Customer Reviews

Speeding Bullet

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Growing up as a child, reruns of the George Reeves "Superman" series were always high on the list of shows to watch. Trying to gather information about the death of Reeves, I originally read most of this text in a magazine supplement, then found "Hollywood Kryptonite." The latter struck me as very sensational, in the tabloid sense. It is very clear the Mr. Henderson has very carefully and lovingly researched this subject, and he has presented the book in a manner that informs as well as entertains. The credibility of "Hollywood Kryptonite" suffers as the reader finds out about the false sources, misquotes and misinformation contained therein. Mr. Henderson delivers a solid presentation, and anyone interested in the life and death of George Reeves should start right here, and leave "Hollywood Kryptonite" right on the shelf - right next to the Enquirer. Fans of George Reeves won't be disappointed.

Speeding Bullet rates as an excellent book on the life and death of actor George Reeves. True, he will forever be known to millions of generations of fans as the one and only true Superman, but he did have a very fascinating life that most people never even knew about. Most TV news stations and newspapers always dwell on his tragic (and maybe mysterious) death, but the author of Speeding Bullet, Jan Alan Henderson, did some excellent research on George Reeves which rates as a very entertaining read through out. It never loses its touch at all. I was just thrilled with the amount of information that there was on Reeves from his childhood to his acting career to being TV's Superman and up to the night of his death in 1959.

An excellent book which I recommend to every fan of TV's "Adventures of Superman" and George Reeves. It will not disapoint you at all. This book also features a foreword written by actor Jack Larson, TV's Jimmy Olsen himself!

Jan Henderson's 'Speeding Bullett' is a an absorbing, fascinating, first-rate murder mystery about the life and strange death of the actor George Reeves, star of 'THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN'. Fans of the classic television series and afficionados of true-life mysteries will not want to miss this page-turner.!

'Speeding Bullet' by author Jan Alan Henderson is a first-rate, page-turning book on the mysterious death of televison star George Reeves, who played the title role on 'The Adventures Of Superman' television series (1951 - 1957).

This is a true, non-fictional account of what happened one summer night in 1959 when television's beloved Superman was killed with a gunshot wound to the head. Offically ruled a suicide, Jan Henderson's exhaustively researched narrative will take the reader down a trail that is often atsonishing and even chilling. Unlike other books on this famous incident, author Henderson does not indulge in unproven speculation, but relies instead on facts with eye-witness accounts that he verifies and documents.

This book also highlights the life of George Reeves, his extensive work on behalf of charity, and the undying friendship that he earned from his many friends and co-workers, which has not diminished over the decades.

'Speeding Bullet' is nothing less than an incredible book, and should be sought out by fans of both George Reeves, and of true crime mystery books. This is the one to read.

The comments above were written for the original published book edition of 'Speeding Bullet' of 1999. They still hold true for the 'Second Edition' (2007), even more so. In the aftermath of the feature film 'Hollywoodland', author Jan Henderson re-wrote the original manuscript of 'Speeding Bullet' to include revisions and additions to the original text. He also added a second 'Prologue', and two completely new chapters after the first book ends. By waiting 8 years after the publication of the first edition, the author has an even sharper perspective of the events in question. The new chapters contain not only information on the recent motion picture based on Reeves' death, but also some new twists and turns in the case that will startle the readers. Some of it is even emotionally moving. Jan Henderson has revised and expanded the case file of this unsolved Hollywood mystery, showing that he still had an ace or two up his sleeve. It also contains an additional photo gallery with 81 new and mostly rare photographs.

The demand for this book spiked when word was released regarding the "Hollywoodland" feature film starring Ben Affleck. The first edition of Speeding Bullet sold out completely. Now the author has written a new prologue, an additional chapter and epilogue as well as provided an additional 70 illustrations for a revised SECOND EDITION due to be released in January 2007. Watch this listing for order information.

My congratulations to author, Jan Alan Henderson.

His book, Speeding Bullet: The Life and Bizarre Death of George Reeves presents us with a very real and compassionate picture of the Man-of-Flesh. Thanks to Henderson's carefully researched and well documented first person interviews by the end of the book one feels a shared and personal closeness to George Reeves -the man.

What I found particularly refreshing is how Jan Alan Henderson has been able to separate the man from the myth. He presents us with the known facts of the police investigation without feeling a need to express or interject a personal agenda.. He respects the readers ability to follow the evidence and make their own independent judgment of the facts.

To my mind, this is what makes Henderson's book-- a standout.
Speeding Bullet is more powerful than the loco motives. The author presents all the known facts without any personal bias. Mr. Henderson accurately points out that the search for the truth as to what happened in Reeve's Benedict Canyon home on that summer night in 1959, "is a modern day Roshoman."

Near the end, the author turns us away from the bright klieg lights of George Reeve's Hollywood, to refocus on a simple truth. On page 131 Henderson writes:

"In all this freak show atmosphere, George's good deeds, benevolence, and warm personality, seem to get lost. It's a shame, because as George's
friend, Gene LeBell said in 1988, "It's what you leave behind that counts." Indeed it is.

INDEED IT IS!

Thank you Mr. Henderson for what you have left behind. Thank you for presenting your readers with a warm and heartfelt epitaph to the super man behind the super myth.

Steve Hodel
Author, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder
Los Angeles, California

I bought this incredible book, "Speeding Bullet"- (second edition) when I was out in Hollywood about two years ago! I too was one of the many baby-boomers who grew up watching, "The Adventures Of Superman." This amazing book is totally "instrumental" in bringing out well-researched imformation on George Reeves. Again this is one of those books that once you start reading, it is tough to put it down You just want to keep reading the book, it is so well-written and intriguing! Jan Alan Henderson is definitely one of the "leading" authorities on George Reeves! Jan is completely thorough on all the facts leading up to Reeves's death. Just what did happened on the morning of June 16th at 1579 Benedict Canyon? Its up to the reader to decide. Jan brings out all the facts that make one wonder of what really did happen that night? Such as the facts surrounding Reeves's death.....the lack of power-burns (residue), the shell casing found behind Reeves's back, the gun found on the floor, the lack of finger-prints on the gun and during the LA county coroner's initial autopsy examination, the bruises found on his upper chest. And there are even more strange facts surrounding the "controversial" death that are in this book. He also brings out all the different theories concerning Reeves's mysterious death. As the back cover of the book asked, "suicide....or murder?" Also in this book are many wonderful incredible rare photos of Reeves, and very interesting interviews with actors and actresses, who were friends of George Reeves. No stone is left unturned in this amazing book about George Reeves from his childhood to his days as a contract player at Warner Bros. to his role as Superman. Like myself and many other baby-boomers I can tell that Jay Alan Henderson grew up watching, "The Adventures Of Superman" and like myself and many others he has a wonderful devotion to this great kind talented actor! While growing up and now George Reeves will always be one of my favorite heroes, and I will never forget him! Thank you Jay for writing this brilliantly written book! To anyone out there that has not bought this book and you are thinking about it, I say to you if you are a fan of George Reeves...."BUY THIS BOOK!" This is one of the five best books that I have read in the last four years!

As with the first edition, the reader is given and idea of the life and times of George Reeves. This is the project that his fans all over the globe had hoped to see on film -- not the end result of "Hollywoodland". It shows the reader a more balanced view of Reeves' life. There is more to ponder about George Reeves. We see his personal side, the professional actor, and the humanitarian. The second edition delves more deeply into whether or not George Reeves' death was a result of suicide, murder, or possibly accidental by using the forensic evidence and testimonies of people at the time.

Using the testimonies of people who knew him, we get a clearer picture of George Reeves. This version of "Speeding Bullet" shows us a man who, while not perfect by any means, was a giving man who loved life, good times, and enjoyed his friends.

The Photo Gallery is a Reeves' fan's delight! In one photo, Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky) has a typical Superman stance with the hands on the hips. There are photos of the tours with Noel Neill and Nati Vacio, along with stills from "The Adventures of Superman", and candids of George at his home.

His death and the circumstances surrounding it remain one of Hollywood's great mysteries. Jan Henderson's book allows the reader to make up his/her own mind regarding Reeves' death being the result of suicide, murder, or an accident. The book is well-written and will not disappoint.

Colete Morlock

I read this book fast in like 2 to 5 days. I got hooked on this book, and I couldn't put it down. The mystery death of George Reeves is really good. You would have to read this book. The photos of George Reeves are excellent. I enjoyed seeing all of those photos. I am very please with this book. If you want to know more about George Reeves and his death, this is the book to read. I highly recommended them.

I agree with others that this book is the book to read about the controversial death of actor George Reeves. I found this book to be very well-written, even-handed, and the author wanted to present facts, not sensationalism. As a child I watched the Superman TV show in re-runs in the 1960s after Reeves had died. I never knew much about George Reeves as a person, and I enjoyed getting to know the man through this book.

The section about Reeve's Benedict Canyon home being haunted spooked me because I made the mistake of reading it late at night in bed. By that point in the book I trusted the author to tell the truth, so that made it even more spooky.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the life and death of actor George Reeves.