The Conspiracy to Sell Conspiracy
“Pate McMichael not only puts to rest the legend of a conspiracy to kill Martin Luther King Jr. but, in lucid, compelling prose, he also demonstrates how that legend was constructed, and why it persists. Anyone interested in civil rights history, the 1960s, King, or conspiracy theories—or just a great story—should grab this book and hold on tight.”
—Clay Risen, author of The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act and American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Favorite Spirit
“Backed by deep research and driven by a fast-paced narrative, Pate McMichael’s new book sifts through the fog of conspiracy theories, illuminating how an unlikely pair constructed James Earl Ray’s alibi for the assassination of Martin Luther King.”
—Aram Goudsouzian, author of Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear
Because such true stories about government smoke screens and unanswered cries for justice have echoes in the 21st-century American criminal justice system, the author’s narrative remains topical and relevant.
Kirkus Reviews
McMichael ably leads readers to the conclusion that, in this case, no one’s hands were clean.
“This is a compelling book, a detailed and well-documented story about a killer, a racist lawyer, and an avaricious journalist. … A worthwhile contribution to most civil rights collections.”
Booklist
Journalist McMichael digs deep into the racial violence of mid-20th-century America with this brutal but sometimes confusing account of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
Publisher’s Weekly