The Death of Elvis

by Charles C. Thompson II and James P. Cole

Book Overview

What really happened on the hot August afternoon in 1977 when Elvis Presley died at the age of 42? Was he a drug addict? Did he suffer from bone cancer? Was it suicide? This uncensored expose details the true events surrounding his untimely death. Hard-core investigative reporting at its best.--Geraldo Rivera.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440210488
• ISBN13: 9780440210481
• Release Date: December 1991
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

No Answers!

This book was very interesting. It went into the death of Elvis and finding his body. It went into the autopsy in depth and a somewhat answer of what he died from. Much speculation was put on the cause of death and was Dr. Nick responsible. I'm not sure what caused Elvis' death, but I have my own ideas. Will we ever know what really happened that morning of August 16,1977? Maybe, but one thing I do know for sure is that Elvis was a human being with emotions, wants and needs. It's a shame that he wasn't allowed to be someone who could go for a walk, go out for dinner or movie without being mobbed or causing a commotion. HE WAS ELVIS, but he was also a man! RIP ELVIS GOD BLESS!

I LOVE this book!

This book tells the whole story. I know they all say that but I'm from Memphis. I know a bunch of the people mentioned in the book and it is really a shame that this book is no longer in print. It's so well written and cuts through all the B.S. I shared my copy with my mom who was a huge Elvis fan - she found it difficult to read some of it (the autopsy and things like that) but she really liked it too. Get this if you have any interest in Elvis. You'll love it!

The best book on Elvis' deat BY FAR!!

This is the best book on the death of Elvis that I have ever read. The book goes very in depth to the last moments of his life, his drug use as well as the role played by and trial of "Dr Nick" as well as the cover up of the official autopsy report. I would consider this book a MUST READ for any Elvis fan or even forensics fan.

A Wonderful Investigation

It's a shame this book is no longer widely available to a large audience. Both Thompson and Cole conducted a ten-year investigation into the true causes of Elvis' death. They uncovered that Elvis did not die of several myths (such as bone cancer, or murder), but that he slowly developed an uncontrollable addiction to amphetamines, barbiturates, et cetera. His doctors (this book details nearly all of Elvis' pill-pushing doctors), were more than willing to supply Elvis with the drugs he needed. Thorough interviews of those close to Elvis were conducted and are in this book. Details concerning the circumstances under which the entertainer died are here, including which book he was reading when he died (which wasn't a bible, as some say). This book is breathtaking in its scope, and is a must-read for any die-hard Elvis fan who just has to know what killed him. If you want to know more about Elvis' final years, this book is for you.

UNRAVELS THE COVER-UP OF ELVIS' DEATH

This is the best book I have read that uncovers the real story behind Elvis' death. As an Elvis fan, I know how difficult it can be to listen to or read anything negative about such a great influential singer. However, this book uses investigative reporting techniques that uncover the truth, a truth which cannot be disputed when the facts are presented. This book unravels the history and truth about a doctor who succumbed to his patient's fame and wrote prescriptions for mass numbers of medications. This was the same doctor who borrowed thousands of dollars from Elvis and was willing to give him anything in return for his own wealth. It also reveals a number of other doctors in Las Vegas and California who gave Elvis medications whenever he couldn't get what he wanted from his own doctor. You'll see actual lab reports that detail the number of medications and the exact levels present in the blood and organs of Elvis when he died. Ten medications were found in Elvis, some of which were individually at toxic doses in their own rights. Mix that many medications together, taking into account that some drugs could have caused his death by themselves, and you have a final cause of death called Death by Polypharmacy. The book exposes the details and history of the Elvis autopsy and how the cover-up false condition of heart disease was allowed to spread around the world. It also addresses other diseases such as Lupus and Bone Cancer that Elvis was rumored to have at the time of his death. It is somewhat difficult to read how Elvis eventually succumbed to drug addiction. It was a battle he fought for years, even being admitted to the hospital a few times under the pretense of other conditions or needing "rest." Most disturbing is the detail of his last hours, being left to die alone. According to estimates, he died in the early morning hours (around 9am), laying on the bathroom floor until the afternoon before being discovered. I highly recommend this book. It is far different from other books from his "Entourage" which depicts conflicting accounts of Elvis' life and death. This book is made up of solid evidence and superb investigative reporting. The authors have done an excellent job sorting fact from fiction!

Great, yet sad, account of this man's death

A difficult read if you loved Elvis. I hated reading this book but I had to know what really happened to the man whose voice I adored since I was two until his death when I was sixteen. I still adore his voice. A very precise account of the drugs, the demons and those who called themselves "friends" to the King of Rock and Roll. The book goes into the cover-up, the amount of drugs in his system, and the people who supplied the drugs to Elvis. When you think someone has it all and you envy their "luck" and money and lifestyle then think twice and pick up this book. The grass is always greener on the other side but is it?