Orders to Kill: The Truth Behind the Murder of Martin Luther King

by William F. Pepper

Book Overview

Argues that James Earl Ray was not King's assassin, and gathers evidence to support a theory that figures in government and organized crime were actually responsible.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786702532
• ISBN13: 9780786702534
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers
• Length: 537 Pages
• Weight: 2.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Orders of State

Bill Pepper, a personel friend of Dr. King's later became James Earl Ray's defense lawyer. Upon hearing Ray's testimony the King family was also convinced of Ray's innocence. Pepper documents the tragic day of King's death, the HSCA hearings and Ray's TV trial. We're also introduced to the stories from Ray about the mysterious Raul, who hired Ray as a bag man for his smuggling operation. Ray implicates Raul in the assasination, however Raul vanishes. There is much more to the story and I'm conviced that Ray was a patsy, much in the same way that Lee Harvey Oswald was. I look forward to the second book "Act of State" that picks up where "Orders to Kill", leaves off.

It took 30 years for truth to be told

This book reveals the extensive role the U.S. government, organized crime, civilians, played in the assasination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. William F. Pepper had, through years of investigation, wrote a book that tells us the truth of the assasination. Theres not much for me to say except that if a student, from Singapore, who had nothing to do with the one of the most prominent figure in the history of the United States, bothered to post a review about a book which narrates events leading up to his murder and afterwards, surely tells a lot about the book.

This stunning book deftly reveals the horrible truth.

As someone who reads widely and often, I can honestly say this: Very few books I have ever read have had as profound an impact upon me as Dr. William Pepper's meticulously and exhaustively researched "Orders To Kill". Dr. Pepper spent upwards of 18 years researching the facts behind the King Assassination and is probably the world's leading authority on the subject. "Orders To Kill" contains the results of those 18 years of investigation. What he found is chilling and disturbing, and should make us wonder what happened to our "democracy": The government of the United States, among others, was deeply involved in the killing. And in a testament to Dr. Pepper's tenacity and skill as an investigative journalist, many of those responsible for King's political murder have actually admitted their complicity in the book (These facts do not 'give away' the plot, since this information is contained on the outside back of the book and because it takes a book of over 500 pages like this one to fully explain the enormity of the event it describes). In fact, one of the men implicated in the assassination, witnessed the shooting himself and names the individual who actually fired the bullet that killed Dr. King (Hint: it is not James Earl Ray). Of course, this individual named names only after being assured by Dr. Pepper that he would be immune from prosecution for his role in the killing. Dr. Pepper, through sheer persistence, an iron will, and a burning desire for the truth, has written a book that will grab the reader from page one, and not let go until the bitter (very) end. The tale it so skillfully tells is a tragic one and is of epic proportions. But it is a tale that must be told, for if truth is to prevail in this world, as I believe it must, then books like this one must be written. I cannot recommend a book more highly than I recommend this one. Read it and prepare to be disgusted, frightened, saddened, and in the end, amazed and hopefully glad that the truth has finally prevailed.

Isn't it time for the truth?

The Dirk Diggler review on 05-01-98 talks about Gerald Posner's book "Case Closed" as if it were the "the whole truth and nothing but!" In reality, Posner speculates and adds wording to testimonial given by eyewitness accounts. The conspiracy theories offered in his book add up to a little more than the government telling him what to write and then adding additional dollars to his publicity campaign to help promote the book. "Dirk Diggler" is either Gerald Posner writing his own review and touting his book, or he works for the government and wants to keep the facts as far away from the public eye as possible.The fact that the government has not allowed an independent lab to test the rifle supposedly used by Ray, or that Ray was never granted a "fair trial" are viable questions that are raised. "Orders to Kill" offers an insight not found in other books in this category. If you want to believe that only "one gunman" killed JFK, then "Case Closed" is the perfect read. "Pepper offers a rare glimpse of reality, not often seen in these times of governmental deception!"

Must Reading for anyone interested in MLK Assassination.

This book is a must read for anyone either interested in the murder of one of our best leaders in this century, or as an incredible murder mystery.The Military aspects remain conjecture, and this is where Pepper has caught the most media heat.This book at least the first half is excellent in detailing James Earl Ray's legal battles to reverse his plea from guilty to not guilty. I guarantee their is so many shennanigans pulled that you will not believe it.Percy Foreman Ray's 2nd Lawyer who got him to plead guilty was also an Attorney for Jack Ruby, Gen. Walker, and the Hunt Family. Pepper is especially strong in shooting down the St. Louis Racist theory, which was also the conspiracy theory for the House Select Committee and the new book by Gerald Posner Killing The Dream.The average person after finishing this book I'm convinced will believe there is more to the Assassination than what they have been reading in their OP-ED pg.'s. There is alot more here than wild theorizing. A MUST READ.