The Killing of Robert F. Kennedy: An Investigation of Motive, Means, and Opportunity

The 1968 slaying of Kennedy in a Los Angeles hotel kitchen has never achieved anything like the legendary quality-or the bibliography-of his brother's assassination; there have always, however, been unbelievers in Sirhan Sirhan, still serving time for the killing, as the lone gunman he seemed to be. Moldea (probably best known in the book world as the author who unsuccessfully sued the New York Times over a review) is one of them, and has done an extremely painstaking investigative job of showing why. For one thing, Kennedy appeared to have been shot at point-blank range from behind, and witnesses saw Sirhan shoot from several feet in front. For another, his gun held only eight bullets, all apparently accounted for by the wounds in Kennedy and others-yet there was evidence that other bullet holes were found in the walls and doors of the kitchen. The Los Angeles Police Department hardly helped deflect suspicions by destroying some evidence and by being generally defensive. Moldea's account of all this, and of his many exclusive interviews and carefully pursued leads-he gave a polygraph test to a security guard who was also a possible suspect, and interviewed Sirhan in jail-is highly readable, often exciting. His concluding chapter-which we feel constrained not to reveal-though cogent and believable in itself, offers a distinct sense of letdown. Photos not seen by PW. (June)