Reckless: Sex, Lies and JFK is an interesting tale of the Kennedy men but mostly JFK. It is always interesting to read such books about well-known men of power and realize we hardly knew them. But this was still a time when deference was given, thankfully no longer.

The story begins with Joseph Kennedy, father of the famous family and his escapades of dishonesty and partnerships with the mafia. He set the example for his sons to be less than honest, womanizing to any female available, and yet projecting an image of devout Catholics for all to believe.

JFK's health was much worse than what we believed and likely was hidden as FDR's until it could no longer be withheld. JFK was lucky enough to be able to have a team around him that hid the truth and kept him medicated.

The corruption of power and power of corruption is hardly a surprise as we see this over and over again with every administration,

The book is highly detailed with many familiar names of the past. With the slow release of documents perhaps one day we will know the whole of it.

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.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this book. I love history and the Kennedys are our version of royalty and this was such a great book to read

Reckless: Sex, Lies and JFK by Mike Rothmiller is a provocative and controversial deep dive into the darker side of John F. Kennedy’s legacy, and as a longtime JFK enthusiast, I approached this book with excitement. However, from the outset, it became clear that the author takes a rather critical stance on the late president, highlighting aspects of Kennedy's life that many of his supporters might find troubling.

Rothmiller, a former detective, draws on newly released police and intelligence files, and his writing reflects a clear disillusionment with JFK. The book portrays Kennedy as a man whose personal indulgences, particularly his affairs, were not just private flaws but part of a pattern of reckless behavior that spilled over into his political life. This angle makes for an intriguing read, especially for those interested in new theories or hidden truths about the Kennedy era.

On the positive side, Reckless offers detailed and in-depth research, much of which comes from previously unavailable sources. The scope of the book is ambitious, covering not only Kennedy's personal life but also his connections to organized crime, corporations, and international politics. This adds layers to our understanding of the man and the administration, though the focus on his alleged indiscretions might feel overwhelming at times.

However, the book’s tone may not sit well with all readers, particularly those who have a more favorable view of Kennedy. Rothmiller’s portrayal is harsh, and at times, it seems the author is less interested in presenting a balanced historical account and more in dismantling the Camelot myth. This could detract from the objectivity some readers might expect from a historical account, leaning more into a critical exposé rather than a nuanced exploration of a complex figure.

Overall, Reckless is an engaging and thought-provoking read, particularly for those interested in the more controversial aspects of JFK’s life. The research is thorough, but be prepared for a narrative that leans heavily into Kennedy’s flaws. While it’s not the definitive story of JFK, it’s certainly a book that will spark debate and offer new insights for anyone fascinated by the ongoing legacy of America’s 35th president.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A very interesting read. I wasn't born when President Kennedy was shot but I did a project on his assassination for a school project. I had no idea how much involvement the Kennedy family had with various entities throughout the 20th century. As the title suggests, the often glamourized portrayal of JFK is shifted to a much more damning light. Much of the information in this book appears to have been masked and hidden away from the general public for decades, with some of the cited documents and resources being released as recent as 2023-2024.

Quite an interesting read, unfortunately I would say my main criticism is that the book is far too heavily weighted to the life of Joseph Kennedy. If you are interested in JFK there are better alternatives available.

There has been a flurry of new books about the Kennedys recently & I, for one, am all for it. This book is a look at the seamier side of the Kennedys & there's plenty of material. With all the rumoured affairs & trysts, I'm surprised JFK had any time left to devote to Presidential duties! I found the first section the most difficult to read as it mainly concerned patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, & I can't stand him. Later sections were mainly about JFK (& RFK to a lesser extent) & how their father's rumoured earlier entanglements with the Mafia came back to haunt them. It's a very interesting book & well-written but it's probably not for you if you think the Kennedys could do no wrong. 4.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Ad Lib Publishers, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

As a big history fan, I respected the amount of research that went into this book. It is a very interesting topic and understanding the many layers has been fascinating to me.

The public fascination with the Kennedy family has never dimmed. This book is filled with information that helps shine a light into the Kennedy clan and the main players don’t live up to the public perception they portrayed. Infidelities, total lack of morals and of course the enduring Marilyn Monro affair. An interesting read. Thanks to Betgalley and the publishers.

Towards the end of this book, the author says, "Finding a life so unbelievable, no screenwriter would dare crush the story of JFK into such a short lifetime. Reality, reckless and shameful as it is, imposes no such limits." This sums up the book and the short life of JFK very well.

Joe Kennedy made his millions with no respect for law or morality and when Joe Jr died in the war, John Fitzgerald was moved up to the son who would be pushed towards the White House. There is a lot in this book that might be known to those who have read biographies of JFK but there is much that is new and having it all laid out in black and white in one volume, does make the whole thing quite shocking. The infidelity was known but I didn’t realise the scale, the brazen nature of his treatment of women (especially Marilyn Monroe), and the way the press colluded in covering it up.

The assassination is well covered and it becomes obvious that it wasn’t Lee Harvey Oswald working alone. If nothing else, you’re left wondering why the CIA lied so much and from day one.

It does seem an unreal story and it’s shocking that one family could have so much heartache. There was a furore at the time that a Catholic had been elected to the White House but it seems that JFK hadn’t ever learned the ten commandments.

The book has Sinatra, Peter Lawford (what an ending the book has for him!), Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby Kennedy, and a variety of other interesting characters. I got a lot from this book and it does help to explain why we are still so fascinated by Camelot even after all these years.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

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.