The Jinx [Hardcover]

Larry Kahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 21, 2000

This gripping tale of murder, politics, conspiracy and passion takes aim at the American political system, the white supremacy movement and racial stereotypes while offering a sinister explanation for the 20-Year Jinx that has claimed the lives of seven presidents.

Young estate lawyer Benjamin Franklin Kravner discovers a cryptic poem among his murdered client's possessions that hints at a 160-year vendetta against the American presidency. Ben's skepticism wanes when he discovers an unusual phenomenon: the presidents elected every twenty years from 1840 through 1960 died in office, and Ronald Reagan barely survived an assassination attempt. Ben's perilous journey leads him to the answer to his question: is the poem merely a dead man's wacky conspiracy theory or is a powerful cabal primed to claim the White House as vengeance for their ancestor s death?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Racial hatred unites the fictional descendants of a Georgia Scottish clan in this far-fetched but engaging conspiracy drama. In 1840, when General William Henry Harrison hung the MacDougall family patriarch for murdering a runaway slave, the nine MacDougall children plotted a complex vendetta. They and their descendants have lived under assumed names and, as "The Royal Knights of the Millennium," aim for a presidential death in office every 20 years, beginning with HarrisonAthe "Jinx" of the title. The vendetta is immortalized in a cryptic poem passed from father to son, which hints at the family's goals: vengeance, the racial provocation of a second civil war and the ethnic cleansing of American blacks on the cusp of the Millennium. When a balking Knight is murdered in the late 1990s, the poem accidentally falls into the hands of novice estate lawyer Ben Kravner, who connects the verse to the death of the Knight, one of his firm's clients. Recovery of the Knight's wallet yields the code names of his fellow conspirators, who all hold critical positions in government and the military. Investigating the mystery on the Internet, Ben is aided by love interest Debby Barnett, a legal staffer who, it is soon revealed, is the daughter of another dead Knight. The investigation leads to Debby's capture and a setup that discredits Ben and sends him running for his life from the FBI. Kahn explores race relations on every levelAexamining interracial love affairs, black radical groups and white supremacist organizations. Though he relies heavily on the Internet as a plot device, fast-paced action scenes move the drama along at a good clip. For readers willing to suspend disbelief, Kahn's debut effort packs a punch. 3000 printing. (Jan.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Fast-paced action scenes move the action along at a good clip...Kahn's debut effort packs a punch. --Publishers Weekly

Blending a flair for history, a convincing sense of the inner workings of law firms, and more than a touch of Y2K apocalyptic folderol, Kahn has concocted a highly readable thriller...A remarkably well-crafted book. --Legal Times, Curses And Conspiracies

Kahn has produced a first-rate novel that ranks with John Grisham and Frederick Forsyth. --Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 417 pages
• Publisher: Redfield Publishers; First Edition edition (January 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967307740
• ISBN-13: 978-0967307749
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,402,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Larry Kahn, the author of The Jinx and King of Paine, successfully negotiated the fast-paced world of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions for twenty years, first at a major New York law firm and then at an Atlanta Fortune 500 company. He penned The Jinx while on sabbatical in 1999 and is now devoted to writing fiction full time. Many of his more cynical legal clients and associates have accused him of writing fiction full time for many years. He resides in Atlanta with his family.

Larry developed a keen interest in social issues while attending Yale Law School, an idealistic spirit that continues to spice his novels. The vision of a colorblind America in his political thriller The Jinx led to endorsements by leaders of the ACLU, National Urban League and Artists Against Racism. And as the Baby Boomer generation scatters about the country, King of Paine envisions a renewed emphasis on family and tradition in which Americans create for their venerable elders, and ultimately themselves, a peaceful place to die.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very original, thought-provoking legal thriller, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jinx (Hardcover)

The Jinx is an entertaining, fast-paced thriller that holds its own against, and possibly exceeds, the best work of Grisham, Baldacci and Turow. Ben Kravner is far and away the most likeable but unlikely legal hero ever--he's a combustible combination of intellectual, dreamer, lovesick pup and goofball. (I'd marry him in a second!) Hopefully, we'll see more of him in Kahn's next novel! In The Jinx, when Ben unwittingly stumbles upon a clue suggesting a 160-year conspiracy against the presidency, he must come to grips with a conflict between his desire to win "the game" by making partner in his law firm and his fading dream of changing the world for the better. While Ben is chasing conspiracy theories, Kahn weaves in two other frighteningly believable story lines. Christy Kirk, a young reporter, investigates the militarization of white supremacy groups and the African-American resistance. LaRosa Smith, a beautiful African-American woman, is the top advisor to the Vice President, who is also running for President in the 2000 election. All three story lines blend together seamlessly as the plot reaches a stunning climax. Curses, Larry Kahn, for keeping me awake at night!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting political thriller, August 17, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Jinx (Hardcover)

Not even five years out of Harvard Law, Benjamin Franklin Kravner works at an eminent New York firm, working in the Trusts and Estates Department. When his mentor Fritz Fox suffers a heart attack, he is placed in charge of the non-money making cases.

Ben takes over the estate of the recently deceased renowned Adams Thompson. Among the papers, Ben finds an envelope addressed to Fritz as the trustee. Questionably opening the envelope, Ben finds an interesting poem inside it. The words imply that a group calling itself the Royal Order of the Millennium Knight has caused the deaths of presidents since 1840. Apparently, the descendants have enacted vengeance ever since Harrison killed one of their own. Ben soon learns that a special scenario using a race war is planned for the current election that will bring this group to power. Ben ponders the probability that seven presidents serving on the even number ending in zero in a row die in office. Of the remaining presidents, only one dies in office, but that one is a rather healthy charismatic Taylor who might have had the strength to stop the Civil War.

Is THE JINX a far-fetched tale for X-Files buffs or has Larry Kahn proved these deaths are not just a cosmic coincidence? Mr. Kahn provides an entertaining, often winking tale that makes the conspiracy seem plausible because his main hero is bumbling and human while his villains contain self-effacing humor. Is the story line a stretch? Absolutely, but it is fun to wander down that road as Mr. Kahn writes an exciting political thriller.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read: Mixes the Past with Problems in the Present, February 17, 2000

By 

David P Sims (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jinx (Hardcover)

This book kept me up into the weee hours of the night and prevented me from doing homework. I am a high school Junior and I currently am studying American History. I have been intrigued with our 20-year Jinx since I learned about it in the Fall. Larry Kahn takes that part of our history and creates a thrilling novel. Along with the History lesson, Kahn addresses current issues regarding white supremacy groups and African-Amrerican resistance groups. All along, he incorpurates the ever-present Internet Chat Rooms. I found the characters very likable and realistic. I connected with them. In this book, Kahn presents a very frightning believable story. I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good action-packed, turn-paging, nail-biting novel.