Since reading Paul Aron's "Unsolved Mysteries of American History" and "Unsolved Mysteries of History," I've been looking forward to the sequel--and here it is!
"More Unsolved Mysteries of American History" presents thirty mysteries in a series of brief essays (about seven pages apiece). The chapters are arranged chronologically, beginning with the question "Did St. Brendan Discover America?" and ending with "Was O.J. Simpson Guilty?"
Aron is very fair in his summary of each mystery. In clean and simple prose, he lays out the background, summarizes the competing theories and offers a reasoned solution, ending each essay with a brief but thorough annotated bibliography.
If you are looking for a book that offers sensational solutions to mysteries real or imagined, you'll probably be disappointed by the "Unsolved Mysteries" series. Aron fairly summarizes the "off the wall" theories about each of his mysteries, but he always comes to a conclusion that seems pretty plausible. No space aliens, Elvis sightings or grassy knolls here, but there's still plenty of mystery to be explored and enjoyed.
If you like this book, you'll want to read Aron's two previous books (one is another collection of American historical mysteries, the other examines the mysteries of world history). For those who enjoy somewhat more sensational solutions to their historical mysteries, try Hugh Miller's "Secrets of the Dead" and "More Secrets of the Dead," based on the BBC documentary series of the same name. Both of Miller's books can be found on Amazon's UK site.

slightly underwelmed. can't really say why, maybe because there weren't a lot of things in the books that I hadn't already heard about through other avenues? it's fine for younger folk, I'm thinking. I got it for my husband to entertain himself while recovering in a rest home. I haven't asked him if he's read them. the nurses keep grabbing the books and tossing them in his nightstand drawers.

I just love learning more about American History and the stories that are told. More info leads to more reading.

More Unsolved Mysteries of American History

Paul Aron is an award-winning reporter who wrote other books. This 232-page book has thirty chapters and an `Index'. The `Introduction' tells about two murders. At first detectives suspected a financial motive from a business deal, then found another cause. [Most murders are caused by love and money, or lust and greed.] These chapters entertain and list references to other books. Some are more important than the others. This is not an authoritative version on complex and controversial topics, but a summary.

The sign "Butcher's Hall" refers to the British Army barracks (Chapter 4). Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel after the latter claimed Burr had unnatural relations with his own daughter (Chapter 5). Did Burr plan a revolution for Louisiana and the Western states? Or was this just a scam by Burr? The election of J. Quincy Adams with Henry Clay's help followed the Constitution but was unpopular (Chapter 6). The Union Army followed the French style of naming battles after a local river not the local city (Chapter 10). John Wilkes Booth was not a lone gunman (Chapter 12). Custer was promoted to General at age 23 (a record never equaled) and won every battle he was in except his last (Chapter 13). [Custer always led from the front, if he was shot this would cause a "disarray".] Chapter 14 tells how Chief Sitting Bull was killed "resisting arrest".

The sinking of the `Lusitania' with 1,260 passenger deaths in May 1915 was called a crime. Did its Captain fail to follow orders (zig-zag, speed up)? Yes, but it was due to the fog and tides. One explanation of the secondary explosion could be coal dust (p.119). Were the 1919 World Series fixed (Chapter 16)? Did the judge help to fix the trial (p.124)? Finding the Chicago Eight guilty would create a liability for the team's owner (employees are agents of the employer). Jackson's series hits set a record that lasted forty years (p.126). This chapter does not mention the Supreme Court decision that organized baseball was a sport not a business and exempt from the Anti-Trust laws. [Did the Justices collect a pay-off?] Any "sporting event" that involves betting creates an incentive to fix the results. [Read "Silver Blaze" by A. Conan Doyle.]

The Allies' main target was aircraft factories, ball-bearing plants, oil refineries, and similar strategic targets (Chapter 17). Were people unaware of Hitler's plans (p.132)? What about "Mein Kampf"? Was Alger Hiss a spy (Chapter 18)? Was Whittaker Chambers truthful? Hiss told of meeting a man who weighed 150 lbs, not the 300 lbs of Chambers; was this perjury? At first Chambers said Hiss typed those memos, but when he learned Hiss couldn't type he said Priscilla did it! Nixon's 1962 book ("Six Crises") told of "building a machine", then was with drawn and altered. The list of books lack John C. Smith's book (a reporter for the `Herald-Tribune'). Why did J. D. Salinger stop publishing his writings (Chapter 19)? Does he have a problem over self-promotion? The Bay of Pigs operation was planned by Eisenhower, JFK went along with it (Chapter 20). This plan was flawed (p.150). Was there a secret (p.154)?

Who won the "Têt Offensive" (Chapter 21)? The press reports what the owners want (p.161). It marked the beginning of the end for American involvement. Did a "lone gunman" shoot Martin Luther King Jr. (Chapter 22)? The Memphis police were removed from his motel. Was King targeted by the US Government (p.167)? [Philip Melanson's book investigated this crime.] Did anarchy cause the riot at Altamont (Chapter 23)? Peace, love, and joy? Rock and roll music, or its fans? The question of "Deep Throat" was revealed in Bob Woodward's book (Chapter 24). Were POW's left behind in Vietnam (Chapter 25)? Some said `yes' (p.186). The POW issue was used to renege on promises (p.190). Who killed Jimmy Hoffa (Chapter 26)? The FBI had suspicions but no proof (p.198). Did Hoffa know about CIA-Mafia plots against Castro and Kennedy (p.196)?

Howard Hughes was one of the richest men in the world (Chapter 27). Who benefitted by his will? One was found in the Mormon headquarter in Salt Lake City. But there were problems in that will (p.204). Was it drugs or disease that caused Hughes' deterioration? Did the Reagan campaign make a deal with Iran to delay the release of American hostages until after the 1980 election (Chapter 29)? After Reagan took office more arms were sent to Iran (p.208). Congressional investigations found no proof (p.210). What caused "Gulf War Syndrome" (Chapter 29)? Destroying an ammunition depot released the nerve gas Sarin (p.214). IF they first denied it, then said it was "very small" (p.215), how accurate was that? There is still very little known (p.219).

Was O. J. Simpson guilty of those murders (Chapter 30)? The facts said `no'. Those who believe otherwise were fooled again by the media. That blood evidence was "tainted" (placed there like the stick , the baggy, and the glove at OJ's home). Stephen Singular's book "Legacy of Deception" explains. If Aron read this book he could figure out how the blood was planted on the glove (p.221). Caucasian limb hair was found in that glove, this would rule out OJ as the owner or wearer. Most of all, the red liquid found when the police arrived at 21:15 AM said the murders occurred after 11PM (as per the Medical Examiner's report). If the murders occurred before 1040PM the blood would be black, clotted, and dry to the touch [as in the Borden Murders]. Henry Lee is head of the Connecticut State Police Laboratory; you don't hire him, he takes the cases that interest him (p.224). Lee also wrote books. [The book "Killing Time" by Donald Freed and Raymond Briggs is the one best book on this case.]

This book contains 30 cases of unsolved mysteries. Each case is described in about 6 to 7 pages and is followed by a list of annotated references. Like the two other similarly titled and excellent books by this author, this one is clearly written in a very friendly and engaging style - it is quite hard to put down. In each case, the author succeeds in presenting the relevant information in a well-balanced and even-handed way by shedding light on arguments from all sides with the relative fairness that they each deserves. It is clear that some cases are more complicated and thus are more difficult to resolve than others. I was aware of the existence of some of these mysteries, but in many cases, I was not aware of any mystery at all. Thus, I learned something from each of these fascinating cases. This book would be interest to those who enjoyed this author's previous books of this nature, as well as to anyone who enjoys great mysteries.

Author Paul Aron examines 30 different mysteries of U.S. History. Was Aaron Burr a traitor? Did James Earl Ray kill Martin Luther King? Was Alger Hiss a spy? What caused the Gulf War Syndrome? Was O.J. Simpson guilty? The author attempts to provide the answers in concise yet informative chapters that run between six and ten pages. I liked that the author seemed motivated by an honest search for the truth rather than by some desire to make political statements. For that reason alone, his conclusions seem valid. Of course, while the answers to a couple of these mysteries seem obvious, others cannot be answered with certainty. For that reason the author gives what he admits is his best guess. Also, a couple of the author's conclusions seem superfluous. But, overall this book is informative, readable and intelligent.