Settling in for a routine day at the office in 1989, high school memories are the furthest thing from David Miller’s mind. But when an unexpected phone call interrupts the personal injury lawyer’s midafternoon slump, he is surprised to hear from Michael Eisenberg—a former debate partner who went on to become the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.But Michael isn’t just calling to … just calling to chat. He’s working with the FBI on a high-stakes case: investigating the disappearance of a revolutionary government scientist—one whose bio-evolutionary research could turn Darwinism on its ear, and pose a threat to national security.
The main suspect? Cult leader Philip Montgomery, who happens to have a strong connection to David’s past.
If David hopes to help crack the case, the attorney has to delve into a sea of old memories, revisiting people and places left behind long ago. One such person is former best friend Benny Friedman, who has clearly gone off the deep end. Obsessed with the JFK assassination, he insists he has evidence that Oswald wasn’t acting alone.
But as David’s old memories continue to surface, a startling deception comes to light—uncovering the truth in a most unexpected way.
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Great book. It grabbed me from the very beginning and continued to keep me guessing. If you enjoy well plotted suspense, this is the story for you ?
I couldn’t seem to put this book down. Has you guessing all the way thru. Very well written
Great book loved the aspect of history that was added to the plot.
Fast moving story that was, at times, a bit far-fetched but easy to read and entertaining.
Another view on the Kennedy assassination.
This is a very strange story and a bit unbelievable. But it is a nice change from the routine whodunnit. It worth a read.
Excellent.
Great book. Had me turning pages as fast as I could read
The plot was fascinating and the story was plausible. Great characters
Historical fiction works when there’s enough truth to make readers believe the story just might have been true as well, and Kaplan does a decent job in “When the Past Comes Calling” of mixing in espionage, ruptured friendships and mystery with the JFK shooting conspiracy. What we know, or think we know, helps readers keep turning the pages to find our who’s good and who’s not. The characters could use a bit more fleshing out and the ending was wrapped up a bit too quick and too strange after a believable story to that point, but there certainly appears promise for Kaplan’s future work. It’s a quick read that leaves one both satisfied and yet looking for a bit more. We’ll see with more reads from mr. Kaplan.
prefer closure at the end of a good read
This was a book I wish I had not spent the time on. The first part was believable and easy to follow, then it got too unbelievable and difficult to really follow.
The beginning had some promise – unrequited love at first sight decades before with a girl who then vanished with her father, ostensibly a controversial religious leader. But even that promise failed as soon as David begins searching for his high school friend who has found the truth of the Kennedy assassination. This “truth” is neither novel, nor credible to even the most extreme conspiracy theorist. Further, while some people get killed, the “action” mostly is extended discussions David has with people he encounters in which each side claims that they are like the Indian tribe who cannot lie. The book was a struggle to finish.
It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to read more! It’s a wonderful book.
The theme is too old, let past past. The new twists into the old plot are weak and stretch. Characters are coming and going, sudden, shallow, nothing to chew. But the story has fast pace, it is a penurious reading to kill time.
I was very disappointed in this book. After reading 3/4 of it, much of what had gone before was declared to be a ploy to put our hero on the wrong track. Things were explained too quickly and that was that.