Jimmy Dean's Last Dance

By: AK Alliss

Narrated by: Johnny Heller, Jo Anna Perrin, Anneliese Rennie, Bill Lord, Neil Hellegers, Joya Colucci Lord

Earphones Award winner, March 2022. The award is given by AudioFile to truly exceptional titles that excel in narrative voice and style, characterizations, suitability to audio, and enhancement of the text.

"I had a lot of fun with Jimmy Dean’s Last Dance. It is a thoroughly unconventional alternate history novel, and one of the very few published examples of pop culture alternate history. It is a surprising treat, and a novel that many writers in the genre could learn from." (Alexander Wallace, Sea Lion Press)

"What a clever book with just the right voice for audio narration. A re-imagining of the death of Marilyn Monroe, where Jimmy Dean, Elvis, and others of the day don't buy the story of it being a suicide and start their own investigation. Mystery. Intrigue. Famous characters brought to life through the author's imagination. Has very much the tone of a hard-boiled detective novel. I cared about the characters and looked forward to every chance I got to listen to it. Highly recommend!" (Ruby Peru, Pangloss Press)

Los Angeles, 1962.

Jimmy Dean, bit part actor befriends famed actress Marilyn Monroe. When Marilyn is found dead in her LA home, the ruling is suicide, but Jimmy thinks otherwise. As he starts digging, he comes up against those who wish to stop him from uncovering the truth.

Realizing that he's in over his head, Jimmy calls former business partner, Mississippi truck driver Elvis Presley. As Jimmy and Elvis search deeper, they uncover a potential link between Marilyn's death and the highest office in the land.

Jimmy Dean's Last Dance is an alt-history noir detective novel in the tradition of The Big Sleep and Chinatown.

©2021 Spectrum Publishing (P)2021 Spectrum Audiobooks

Critic reviews

Winner, Earphones Award, March 2022

Riveting and brilliant!

When bit player Jimmy Dean takes up with Marilyn Monroe things look grand, till they don’t. When Jimmy calls on old pal and work buddy Elvis to help him get to the bottom of things, all hades breaks loose! Jimmy Dean’s Last Dance is a well written, fast paced, brilliantly narrated, alternative “what could have been” detective story centered on the death of Marilyn Monroe and features Jimmy Dean, Elvis Presley, a host of figures from history and others I wont reveal for fear of playing spoiler! This one will grab you quick, hold you fast to the edge of your seat, keep you guessing and asking yourself questions long after it’s over! I’m still asking myself questions! I loved it and I will be listening to it again!

An alternate history drama

History is a favorite and fascinating subject that I love. Alternate history is not however my normal Listen/read as I like facts too much to mix my reality with fantasy (though I do love fantasy on its own). Every now and then though, something crosses your path that you just have to try. The era of JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Dean, etc. is a fascinating period Olof history rife with conjecture and conspiracy theories. So, I just couldn’t pass up this wild alternative romp through that period with these characters being seen in a whole new light of things had been different. The multiple narration creates that true audio drama, old time radio drama flare. The story itself quite entertaining. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

JIMMY DEANS LAST DANCE

This is a good mystery book. A fun storyline. There is several different narrators. Johnny Heller is the main narrator. Its funny and holds your interest.

Super fantastic

This was a really fun listen with all the different narrators really bringing out the characters and making the story come to life

History as it could have been

An interesting take on some very well known historical figures within an alternative timeline with a pinch of crime and conspiracy added