Book Review: Til Morning by Bonnie Hearn Hill & Larry Hill

“I’m the John Kennedy of broadcasting, discriminated against because I’m Catholic.”

“Oh, come on, Dorothy. You’re the one who kissed Bishop Sheen’s ring on national television. You flaunt your religion.”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Bonnie Hearn Hill & Larry Hill, Til Morning

Review:

I’m a big fan of Dorothy Kilgallen and have read extensively about her life and her career. I’m so thrilled that there are a couple of novels inspired by her. This one focuses on her affair with singer Johnnie Ray. Though not a shining or defining aspect of her life, it’s not surprising that writers see this as an interesting plot opportunity. 

All that said, I wasn’t super into the story the way it was presented. I found Johnnie Ray insufferable at times. Some of my opinions are personal, not loving the infidelity plotline despite its complexity. I did know what I was going into when I picked it up, so that’s on me. Regardless, I do wish the pacing had been a little slower and smoother, though my biggest quip is how regurgitated tidbits about Dorothy’s life were forced in whether it fit the timeline or not. (I suspect people not too familiar with Dorothy Kilgallen wouldn’t notice, so again, I’ll put that on me.) I also noticed some wonky timelines surrounding JFK’s assassination.

I would be curious to see some kind of a sequel to this given the intrigue of the events at the end of the book. The last few chapters were when I finally began to feel invested. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• I loved seeing a novel based on Dorothy Kilgallen. There are so many potential plots to be done with her life.

What I didn’t like:

• Timeline inconsistencies.
• The characters are portrayed in a shallow light.

Afterthoughts:

Though I feel overall disappointed with the book, I’m still curious to take a look at the other Dorothy Kilgallen novel I have in my Kindle library.

Where to buy the book: