MAFIA KINGFISH: Carlos Marcello and the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

by John H. Davis

Spans Carlos Marcello's criminal career from his Sicilian youth to his involvement in the New Orleans Mafia and reign over a criminal empire, and points to his culpability in President Kennedy's assassination

Genres: True Crime, History, Crime, American History, Nonfiction, Biography, Speculative Fiction

674 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always knew the official story that Jack Ruby was another loopy loner was a lie.
His action fit classic assassination theory too well.
You send in 2 teams of killers,
Team 1 kills the target,
Team 2 kills team 1, thus making things more confusing for others to figure out.

I wondered if before I died I would learn the True story of the JFK murder.
Now I have.

This book is great, not only convincing evidence that the mob whacked JFK, but RFK and Martin King as well.

It's embarrassing to the US government that a gangster killed
a president, an almost president, changed the course of American history,
and the Hoover run FBI was either totally incompetent or complicit.

Written in 1989, I'm amazed this story hasn't gotten more attention.

If you only read one book in the next 10 years,
look at this one.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book twice in 20 years. Another related book, Operation Overflight, by Gary Powers, mentions that the Russians had to know the airspeed and altitude of the U2 to shoot it down. When a young Private who observed U2 flights over China from Atsugi, Japan defected to Russia, they were able to shoot the U2 down 6 months later. That Private was Lee Harvey Oswald. The fact that J. Edgar Hoover knew this and did nothing when Oswald re-entered the US indicates that Hoover was possibly complicit in the assassination.
This is a fascinating book. Amazing that the Warren Commission was so inept.

[Kenneth Sitsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book keeps your mind racing the whole way through.If you believe Oswald did it this may change your mind!!!!

[Brian Gallatin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Super informative. Shows that Carlos Marcello was the true Godfather!!

[Doug Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really opens your eyes to see just how strong the Mafia was back then. How crooked the CIA and FBI was (and continues to be).

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been intrigued and have read numerous books on the assassination of JFK. Unfortunately, I don’t think we will ever know the exact truth. This book goes along way in trying to get there.

[Katharine Wibell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mafia Kingfish by John H. Davis was an interesting read that covers the rise and fall of Louisiana's greatest mob boss, Carlos Marcello, especially his ties to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was really interested in Marcello's early life and his dealings with the mafia though I will admit once it moved towards the main point, the assassination, it began to get quite tedious. The author made sure to fit in all the important and even lesser valued connections between the Kennedys and Marcello to the point it became tiresome. Even still, the over all points and suggestions were eye opening. Overall, I appreciated this book for its historical merit though I would not recommend it for the casual reader.

[Matthew Upson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of a biography of Carlos Marcello than a 'who done it'. However, the author does explain why and how he thinks Carlos was behind the assassination. It gave me lots to ponder.

I would recommend the book to those who are interested in the history of the Sicilian Mafia which I found very interesting, or JFKs assassination and the Mafia connection.

I found the book to be a quick, insightful read despite being around 500 pages.

[Noah Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incredibly fascinated with the mafia and Kennedy assassination connection. Carlos Marcello, Sam Giancana, and Santo Trafficante Jr were clearly the orchestrators of the killing, and this book tells perfectly the Marcello and New Orleans side of the story. Not to mention the guys outside of New York like Marcello and Momo Giancana seemed to have their hands in a lot of the large political plays going on around the country at the time.

[John Mruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, well-researched biography of Carlos Marcello. I read it before visiting New Orleans for the first time. It's truly amazing the power he amassed, and it's pretty certain he was actively involved in the JFK assassination. But he knew how to cover his tracks so, aside from his angry "confession" in his prison cell, there's no tangible evidence to link him.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable read

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

makes a compelling case

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It clicks

[Mark Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mob killed JFK with the help of CIA, FBI, and LBJ. The fact that this book is so hard to find should tell you something.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Dennis Regier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best single book on the JFK assassination. The clearest, most logical explanation yet. And, it has the most evidence.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

John H. Davis previously published, in 1969 a book on 'The Bouviers:Portrait of an American Family' into which he was related by marriage to Maude Bouvier. He also wrote 'The Kennedys:Dynasty and Disaster' in 1993. His probe into the JFK assassination, 'Mafia Kingfish' arrived just after the twenty fifth anniversary in 1989.
Comprising more than five hundred pages, his investigation into Mafia supremo Carlos Marcello's possible/likely involvement in the Dallas hit is a little on the long side. However there was much detail in this book that I found very interesting, and I used many quotes in my article featuring Jack Ruby that was published in the November 2014 issue of the 'Dealey Plaza Echo.' Also, new to me and extremely fascinating were the details of the late 1970's BRILAB sting, operated by the FBI, that effectively closed down the Marcello family syndicate. Tragically this operation could only be performed once Hoover was dead.
Davis provides a comprehensive section of his source material, but I would have appreciated reference to notes in the body of the text, which as stated above could have been edited down slightly.
Without any doubt principal players in the JFK mystery had links to Marcello, namely Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby and many others in New Orleans, Banister, Ferrie and Arcacha Smith. (Dallas Police Homicide Captain Will Fritz informed Jim Garrison's investigation that diagrams of the Dealey Plaza sewer system had been found in Arcacha Smith's Dallas apartment! Info not provided in this book.)
Much of the mystery and conspiracy theoretic today, is a direct result of the cover-up performed by Hoover at the FBI back in '63 and continued on by other U.S. government agencies since. Those looking for further reading along this line can read Mark North's 'Act of Treason.' (1991)

Addendum:-In 2019 I have acquired a further copy of this book, signed by the author.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years, there have been many discussions on the shooting of JFK. For those of us who lived at the time of this event, much of the "investigations" seemed contradictory, with too many loose ends. This book by Davis is well researched, and in view of another recently published book, the role of David Ferrie seems more pronounced than previously indicated. Mostly this is a story of power, with each little participant trying to preserve their own turf and power. I grew up in New Orleans, and remember some of these people and news stories. The theory seems very plausible to me, based on the people and politics of this area of the country. If you came of age in the 1960's, I highly recommend that you read this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a complete fascination with the mafia & mafia related themes. One of my favorite books on this subject was the "Mafia Kingfish".
This book follows the heated passion between the Kennedy brothers & Carlos Marcello who became kingpin of the most powerful mafia family in the US. Equally fascinating is the author "Jack Davis" who went on to become Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis closest friend & confidant. I truly loved reading this book and at almost 600 pages I still wasn't ready to put it down. If I could give it more stars I would.

[Matt Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatest read on the Marcello as JFK assassin theory, but sad to note the recent passing of author John D. Davis.

As G. Robert Blakey, chief counsel to the House assassinations committee told the NYT:

“I think John wrote one of the best books on this theory. And I don’t just say that because I happen to agree with his theory.”

[Walt · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is more on the Kennedy Assassination than Carlos Marcello. Davis spent an enormous amount of time trying to connect Marcello to the JFK murder. Davis clearly feels that by writing such a large book people will assume he proves his point. He does not.

[Krotpong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who REALLY whacked John F. Kennedy? The F.B.I. and the Mafia according to this weighty tome. Dovetails nicely with some of the other crackpot conspiracy theorist books I have.

[Malerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting novel, as far as the mafia conspiracy theory goes in JFK's assasination. Sparky should read this.

[Kyle J. Merriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good for its time

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read it twice and it still fascinates and stuns me.

[Steve Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the topic of the book but it was an incredibly slow and difficult read at times. Another book to add to the multitude of conspiracy theories about the Kennedy assassination.

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book