Few names in history evoke as much glamour, tragedy, and enduring mystery as Marilyn Monroe. Decades after her passing in 1962, we are still captivated by her image—and still haunted by the questions surrounding her final hours.

Enter James Patterson, the master of the modern thriller. In his latest true crime deep-dive, The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe: A True Crime Thriller (co-authored with Mark Seal), Patterson applies his signature fast-paced storytelling to Hollywood’s most famous “cold case.”

If you think you know the story of Marilyn Monroe, think again.