Case Closed - Gerald Posner - A Short Summary & Review
Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and The Assassination of JFK - Gerald Posner - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
Case Closed by Gerald Posner presents a comprehensive investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, arguing that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
Posner systematically examines ballistics, eyewitness testimony, medical evidence, timelines, and previously classified materials, addressing the most persistent conspiracy claims point by point. Rather than dismissing doubts outright, he reconstructs events with meticulous attention to corroboration and sequence, showing how misunderstandings, misinformation, and selective reading fueled decades of suspicion.
The book’s central argument is that complexity and uncertainty were mistaken for conspiracy—and that the accumulation of verifiable evidence overwhelmingly supports a single shooter acting independently.
My favorite quote:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This is an in-depth and methodical work that takes conspiracy claims seriously enough to dismantle them properly.
Posner covers every major angle, ballistics, acoustics, medical findings, and Oswald’s biography—without resorting to shortcuts or rhetorical flourishes. The strength of the book lies in its patience: each theory is examined carefully, contextualized, and tested against evidence.
Much of what fuels conspiracy thinking here is shown to stem from gaps in knowledge, misinterpretation, or mistrust of institutions rather than substantiated contradictions. Posner doesn’t argue that the truth is comforting, only that it is demonstrable.
For readers willing to engage with evidence rather than speculation, the conclusion is difficult to escape.
Debunks much.
Case closed.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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