Review of "Jimmy Dean's Last Dance: A Novel" by A.K. Alliss

This fictional story is a work of alternative history set in 1962 when (real life) Hollywood actor Jimmy Dean was already deceased. The author A.K. Alliss notes that the novel contains many splits from the real world timeline in the areas of music, movies, people, and events 'to highlight the spirit of the early sixties and the celebrity and political culture of the time.' So readers who like to reconcile historical fiction with real life are out of luck. 🙂

*****

As the story opens Jimmy Dean and his pal Elvis Presley are in Mexico, having been sent by a Vegas gangster called Dominic Frazini to bring back a shipment of money and weed.



Things go badly wrong and the partners decide to go home, lie low, and try to keep off Frazini's radar.

Skip ahead five years and Elvis is a truck driver in Mississippi.....



.....and Jimmy is a small-time actor in Hollywood.



Jimmy is friends with Marilyn Monroe, a troubled actress whose private life has been the subject of catty gossip for years.



Over drinks one evening, an anxious Marilyn tells Jimmy the studio is trying to fire her....but she won't say why.



The next morning Marilyn is found dead in her house, and the authorities announce that she killed herself. Jimmy is skeptical about the alleged suicide and decides to investigate. He finds Marilyn's diary, but is soon mugged and beaten by thugs who take the journal, and the message is clear: 'Stop diggin' kid, or you'll end up dead.'



Jimmy knows he needs help and calls his friend Elvis in Mississippi, saying he's in trouble and it's worse than Mexico. Elvis immediately leaves for Los Angeles, and Jimmy and Elvis's adventures begin.



Jimmy is chased by a Secret Service agent sent by President Jack Kennedy, with whom Marilyn was having an affair; and Elvis is abducted en route to L.A. and brought to Dominic Frazini, who says Elvis owes him for Mexico, and he has to kill Jimmy. Elvis can't help but think, 'Why now?'



As Jim and Elvis look into Marilyn's death they're repeatedly followed and attacked and even find a Hollywood bigwig murdered in his home. Finally, a man named 'Hank' - purportedly with the CIA - grabs Jim and Elvis, and says they'll be framed for murder if they don't assassinate President Kennedy.



There's a lot going on in the book with blackmail, murder, and suggestions of a huge conspiracy involving government agencies and the mob. There are also appearances by Dean Martin, George Cukor, Harvey Weinstein, a man called Lee, a woman named Priscilla, Fidel Castro, and more. Jim and Elvis know they're in WAY over their heads, and will need to be clever and lucky to survive.



I enjoyed the story, which is action-packed, with break-ins, kidnappings, brawling, wrestling, martial arts, shooting guns, and more. There's also plenty of humor, and a little bit of nooky as well.



I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Johnny Heller, Neil Hellegers, Bill Lord, Joya Colucci Lord, Jo Anna Perrin, and Anneliese Rennie, all of whom do a good job.

Thanks to Netgalley, A.K. Alliss, and Spectrum Publishing for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars