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The Jinx
“Blending a flair for history, a convincing sense of the inner workings of law firms, and more than a touch of Y2K apocalyptic folderol, Kahn has concocted a highly readable thriller…The Jinx is a remarkably well-crafted book.”
—Jonathan Groner, Legal Times
One dead client. A cryptic poem. Seven dead presidents.
This gripping tale of murder, politics, conspiracy and passion takes aim at the American political system, the white supremacy movement and racial stereotypes while offering a sinister explanation for the “20-Year Jinx” that has claimed the lives of seven presidents.
Young estate lawyer Benjamin Franklin Kravner discovers a cryptic poem among his murdered client's possessions that hints at a 160-year vendetta against the American presidency. Ben's skepticism wanes when he discovers an unusual phenomenon: the presidents elected every twenty years from 1840 through 1960 died in office, and Ronald Reagan barely survived an assassination attempt. Ben's perilous journey leads him to the answer to his question: is the poem merely a dead man's wacky conspiracy theory or is a powerful cabal primed to claim the White House as vengeance for their ancestor’s death?
“The Jinx dares us to set aside partisan politics and awaken the slumbering dream of Martin Luther King to mark the millennium presidential election. I can think of no better way to celebrate the new millennium than to elevate the eradication of racism to the nation’s top priority.”
—Nadine Strossen, President, ACLU and Professor of Law, New York Law School
“Fast-paced action scenes move the drama along at a good clip…Kahn’s debut effort packs a punch.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Kahn has produced a first-rate novel that ranks with John Grisham and Frederick Forsyth.”
— Midwest Book Review
“The Jinx is a clever, well-crafted pageturner that weaves history, politics and the law into an unconventional Washington novel, which, at its best, raises important questions about the state of overt, systemic and subtle racism in the U.S. and in the minds of its citizens and leaders…As campaign rhetoric has taken a tone of renewal for the next millennium, with each candidate offering a vision of America’s future, The Jinx also offers its own vision of America’s future that includes working toward the eradication of racism in the next millennium.”
— Evening Times
“In a superb blend of logic and suspenseful adventure, Larry Kahn methodically outlines a fictional conspiracy that is believably scary, made all the more real by his protagonist, mild-mannered Ben Kravner. While Ben is no swashbuckling suspense-thriller hero, he takes us through chase scenes that play like a wide-screen movie.”
— Amarillo Globe-News
—Jonathan Groner, Legal Times
One dead client. A cryptic poem. Seven dead presidents.
This gripping tale of murder, politics, conspiracy and passion takes aim at the American political system, the white supremacy movement and racial stereotypes while offering a sinister explanation for the “20-Year Jinx” that has claimed the lives of seven presidents.
Young estate lawyer Benjamin Franklin Kravner discovers a cryptic poem among his murdered client's possessions that hints at a 160-year vendetta against the American presidency. Ben's skepticism wanes when he discovers an unusual phenomenon: the presidents elected every twenty years from 1840 through 1960 died in office, and Ronald Reagan barely survived an assassination attempt. Ben's perilous journey leads him to the answer to his question: is the poem merely a dead man's wacky conspiracy theory or is a powerful cabal primed to claim the White House as vengeance for their ancestor’s death?
“The Jinx dares us to set aside partisan politics and awaken the slumbering dream of Martin Luther King to mark the millennium presidential election. I can think of no better way to celebrate the new millennium than to elevate the eradication of racism to the nation’s top priority.”
—Nadine Strossen, President, ACLU and Professor of Law, New York Law School
“Fast-paced action scenes move the drama along at a good clip…Kahn’s debut effort packs a punch.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Kahn has produced a first-rate novel that ranks with John Grisham and Frederick Forsyth.”
— Midwest Book Review
“The Jinx is a clever, well-crafted pageturner that weaves history, politics and the law into an unconventional Washington novel, which, at its best, raises important questions about the state of overt, systemic and subtle racism in the U.S. and in the minds of its citizens and leaders…As campaign rhetoric has taken a tone of renewal for the next millennium, with each candidate offering a vision of America’s future, The Jinx also offers its own vision of America’s future that includes working toward the eradication of racism in the next millennium.”
— Evening Times
“In a superb blend of logic and suspenseful adventure, Larry Kahn methodically outlines a fictional conspiracy that is believably scary, made all the more real by his protagonist, mild-mannered Ben Kravner. While Ben is no swashbuckling suspense-thriller hero, he takes us through chase scenes that play like a wide-screen movie.”
— Amarillo Globe-News
Hardcover
First published March 24, 2011
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Larry Kahn
4 books59 followersLarry Kahn, the author of The Jinx and King of Paine, successfully negotiated the fast-paced world of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions for twenty years, first at a major New York law firm and then at an Atlanta Fortune 500 company. He penned The Jinx while on sabbatical in 1999 and is now devoted to writing fiction full time. Many of his more cynical legal clients and associates have accused him of writing fiction full time for many years. He resides in Atlanta with his family.
Larry developed a keen interest in social issues while attending Yale Law School, an idealistic spirit that continues to spice his novels. The vision of a colorblind America in his political thriller The Jinx led to endorsements by leaders of the ACLU, National Urban League and Artists Against Racism. And as the Baby Boomer generation scatters about the country, King of Paine envisions a renewed emphasis on family and tradition in which Americans create for their venerable elders, and ultimately themselves, a peaceful place to die.
Larry developed a keen interest in social issues while attending Yale Law School, an idealistic spirit that continues to spice his novels. The vision of a colorblind America in his political thriller The Jinx led to endorsements by leaders of the ACLU, National Urban League and Artists Against Racism. And as the Baby Boomer generation scatters about the country, King of Paine envisions a renewed emphasis on family and tradition in which Americans create for their venerable elders, and ultimately themselves, a peaceful place to die.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 11, 2010
I wrote it, so I think it's pretty good.
October 10, 2014
Didnt know how I was going to feel about a presidential conspiracy book (especially since politics is not my thing, history-yes, politics definitely not)But I attempted this book anyways and must admit that though it forces you to suspend your disbelief and imagine a family harboring a secret revenge plot and manifesting it to perfection for 160 years I enjoyed it..if you try you can see the sheer mad brilliance and craft in a plan to avenge your ancestors, murder the president, name your sons these ridiculously specific names and ultimately run Black people of the face of the Earth (so preposterous you have to read and laugh..) but it is really a fascinating read...there are even glimpses into what it would take for a race war to happen in America, what incident could set us all over the edge, exposing our inner racisms, pitting us against ourselves? A scary thought but one to ponder I guess..Overall recommended for those that like a thriller, a mystery and crazy powerful white men wreaking havoc on everything and everyone yup kinda based on real life..
February 26, 2012
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From the author of King Of Paine, Larry Kahn, comes this clever and often convoluted thriller set at the turn of the last Millennium. A gripping read, I really enjoyed this despite the fact that, at times, the plot did stretch credibility and the villains of the piece did suffer from the usual conventions of not really being all that accomplished. The idea of connecting such a random series of events into an ongoing historical conspiracy is a neat one and Kahn
pretty much manages to pull it off with some convincing twists and some well thought out characters. Though it is perhaps not quite as good as King Of Paine, this can be excused since The Jinx was Kahn's first novel and hence his style here is more of a work in progress that is closer perfected in his much later thriller.That being said, for a first novel, this is pretty good stuff and easily as good as say The Da Vinci Code or other similar conspiracy novels.
From the author of King Of Paine, Larry Kahn, comes this clever and often convoluted thriller set at the turn of the last Millennium. A gripping read, I really enjoyed this despite the fact that, at times, the plot did stretch credibility and the villains of the piece did suffer from the usual conventions of not really being all that accomplished. The idea of connecting such a random series of events into an ongoing historical conspiracy is a neat one and Kahn
pretty much manages to pull it off with some convincing twists and some well thought out characters. Though it is perhaps not quite as good as King Of Paine, this can be excused since The Jinx was Kahn's first novel and hence his style here is more of a work in progress that is closer perfected in his much later thriller.That being said, for a first novel, this is pretty good stuff and easily as good as say The Da Vinci Code or other similar conspiracy novels.
November 6, 2012
Complex political thriller about a plot to overthrow the US of A. Well written with some convincing characters.
October 31, 2011
I loved this book. Could not put it down. Can't wait for Larry Kahns next book.
August 21, 2012
a book that is a fast paced with lots of surprises
February 4, 2022
In the early days of the Internet, an idealistic lawyer tracks a conspiracy against the U.S. through chatrooms. This novel from more than 20 years ago seems prophetic today. It builds slowly, though, and calls for the reader to suspend disbelief.
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May 21, 2020Well written
January 28, 2015
I acquired this book quite some time ago and only recently got around to reading it. "The Jinx" is a political thriller, based on the idea that US presidents elected in a 20-year cycle tend to die in office.
The main character, Ben Kravner, is a trust and estate lawyer with a major firm. When one of the clients, Adams Thompson, is murdered, Kravner winds up handling his estate and, in the documents, finds evidence of a treasonous, racist familial conspiracy related to the so-called 20-year jinx.
The historical detail is interesting, and author Larry Kahn definitely sets up a world that, in his pages, is ripe for a race war. However, the text definitely feels dated as, in 2000, he was writing about how there had never been an African-American president. It was true at the time, but obviously is not anymore.
This is not to say that the points Kahn makes in the subtext are not valid; it's just that it's not the timeless read it could have been.
The main character, Ben Kravner, is a trust and estate lawyer with a major firm. When one of the clients, Adams Thompson, is murdered, Kravner winds up handling his estate and, in the documents, finds evidence of a treasonous, racist familial conspiracy related to the so-called 20-year jinx.
The historical detail is interesting, and author Larry Kahn definitely sets up a world that, in his pages, is ripe for a race war. However, the text definitely feels dated as, in 2000, he was writing about how there had never been an African-American president. It was true at the time, but obviously is not anymore.
This is not to say that the points Kahn makes in the subtext are not valid; it's just that it's not the timeless read it could have been.
October 6, 2013
The first half of the book was a bit dated now, however I found that once we got rid of the Y2K and marvels of the Internet part this was a pretty good political thriller.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews