Marilyn's Last Words: Her Secret Tapes and Mysterious Death [Hardcover]

Matthew Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2004

Marilyn Monroe’s death in August 1962, apparently a suicide, shocked the world. The coroner’s report stated that her death was due to a massive overdose of Nembutal capsules. But what about the discrepancies between the official report and the eyewitness accounts and memories of the people who were there at the scene of her death—friends, her housekeeping staff, police officers, and doctors? And what about the forensic evidence that disappeared between the time of her death and the coroner’s report being issued? Looking back at thousands of documents, many never before published, and interviewing dozens of sources, Smith argues strongly for a startling new version of events, as he paints a portrait of her day-to-day world toward the end of her life. The case he makes so convincingly is based not only on the documents and on complete forensic evidence, but also on the secret, confidential tapes Monroe made for her psychiatrist in the days leading up to her death—tapes that reveal a woman in charge of her life and her fate, a woman looking forward to a busy, bright future. Here, in her own words from the transcripts of the tapes, are the most secret thoughts of Marilyn Monroe.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smith (Vendetta: The Kennedys) insists that Marilyn Monroe's 1962 death was murder and goes to great lengths to prove it. Many prominent figures in the investigation believed she was killed, though few went on record. From the forensic evidence suggesting she was drugged via enema to the massive discrepancies in the official reports, Smith meticulously builds his case. He sifts through thousands of documents, interviews and never-before-revealed confidential tapes Monroe made days before her death. Two suspects emerge: Robert and John F. Kennedy, and the CIA. Monroe had affairs with RFK and JFK, and Smith believes those liaisons led to her death. Learning she was prepared to "blow the whole damn thing wide open" (though it's unclear whether Monroe meant the affairs or the CIA/Mafia attempt to assassinate Castro), RFK came calling. Many believe he was the last official to see her alive. What's less known is that her house was bugged by the FBI and CIA. Smith contends the CIA, angered by the Bay of Pigs debacle, struck back against the Kennedys via Monroe. Smith's research is intriguing, but his reasoning specious. If the CIA wanted to implicate the Kennedys in murder, why make it look like suicide? And why is the family off the hook? This book's evident desire to exonerate them colors its thesis. Photos.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786713801
• ISBN-13: 978-0786713806
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #939,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Monroe, Marilyn

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blows Away Many Other Books With Its Clear and Comprehensive Take on the Case for Murder in the Death of Marilyn, March 18, 2007

By 

Randall Libero (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marilyn's Last Words: Her Secret Tapes and Mysterious Death (Hardcover)

After researching and reading many, many books attempting to explain the extremely complex and perplexing events surrounding the death of Marilyn, Matthew Smith's book presents a very detailed and well researched account weaving together the many threads in Marilyn's life with sobering logic. The book takes the reader on a journey through Marilyn's personal and business relationships, as well as the motives of those who sought to use her toward their own ends. It reads like a terrific mystery novel and like the pieces of a puzzle, comes to a unique and logical conclusion as to "who did it".

The only piece missing is the newest evidence, which came after the publication of this book, of the release of the secret CIA file on Marilyn Monroe. This new information through, only strengthens Mr. Smith's case that rogue agents of the CIA had a hand in her murder, as to publically embarrass the Kennedy brothers and force their resignations from public office (many other authors place the Kennedys as the main orchestrators of her death - a claim that never factually made sense). When one looks at the convergence of political struggles during the early 1960's and the many players including J. Edgar Hoover, Sam Giancana, Jimmy Hoffa, the Kennedy's, the CIA, the military industrial complex, etc., Mr Smith's logical conclusion makes the most sense.

Unfortunately, for Marilyn, she inadvertently got herself personally caught up the biggest political mess of the last 75 years and paid for it with her life. Because the perpetrators failed to nail the Kennedy's for her murder because of an amazing public relations campaign from 20th Century Fox studios buying the Kennedy's time to cover their behinds, it ultimately backfired on the Kennedy's and they all ended up dead as well. So if Marilyn had somehow lived, American history would be dramatically different.

Bravo, Mr. Smith on your crusade to get to the truth of Marilyn's murder.

1.0 out of 5 stars WHEN WILL IT STOP, January 2, 2012

By 

S.G. "bigtime reader" (california) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marilyn's Last Words: Her Secret Tapes and Mysterious Death (Paperback)

Oh my. Where to start. Tapes made by Marilyn talking to her shrink, she spills the beans, then the tapes get destroyed and their content shared with us decades later by total recall.
As a seasoned Marilyn researcher that has seen and heard it all...am i impressed with the latest installment of conspiracy claims?
Yes, about as much as i was over her "Little red diary full of state secrets",as claimed by fantasist Robert Slatzer.
The claims made over these tapes are not realistic whatsoever. Just another chapter in trying to rip off unsuspecting Marilyn fans.

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearing up things, January 25, 2011

By 

Pollys Pantry "rake" (usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marilyn's Last Words: Her Secret Tapes and Mysterious Death (Paperback)

Though the tape portions of the book is scant, they clear up a lot of things. Also the tapes included are incomplete. Other books refer to portions of tapes that are not included in this book. All in all a great read. More truthful than most.