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Who Killed Sir Harry Oakes?
'The story has all the right ingredients - rich occupants of a West Indian tax haven, corruption, drugs, the Mafia, and a weak character as governor.' Daily Mail
James Leasor cleverly reconstructs events surrounding a brutal and unusual murder. It is 1943 and Sir Harry Oakes lies horrifically murdered at his Bahamian mansion. Although a self-made multi-millionaire, Sir Harry is an unlikely victim there are no suggestions of jealousy or passion. Why did the Duke of Windsor, then Governor of the Bahamas call in the Miami police rather than Scotland Yard? Leasor makes the daring suggestion that Sir Harry Oakes murder, the burning of the liner Normandie in New York Harbour in 1942 and the Allied landings in Sicily are all somehow connected.
James Leasor cleverly reconstructs events surrounding a brutal and unusual murder. It is 1943 and Sir Harry Oakes lies horrifically murdered at his Bahamian mansion. Although a self-made multi-millionaire, Sir Harry is an unlikely victim there are no suggestions of jealousy or passion. Why did the Duke of Windsor, then Governor of the Bahamas call in the Miami police rather than Scotland Yard? Leasor makes the daring suggestion that Sir Harry Oakes murder, the burning of the liner Normandie in New York Harbour in 1942 and the Allied landings in Sicily are all somehow connected.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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50 people want to read
About the author
James Leasor
155 books13 followersJames Leasor was a prolific British author, who wrote historical books and thrillers. A number of Leasor's works were made into films, including his 1978 book, Boarding Party, about an incident from the Second World War that until that time was secret, was turned into a film, "The Sea Wolves", starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven.
Thomas James Leasor was born at Erith, Kent, on 20th December 1923 and educated at the City of London School. On leaving school, whilst waiting to join the army, he had his first foray into journalism, as a cub scout reporter for the Kent Messenger.
He volunteered for the Army in World War 2, as soon as he was old enough. He was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served in Burma with the Lincolnshire Regiment.
After the war he went up to Oriel College, Oxford, to read English. There he edited the Isis magazine, before joining the Daily Express. He became a full-time author in the 1960s. He also ghosted a number of autobiographies for subjects as diverse as the Duke of Windsor, King Zog of Albania, the actors Kenneth More and Jack Hawkins and Rats, a Jack Russell terrier that served with the British Army in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
He lived for his last 40 years at Swallowcliffe Manor, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. He died on 10th September 2007 and is buried in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, Swallowcliffe.
Thomas James Leasor was born at Erith, Kent, on 20th December 1923 and educated at the City of London School. On leaving school, whilst waiting to join the army, he had his first foray into journalism, as a cub scout reporter for the Kent Messenger.
He volunteered for the Army in World War 2, as soon as he was old enough. He was commissioned into the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served in Burma with the Lincolnshire Regiment.
After the war he went up to Oriel College, Oxford, to read English. There he edited the Isis magazine, before joining the Daily Express. He became a full-time author in the 1960s. He also ghosted a number of autobiographies for subjects as diverse as the Duke of Windsor, King Zog of Albania, the actors Kenneth More and Jack Hawkins and Rats, a Jack Russell terrier that served with the British Army in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
He lived for his last 40 years at Swallowcliffe Manor, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. He died on 10th September 2007 and is buried in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, Swallowcliffe.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 1, 2025
Suggestive threads which left a sense of "Well, why not? It could have happened." A little repetitive but fun.
October 4, 2011
A wonderful retelling of the story of the murder of Sir Harry Oakes back in 1942. As a very young man I read 'Kings X' which told almost the same story albeit with a slightly different take on how Sir Harry met his death - a still closely held secret in The Bahamas.
This was a very good read as I especially appreciate the author making this important piece of Bahamian history read like a novel. The acknowledgement shows me how he was able to gather his support material and based on it to write the book as a novel with great dialogue and something that would make a good movie some day.
This is a book that every Bahamian should read and I feel very strongly about that because we are far too ignorant of our history. We know a little about Arawaks, Caribs and Lucayans but we do not know what happened here during the first or second world wars and the time leading up to now. Armed with the knowledge of history perhaps we may understand our country better and help us to make better decisions affecting our collective future.
This was a very good read as I especially appreciate the author making this important piece of Bahamian history read like a novel. The acknowledgement shows me how he was able to gather his support material and based on it to write the book as a novel with great dialogue and something that would make a good movie some day.
This is a book that every Bahamian should read and I feel very strongly about that because we are far too ignorant of our history. We know a little about Arawaks, Caribs and Lucayans but we do not know what happened here during the first or second world wars and the time leading up to now. Armed with the knowledge of history perhaps we may understand our country better and help us to make better decisions affecting our collective future.
May 15, 2011
This is a second book I read on the question. It is a fictionalized account of a real event in the history of the Bahamas.
June 2, 2012
Very nice book, reads like a novel, and leaves you guessing.
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November 30, 2018Synopsis: the basis for this novel is real, Sir Harry Oakes was murdered in The Bahamas during the second war. Was it related to espionage?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews