Official Review: Camelot Descending by Douglas Constant
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Official Review: Camelot Descending by Douglas Constant
The election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 heralded a short period of American history that came to be known as "Camelot." Named for the mythical land of kings, queens, and magic, the Camelot era of the United States was built on "deception, a hoax of mythical proportions that would become part folklore and part American history." At least, that is what Camelot Descending by Douglas Constant would have us believe.
Special Agent Dave Bannick is an FBI officer who serves under J. Edgar Hoover, the director known for his crooked and cruel ways. When the daughter of a major political contributor is discovered dead in the desert, Agent Bannick is assigned to handle the case alongside the Los Angles Police Department. It doesn't take long for deeply buried secrets to become unearthed, and Agent Bannick is shocked to discover that some of the most recognizable figures of the day are not the poster boys that they appear to be. As more bodies begin to pile up, Agent Bannick comes to question his loyalty to the FBI. Is keeping his job worth the loss of his integrity?
This novel could be classified as speculative fiction, as many of the historical figures held under a microscope for the plot's sake are the subject of many unsavory rumors in real life. John F. Kennedy, J. Edgar Hoover, and Frank Sinatra feature prominently in the story, and the images that they present are certainly unsavory. I enjoyed seeing a potential dark side to these characters, though I can understand why many would not. Smearing the names of historical figures can be distasteful, and it is up to the reader to decide where his or her boundaries lie.
In general, the storytelling feature is handled skillfully. It is easy to believe that Agent Bannick is a competent FBI agent, and his moral quandaries make him both likable and believable as a character. However, where the characterization is stellar, the publication lacks finesse. I found countless errors throughout the book, many of which were simple punctuation typos that should have been easily found and fixed.
Due to the typographical mistakes, I have decided to give this novel a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. There are heavy sexual themes and profane language, so I would recommend this book to adults only. Anyone especially interested in crime fiction and historical conspiracies should have no trouble getting completely absorbed in this story.
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Camelot Descending
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