Reckless is an amazing book on Kennedys, full of unknown for me facts. It was a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended for history and non-fiction readers!!!

I have always been intrigued by JFK, the images of his assassination are etched into our collective memory. The stoic Jackie in her blood stained suit, and Marilyn, forever tragically linked, and judged. Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, so many conspiracy theories are still discussed today.

This book doesn’t spare the punches. From the very first page, it is enlightening and brutally honest. It certainly takes the shine off the Kennedy name. It lays bare the lack of moral fibre within this family, specifically in the male line. Joe Kennedy Snr, the father was very rooted in the criminal classes, the money that his enterprises yielded, formed the bedrock of the Kennedy political empire.

The pages are densely packed with detail. So many infamous names of the Prohibition era and beyond, are featured. As these are discussed, so many murky details become clear. It is surprising that over 60 years after JFK’s assassination, over a century after his birth, there are still so many documents that are hidden from our sight; which makes me very naive, I’m sure.

I was a little surprised by the extent of the family’s connection with organised crime. In some respects, it is a very old story, of money buying power, then that power is used to erase ugly truths from the collective consciousness; to buy respectability. Reckless is a comprehensive, deep dive into this dark and seedy family.

I have read many books over the years about many different members of the Kennedy family, and it is interesting to see how things have evolved over the years. There have been 'polite' books telling the glorified stories and showed the good sides of the family, maybe with some mentioning about the mob or Marilyn Monroe, and then there is Reckless.

Over the years when 'new' information has been revealed a lot has been added on to the story of this family. Well, the men really, because only the men have really mattered, at least if you would have asked the patriarch of the family. The more I learn about the family the more appalled I get. Of course, it was a different world back then. It was easier to hide things, and it really did matter who knew things about whom, and how much money was needed to get things handled.

I like that this book dives right into it, no unnecessary long background stories needed here. There are some new things I have not heard about before and when you pack all the details into one compact book it really gives you all the information you need about a corrupt family that thinks/knows everyone can be bought or sidelined. The attitudes of the men in this family... totally disgusting. I find it good that we get to know more and more about these things that have been kept from us.

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy!
I wanna say through this book i did learn a lot of things about the kennedys ect and the history about them

Very Comprehensive insight to this scandal *******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Thank you to Netgalley and Ad Lib Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really excited to get a copy of this book as there are so many books out there on the market about the Kennedy Family, particularly conspiracy theories about JFK assassination in Dallas, Texas. Which tell of the picture perfect life of an Irish, American family with great morals and values.

At the head of this family was the patriarch Joe Kennedy. I always knew there was something almost sinister about this man who would stop at almost nothing to make his family great. I always remember reading an article years ago about his daughter Rosemary Kennedy who was experiening seizures and violent mood swings. In response to these issues, her father arranged a prefrontal lobotomy on her in 1941 when she was 23 years of age; the procedure left her permanently incapacitated and rendered her unable to speak intelligibly. And she seems to vanish off the face of the earth and from family portraits etc and was instututionalised.

By writing this very well researched book the author Mike Rothmiller delves into the darker side of the Kennedy family, about the mob connections Joe used to further his son's careers. Making his families money from the prohibition period. The various affairs and love triangles which were going on with both John and his brother Bobby, particularly that of Marilyn Monroe who both brothers were supposedly having relations with. This book makes for a very interesting read for anyone who likes history or the Kennedy family in general and definitely opens up the assassination debate even more, It would seem the family have many enemies.

Brilliantly written and researched.

Thank you to Ad Lib Publishers and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I personally wasn’t alive when JFK was president or when he was shot. I also don’t know that much about him. Except what my grandparents have told me. The image that they have created is one where the Kennedys were loved and cherished! The crying when JFK was assassinated. How it brought an entire country to a stop. How it inspired an entire book by Stephen King. It gives the impression of a person being cherished.

When I saw the title and book description for this book I was immediately intrigued. Someone who didn’t agree with the image I had in my head? Some secrets brought to light? I must read it.

Did it deliver that?

Indeed it did.

You can tell that the author did his research. Instead of the Kennedys being painted in a light as being a kind of hero, they are now described as these sex crazed, mob dealing group of people.

I will definitely be both discussing this book and recommending it to any history buffs.

I didn’t know much about the Kennedys before reading this book and oh dear!

This is a well researched book on the Kennedy family and their history, which is tinted with some rather shocking twists and turns.

This was an easy read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to dive deep into this family’s tumultuous past.

Reckless provided me with some info on the Kennedy family that I wasn't familiar. (Although - honestly - I haven't read a tremendous amount about the Kennedy family.) Mike Rothmiller definitely drops some bombshells.

The first part of the book is more about Joe Kennedy than JFK, but the nefarious dealing with ... not only the mob ... but where ever a nefarious dealing could be found (it seemed).

Often I expected/thought that there might be more info associated with some of the info that was dropped, but with the book only being 256 pages, there wasn't a lot of extra detail after my chin hit the floor.

The book seemed to be written by areas of interest, as opposed to sequentially. And seemed to jump a bit, for example chapter 5 (around 30%) was talking about Joe and the Mafia and the chapter ends with "By then JFK was President."

Towards the end of the book (after a quite an extensive review of the JFK shooting) there is a statement (at around 94%) that "if RFK Jr. finds himself in a position to launch a new investigation into the assassinations, as a former organized crime detective, I'd gladly serve as one of his investigators." (It kind of hit me here ... ahh ... that's why this book was written.)

Mike Rothmiller is author (or co-author) and has worked in law enforcement for decades including 10 years with LAPD and 5 years as a deep undercover detective within the Organized Crime Intelligence Division.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ad Lib Publishers for approving my request to review the advance review copy of Reckless in exchange for an honest review.

“Old Joe Kennedy is as big a crook as we’ve got anywhere in the country,” according to Harry Truman. Old Joe considered himself invulnerable, but he was as corrupt as they come. JFK learned his father’s vile behavior well.

JFK’s medical fitness to be president was a Kennedy coverup. A sickly child, he had autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 with Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism; from adolescence, gastrointestinal symptoms which go with coeliac disease; venereal disease for thirty years. His back trouble was claimed to be the result of football; he’d been born with one leg shorter than the other. He used more drugs than he needed.

He lived for bimbos, claiming he got a terrible headache if he didn’t have a woman for three days. His brothers often joined him in his orgies. He never made much effort to hide his reprehensible behavior. So many people knew, but kept quiet.

Too many pages are devoted to various gangsters, Joe’s cronies and rivals.
Also, overmuch is presented on Cuba. Many of those named were sleazy pals of the President. Neither JFK or RFK had much in the way of smarts. Bobby’s thoughtful book, Thirteen Days, was actually written by someone else.

The release of classified information and previously unknown tape recordings of deliberations show the Kennedys as they really were. Their untimely deaths allowed the family to achieve near-canonization that is totally out of balance with their achievements. They may have seemed young and stylish in the White House, but they lacked substance.

I thought this worked well as a Kennedy book, it had new information that I didn’t know anything about the new information. It was written well and informative, I thought it was engaging and glad I got to read this. The authors did a great job writing this and was a great overall view of the Kennedys.

There was lots of information in this book that I didn't know such as the activities of the father Joe Kennnedy.

I had no idea of JFK's various health ailments until reading this book. The connections of him and his father to The Mafia are also rather interesting.

Recommended read.

Thank you for the advance review copy.

I’ve always been fascinated by the life, times, and death of JFK. This book is well researched and goes into a lot of facts and history about the Kennedy family as a whole. Sometimes, perhaps a bit too wide ranging with stories and facts about other individuals and groups but drawn together at the end. So was Lee Harvey Oswald an individual assassin or paid and then silenced, there’s plenty of information here to help you to draw your own conclusions. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

I did find this a bit hard to get into at first - but it is worth persevering as gets good and juicy! I only knew what I had read about the family, and the odd conspiracy theory, and I clearly knew about the tragic murder.
This definitely casts some shade over the family, introducing lots I didn’t know about the family!! Thanks netgalley for allowing me to read this.

Thank you for allowing me to read an Arc of this. I was looking forward to reading it. However I've had to move to my DNF pile for now. There's nothing wrong with the book per say, I just found it really hard to get into.

An interesting book detailing the rise and part of the fall of the Kennedy family. It did seem to focus largely on Joe Kennedy and not as much about JFK as I would have liked. Having said that, it showed the background and how they family became so powerful. Most of it was simply shocking. I almost couldn't believe that Joe Kennedy got away with so much, but then again it shows how corrupt all societies are. There were echoes of how certain figures in US politics/ business seem to get away with more than the average person, just because they have money and influence.

Let's confront the Reckless narrative head-on. This is a history that we either did not know about or chose to ignore: Joe Kennedy founded a completely decadent and dishonest family, which persisted for decades before John F. Kennedy emerged as the most significant figure to lead the Western World as president.
Try to figure out how this was permitted to go on as long as it did, with insiders and hangers-on supporting JFK every step of the way, and you'll be astounded page after page.
We are really grateful to Rothmiller and Thompson for their tireless research and for sharing this true story with the world.
An independent review for NetGalley / Ad Lib Publishers

wanted to extend my sincere thanks for granting me early access to "Reckless: Sex, Lies and JFK" through NetGalley. Having had the opportunity to delve into your work, I'm compelled to share my thoughts with you.

Your book is an absolute masterpiece, offering a captivating exploration of a tumultuous era in American history. From the first page, I found myself completely engrossed in your fearless examination of the darker aspects of the Kennedy administration. Your meticulous research and engaging storytelling transported me back in time, allowing me to witness firsthand the political intrigue, scandal, and conspiracy that defined the era.

What truly impressed me about "Reckless" is your ability to weave together disparate threads of history into a cohesive and compelling narrative. Your attention to detail is remarkable, and each revelation is supported by a wealth of evidence and documentation. Your writing is both accessible and engaging, making even the most complex political machinations easy to grasp.

Moreover, "Reckless" offers much more than just a retelling of historical events; it's a reflection on power, corruption, and the moral complexities of politics. Your insights into the nature of power and its effects on individuals and institutions are thought-provoking and timely, offering readers a deeper understanding of the forces at play in our society.

In conclusion, "Reckless: Sex, Lies and JFK" is a true tour de force that deserves widespread acclaim. Your masterful storytelling and fearless approach to your subject matter make this book a standout in the genre, and I have no doubt that it will leave a lasting impact on all who read it. Thank you for sharing your expertise and insight with the world.

Excellent read about JFK and the Kennedy family.

A Catholic family with good looking sons and ties to the mafia they had a power which lasted. The background was thoroughly researched and cleverly documented.

Recommended

The Kennedy family has always intrigued me. As a history freak I have read a lot of stories about them that gave me a look inside their lives. I already knew that the Kennedys weren't the choir boys that some believed they were; Corruption, mafia, sex, adultery and more. This book confirms that once again, but with some interesting other facts. I liked the more in-depth knowledge of Joe (the father) as most books are more centred on JFK and his brother Bobby, which have their fair part in this book as well. I appreciate the research the author has done and I truly enjoyed the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Ad Lib Publishers for this ARC.