JFK: The Smoking Gun by Colin McLaren

“The case is the perfect example of a riddle wrapped in an enigma and shrouded in mystery. And the solution is far more disturbing than any fanciful conspiracy could ever be. “– Colin McLaren

JFK: the Smoking Gun is Colin McLaren’s attempt to solve the mystery of President Kennedy’s assassination. McLaren describes himself as an “ex-detective sergeant/task force team leader”. He spent 4.5 years researching JFK’s death.  The book “proves, once and for all” that Oswald was not the only gunman. According to McLaren, Oswald fired the first shot but it was the shots fired by a novice Secret Service, George Hickey. Hickey was riding in the car behind the presidential limousine and was in charge of the AR-15 gun even though he was only trained as a driver. McLaren argues that the fatal shot was an accident and the Secret Service worked hard to hide evidence to protect its men.

The reason I first picked up JFK: The Smoking Gun was because of the cover. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover was so pretty and modern that I couldn’t help being attracted to the book! The only troubling thing was that the publisher and Christabella Designs decided to use a quote from Andrew Rule to promote the book. Andrew Rule is a bestselling author, not a historian, not a detective and not someone who seems to have analysed JFK’s assassination extensively. It seemed quite strange for me to use Rule’s words; I don’t think he is the best person to judge a historical book.

Overall, the book was quite easy to follow and comprehend and I quite enjoyed it. McLaren makes very strong arguments when discussing the bullets – the timing of the bullets, the difference in the behaviour of the three bullets and the metal fragments found in Kennedy’s brain. I also liked the use of photos to help illustrate the facts and to give a nice break halfway through the book.

However, McLaren’s writing style is more of a fictional book filled with description and seems to sometimes stray away from the facts – making a more interesting story but less reliable as a historical source. At the beginning there is a very detailed description of Oswald’s family life, which seems too sure of itself, too specific to be recounting the truth. There were words on how Oswald felt at different stages in his life, what motivated him, what relaxed him and what he was really thinking.  It helped me, as a reader, to immerse myself in the story and the characters but I don’t think this is a quality of a book trying to prove a real life mystery. In that sense it was quite manipulative.

Even though I was quite reluctant and the beginning to believe McLaren’s ideas due to his ‘fictional’ writing style, I found myself being quite persuaded by his ideas at the end. I don’t think anyone will ever know the real truth, even though every book and movie claims to have discovered the truth.  McLaren’s book is quite useful as a different perspective to Kennedy’s assassination. McLaren has some excellent points on the proceedings of the Warren Committee and has added extensive analysis of the bullets. However, all these facts are hidden amongst descriptive, lengthy, repetitive opinions set to persuade the readers to believe McLaren’s conspiracy. JFK: The Smoking Gun is an interesting and pleasurable read but a reader should go prepared with background knowledge and a strong grasp of the facts.