The Second Assassin

If ever fiction depicts history in truth, this tale does it! Christopher Hyde's amazing research gives him material for an eye-opening story about the royals in the pre-War II era and politicians who have been awarded loyalties that may never have been deserved. Because of the details, he takes readers through every moment of the taunting tense-wracked plot with a camera's precision. Many Canadians will be disheartened to read the common characterization of their beloved Queen Mum who finally passed away this year, but the representation sounds like the most truthful insight into a family that is now seen as quite dysfunctional. From my own research for my Second World War novel, I was appalled to see how callously Churchill and King George VI dispatched his real cousin--a young woman--on a fool's mission to bring the nuclear scientist, Niels Bohr, out of Denmark and her subsequent betrayal, capture, torture and supposed death. Thus, I believe the picture Hyde paints of the conspiracy to assassinate the young king and queen on American soil to deter the U.S. from helping Britain and entering into the war against Hitler. What's more appalling is that men like Lyndon Johnson, Allen Dulles and old Joe Kennedy supported and were involved in that conspiracy, and had it been successful, how different everyone's lives may be today. "The Second Assassin" gives weight to the theory that there was a second shooter at Kennedy's assassination. Since Hyde's use of historical facts to bear out this earlier attempt, it makes sense that men who had the stomach to do it once were capable of such treachery again--particularly when history finds that Johnson was responsible for escalating the Viet Nam war when Kennedy had made it clear he was going to wind it down. To think that Allen Dulles actually went on to lead the CIA is absolutely chilling. It also makes you wonder about whose God and country our military lay down their lives for. After such research and disillusionment, it is difficult not to become very cynical about our political leaders at any time. An excellent story!

I picked this book up at an airport hoping it would at least be mediocre. I was pleasantly suprised. This book is excellent. A nice mix of police work and intrigue. The writing is crisp and the characters are interesting and believable. I'll definitely be looking for more books by this author.

This book takes you back in time to 1939. The plot is straight forward enough - assassinate the King and Queen of England on AMerican soil and prevent any chance of an American entry into the next war on the side of the British.There is an extraordinary amount of historical detail built into the story. The lines between fiction and history are sufficiently blurred to cause one to think about the implications of what you are reading. For example, one of the most thought provoking moments is the inclusion of a Texas Congressman by the name of Lyndon Johnson. It is unclear as to the extent of his complicity in the plot, but it seems certain Mr. Hyde tripped over something in his research for the project.A very good read!

This was a book that was hard to put down. In 1939 a group ofpowerful men are determined to keep America out of a war withHitler and Germany.This group enlists the services of a professional killer to assassinate the King and Queen of Englandwhile they are on a tour of America. This would forvever poisonrelations between America and England.Thomas Barry,a ScotlandYard detective and Jane Todd a photographer are aware of thisconspiracy and are trying to stop it by catching the assassin. The assassin,John Bone is very good at what he does.You have somehistorically significant people come up in this story.Allen Dulles,Joseph Kennedy,Lyndon Johnson,and Frank Sinatra are mentioned in this story. This is a good book that you will enjoy. Buy it and read it.

Christopher Hyde (Hard Target, Black Dragon, etc.) is one fine writer, and this book is no exception. This is an historically based, conspiracy, chase novel. Based on a plot in 1939 (just before Hitler would invade Poland), to assassinate England's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth while on a visit to Canada and America, the purpose is to divide England and America to keep America out of the coming war. The story is well told, interestingly detailed with period charm and color, and filled to overflowing with real life people in both cameo and primary roles. These real people give the story an authenticity that reminds one of all the players in the Kennedy assassination -- from a young congressman named Lyndon Johnson to a very young unknown singer called Frank Sinatra, and others of that pre-war time. With an Afterword by the author that brings the players up to date with their fate, and an Author's Note that tells of the amazing historical realities of the story, this "what if" novelized historical thriller is very hard to put down. It is unfortunate that Christopher Hyde's novels are mostly out of print. After this one, you'll want to search used book stores for his backlist....