Ex-military Tom Jefferson is a skilled and gifted assassin for hire, married to the beautiful half Chinese and black Mary, a Democratic party worker in Miami. Kerr imagines an alternative history, a history that just might go some way towards explaining the disturbing assassination of JFK in 1963, with the secret service and intelligence agencies unable to address their failures, and, even worse, leaving the president in the dark.

The young and charismatic JFK has been competing with Richard Nixon for the race to the presidency and emerges victorious, an election the mob have helped fix for him. Castro has upset key influential US figures and corporations, with his nationalisation policies, and the mob is unhappy at having their casinos and more taken from them, leading to numerous attempts to kill the Cuban leader. These are turbulent times, with its strident anti-communism, reds under every bed, in the midst of the bitterly fought cold war with Russia, feeding the paranoia and fear of the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro, that brings the dangerous commie influence right onto the American doorstep. Philip Kerr brings his trademark attention to detail and impeccable historical research in this blend of fact and fiction, a standalone espionage thriller with its mix of real and fictional characters from early 196os America. From celebrated novelist Philip Kerr comes The Shot, a brilliant pseudo-historical what-if ride through the cultural, political, and social landscape of the 1960s.

Now, the perfect hit is turning into the perfect nightmare for everyone involved, because the word is out: Cool killer Tom is no longer targeting Castro.he's gunning for Kennedy. But just as Tom sets his sights on Cuba, he is suddenly exposed to some explosive information that alters his course. And JFK can't say no, because Giancana possesses some very incriminating tapes documenting the politician's sexual escapades. Together, they can take Castro out of the picture, put Jack in office, and get Giancana back in the Cuban casino business. The mob - led by Sam Giancana - the CIA, and presidential candidate Jack Kennedy are all in on the plan. Fresh off the takedown of a Nazi in Buenos Aires, Tom is poised for his next assignment - the assassination of Fidel Castro. Tom Jefferson has a job he does very well.

The Shot by Philip Kerr