, investigative reporter Dorothy Kilgallen and film star Marilyn Monroe to JFK's brother Robert.

[Phillip Fitzsimmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. This is not a terrible book but the author could use a good editor cut out the bloated text. The author needs help from an editor to cut the many duplicated passages throughout the book.

[Dkolacinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of "if then" and "what if" reasoning in the book, which may or may not reflect reality. It is an interesting read, but I don't know if it's believable or reflecting reality.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing new...just the same regurgitation in the two previous books on Kilgallen, with the Kennedys and Marilyn thrown in for drama.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one thing that stands out in this book is that it rehabilitates Marilyn Monroe from her much maligned image.

[Laura Valenziano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but sometimes repetitive. Really makes you wonder about how much of American history we really know. Well worth the read though.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and the conclusions it brought. Well done.

[Neil McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me so grateful for the technology that we have in 2024.