No One Can Know by Adrienne LaCava revolves around the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Though the shocking event looms large in the backdrop and many conspiracy theories are voiced, No One Can Know is not about what went down in Dallas. Instead, multiple points of view voice the thoughts of several characters. Haines, an ex-CIA agent trying to retire; his friend Tucker who's trying to use old connections to get closer with Lyndon B. Johnson; Tucker's brother Vincent, a man who had left Dallas after the untimely death of his wife; and Ivy Jean, Vincent's twelve-year-old daughter. Their stories all converge at the Dahl House on a weekend that begins when Carla, a friend of Vincent's wife and Tucker’s mistress arrives, slowly succumbing to a botched abortion. An interesting, dramatic read, No One Can Know mixes historical fiction with a coming of age tale and a dash of conspiracy theory.

No One Can Know was filled with lots of interesting characters that were so multi-layered and alive that I kept wanting to learn more about them. Even though not all the characters liked each other, and some were more reprehensible than others, I never felt that any one was supposed to be the bad guy, except maybe the circumstances surrounding Carla's fate. A well-written, enjoyable read, No One Can Know makes for a compelling novel. My only complaint was that I was so engrossed that when the end came I felt like I was abruptly cut out of the conversation. But who knows, maybe we can resume it again in book two.

No One Can Know is a historical thriller written by Adrienne LaCava. Gabriel Haines works for the CIA, but he's dreaming of getting back to his roots and working with horses on a ranch. He's accepted an invitation from his colleague, Tucker Massey, to become the foreman on Massey's ranch. They are both in Dallas on the day that John F. Kennedy is assassinated, and their proximity to the event could prove dangerous to each of them as investigations ramp up and rumors of conspiracies swirl about. Massey is sent to Mississippi on a special assignment for Lyndon Baines Johnson, the new president and a family friend. While he's gone, his concerns over his pregnant girlfriend, Carla, cause him to ask his brother, Vincent, to find her. Vincent brings his 12-year-old daughter to Tucker's ranch where she meets her cousin and aunt for the first time and also briefly gets to know Carla, who was her mother's best friend. Haines realizes that the ranch is being watched by operatives and is not sure if they are focused on him alone or Tucker's family, and he's prepared to leave to keep the others safe.

I am so impressed by this book. It was impeccably researched, and it immerses the reader in the 1960s. LaCava brings the events and uncertainties surrounding the assassination of Kennedy to light while blending that tragedy in with the lives of her characters. There's a chilling account of Tucker's time in Mississippi, and a tragic section where the crucial importance of having legal and safe abortions is made clear. There's also a grand coming of age story in No One Can Know. Ivy Jean, Vincent's young daughter, comes from a very sheltered and motherless life with her strict, but loving, father and older brother. She's thrust into a very different world on that fateful weekend, and it's inspiring to see how she observes, reacts, and comes into her own. No One Can Know is historical literary fiction that reads smoothly and fluently as it transports the reader into a different time and place. It's a marvelous book.