At 8:47 PM on October 12, 1969, DJ Russ Gibb of Detroit’s then popular FM station, WKNR, took a call from Tom Zarski, a student at East Michigan University. During the call, Zarski brought to the attention of DJ Gibb various clues on Beatles’ records, album covers and inserts, starting with the Sgt. Pepper album, indicating that popular band-mate, Paul McCartney, had died in a car crash in London not far from Abbey Road studios on November 9, 1966, and then, with the complicity of the remaining three Beatles, their recording label, and the British government, his death was covered up and he was replaced in the group with a convincing imposter. This bizarre conspiracy story soon spread around the world and persists to this day.
Many years later, on her deathbed, Rita Godwin Campbell, confessed to her daughter, Cynthia, that the girl’s natural father, William Campbell, was the imposter chosen to replace Paul in the Beatles after his death. After her mother’s death a short time later, Cynthia hired a private investigator, Lazarus Holmes, the great-great grandson of the famous private detective, Sherlock Holmes, to help her prove or disprove her mother’s bizarre claim.
This tale chronicles the surprising results of Lazarus Holmes’ investigation.
Vince Scarsella first heard about the Paul McCartney-Is-Dead urban legend while a teenager listening to a broadcast on WKBW, a popular Buffalo AM radio station, during which the many clues on Beatles albums were identified. For more than fifty years, like so many others, this conspiracy theory has continued to intrigue him. In 2009, Time magazine included the “Paul is dead” legend in its feature on ten of “the world’s most enduring conspiracy theories.”
Readers and critics alike have praised Scarsella’s many other published novels and short stories.
“The Anonymous Man gets decent marks for creativity and intricacy…it’s a fast read that runs through familiar local settings to a satisfying conclusion. Scarsella has the makings of a good storyteller…” The Buffalo News.
“I would recommend it to lovers of legal crime stories and those who appreciate a good story. Finally, I’d rate Lawyers Gone Bad four out of four stars.” The OnlineBookReview.com.
