Michael Jackson's Dangerous Liaisons: Arvizo, Barnes, Bhatti, Chandler, Culkin...The A-Z of All the King's Boys [Paperback]

A sinister clustering of lies coming from yet another fellow human exploiting the name of Michael Jackson. Why lies? Because Jackson was investigated (with an unexplicable zealous effort) by the FBI and not a thing was ever found that could incriminate him. Why? Because Jackson would stop in the middle of a concert and call security to escort a bug out; that's right - he wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a child. But most of all, because this man carried a tremendous sense of love for the future of our world - the children. At the cost of his own energy and money, he would visit and help the sick and the orphan when on tours and at home his gates were always open to the less fortunate, to put a smile on every child's face, not just his own. Alas the cynical took up the courage to abuse his generosity and betray him in the harshest way - by making use of the very thing he most loved. At the end of the day though, Michael emerged luminously clean and beautiful, with the aura that those who met him talked about.

Hopefully the estate will sue the defiant author of this waste of trees and people will come to learn Jackson's name is not to be used in other purposes than noble ones, as Michael the man always was that - a noble spirit.

If I had known the real identity of the author, Thomas O'Carroll, and his history, before I bought the book I am not sure if I would have purchased it. That would have been a shame and I will explain why.

Let me say right now that I adored Michael Jackson and I believe that he was a beautiful, caring man, talented beyond reason. I also believe that he was lonely, depressed and had real issues. To believe otherwise is to undermine his enormous achievements and fail to see him as a human being. I do not believe that he ever sexually molested boys. The 2005 trial especially was a disgrace and those who instigated it should be deeply ashamed of themselves and should have been punished.

The author of this book would have us believe that Michael had a long history of what he calls 'boy love'. He has written almost six hundred pages trying to persuade the reader that he was a serial molester and that was an okay thing because the boys obviously enjoyed it and kept coming back for more. He has used many sources for his writing, all available to anyone who wants to conduct their own research, and drawn his own conclusions. Unfortunately he has given too much credence to the likes of Victor Gutierrez, Diane Dimond, Darwin Porter and Raymond Chandler and whilst expressing admiration for Taraborellis' tome generally, he dismisses his views on Michael Jacksons' sexuality. He has also not given enough consideration to how clever editing on tv documentary interviews can make opinons sound very different to that which was intended, and I am not just talking about the infamous Bashir annihilation of Michael (Jacques Peretti, for instance, did a scandalous documentary two years prior to Michaels' passing).

However all this being said, the man writes pretty well and tries to show both sides of the stories whilst trying to guide the reader to his way of thinking (read about the writers past and you will see what his motives are for wanting us to see things his way). It didn't work with me. I cannot dismiss the fact that whilst there were many boys who played a big part in Michaels' life, only three accused him of improper conduct (and we all know what was driving them and/or their appalling parents to these accusations). The writer tries to make a case that the boys who testified on Michaels' behalf at the trial possibly had financial incentives or felt under some kind of obligation to Michael for past favours. That won't wash. Macaulay Culkin could not have been bought off at any stage during his life. Nor could Sean Lennon and several other famous children have been bought off in the past.

The truth is that we shall now probably never know the truth of the accusations, and even were Jordan Chandler to come forward and admit to lying, there would still be those who doubt whether Michaels' estate had bought a confession, such is the extent of the problem which surrounded Michael most of his adult life, money corrupts. All we can do is either believe in the mans' integrity or not.

Finally, it is a fact that since Michaels' death there has been a huge increase in public interest in his life and works. This has resulted in a glut of books published in the wake of his passing and it is not fair to suggest that they are all cashing in on his death. I note that only books failing to canonise Michael are accused of making money out of the tragedy. I do not want to always read books that offer no admission of Michaels' human frailties. We can draw our own conclusions and offer much more informed debate if we read both favourable and unfavourable books as long as they are well written and thoroughly researched. I believe that this is such a book, Toms has put in the legwork. Try it, you may even learn some tidbits about Michael that you were previously unaware of.

Many of us had long wondered about Jackson's sexual proclivities, while for many others any doubts had already been dispelled. My own suspicions were raised two or three decades ago when I read a quote from Jackson in which he said, "Children are magical for me. I just feel that I can be myself when I am around them." (I'm paraphrasing.)

That 1988 Pepsi commercial was just gravy. Cute, blond, 12-year-old Jimmy Safechuck finds himself wandering alone around Jackson's dressing room, trying on various items of Michael's wardrobe the moment when Michael shows up, leans against the doorway, and seductively says, "Looking for me?" While that was a little too close for comfort, I didn't think others would fail to see it as well. (Watch it on YouTube.)

Even though I knew the truth about Michael Jackson in my heart of hearts, I did not condemn him for it, as such a loving man could not possibly do anything to damage a single one of the hundreds, thousands, or millions of children around the world he has helped (depending on one's definition of "help").

Michael Jackson's Dangerous Liaisons: Arvizo, Barnes, Bhatti, Chandler, Culkin...The A-Z of all the King's Boys is the answer for anyone who still may harbor questions about Jackson's sexuality. This encyclopedic tome (624pp!) leaves no stone unturned as it meticulously documents just about every boy with whom Jackson had any kind of personal relationship of which any mention was ever made. Toms spent 16 YEARS researching the book and would have published it in Jackson's lifetime were it not for his untimely death. There is a whole host of references to document all that Toms contends in this book, his having made extensive use of the 2005 trial transcript (in which the author expresses confidence that Jackson was rightfully acquitted), official documents from the Chandler case in 1993, numerous texts and news reports (including some tabloid sources which the author was able to verify), as well as going into detail about some of the latest research into pedophilia.

The book details what went on not only during the 2005 trial, but even more interestingly, during the entire Jordie Chandler episode. I had many questions about those events, and they were more than answered. Many will be surprised to learn that the Chandler case, settled for $22 million, did not begin as a mere extortion attempt, but because Evan Chandler was afraid of losing his son's affections to Michael. Once that irrevocable step was taken, which involved coercing Jordie into condemning Michael, the only question left was the amount of the settlement.

While Michael and Jordie may have been intensely romantically involved, the Arvizo trial is shown for the farce it was. One has to think that Tom Sneddon, prosecutor in both cases, carried with him a personal vendetta against Michael, evidenced also by his role in changing the law as a result of the Chandler case forcing minors to testify even in the event of a settlement like that in Jackson's case.

There is much more in this packed tome, e.g. his numerous other boys, his marriages, and other aspects of this all-time artistic and humanitarian talent. This is a sympathetic, realistic look at a lonely, troubled genius.

I give this book my highest recommendation. John Money has coined the term "pedophilic genius" (see Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions, J Feierman, ed.) to describe phenomenal talent inspired by one's love of children, placing in that category Lewis Carroll (author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Penguin Classics)) and J M Barrie (appropriately here, Peter Pan (Penguin Popular Classics), a favorite of Michael's and source of inspiration of his NEVERLAND home). Some contend that Michael Jackson belongs in the category as well. The book supports that notion.

This is a volume for all. It is extensively sourced to satisfy the academics, while being written in language accessible to the casual reader. No less than FIVE renowned academics have given the book hearty recommendations, some of the biggest names in their fields. Whether you are a skeptic or a fan of Jackson, this book demands a fair reading.