James Patterson, the prolific author behind the forthcoming autofiction "The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe: A True Crime Thriller," posits a captivating theory regarding the demise of the Hollywood icon. His narrative delves into Monroe's life and death, painting a picture of a woman who dared to tread in perilous waters, entangled with powerful figures such as President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the enigmatic Frank Sinatra.
"She was swimming in very treacherous waters," Patterson shared with The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on November 21st. "They shared secrets with her, and she kept a meticulous record. She had information that was potentially explosive."
As Patterson and co-author Imogen Edwards-Jones delved into Monroe's career for their book—a work of fiction, as acknowledged in the fine print—the 78-year-old author confessed, "There's a wealth of knowledge about her that many people are unaware of. I had my own surprises."
Monroe's life tragically came to an end at the age of 36 when she was found deceased in her Los Angeles home in August 1962. At that time, authorities concluded that she had succumbed to a barbiturate overdose, with traces of sedatives in her blood and empty medicine bottles beside her bed. However, the years that followed saw many questions raised about the circumstances surrounding her death, prompting the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to reopen an investigation in the '80s.
"Based on the evidence available to us," then-district attorney John Van de Kamp told the Los Angeles Times, "it appears that her death could have been a suicide or a result of an accidental drug overdose." In a report obtained by the media outlet at that time, investigators stated that a murder "would have necessitated a massive conspiracy involving countless individuals, including the actual killer or killers; the chief medical examiner coroner; the autopsy surgeon who happened to be assigned the case; and most of the police officers and their superiors involved in the investigation."
Authorities added in their report, "Our inquiries and document examination have uncovered no credible evidence supporting a murder theory." Nevertheless, Patterson's theory continues to captivate and intrigue, offering a glimpse into the enigmatic life of one of Hollywood's most iconic figures.
