Unmasked

The Final Years of Michael Jackson

By: Ian Halperin

Narrated by: Richard Allen

In late December 2008, New York Times best-selling author Ian Halperin told the world that Michael Jackson had only six months to live. His investigations into Jackson's failing health made headlines around the globe. Six months later, the King of Pop was dead.

Whatever the final autopsy results reveal, it was greed that killed Michael Jackson. Friends and associates paint a tragic picture of the last years and days of his life as Jackson made desperate attempts to prepare for a planned concert series at London's O2 Arena in July 2009. These shows would have earned millions for the singer and his entourage, but he could never have completed them, not mentally and not physically.

Michael knew it, and his advisers knew it. Anyone who caught even a fleeting glimpse of the frail old man hiding beneath the costumes and cosmetics would have understood that the London tour was madness. Why did it happen this way?

After an intense five-year investigation, Halperin uncovers the real story of Michael Jackson's final years, a suspenseful and surprising thriller.

©2009 Ian Halperin (P)2009 Tantor

hope

excellent picture of the king of Pop. a man of his time and his musical genius. business man and father. open new frontier in the entertainment industry.

Insightful for the Discerning Reader

I downloaded this audiobook not as a obsessive, "Michael can do no wrong" fan (although I am a fan), but as a concerned and interested person after Michael's untimely death, and can honestly say that this book is getting an bad rap, unfairly. The bulk of the book is devoted to an exhaustive investigation into the child abuse allegations, which is supported by extensive, credible information and sources. It also contains, rather unfortunately, a few chapters of rather extensive speculation as to Michael's sexuality, Lisa Marie Presley's motivation for marriage, and some general conspiracy theories, which are developed through a serious of "unnamed sources", "Jackson employees", and other "insiders" who are less than credible, and can be safely ignored.

It is important to keep in mind that the author originally set out to find the truth behind the pedophilia charges against Michael (which he ultimately discovers are, without question, untrue), and that only after that investigation did he decide to add additional, less credible thoughts and speculation about other details of his life, based on his various conversations throughout the investigation. In the end, the author clearly is sad, frustrated, empathetic, and angry about the people and circumstances surrounding Michael and his life, as you will be through this read.

Yes, the editing is a bit poor, probably due to the rush to get it published shortly after Michael's death. And yes, the reader can be a bit melodramatic (although not painfully so), but this book brings forth so many of the missing pieces and such insight into the destruction of Michael Jackson that it simply cannot be ignored. I highly recommend it, especially in combination with J. Randy Taraborrelli's excellent work.

The last days

That was so sad, but he’s in a better place. He was pressured so much til it took him away.

Sensational and Informative.

I very much enjoyed it. It was very well read, very well written and very informative about Michael Jackson's final years.

listen to preview first!

oh, how I wish I would have listened to the preview first! the narrator's voice is so
melodramatic and nauseating! yikes! i want a refund!

Lies

Most of the "facts" in this book are straight out lies. Don't waste your time.

First Title I've Ever Asked for a Refund

The narrator sounds like he's learning to read outloud. Awful.

Sensationalist Garbage

This book is horrible, I was very upset by the time I got through it. I don't believe a word of it either. The things that this author claims about Michael are really terrible, and honestly I wish that I had never purchased it

More like UNASKED. Nobody Needs This Crap

Trash, Swill, BULL
A poorly researched money grab offering nothing new or noteworthy. Even mispronounced Jackson's managers name, simply wretched.

0 STARS! Charging way to much for this garbage!

Perfect example of what MJ used to tell his fans to NOT read! Garbage! I learned a lesson. Please read reviews and listen to sample before you buy anything. I want a refund. Total trash! Don’t waste your time, or money!