Whose Death in the Tunnel?: A Tale of a Princess [Hardcover]

Aaron McCallum Becker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

She is the most admired, talked about and photographed woman in the world, but her life is embroiled in trauma, betrayal and make-believe love. As her marriage falls apart and her divorce is mandated by powers she cannot control, she becomes entrapped in a nightmare, held prisoner by her husbands family, the press and unrelenting tradition. A trusted friend introduces the Princess to a master strategist, code named Puppet Master, who offers a beguiling solution that involves intrigue, deception- and a way out. The Princess resists the moral dilemma but, finally, her pain is so great she agrees to the plan on the condition that no one will be hurt. The goal is freedom and a new life in America; the terrible price, the loss of her only happiness- her two sons. The Puppet Master orchestrates the plot, but nothing is as it seems. Unforeseen twists and turns appear, and the Princess is carried along, unaware of the true plan. The plan unfolds across three continents. The paparazzi are fooled, the world is fooled, but then an unexpected love affair creates complications. The Machiavellian manipulations of the Puppet Master keep everyone in the dark until, in the end tragedy strikes in the tunnel and leaves a tarnished victory. Aaron McCallum Becker's intimate knowledge and skillful rendition of events raise as many questions as they answer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Based on the hypothesis that Princess Diana faked her own death, this novel is indeed as tacky as its hype-hungry premise. Written by two authors ("longtime confidantes of the European glitterati," according to the press release) under one pseudonym, the book is hilariously bad. The action begins in 1996, with a despondent and oppressed Diana wondering "Was Charles right?... Did she pamper herself too much?" Characterized as "intuitive," "contemplative" and "almost superhuman," Diana decides to free herself from her evil ex-in-laws and the paparazzi. The route to her new life is plotted by Adam, a ruthless but handsome ex-CIA rogue code-named "The Puppet Master," and Elizabeth, Adam's sister, a proficient organizer who doesn't mind killing people. Adam and Elizabeth are in the business of helping the rich and famous "disappear." For example: "The Shah gained a new identity through Adam's work and lived to the comfortable age of seventy-six." The siblings and their clich?d helpers (pock-marked tough guy Martin and Gerard, the teenage computer hacker) find a double for Diana (the manipulative Jennifer, who's too stupid to foresee her fiery end) and the machinations of the plot crawl toward Diana's climactic death a year later. The authors take all the fun out of what could be campy trash with repetitive monologues from Adam and Elizabeth, endless descriptions of expensive food and wine to show the glamour of high-class crime, and a lackluster ending. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Beautifully written, this novel serves up an alternative to the many crazy conspiracies that sprung up within hours of the tragic accident in the tunnel in Paris that night, in fact one could say that taken at value the events painstakingly put together in this book could, if you really wanted to join the conspirator's network, be true and that this IS what really happened, it honestly would not surprise me at all... Here is one hell of a book to get you thinking, really thinking... Who really died in the tunnel? Excellent, a brilliant read. 9/10." -- The Voice Files, August 2000.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Robert Reed Publishers (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188500320X
• ISBN-13: 978-1885003201
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,516,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, November 23, 2000

By 

A. Hurst - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whose Death in the Tunnel?: A Tale of a Princess (Hardcover)

The melancholy style of the first pages juxtaposed against and the action packed progression of the story itself intensified my fascination with this book. The plot accurately follows Diana's activities during the last year of her life and suggests that Diana's "death" was not a mere accident. This story is not an account of Diana's life. Instead, it is a spell binding, action driven plan for Diana to change her identity. The complex characterizations of Adam and Elizabeth, the individuals who organize and carry out this plan for Diana, make me wonder if they are real people instead of fictional creations in the author's imagination. The characterization of Jennifer as self-centered and conniving made me feel as though she received what she deserved. The story offers everything: brutal murder; deceit; compassion; humour; sex; insight into relationships; not to mention a great read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Exciting adventure/some good points, but many flaws., August 23, 1999

By 

MLPlayfair (Ravenna, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Whose Death in the Tunnel?: A Tale of a Princess (Hardcover)

Here's the thing: I read this in about two days, so it obviously held my interest. The premise is fascinating. But the writing, badly in need of a good editor, often made me cringe. There were several loose ends and conclusions that didn't add up, besides the many spelling and grammatical errors. And who needs that horrible opening sequence about "Poor Di" who lived such a wretched existence, yadda yadda yadda. If you want a book that isn't so disgustingly slanted in favor of her being a saint rather than a real person (and no true "Di Fan" does), read "The Real Diana" -- but you won't. That one made me believe in her as a person, and it also made me admire her in the end for overcoming her problems when all I had seen was her whining and her rude exposure of the family secrets because she couldn't have everything her way. Implying (in "Whose Death") that the queen was Satan was a bit more than I could take.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly well written, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Whose Death in the Tunnel?: A Tale of a Princess (Hardcover)

What a wonderfully refreshing book. So many books today seem written to a formula to guarantee success. This book strikes out in fresh territory and is rather unlike anything I have ever read before. The dialogues with the thought processes that attend them gave me a much fuller insight into the characters than authors normally provide. I also liked the fact that Diana although a bit of victim took charge of a wretched situation and achieved a victory, but at what a cost. It shows strength of character that I never envisioned in her. I still can't decide if I like some of the characters or not; they don't fit in any convenient pigeon hole of good or bad. I hope this author writes again soon; he has a fan who will follow his career.