The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
By James Patterson and Imogen
Edwards-Jones
Century
ISBN: 9781529928488
416pp.
This year, on June 1, fans of Hollywood starlet and diva Marilyn Monroe celebrated her 100th birth anniversary. Yet, even after more than 60 years, her death remains a mystery. Over the decades, numerous conspiracy theories have been proposed and dismissed, but the circumstances surrounding the 36-year-old’s sudden death continue to defy a definitive explanation.
Famed novelist James Patterson and journalist Imogen Edwards-Jones revisit this enduring enigma in The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, attempting to piece together what might have happened. While the book does not claim to offer a conclusive resolution, it presents a compelling narrative that allows readers to consider who might have been responsible — and why.
The prologue opens in the early hours of August 5, 1962, focusing on the aftermath of Monroe’s death. She is found lying dead on her bed without her clothes on, holding a telephone, surrounded by pills, in a locked room. Yet, intriguingly, there is no glass of water — full, half-full, or empty — to support the suicide theory, making the circumstances even more puzzling.
The narrative then travels back to 1939, when a 13-year-old Norma Jeane first came into focus. The authors explore how the shy young girl transformed into Marilyn Monroe, who influenced her rise, and how her troubled childhood — spent moving between foster homes — shaped her persona and public image.
Part biography, part investigation, a fast-paced account retraces Marilyn Monroe’s journey from troubled orphan to global superstar and the mysteries surrounding her final hours
Despite receiving support from guardians throughout her career, Monroe’s personal life remained fraught with unhappiness. Her own biological father didn’t accept her, which made her search for love in elderly men throughout her life, referring to them as daddy. Her marriages — from a convenient union at 16 to James Dougherty to later relationships with baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller — are examined in detail. The book also delves into her alleged affairs, including those with the Kennedy brothers and co-star Yves Montand.
The book also sheds light on several defining moments of Monroe’s career. It revisits the circumstances behind her iconic flying dress scene, her frequent quarrels with studio executives, her miscarriages and the story behind her nude calendar photo shoot — a decision that, rather than damaging her reputation, ultimately contributed to her rise in Hollywood.
Her interactions with contemporaries such as Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier, Lauren Bacall, Clark Gable, Tony Curtis and even Elizabeth Taylor are also explored, highlighting the starkly different reactions she elicited — admired by some for her authenticity, yet difficult for others to work with.
And if you think that the ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ incident was the only time she mingled with heads of state, you will be thrilled to know that the US President Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted her to be at a meeting with the Russian premier Nikita Khrushchev when the latter toured the United States with his wife. Why? Because in Russia, America meant two things — Coca-Cola and Marilyn Monroe!
If you take a look at this book from a non-film buff’s point of view, you can say that, in many ways, this is the kind of success story that captivates readers: an orphaned girl rising to become a global icon and the darling of a nation. Yet, the glamour is consistently undercut by the emotional turmoil that defined her life.
Written in Patterson’s trademark style, the book blends fact with a fictionalised narrative approach. While Patterson is best known for his fiction, this storytelling method allows him and Edwards-Jones to cover both Monroe’s professional achievements and personal struggles in an engaging manner. The short chapters, simple narration and brisk pacing make the book an unputdownable read — even though the ending has been known to the world since 1962.
As for the circumstances surrounding her death, the list of potential players is long. It includes the then US president and attorney general — both surnamed Kennedy — as well as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, each of whom, the book suggests, had much to gain or lose depending on Monroe’s fate.
Based on extensive research, the book represents a collaboration between a fiction writer and a journalist, both seeking answers to questions that have lingered since Monroe’s untimely demise. It is as much an investigation as it is a narrative reconstruction.
The book not only captivated me but also distracted me from everything else I had planned to do during the 12 hours I spent reading it. Some readers who view Monroe solely as a troubled soul may dismiss it as a sensational or quick cash grab, but it is neither. While certain details may appear embellished, much of the content — including anecdotes such as Monroe’s reported meeting with gangster Bugsy Siegel — feels plausible within the context presented.
The dialogues, too, are supported by a bibliography that references numerous books, interviews and accounts from Monroe and those connected to her, including several influential figures.
Was Robert F. Kennedy present at Monroe’s home on the day of her death? Did a “little red book” play a role? Or did her alleged connections to the mafia contribute to her demise? The authors explore these theories in detail, though they stop short of offering definitive answers.
The reviewer is a broadcast journalist who also writes on sports, film, television and popular culture. X: omair78
Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, June 7th, 2026
