There are thousands of books written about 9/11. From first-hand accounts to geopolitical analyses, from military memoirs to investigative deep dives, this pivotal moment in history has been examined from nearly every angle. But Parallax 9/11: Part One – The Silent Assassin by R. Taylor Hopkinson stands apart. Why? Because it doesn’t just retell the tragedy of September 11th. It questions its origins, challenges the official timeline, and reveals a forgotten victim you’ve never heard about, until now.
At the heart of this book is Keith Chapman. He was a man affectionately nicknamed “Sunshine” by those who knew him. A Mancunian market trader, karaoke enthusiast, and loving partner, Keith was killed in Florida in May 2000, 17 months before the 9/11 attacks. He was on a golfing holiday with friends, just weeks away from marrying the love of his life and raising their baby boy. But a fast-moving car, driven recklessly and mysteriously, ended his life one night as he crossed a quiet road outside his hotel.
The death was ruled a tragic accident until years later, when two of Keith’s friends, who had witnessed the crash, recognized the face of the man they believed was behind the wheel: Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the 9/11 hijackers.
What follows is a breathtaking investigation into that claim. Hopkinson, a retired personal injury claims lawyer who represented Keith’s family, guides readers through witness statements, timeline inconsistencies, and official oversights that raise a disturbing question: Was Keith Chapman the first victim of the 9/11 attack ringleader, Mohamed Atta?
But Parallax 9/11 is more than a legal thriller. It’s also an intimate exploration of grief, justice, and memory. Hopkinson brings an unusual depth of empathy to the page. He he gives voice to the people who lived them. Angela, Keith’s fiancée, emerges as one of the book’s most compelling figures. Her quiet strength and enduring love turn this from a cold-case mystery into something heartbreakingly personal.
Then there’s the bombshell testimony of Johnelle Bryant. Months before 9/11, she had a terrifying encounter with Atta while working as a senior loan officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For an unidentified “engineering project,” she alleges, Atta attempted to obtain a $650,000 grant to buy and modify a crop duster. The man commended Osama Bin Laden. He inquired about access to structures like the Twin Towers for foreign tourists. He also asked her what was keeping him from cutting her throat and keeping the money for himself, which is one of the most unsettling scenes in the book.
Bryant’s story, largely ignored by the mainstream narrative, is crucial. It suggests that Atta may have been in the U.S. earlier than reported, testing alternative plans, probing weaknesses, and leaving behind a trail that no one followed.
What makes Parallax 9/11 a must-read isn’t just its shocking revelations. It is the way it challenges us to think differently. Hopkinson’s “parallax view” forces us to look at the same events from different perspectives: legal, emotional, historical, and personal. It’s a story about 9/11, yes. But it’s also about the moments that led up to it, the people caught in its shadow, and the truths that were buried under the rubble.
If you’re tired of reading the same recycled 9/11 narrative, Parallax 9/11 will take you somewhere new. It’s a story of love and loss, of missed warnings and hidden connections, of justice delayed but not forgotten. It’s the 9/11 story you haven’t heard. And once you do, you won’t be able to forget it.
Grab your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917438575.
About the Book:
Parallax 9/11: Part 1: The Silent Assassin by R. Taylor Hopkinson is a gripping docu-drama that intertwines the personal tragedy of Keith Chapman’s 2000 hit-and-run death with the seismic events of 9/11. Alleging that Mohamed Atta, the 9/11 ringleader, was the driver responsible for Chapman’s death months before his official U.S. arrival, the book blends legal memoir, historical analysis, and emotional storytelling. Through the lens of Hopkinson’s legal battle for Chapman’s family, readers encounter vivid characters like Angela Cassidy and Johnelle Bryant, whose chilling meeting with Atta hints at a broader conspiracy. With striking details and revelations, this thought-provoking narrative challenges the 9/11 Commission Report and promises a sequel, The Parallax Diaries, to continue the story and to allow us to gain an inside picture of this terrorist attack, which needs our attention.