What do you think?
Rate this book
View From the Sixth Floor:: An Oswald Tale
Why are strangers suddenly appearing in a sleepy North Carolina town? What do they have to do with widow Olivia Roberts? Why is her neighbor and friend Bill Horton so dead set against her traveling to Dallas, Texas? When she journeys from her North Carolina home to Dallas in search of answers to questions from November 22, 1963 she learns more than she ever expected. “View from the Sixth Floor-an Oswald Tale” is a story of “what-ifs”? What if the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 was a conspiracy? What if accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was innocent? What if someone knew the truth and could prove it? What if someone you trusted turned out to be hiding a secret so big it could change history? This is a tale of friendship, love, political intrigue, and murder.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2014
9 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Horton-Newton
26 books130 followersElizabeth Horton-Newton has been called the Seductress of Suspense because she draws readers into her stories, builds the suspense, and just when the solution seems to be obvious, she pulls the rabbit out of the hat and reveals a dark truth. Her lifelong interest in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy resulted in her first novel, "View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale". With the release of her second book, "Riddle", she once again tackles a social issue; the illegal adoption of First Nations babies separated from their families. Small town prejudices against people of color and "outsiders" result in a unique friendship between two young people. Weaving a romantic thriller around the issues, she creates rich characters in all her writing, drawing the reader into their lives. With her education in Criminal Psychology, Sociology, and Media Communications she offers a unique insight into how criminals think and how society responds to their crimes. Volunteering in local Domestic Violence groups in her hometown, she likes to confront social problems in her stories. Elizabeth currently lives in a 100-year old haunted house with her husband, writer Neil Douglas Newton, and her dog, Scout (named for a character in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). Not limited to a single genre, she has written erotic romance, "Carved Wooden Heart" (with the mysterious Starla Hartless), and the suspenseful "Stolen Gypsy", as well as novelettes through Electric Eclectic Books. She is currently working on a new novel, "Blood on Murder Highway", loosely based on the murders and disappearances of indigenous women in the Pacific Northwest. Her new crime noir novella will be available winter 2019. When she isn't writing she is usually traveling or taking photographs and often both simultaneously. For more information, check out her website at bit.ly/homeEHN or read her blog, Between the Beats, at elizabethnnewton.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 15, 2015
As a fan of Alternate History literature I was in my element reading Elizabeth Newton's imaginative and provocative tale of those tragic events--on that mind numbing day, November 22, 1963, But that's merely the capstone on which this fine story is based; it is the aftermath rendered in richly human terms that makes this story so original and compelling. It's a special writers' gift to take a much vilified anti-hero and inexorably, page by page, rehabilitate him into a most sympathetic and admirable character. This, author Ms. Newton has accomplished with great success; so much so that I gladly suspended any traces of disbelief, and readily immersed myself in her Alternative Reality.
Incidentally this is not another typical "Kennedy Conspiracy" theory text, as the subtitle of "View From the Sixth Floor" clearly states that this is "An Oswald Tale" (with the emphasis on "Tale"). No, the author takes us on a different journey of romance, friendship and loyalty, family, loss and redemption, and the appropriate mistrust of those in power.
More significantly "Sixth Floor" touched my heart, surprisingly (considering it's Oswald's tale). I attribute this to a certain charm that exudes on every page. Possibly this is a result of the immensely likeable Olivia, the middle-aged widow at the heart of the story. Her personal growth as the narrative winds deeper and deeper is wonderful to behold; from tentative to passionate and plucky. In fact Olivia reminded me of the intriguing neighborly women that Agatha Christie so brilliantly brought to life in her legendary tales. I do hope we meet Olivia again in Elizabeth Newton's future work.
Finally, I must applaud the writers' imagination. The plotting of her story holds true despite the real world truths stacked against it. That is a complicated task to accomplish, but with a mixture of sophistication and charm I found myself enamored by this most satisfying read—and as such I am delighted to recommend it to others!
Review by Mark FineThe Zebra Affaire
Incidentally this is not another typical "Kennedy Conspiracy" theory text, as the subtitle of "View From the Sixth Floor" clearly states that this is "An Oswald Tale" (with the emphasis on "Tale"). No, the author takes us on a different journey of romance, friendship and loyalty, family, loss and redemption, and the appropriate mistrust of those in power.
More significantly "Sixth Floor" touched my heart, surprisingly (considering it's Oswald's tale). I attribute this to a certain charm that exudes on every page. Possibly this is a result of the immensely likeable Olivia, the middle-aged widow at the heart of the story. Her personal growth as the narrative winds deeper and deeper is wonderful to behold; from tentative to passionate and plucky. In fact Olivia reminded me of the intriguing neighborly women that Agatha Christie so brilliantly brought to life in her legendary tales. I do hope we meet Olivia again in Elizabeth Newton's future work.
Finally, I must applaud the writers' imagination. The plotting of her story holds true despite the real world truths stacked against it. That is a complicated task to accomplish, but with a mixture of sophistication and charm I found myself enamored by this most satisfying read—and as such I am delighted to recommend it to others!
Review by Mark FineThe Zebra Affaire
April 20, 2015
I really appreciated this book because it presented a few great concepts we don’t see too often.
After the sudden passing of her husband Livvy has a bit too much time on her hands. Not wanting to hang around her children she is looking for things to do. Just spending time with her girl friends is not enough.
“… Helping choose a mother of the bride dress fell to me. I thought I had lucked out. After all what could be so complicated about finding an appropriate dress for a winter wedding?
I sat with Judy for hours, looking through magazines, looking online, even trying to design a dress she would like. There were moments when I thought I would scream…”
Suddenly fascinated with the anniversary of the Kennedy assassination she decides to visit Dallas. Her late husband’s best friend and neighbor Bill first does not want her to go and finally wants to tag along since Livvy insists. As they start their trip it becomes more and more obvious that Bill knows things he does not want to tell. The trip brings them closer together, Livvy falls in love with Bill; eventually she even finds out who Bill really is. Since I don’t do spoilers I am not going to spell it out.
Besides the romance between two senior citizens this revelation is the second unusual topic. As the title reveals this book revolves around the Kennedy assassination but opposite to thetypical stories, about the charismatic young president, the conspiracy theories, possible mafia connections, this book focuses on a “what if?” and “Has anybody thought about this?” scenario that one never gets to read about.
This is a very entertaining book. Side note: I loved Judy’s character. What a riot the woman is! I was smitten with the plot, the love story, and the humane views author Elizabeth Horton-Newton presents. It is beautiful.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
After the sudden passing of her husband Livvy has a bit too much time on her hands. Not wanting to hang around her children she is looking for things to do. Just spending time with her girl friends is not enough.
“… Helping choose a mother of the bride dress fell to me. I thought I had lucked out. After all what could be so complicated about finding an appropriate dress for a winter wedding?
I sat with Judy for hours, looking through magazines, looking online, even trying to design a dress she would like. There were moments when I thought I would scream…”
Suddenly fascinated with the anniversary of the Kennedy assassination she decides to visit Dallas. Her late husband’s best friend and neighbor Bill first does not want her to go and finally wants to tag along since Livvy insists. As they start their trip it becomes more and more obvious that Bill knows things he does not want to tell. The trip brings them closer together, Livvy falls in love with Bill; eventually she even finds out who Bill really is. Since I don’t do spoilers I am not going to spell it out.
Besides the romance between two senior citizens this revelation is the second unusual topic. As the title reveals this book revolves around the Kennedy assassination but opposite to thetypical stories, about the charismatic young president, the conspiracy theories, possible mafia connections, this book focuses on a “what if?” and “Has anybody thought about this?” scenario that one never gets to read about.
This is a very entertaining book. Side note: I loved Judy’s character. What a riot the woman is! I was smitten with the plot, the love story, and the humane views author Elizabeth Horton-Newton presents. It is beautiful.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
April 22, 2015
A Novel Ripe with Life and the Question of What Might Have Been
A funny thing happened to me as I was reading this novel – I became a convert, at least for this author. I’ll be honest. I don’t go out of my way to read romantic novels, novels where the main characters are in their twilight years, or conspiracy novels. Newton shattered all my thoughts on these types of novels. I loved her book. Let me say that again – I loved her book.
As I began to read, Newton convinced me that a romance novel does not have to have a lot of bodice ripping to be romantic. Then she got me to thinking that just because a man is hitting 70, he can still be hot stuff. I ended up believing that the passion that bound Olivia and Bill was just as real as the passion felt by Rose for Jack in the Titanic movie.
The author’s characters are authentic. She doesn’t limit them or give them the usual gimmicky characteristics that some other writers like to employ. Newton made me trust that every action they took made sense for that character. I especially liked that she made the relationship between Olivia and her sons realistic. Olivia didn’t have the “I love you both the same way” relationship with them. Instead, she had unique memories and special feelings for each. With each character, she wove and intertwined their individual views and opinions with her story making it a very rich read.
By mid book, I was more than willing to suspend my beliefs about conspiracy theories and just let myself enjoy the book. For those few hours, I believed in Olivia’s need to find out the truth and Bill’s reluctance to relive those horrors.
I am very happy I had the opportunity to read this novel. I would suggest it to anyone wanting a read that is rich with life and the possibilities that come with a grand conspiracy theory.
A funny thing happened to me as I was reading this novel – I became a convert, at least for this author. I’ll be honest. I don’t go out of my way to read romantic novels, novels where the main characters are in their twilight years, or conspiracy novels. Newton shattered all my thoughts on these types of novels. I loved her book. Let me say that again – I loved her book.
As I began to read, Newton convinced me that a romance novel does not have to have a lot of bodice ripping to be romantic. Then she got me to thinking that just because a man is hitting 70, he can still be hot stuff. I ended up believing that the passion that bound Olivia and Bill was just as real as the passion felt by Rose for Jack in the Titanic movie.
The author’s characters are authentic. She doesn’t limit them or give them the usual gimmicky characteristics that some other writers like to employ. Newton made me trust that every action they took made sense for that character. I especially liked that she made the relationship between Olivia and her sons realistic. Olivia didn’t have the “I love you both the same way” relationship with them. Instead, she had unique memories and special feelings for each. With each character, she wove and intertwined their individual views and opinions with her story making it a very rich read.
By mid book, I was more than willing to suspend my beliefs about conspiracy theories and just let myself enjoy the book. For those few hours, I believed in Olivia’s need to find out the truth and Bill’s reluctance to relive those horrors.
I am very happy I had the opportunity to read this novel. I would suggest it to anyone wanting a read that is rich with life and the possibilities that come with a grand conspiracy theory.
April 27, 2015
OK, cards on the table- I'm a massive JFK conspiracy fan. So I approached this intrigued- would Elizabeth Horton-Newton be able to pull off a new slant on the massive Kennedy assassination scene? And I think she has. What starts as a weird hybrid of middle-aged romance cum road trip, turns into a paranoid thriller in the style of The Parallax View, and gets faster and faster to a breathless denouement.
Full marks also for accurate descriptions of spies' "tradecraft". Loved it.
Full marks also for accurate descriptions of spies' "tradecraft". Loved it.
December 1, 2014
The assassination of JFK is fertile ground for conspiracy theories and Horton-Newton does a great job of painting that in this story, which for genre we shall have to say is a thriller/romance/whodunnit that for the most part moves at a lively pace. The opening is shaded nicely except for authorial comments which kept creeping in, foreshadowing the events to come, and I found those annoying. Yes, it's a bit of a technical nitpick as a writer, but the mood was coming along nicely (stormy night, dark car parked down the street, 'salesmen' who were not, etc.) without need to resort to this.
Pace - after a slow beginning, the story really picked up 1/3 of the way through and kept racing toward the end, the tension rising really well. Plot - well, I'm never one to spoil :-) but the romance elements were nicely done, I felt, if perhaps a little too much dialogue covering the same ground (I don't care what you've done, I'll always love you ...) but I truly enjoyed how the two older characters fall in love, sweetly, and for me this was the strongest aspect of the story. Editing - scrappy, I'm sorry to say. The manuscript is in need of a clean-up.
As for the explanation of what happened that fateful day, I had to re-read it several times, as the author deliberately paints the character in a daze and it was hard to pick out. I would have preferred detail and a more fleshed-out series of events, as we never meet any of the other supposed actors in the drama, and the actual shooting is never foregrounded in the story despite that one of the characters was there. Ruby is barely mentioned and JFK is offstage. The reader doesn't experience JFK's charisma or an outpouring of national shock and outrage. As a non-American, too much knowledge is assumed.
Back to the thriller aspects. I think you'll find the book hard to put down after the first third. The length is just right and the climax suitably convoluted to satisfy, while the pacing toward the end never misses a beat.
3.5* rounded to 4 for me. I would certainly recommend this for anyone who has ever wondered 'what if?' and 'who really did it?' and I thank the author for a complimentary review copy in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
Pace - after a slow beginning, the story really picked up 1/3 of the way through and kept racing toward the end, the tension rising really well. Plot - well, I'm never one to spoil :-) but the romance elements were nicely done, I felt, if perhaps a little too much dialogue covering the same ground (I don't care what you've done, I'll always love you ...) but I truly enjoyed how the two older characters fall in love, sweetly, and for me this was the strongest aspect of the story. Editing - scrappy, I'm sorry to say. The manuscript is in need of a clean-up.
As for the explanation of what happened that fateful day, I had to re-read it several times, as the author deliberately paints the character in a daze and it was hard to pick out. I would have preferred detail and a more fleshed-out series of events, as we never meet any of the other supposed actors in the drama, and the actual shooting is never foregrounded in the story despite that one of the characters was there. Ruby is barely mentioned and JFK is offstage. The reader doesn't experience JFK's charisma or an outpouring of national shock and outrage. As a non-American, too much knowledge is assumed.
Back to the thriller aspects. I think you'll find the book hard to put down after the first third. The length is just right and the climax suitably convoluted to satisfy, while the pacing toward the end never misses a beat.
3.5* rounded to 4 for me. I would certainly recommend this for anyone who has ever wondered 'what if?' and 'who really did it?' and I thank the author for a complimentary review copy in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
May 10, 2019
69 ratings with a 4.5 average on Goodreads, and 4.4 average rating with 85 Amazon reviews, 71% of which are 5 stars, I would say is pretty impressive for an Indie author.
I also think it's pretty courageous to explicitly declare Oswald's innocence through a novel, (although Don DeLillo already did this very successfully in Libra.) There is a risk in presenting such a controversial political view, but I applaud it. I cannot say with 100 % certainty that Oswald didn't do it, but I am very sure he would have been acquitted if a fair trial with an impartial jury (idealistic, I know) had been allowed to take place.
I was expecting a bit more of a thriller when I "clicked" this up, but the storyline is dominated by the senior citizen fantasy romance which forms the core of the book. It's slow to get going, but before the midpoint is reached, a bombshell is dropped. The dialogue gets repetitive at times, with the characters telling each other the same things repeatedly, which caused me to skim lot
Otherwise a novel novel
My rating - 3.5 stars rounded up.
I also think it's pretty courageous to explicitly declare Oswald's innocence through a novel, (although Don DeLillo already did this very successfully in Libra.) There is a risk in presenting such a controversial political view, but I applaud it. I cannot say with 100 % certainty that Oswald didn't do it, but I am very sure he would have been acquitted if a fair trial with an impartial jury (idealistic, I know) had been allowed to take place.
I was expecting a bit more of a thriller when I "clicked" this up, but the storyline is dominated by the senior citizen fantasy romance which forms the core of the book. It's slow to get going, but before the midpoint is reached, a bombshell is dropped. The dialogue gets repetitive at times, with the characters telling each other the same things repeatedly, which caused me to skim lot
Otherwise a novel novel
My rating - 3.5 stars rounded up.
February 16, 2015
This was a very clever tale filled with twists and turns that you think you are able to predict, but you somehow come up short each time. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and felt that there was always something else going on with them, and was anxious to find out the truth.
The conspiracy angle, combined with the growing depth of the relationship between the two main characters, kept me interested and wanting to learn more. I rooted for Livvy each step of the way as she reached outside her comfort zone and accepted what life was bringing her.
Rea really enjoyed it.
The conspiracy angle, combined with the growing depth of the relationship between the two main characters, kept me interested and wanting to learn more. I rooted for Livvy each step of the way as she reached outside her comfort zone and accepted what life was bringing her.
Rea really enjoyed it.
May 4, 2015
View from the Sixth Floor is an amazing read. It starts out a story about loving, kind people in their twilight years, looking out and caring for one another, but accelerates rapidly into an incredibly adrenalin-fuelled ride that one could never have imagined these characters embarking on in the first few pages of easy going, homespun delight. These characters – Olivia and Bill – are wonderful to read. Through the superb writing talent of Elizabeth Horton-Newton their lives leap from the page and captivate you; engross you, so that you know not what is even around you. I really was rooting for Olivia from the beginning. I warmed to her instantly. Olivia was introduced with a touching gentleness. A proud grandmother, dedicated mother, caring friend and wonderful woman in one. But something also defined Olivia, in every word she said, every action delivered, Olivia showed unfaltering determination. Nothing could make her waver. In the beginning this determination was seen as her being a sturdy and reliable homemaker, but when the tension racked up and the chips were against her, that determination flooded back anew. Facing down shadowy G-Men, handling the press, managing friends and family during a crisis or even facing the inevitable with her lover, that determination to win is imbued in Olivia from head to toe. Feisty and formidable, Horton-Newton has crafted in Olivia a character that forces you to love her whatever she’s doing. And what she gets up to in this book is truly astonishing for someone who is just embracing the big six-O. In fact it would be astonishing for someone half her age. It is strange, despite the fact that Bill and Olivia are elderly, their adventures make you forget their ages completely.
Much has been written about the JFK assassination, but this is the first book I’ve read to take you into a multiverse of possibilities, with a skin tingling everlasting unto eternity love story that wraps around the espionage and conspiracy like a tightly fitted glove. A glove that fits perfectly. At the heart of it, View from the Sixth Floor is a story of secrets. How everyday people are not what they seem, how we all have a secret we’ll never share and how a secret love can grow and grow until it encapsulates everything, giving hope to the impossible. I highly recommend A View from the Sixth Floor for anyone who wants to feel humanity in a heart-warming tale of true love, courage and determination. Wonderful!
Much has been written about the JFK assassination, but this is the first book I’ve read to take you into a multiverse of possibilities, with a skin tingling everlasting unto eternity love story that wraps around the espionage and conspiracy like a tightly fitted glove. A glove that fits perfectly. At the heart of it, View from the Sixth Floor is a story of secrets. How everyday people are not what they seem, how we all have a secret we’ll never share and how a secret love can grow and grow until it encapsulates everything, giving hope to the impossible. I highly recommend A View from the Sixth Floor for anyone who wants to feel humanity in a heart-warming tale of true love, courage and determination. Wonderful!
April 18, 2015
I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect from this book initially. Firstly I'm not American, so my knowledge of JFK's assassination is fairly limited, and I was born 20 years after it happened, so although I obviously know a little about the subject, it's not something I'm terribly familiar with. I guess I thought I was going to be reading a book that is fairly politically heavy, perhaps focusing on the government or members of congress...something like that. So I was very surprised (and, if I'm honest, pretty relieved) to find that I was reading a book about a relatively unassuming down-to-earth grandmother in her 60s. It couldn't have been further from what I'd thought I'd be reading about. I noticed another reviewer remarking on something similar - it's true, it's just not what you expect!
Olivia is, in many ways, a very emotional woman. At times I thought she got very carried away with the things she worried about, making mountains out of molehills and worrying about every little thing. Then it occurred to me that, of course, it made sense. She's living alone, her husband having recently died, and she's probably feeling quite vulnerable. I liked her though - she might have been a little paranoid, but I suppose it's true what they say - it's not paranoia if they're really watching you!
The relationship between Olivia and Bill was very sweet. I enjoyed reading about their developing feelings for each other, and it was lovely that Olivia had a supportive network of family (well, one son at least), and friends to be there for her when she most needed them.
The author kept me intrigued as to what Olivia was going to do next once she had been clued in on...well...for the sake of avoiding spoilers let's just say it's Oswald related and leave it fairly ambiguous (in case you didn't get that from the title!)
I really must seek out some Hard Apple Cider - it sounds intriguing!
Great book, lots of little what-ifs to keep you guessing. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it.
Olivia is, in many ways, a very emotional woman. At times I thought she got very carried away with the things she worried about, making mountains out of molehills and worrying about every little thing. Then it occurred to me that, of course, it made sense. She's living alone, her husband having recently died, and she's probably feeling quite vulnerable. I liked her though - she might have been a little paranoid, but I suppose it's true what they say - it's not paranoia if they're really watching you!
The relationship between Olivia and Bill was very sweet. I enjoyed reading about their developing feelings for each other, and it was lovely that Olivia had a supportive network of family (well, one son at least), and friends to be there for her when she most needed them.
The author kept me intrigued as to what Olivia was going to do next once she had been clued in on...well...for the sake of avoiding spoilers let's just say it's Oswald related and leave it fairly ambiguous (in case you didn't get that from the title!)
I really must seek out some Hard Apple Cider - it sounds intriguing!
Great book, lots of little what-ifs to keep you guessing. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it.
January 21, 2015
“A view from the sixth floor” is a first novel by Elizabeth Horton Newton. This book is very cleverly constructed to give the reader an optimal reading experience. The book begins as a seemingly homey tale of two senior citizens in a small North Carolina town.
Olivia Roberts has lived quietly in the same town for years with her husband George. Their neighbor Bill is a quiet man who becomes George’s best friend and confidant. When George passes away, Olivia turns to their neighbor Bill for help and support. The two become closer as Bill helps her with day to day chores.
All is well until the fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Olivia, who barely remembers the events of November 22, 1963, is exposed to endless documentaries on the subject. Unsatisfied with her knowledge of one the most significant events in American history, Olivia decides to throw off her natural caution and drive to Dallas to see the site of the assassination.
Bill is less than happy at the idea and tries to talk her out of what he considers a foolhardy journey. Only when Olivia stand firms and threatens to make the trip alone does he agree to go with her. On the way Olivia notices Bill’s behavior becoming increasingly strange until it becomes obvious there is something she doesn’t know about her formerly quiet and seemingly ordinary neighbor. Despite her doubts, a romance grows between the two, making their relationship far more complex.
Newton skillfully ratchets up the tension till what started as a simple story becomes a full on thriller that is hard to put down. Though fiction, the revelations this book brings to the reader are no less than epic, involving a decades old conspiracy and an alternative future for the Kennedy assasination.
Whether you remember where you were when John F. Kennedy was gunned down or not, this book provides an amazing read.
Olivia Roberts has lived quietly in the same town for years with her husband George. Their neighbor Bill is a quiet man who becomes George’s best friend and confidant. When George passes away, Olivia turns to their neighbor Bill for help and support. The two become closer as Bill helps her with day to day chores.
All is well until the fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Olivia, who barely remembers the events of November 22, 1963, is exposed to endless documentaries on the subject. Unsatisfied with her knowledge of one the most significant events in American history, Olivia decides to throw off her natural caution and drive to Dallas to see the site of the assassination.
Bill is less than happy at the idea and tries to talk her out of what he considers a foolhardy journey. Only when Olivia stand firms and threatens to make the trip alone does he agree to go with her. On the way Olivia notices Bill’s behavior becoming increasingly strange until it becomes obvious there is something she doesn’t know about her formerly quiet and seemingly ordinary neighbor. Despite her doubts, a romance grows between the two, making their relationship far more complex.
Newton skillfully ratchets up the tension till what started as a simple story becomes a full on thriller that is hard to put down. Though fiction, the revelations this book brings to the reader are no less than epic, involving a decades old conspiracy and an alternative future for the Kennedy assasination.
Whether you remember where you were when John F. Kennedy was gunned down or not, this book provides an amazing read.
February 4, 2016
This is quite simply the most compelling book I have read in quite a long time. View From the Sixth Floor is very well crafted, appealing and full of surprises. The suspense kept me turning pages and the characters were so engaging to me that when it seemed to be heading toward an ending, it took another turn and I actually looked to see if it was near the end. The percent bar on my kindle registered “59% done” and my reaction was, “Good! There’s more, a lot more.” There was, and all of it satisfying, full of moments of worry about characters I had come to care for and moments to cheer when they rose to cope with crises.
One bet I made with myself as I sat down to write this review was to check once it was posted (I promise not to cheat but I am curious). I want to see just how many Americans of a certain age who also reviewed it took a moment to share where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the Kennedy assassination. I’m expecting a lot of people will, it’s a wound that left scars. I was a freshman in a Southern California high school French class. I remember one French teacher who had been in the underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Belgium as a boy came out of his class to ours to confer with our French teacher who was from Dallas (!) The words “coup d’etat” were mentioned with a certain anxiety. At the time I wondered if that was some kind of European, paranoid way of looking at the situation. Considering the way our society has been changed since that day, those words resonate differently to me now. Paranoia strikes deep (sorry, anything to do with the '60s brings out my song-quoting reflex).
This is one of those books I had to tell friends about. It was that good. I don’t want to ruin the suspense for anyone by saying much more.
One bet I made with myself as I sat down to write this review was to check once it was posted (I promise not to cheat but I am curious). I want to see just how many Americans of a certain age who also reviewed it took a moment to share where they were and what they were doing when they heard about the Kennedy assassination. I’m expecting a lot of people will, it’s a wound that left scars. I was a freshman in a Southern California high school French class. I remember one French teacher who had been in the underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Belgium as a boy came out of his class to ours to confer with our French teacher who was from Dallas (!) The words “coup d’etat” were mentioned with a certain anxiety. At the time I wondered if that was some kind of European, paranoid way of looking at the situation. Considering the way our society has been changed since that day, those words resonate differently to me now. Paranoia strikes deep (sorry, anything to do with the '60s brings out my song-quoting reflex).
This is one of those books I had to tell friends about. It was that good. I don’t want to ruin the suspense for anyone by saying much more.
May 9, 2015
View from the Sixth Floor is a great story, every word is carefully written. I felt as if I was watching a good movie, a movie i wouldn’t mind watching over and over again. I like the way Elizabeth Newton selected her characters, they are not too many, they are easy to remember and the parts they play in this great story is believable. The relationship between Olivia and Bill is an eye opener….Wow!!!! It was all nice and smooth until they set off for Dallas and it was at this stage when I hated all the interruptions coming my way. I didn’t want to be separated from Olivia and Bill and then there is Judy, Olivia’s friend, I wasn’t sure which side Judy was on. Is she working with Agent Martin or she is a true friend? What about Dr Gupta and then the Lawyer Barry? I don’t want to spoil it for readers
I enjoyed ‘View from the sixth floor’ the book has all the ingredients I love in a book. I was tense, I gasped, I had Goosebumps, I held my breath, I groaned when there was interruptions... Poor George! Gone but not forgotten! Olivia is an incredible woman, I lover her.
October 25, 2014
Elizabeth Horton-Newton is an amazing story teller. This book is written in the first person and once you are into the first few pages you almost feel as if you are listening to someone in the room with you, and within a short time she is someone you really care about! I remember well the actual events of that November but after reading this book I am left with so many what ifs that I find myself thinking about these people frequently. I have gone back and read it a second time, and then I have gone over my favorite parts on their own. As a child, and growing up, I believed Lee Harvey Oswald to be evil and a villain. Now I think I need to actually look into some of the research myself and not believe everything I have been told since I was eleven. I absolutely love this book! I can hardly wait for another book by this author.
May 12, 2015
A feel-good suspense novel
Attracted by the interesting cover and curious about a plot that would overturn much of what we know about the Kennedy assassination, I left a comment online to the author, and to my surprise, she sent the book to me as a gift!
Not an avid reader of romantic novels, I was delighted to find myself all wrapped up in the “View from the Sixth Floor.” The fluid writing, the arresting images, the plot that gripped and held me, and the beautiful love story, made it a feel-good book all the way through to the surprising ending. I also love a heroine who knows what she wants and goes for it! There were a few editing errors, but nothing that slowed me down. Looking forward to Elizabeth Horton-Newton’s next book!
Attracted by the interesting cover and curious about a plot that would overturn much of what we know about the Kennedy assassination, I left a comment online to the author, and to my surprise, she sent the book to me as a gift!
Not an avid reader of romantic novels, I was delighted to find myself all wrapped up in the “View from the Sixth Floor.” The fluid writing, the arresting images, the plot that gripped and held me, and the beautiful love story, made it a feel-good book all the way through to the surprising ending. I also love a heroine who knows what she wants and goes for it! There were a few editing errors, but nothing that slowed me down. Looking forward to Elizabeth Horton-Newton’s next book!
March 20, 2015
Stayed up most of the night reading this excellent conspiracy, mystery book that is a real page turner. I liked the story line concerning the Assassination of President Kennedy, all of the little details that was put into the story. It took me back to 1963 all over again. The characters were strong and believable and the dialogue excellent. Even contains some romance. I felt it was good writing from start to finish. I didn't pick up on any problems. If you like intrigue and suspense I highly recommend this book.
March 8, 2015
This book was awesome! I read it this weekend, couldn't put it down. Now I am haunted by questions about something I haven't ever really thought about! This book started off easy and slow paced, and I wondered where we were going than bang! off we went on an amazing adventure. I have looked for other books by this author but I can't find any! I hope she is writing one, I can't wait to read it! Excellent story! Well told! Loved it!
February 12, 2016
This book grabbed me and didn't let go. I was completely immersed into an intriguing plot and interesting characters. The first person narrative was superbly executed. This a "what if" fiction surrounding the conspiracy theories about the assassination of JFK. Fifty years after the assassination someone knows what really happened that day and it isn't what anyone else thinks. Well done! Good plot, good character development and an over all good read. Appropriate for ages 16 plus.
June 22, 2015
One Thursday after school six of us teens met up outside the Gaumont in Cheltenham. With the exuberance of youth we giggled our way in to watch The Village of the Damned, a film adaptation of John Wyndham’s science fiction novel, The Midwich Cuckoos. I was mad keen on science fiction and eager to see the film and to hold the hand of Elaine (surname withheld to protect our blushes.). Sadly, Colin wasn’t so keen on the film and might have imbibed too much under-age cider. He kept tickling the girls either side of him and their histrionics, followed by booing from the audience around us attracted the manager who gave us a warning. A few minutes later the film was stopped and I thought we were definitely going to be ejected but sadly it was worse.
The date was 22nd November 1963
The manager walked in front of the now blank screen, coughed and said, “I am afraid I have shocking news. I’m sorry to say that John F Kennedy, the President of the USA, has been shot and feared dead.” He stood there as if not knowing what to say next. The auditorium hushed, waiting for him to say more.
He spread his arms wide. “There will be more news on the radio over the next hour or so, and television might be interrupted to update us. I don’t know about you, but I want to go home.”
People stood, too shocked to speak. Expect Colin, who giggled. Not understanding.
Over the years we have been subjected to many scenarios about the assassination. No one I knew believed that a lone gunman could have been so skilful, or ‘lucky’ to get those bullets in the right spot, at the right time with such a poor gun and yet it was harder to believe that an organisation, let alone the government, could do it. The whole topic is compelling, so it wasn’t that this was yet another book on whether Oswald did it, but oh good, another chance to ruminate on the tragedy. At the same time, that ‘where was I when...’ feeling returns to tease me.
In the words of Jean Gill when reviewing Mark Fine’s The Zebra Affaire, ‘this is a book to savour’ rather than gallop through. I thought the plot was developing too slow a pace to keep me interested until a revelation occurred that sent shockwaves through my Kindle, up my arm and blew me away. After that the pace changed from a gentle canter to gallop—later to canter again, and I was grateful. View from the Sixth Floor is one of those rare delights that uses pace to grab you by the throat, daring you to breathe, changing your view for ever.
On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s anniversary Olivia has the urge to see the Book Depositary for herself. Her neighbour, Bill, is a loner, tries to dissuade her from her journey but eventually insists on accompanying her. It’s a road trip romance spiced as a thriller. Some of the Americanisms made me laugh. The protagonist, Olivia, is fond of what she calls ‘hard apple cider’. In the UK all cider is hard apple except for scrumpy, which is made in the southwest in vats, often with meat thrown in to sizzle to nothing in the high acidity. I drank so much as a teen that I cannot bear the taste now. We’d drank some before entering the Gaumont...
Elizabeth Horton-Newton is adept at bringing luxuriant settings to the reader especially at the beginning of chapters such as ‘bright reds and golds of autumn looked like fire on the water’ and I loved where it was so hot the ‘rain caused steam to rise from the ground like small ghosts’. All right, the climatologist in me knows you can’t see steam, it’s condensation we view but it would lose its magic if rewritten. I’d ponder on what kind of music it was when the ‘band played covers’, a term not used in the UK and what on Earth are ‘snicker doodles’? Vive le difference!
I like quotes that set a chapter up. Many good ones in this book and my favourite and most appropriate is one by JFK: ‘The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, unrealistic.’ And as Olivia says, ‘We weren’t angry with one another, we were angry with the world.’
View from the Sixth Floor is both gentle in performance yet powerful in content, a page-turning thriller I’m glad to have read.
The date was 22nd November 1963
The manager walked in front of the now blank screen, coughed and said, “I am afraid I have shocking news. I’m sorry to say that John F Kennedy, the President of the USA, has been shot and feared dead.” He stood there as if not knowing what to say next. The auditorium hushed, waiting for him to say more.
He spread his arms wide. “There will be more news on the radio over the next hour or so, and television might be interrupted to update us. I don’t know about you, but I want to go home.”
People stood, too shocked to speak. Expect Colin, who giggled. Not understanding.
Over the years we have been subjected to many scenarios about the assassination. No one I knew believed that a lone gunman could have been so skilful, or ‘lucky’ to get those bullets in the right spot, at the right time with such a poor gun and yet it was harder to believe that an organisation, let alone the government, could do it. The whole topic is compelling, so it wasn’t that this was yet another book on whether Oswald did it, but oh good, another chance to ruminate on the tragedy. At the same time, that ‘where was I when...’ feeling returns to tease me.
In the words of Jean Gill when reviewing Mark Fine’s The Zebra Affaire, ‘this is a book to savour’ rather than gallop through. I thought the plot was developing too slow a pace to keep me interested until a revelation occurred that sent shockwaves through my Kindle, up my arm and blew me away. After that the pace changed from a gentle canter to gallop—later to canter again, and I was grateful. View from the Sixth Floor is one of those rare delights that uses pace to grab you by the throat, daring you to breathe, changing your view for ever.
On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s anniversary Olivia has the urge to see the Book Depositary for herself. Her neighbour, Bill, is a loner, tries to dissuade her from her journey but eventually insists on accompanying her. It’s a road trip romance spiced as a thriller. Some of the Americanisms made me laugh. The protagonist, Olivia, is fond of what she calls ‘hard apple cider’. In the UK all cider is hard apple except for scrumpy, which is made in the southwest in vats, often with meat thrown in to sizzle to nothing in the high acidity. I drank so much as a teen that I cannot bear the taste now. We’d drank some before entering the Gaumont...
Elizabeth Horton-Newton is adept at bringing luxuriant settings to the reader especially at the beginning of chapters such as ‘bright reds and golds of autumn looked like fire on the water’ and I loved where it was so hot the ‘rain caused steam to rise from the ground like small ghosts’. All right, the climatologist in me knows you can’t see steam, it’s condensation we view but it would lose its magic if rewritten. I’d ponder on what kind of music it was when the ‘band played covers’, a term not used in the UK and what on Earth are ‘snicker doodles’? Vive le difference!
I like quotes that set a chapter up. Many good ones in this book and my favourite and most appropriate is one by JFK: ‘The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, unrealistic.’ And as Olivia says, ‘We weren’t angry with one another, we were angry with the world.’
View from the Sixth Floor is both gentle in performance yet powerful in content, a page-turning thriller I’m glad to have read.
February 19, 2016
View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale by Elizabeth Horton-Newton is an alternate-history, romantic, thriller. I know that sounds like a lot to throw into one book, but Newton did it, and she did it well.
View from the Sixth Floor takes place in 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy's death. The story is told in a first-person narrative by recent widow, Oliva Roberts. The tone has a chatty feel like that of a cozy mystery. She becomes obsessed with the idea of traveling to Dallas to learn more about President Kennedy’s assassination. She convinces Bill, her next door neighbor and late husband’s good friend, to accompany her on this road trip (Bill had promised Oliva’s husband he would take care of her after his death, and he is currently her best male friend and confidante.).
Once these two hit the road, the story really takes off! The other thing that takes off is Oliva and Bill’s relationship. They quickly grow from friends to lovers while on the road to Dallas. It was refreshing to read a story about a second- chance-at-love romance between two senior citizens. As their relationship heats up, so does the intrigue when Bill reveals a dark secret about himself. I won’t spoil the read by offering any more details!
I liked how Olivia blossomed from sad, tentative widow into a passionate, plucky, independent woman. What I didn’t like about Olivia was her attitude about spending time with other women. During her weekend away with two girlfriends, it becomes clear that she is one of those women who don’t enjoy the company of other women.
Secondary character, Judy, was a delightful and funny addition to the story. Her role is very small, but I enjoyed this character immensely.
Like a cozy mystery, the plot is slow at the start as the characters are introduced and the story premise is defined, but the pace does pick up. Olivia’s repeated proclamation that she loves Bill regardless of his past made me feel she was desperate for a man in her life.
View from the Sixth Floor is not your typical JKF conspiracy theory story. Newton has tastefully and compassionately written a story that focuses many of the people impacted by the events that took place in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963. More romance than mystery or a thriller, View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale is creative and well-written. I would recommend it to those who enjoy conspiracy theories, alternative history, mature romance or suspense.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official: www.nerdgirlofficial.com.
View from the Sixth Floor takes place in 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy's death. The story is told in a first-person narrative by recent widow, Oliva Roberts. The tone has a chatty feel like that of a cozy mystery. She becomes obsessed with the idea of traveling to Dallas to learn more about President Kennedy’s assassination. She convinces Bill, her next door neighbor and late husband’s good friend, to accompany her on this road trip (Bill had promised Oliva’s husband he would take care of her after his death, and he is currently her best male friend and confidante.).
Once these two hit the road, the story really takes off! The other thing that takes off is Oliva and Bill’s relationship. They quickly grow from friends to lovers while on the road to Dallas. It was refreshing to read a story about a second- chance-at-love romance between two senior citizens. As their relationship heats up, so does the intrigue when Bill reveals a dark secret about himself. I won’t spoil the read by offering any more details!
I liked how Olivia blossomed from sad, tentative widow into a passionate, plucky, independent woman. What I didn’t like about Olivia was her attitude about spending time with other women. During her weekend away with two girlfriends, it becomes clear that she is one of those women who don’t enjoy the company of other women.
Secondary character, Judy, was a delightful and funny addition to the story. Her role is very small, but I enjoyed this character immensely.
Like a cozy mystery, the plot is slow at the start as the characters are introduced and the story premise is defined, but the pace does pick up. Olivia’s repeated proclamation that she loves Bill regardless of his past made me feel she was desperate for a man in her life.
View from the Sixth Floor is not your typical JKF conspiracy theory story. Newton has tastefully and compassionately written a story that focuses many of the people impacted by the events that took place in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963. More romance than mystery or a thriller, View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale is creative and well-written. I would recommend it to those who enjoy conspiracy theories, alternative history, mature romance or suspense.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official: www.nerdgirlofficial.com.
May 5, 2015
This book combines elements of a mystery with a romance between two seniors, a North Carolina widow and her deceased husband's best friend, an enigmatic character who has a long-buried connection with the John F. Kennedy assassination. The story takes place in 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy's death.
The protagonist, Olivia Roberts, after watching several television programs about the assassination, becomes convinced that the accepted explanation of how it occurred might not be the truth. She becomes obsessed with the idea of traveling to Dallas and trying to discover the answers for herself. She enlists the help of "Bill", her next door neighbor, who had promised her husband he would take care of her after his death and who is currently her best male friend and confidante. Bill is reluctant at first, but agrees to accompany her on her odyssey. From this beginning, the mystery begins and romance blooms. Bill turns out to know much more about Kennedy's death than he originally averred before the journey started, and the pair become persons of interest by governmental agencies who are concerned they might make public events they prefer to keep classified. Harassed by government officials, they race to make their findings public before they are silenced.
To me, this story is more a romance than it is a mystery or a thriller, but that is probably what the author intended. It was refreshing to see a story illustrating that two senior citizens can have the same type feelings and passion for one another as the twenty and thirty-somethings about which most romances revolve.
The story is narrated in the first person, which I do not enjoy reading, but that is merely my own prejudice. I also believe it will appeal more to female than to male readers, as it is definitely written from a woman's point of view. The pacing is, unfortunately, uneven, being quite slow, almost to the point of boredom, in the beginning, and then accelerating faster and faster as the story progresses. The ending is somewhat contrived, in my opinion, with several inexplicable, serendipitous and fortunate events combining to create a happy ending. There are several minor misspellings and grammatical errors, but these do not materially detract from the story.
All in all, the book is well written, and I would recommend it to those who would enjoy a mature romance blended with a little mystery and suspense. If half stars were allowed, I would give it 3 1/2.
The protagonist, Olivia Roberts, after watching several television programs about the assassination, becomes convinced that the accepted explanation of how it occurred might not be the truth. She becomes obsessed with the idea of traveling to Dallas and trying to discover the answers for herself. She enlists the help of "Bill", her next door neighbor, who had promised her husband he would take care of her after his death and who is currently her best male friend and confidante. Bill is reluctant at first, but agrees to accompany her on her odyssey. From this beginning, the mystery begins and romance blooms. Bill turns out to know much more about Kennedy's death than he originally averred before the journey started, and the pair become persons of interest by governmental agencies who are concerned they might make public events they prefer to keep classified. Harassed by government officials, they race to make their findings public before they are silenced.
To me, this story is more a romance than it is a mystery or a thriller, but that is probably what the author intended. It was refreshing to see a story illustrating that two senior citizens can have the same type feelings and passion for one another as the twenty and thirty-somethings about which most romances revolve.
The story is narrated in the first person, which I do not enjoy reading, but that is merely my own prejudice. I also believe it will appeal more to female than to male readers, as it is definitely written from a woman's point of view. The pacing is, unfortunately, uneven, being quite slow, almost to the point of boredom, in the beginning, and then accelerating faster and faster as the story progresses. The ending is somewhat contrived, in my opinion, with several inexplicable, serendipitous and fortunate events combining to create a happy ending. There are several minor misspellings and grammatical errors, but these do not materially detract from the story.
All in all, the book is well written, and I would recommend it to those who would enjoy a mature romance blended with a little mystery and suspense. If half stars were allowed, I would give it 3 1/2.
April 29, 2015
The premise of this book was good, although I had a pretty good idea of the big reveal early in the book. But the book was very slow to get there and then never really delivered. It was way too vague in the details of the conspiracy, maybe on purpose as Bill didn't want Olivia to know, but it left me hanging and slightly bored.
I probably would have given this book three stars, but it badly needed a proofreader. There were almost no commas in the entire book and it really interrupted the flow of sentences. I would often have to go back to reread to catch the meaning. For example, “I know honey." Is he referring to Olivia or is he a beekeeper? Place names weren't separate as in the example here: "Then he kissed me, right in front of one of the oldest steak restaurants in Fort Worth Texas."
This was a proof copy and maybe the author intends to correct these issues before publication.
I probably would have given this book three stars, but it badly needed a proofreader. There were almost no commas in the entire book and it really interrupted the flow of sentences. I would often have to go back to reread to catch the meaning. For example, “I know honey." Is he referring to Olivia or is he a beekeeper? Place names weren't separate as in the example here: "Then he kissed me, right in front of one of the oldest steak restaurants in Fort Worth Texas."
This was a proof copy and maybe the author intends to correct these issues before publication.
October 7, 2017
This is a really entertaining book, quite different from what I have read before. The heroine in the story is 60 - ish - and yes it is a romance story, too. I thought that would have put me off, after all aren't the main characters supposed to be young? Well no, as it happens, why should they? Olivia was a great character that went through an incredible experience.
The story is an alternative view - what if Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot the American President in 1963, didn't die? It's a great thriller, with lots of twists and turns. The author did a wonderful job weaving a tale that keeps you right there. It only took me a three days to finish it, because I simply couldn't put it down!
Highly recommended if you want something a little different than the norm.
The story is an alternative view - what if Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot the American President in 1963, didn't die? It's a great thriller, with lots of twists and turns. The author did a wonderful job weaving a tale that keeps you right there. It only took me a three days to finish it, because I simply couldn't put it down!
Highly recommended if you want something a little different than the norm.
April 29, 2015
I have to say that this book earned the 5 stars. From the first page I was sucked into the story and the history. It was a great book filled with history, romance, intrigue, and conspiracy. It was very well written and had a great storyline. It was a work of fiction, but books like this can really get a person to thinking about the time old question of What If? This is one of the best historical books I have read in a while and will highly recommend....Stormi
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
June 14, 2015
Five stars and well earned! I read this book in the kindle edition and finished it in one sitting. It was well written with a clear strong narrative voice and with a near perfect blend of detail, inner/out thoughts and dialogue that brought the reader into the developing mystery/thriller/romance in a well paced and very enjoyable manner. The plot has been well summarized in many other reviews so I will merely add that I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy good writing and well thought out, balanced narrative. Good show!
January 19, 2016
A fascinating and unique take on an unforgettable event in American history.
The book is as much a romance as it is a thriller. It's well-written and the story ticks along at a steady pace.
The main characters of the story, Olivia and Bill, are believable and make a great couple. It was refreshing to read a book in which the protagonists were older than I am!
The book is written in the first person and after a page or two, I felt like Olivia was telling her story to me personally and from that moment on I was hooked on this interesting and enjoyable read!
The book is as much a romance as it is a thriller. It's well-written and the story ticks along at a steady pace.
The main characters of the story, Olivia and Bill, are believable and make a great couple. It was refreshing to read a book in which the protagonists were older than I am!
The book is written in the first person and after a page or two, I felt like Olivia was telling her story to me personally and from that moment on I was hooked on this interesting and enjoyable read!
May 31, 2015
This was a great read. I'm not into conspiracy theories, and tend to stay away from romance type stories, so the fact this managed to suck me in shows what a great job the author did weaving this tale together. Olivia and Bill make a great couple. I'd like to say more, but I'm afraid of giving away the plot. (There's some secrets in this story, let me tell you) All in all, this was a fun read and I look forward to reading more from Elizabeth Horton-Newton.
April 25, 2025
View from the Sixth Floor is one of my favorite books. I have read this book a half dozen times, and I am always ready to read it again. I grew up and grew old, never questioning Lee Harvey Oswald’s guilt. I watched the news coverage as a child. I watched Jack Ruby shoot Oswald. I just knew what happened. Until I read this book. It’s a what-if version of events and not intended as an alternate truth; however, it made me think about things I thought were absolute, and made me wonder if just maybe they got it wrong.
I love Olivia and Bill, and I love reading a love story involving an older couple. Olivia’s husband passed away, but his best friend Bill, who lives next door, has kept the promise he made to him. Bill has watched over Olivia, mowed her yard, done household repairs, and kept the secret of his love for her to himself. As the fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination approaches, Olivia’s curiosity grows. After reading several books and watching documentaries, she decides she wants to go to Dallas and see the book depository for herself.
Bill tries unsuccessfully to discourage her from making the trip, but she is determined to go. He reluctantly agrees to go with her because he can’t let her go alone. On the road to Dallas, secrets come out and lives are changed. Again, I love this book, and I love these characters and other characters, like Olivia’s best friend and her son Jesse. I highly recommend this book.
I love Olivia and Bill, and I love reading a love story involving an older couple. Olivia’s husband passed away, but his best friend Bill, who lives next door, has kept the promise he made to him. Bill has watched over Olivia, mowed her yard, done household repairs, and kept the secret of his love for her to himself. As the fiftieth anniversary of the Kennedy assassination approaches, Olivia’s curiosity grows. After reading several books and watching documentaries, she decides she wants to go to Dallas and see the book depository for herself.
Bill tries unsuccessfully to discourage her from making the trip, but she is determined to go. He reluctantly agrees to go with her because he can’t let her go alone. On the road to Dallas, secrets come out and lives are changed. Again, I love this book, and I love these characters and other characters, like Olivia’s best friend and her son Jesse. I highly recommend this book.
July 16, 2025
I was torn about this. While the story does make you think what if and such, it wasn't what I was hoping out of it. When I read about JFK, I'm the type to want to know what honestly could have happened. I don't know. Obviously quite a few loved this story and I'm glad for that, but it wasn't what I was looking for.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 13, 2019
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale
Subtitle:
Author: Elizabeth Horton-Newton
Genre: Mystery/Romantic Thriller
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book offers an alternative look at the JF Kennedy assassination. Imagine the alleged killer was not killed himself but instead became part of a witness protection plan. And imagine he was your neighbour without you knowing. The main character gets obsessed with what might have happened when conspiracy theories surface close to the 50th anniversary of the assassination. She wants to find out what happened and convinces her neighbour to come with her to Dallas to do just that. However, she gets more than she bargained for. Some romance included.
What I liked about the book:
I liked the entire book, it was enthralling and the story kept me interested the entire time, not wanting to put the book down.
What I didn’t like about the book:
There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book.
My favourite bits in the book:
I liked the fact the main character gave her neighbour the benefit of the doubt. The emerging love story was also nice to read.
My least favourite bits in the book:
When the main character needed to leave her neighbour behind for both his and her safety. Would they ever see each other again?
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This book stands on its own. However, the author has written other books and stories.
What books could this be compared to and why?
How to compare this book to others? It was a good book which kept the reader interested the entire time.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes
If you like this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
This romantic thriller takes a fictional "what if" look at the JFK assassination. Suppose accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had lived to defend himself. Imagine if 50 years after the assassination someone stepped forward to reveal the truth of what happened that day. What if the assassination was a conspiracy and the impact of those revelations reached into the 21st century? This is the story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. You'll never look at your neighbors the same way.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Horton-Newton has been called the Seductress of Suspense because she draws readers into her stories, builds the suspense, and just when the solution seems to be obvious, she pulls the rabbit out of the hat and reveals a dark truth. Her lifelong interest in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy resulted in her first novel, "View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale". With the release of her second book, "Riddle", she once again tackles a social issue; the illegal adoption of First Nations babies separated from their families. Small town prejudices against people of color and "outsiders" result in a unique friendship between two young people. Weaving a romantic thriller around the issues, she creates rich characters in all her writing, drawing the reader into their lives. With her education in Criminal Psychology, Sociology, and Media Communications she offers a unique insight into how criminals think and how society responds to their crimes. Volunteering in local Domestic Violence groups in her hometown, she likes to confront social problems in her stories. Elizabeth currently lives in a 100-year old haunted house with her husband, writer Neil Douglas Newton, and her dog, Scout (named for a character in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). Not limited to a single genre, she has written erotic romance, "Carved Wooden Heart" (with the mysterious Starla Hartless), and the suspenseful "Stolen Gypsy", as well as novelettes through Electric Eclectic Books. She is currently working on a new novel, "Blood on Murder Highway", loosely based on the murders and disappearances of indigenous women in the Pacific Northwest. Her new crime noir novella will be available winter 2019. When she isn't writing she is usually traveling or taking photographs and often both simultaneously. For more information, check out her website at bit.ly/homeEHN or read her blog, Between the Beats, at elizabethnnewton.com/
Basic Details:
Book Title: View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale
Subtitle:
Author: Elizabeth Horton-Newton
Genre: Mystery/Romantic Thriller
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book offers an alternative look at the JF Kennedy assassination. Imagine the alleged killer was not killed himself but instead became part of a witness protection plan. And imagine he was your neighbour without you knowing. The main character gets obsessed with what might have happened when conspiracy theories surface close to the 50th anniversary of the assassination. She wants to find out what happened and convinces her neighbour to come with her to Dallas to do just that. However, she gets more than she bargained for. Some romance included.
What I liked about the book:
I liked the entire book, it was enthralling and the story kept me interested the entire time, not wanting to put the book down.
What I didn’t like about the book:
There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book.
My favourite bits in the book:
I liked the fact the main character gave her neighbour the benefit of the doubt. The emerging love story was also nice to read.
My least favourite bits in the book:
When the main character needed to leave her neighbour behind for both his and her safety. Would they ever see each other again?
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This book stands on its own. However, the author has written other books and stories.
What books could this be compared to and why?
How to compare this book to others? It was a good book which kept the reader interested the entire time.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes
If you like this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
This romantic thriller takes a fictional "what if" look at the JFK assassination. Suppose accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had lived to defend himself. Imagine if 50 years after the assassination someone stepped forward to reveal the truth of what happened that day. What if the assassination was a conspiracy and the impact of those revelations reached into the 21st century? This is the story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. You'll never look at your neighbors the same way.
About the Author:
Elizabeth Horton-Newton has been called the Seductress of Suspense because she draws readers into her stories, builds the suspense, and just when the solution seems to be obvious, she pulls the rabbit out of the hat and reveals a dark truth. Her lifelong interest in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy resulted in her first novel, "View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale". With the release of her second book, "Riddle", she once again tackles a social issue; the illegal adoption of First Nations babies separated from their families. Small town prejudices against people of color and "outsiders" result in a unique friendship between two young people. Weaving a romantic thriller around the issues, she creates rich characters in all her writing, drawing the reader into their lives. With her education in Criminal Psychology, Sociology, and Media Communications she offers a unique insight into how criminals think and how society responds to their crimes. Volunteering in local Domestic Violence groups in her hometown, she likes to confront social problems in her stories. Elizabeth currently lives in a 100-year old haunted house with her husband, writer Neil Douglas Newton, and her dog, Scout (named for a character in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). Not limited to a single genre, she has written erotic romance, "Carved Wooden Heart" (with the mysterious Starla Hartless), and the suspenseful "Stolen Gypsy", as well as novelettes through Electric Eclectic Books. She is currently working on a new novel, "Blood on Murder Highway", loosely based on the murders and disappearances of indigenous women in the Pacific Northwest. Her new crime noir novella will be available winter 2019. When she isn't writing she is usually traveling or taking photographs and often both simultaneously. For more information, check out her website at bit.ly/homeEHN or read her blog, Between the Beats, at elizabethnnewton.com/
February 10, 2016
Since the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, countless conspiracy theories have emerged. Many of them center around the fact that Lee Harvey Oswald was, at the very least, not the lone gunman. Looking into it myself, I have read that some even claim the fatal shot was fired accidentally by one of JFK’s own bodyguards. Regardless of what actually happened that fateful day, November 22, 1963, it doesn’t change the fact that America lost one of its most memorable presidents. It also doesn’t change the fact the fact that Lee Harvey Oswald remains one of American history’s most enigmatic figures. Elizabeth N. Newton, in her speculative historical fiction thriller View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale, presents an alternate theory to the JFK assassination while spinning an exciting story of romance, adventure, and intrigue.
Olivia Roberts turns to her neighbor and friend, Bill Horton, after the sudden death of her husband. Olivia (“Livvy”) seems to have mixed feelings about her husband’s death. While mostly she speaks highly of him, there are times she described her marriage as stifling and even hints that he was domineering and occasionally abusive. Nonetheless, her friendship with Bill quickly turns into a mutual attraction. When Livvy tells Bill that she wants to go to Dallas to learn more about the JKF assassination (a topic that has suddenly become of deep interest to her), Bill at first tries to talk her out of it and then reluctantly offers to go with her. In the weeks leading up to the trip, strange things start happening in her neighborhood: a van is parked at the end of her block, two men posing as home-security salesmen try to enter her home. Strangest of all, Bill has walked miles in the middle of the night to a drugstore and called her to pick him up from there. Livvy seems to be in denial about her friend’s odd behavior, refusing to believe that he is anyone other than her old friend and neighbor. She trusts him unconditionally even after finding out about his past. During the trip, she will find out that Bill is not only not who Livvy thought he was, he holds the power to tear apart everything America thought they knew about the government and the alter the course of American history.
The biggest plot twist is not very surprising, but the aftermath will keep you glued to your Kindle. With the exception of some strange events in the neighborhood, the first half of the novel is filled with fairly mundane descriptions of daily activities. It starts off slow but picks up about a third of the way through. The reader is simultaneously watching Bill and Livvy’s romance unfold and watching one of the most infamous events in American history scrutinized up-close. Sixth Floor is special because it tells the story of regular people against the backdrop of history and because it romanticizes and humanizes unlikely people.
There are a few loose ends Mrs. Newton forgot to address (such as the identity of the two women seen entering Bill’s home), but overall I think readers will be satisfied with this novel’s ending. She is not trying to rewrite history, but rather present a “what if” scenario. For that reason, I believe she chose to wrap up the more personal ending and leave the bigger historical ending open. Livvy comes across as a tad bit gullible and wishy-washy, but is still really likeable. Bill is marvelous as her star-struck, protective neighbor and friend.
Sixth Floor can benefit from a professional formatting and a punctuation check. They don’t distract from the read, but will make the book appear more polished.
Overall, a strongly recommended read. Check it out today!
Olivia Roberts turns to her neighbor and friend, Bill Horton, after the sudden death of her husband. Olivia (“Livvy”) seems to have mixed feelings about her husband’s death. While mostly she speaks highly of him, there are times she described her marriage as stifling and even hints that he was domineering and occasionally abusive. Nonetheless, her friendship with Bill quickly turns into a mutual attraction. When Livvy tells Bill that she wants to go to Dallas to learn more about the JKF assassination (a topic that has suddenly become of deep interest to her), Bill at first tries to talk her out of it and then reluctantly offers to go with her. In the weeks leading up to the trip, strange things start happening in her neighborhood: a van is parked at the end of her block, two men posing as home-security salesmen try to enter her home. Strangest of all, Bill has walked miles in the middle of the night to a drugstore and called her to pick him up from there. Livvy seems to be in denial about her friend’s odd behavior, refusing to believe that he is anyone other than her old friend and neighbor. She trusts him unconditionally even after finding out about his past. During the trip, she will find out that Bill is not only not who Livvy thought he was, he holds the power to tear apart everything America thought they knew about the government and the alter the course of American history.
The biggest plot twist is not very surprising, but the aftermath will keep you glued to your Kindle. With the exception of some strange events in the neighborhood, the first half of the novel is filled with fairly mundane descriptions of daily activities. It starts off slow but picks up about a third of the way through. The reader is simultaneously watching Bill and Livvy’s romance unfold and watching one of the most infamous events in American history scrutinized up-close. Sixth Floor is special because it tells the story of regular people against the backdrop of history and because it romanticizes and humanizes unlikely people.
There are a few loose ends Mrs. Newton forgot to address (such as the identity of the two women seen entering Bill’s home), but overall I think readers will be satisfied with this novel’s ending. She is not trying to rewrite history, but rather present a “what if” scenario. For that reason, I believe she chose to wrap up the more personal ending and leave the bigger historical ending open. Livvy comes across as a tad bit gullible and wishy-washy, but is still really likeable. Bill is marvelous as her star-struck, protective neighbor and friend.
Sixth Floor can benefit from a professional formatting and a punctuation check. They don’t distract from the read, but will make the book appear more polished.
Overall, a strongly recommended read. Check it out today!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews