May 21, 2015

“Killing Patton” by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard – Lifting the Veil of Mystery

Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (Book cover)
The General George Patton is certainly one of the more recognizable historical figures on the Allies' side during both World Wars, having many heroics and victories to his name.

The amount of exploits he is known for would take years to enumerate, though sadly, amongst them is his death.

At the age of sixty, the great general suffered a terrible vehicular accident, one that left him paralyzed from the neck down. A few days later he died in his sleep.

Though it is certain that many believe this death to be a tragic accident and nothing more (and with very good reason), there are others who suspect some kind of foul play may be involved... after all, there is a strong reasoning in this favor as well.

In Killing Patton Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard take it upon themselves to examine this mysterious death and uncover the truth as best they can, as they have done previously on countless occasions with their Killing [insert famous person] series.

As one would expect, at the start the book feels a bit more like a biography, glossing over the various details of Patton's life, so as to help us form a complete image of the kind of man he was, both inside and outside history books.

As the discussed time frame approaches his death, the topics become noticeably heavier, dwelling on the various theories which corroborate the idea that he may have been assassinated.

In terms of how many details are given and how deep the exploration of Patton's life and entourage goes, there are no qualms to be had with this book.

You'll get to become rather well-acquainted with the man in question, his inner workings, and the many distinguishing acts that have earned him a spot in history books.

On top of that, O'Reilly and Dugard really up the book's appeal by writing the whole thing like a real story, one that eventually turns into a convoluted murder mystery.

Needless to say, as everyone would expect the book does emanate of Bill O'Reilly's sensationalist style, and it is true that on certain occasions he goes a bit too far with his chain of logic and jumps to some questionable conclusions. Some parts do make you roll your eyes in regards to how far-fetched they are, being quite obviously stretched for the mere entertainment factor.

Nevertheless, if digging through this kind of writing isn't a chore for you, then you'll find that beneath all the entertainment are some very legitimate theories and questions, ones that will make you wonder just how far people are willing to go for the mere advancement of their interests.

It also ought to be mentioned that a huge part of the information found here comes from testimonies and accounts of those who have known the man personally, which means that there are plenty of epic battle descriptions complete with countless fascinating details about life in the army that many other sources omit.

Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (Book cover)
Apart from being an interesting biography of the general it also serves as a captivating historical account of some of the United States' previous military exploits.

All in all, if the general George S. Patton interests you in any way, whether you have to write a report about him or want to know his life better than he did himself, you are going to get what you seek from this book and a whole lot more. A recommended read to all interested in the subject.


Favourite quote: "Your greatest fault," Eisenhower tells Patton," is your audacity."


Bill O’Reilly (Author)

Bill O’Reilly


Personal site

Bill O’Reilly is a famous American television show host, columnist, political commentator, and author. He is the host of his own show, The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News, and has penned more than ten books, including the Killing [Assassinated President] series.

Martin Dugard (Author)

Martin Dugard 


Personal site

Martin Dugard was born in Maine, and is American author living his days away in the beautiful state of California.

Many of his books are in-depth explorations of real concepts or events that occurred, not to mention he is the co-writer of the Killing [Insert Name Here] series.

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