Reviews

Celebrity biographer Halperin focuses on the last 15 years of the late pop star's life and lifts the veil of Jackson's private life. Because Jackson's legal battles over allegations of child abuse are central to the narrative, the book frequently quotes from tedious trial manuscripts. Four-time Audie Award nominee Richard Allen narrates in a confident journalistic style. Verdict Recommended for Jackson's fans as well as for those enthralled by celebrity scandals and the machinations of the entertainment industry. Expect the late-October releases of Jackson's final album, This Is It, and the documentary film of the same name to spur interest. An alternate purchase to consider: J. Randy Taraborrelli's Michael Jackson (2009), which also addresses the star's final years. [The Simon Spotlight Entertainment hc, published in July, was a No. 1 New York Times best seller.-Ed.]-Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.