Killing Lincoln

Killing Lincoln

The Shocking Assassination That 

Changed America Forever

by Bill O'Reilly

and Martin Dugard

From the back of the book:

The anchor of The O'Reilly Factor recounts one of the most dramatic stories in American history—how one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of incredibly bloody battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation, with the former Confederates allowed to reintegrate into American society. One man and his band of murderous accomplices, perhaps reaching into the highest ranks of the U.S. government, are not appeased.

In the midst of the patriotic celebrations in Washington, D.C., John Wilkes Booth—charismatic ladies' man and impenitent racist—murders Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater. A furious manhunt ensues and Booth immediately becomes the country's most wanted fugitive. Lafayette C. Baker, a brilliant but enigmatic New York detective and former Union spy, unravels the string of clues leading to Booth, while federal forces track his accomplices. The thrilling chase ends in a fiery shootout and a series of court-ordered executions—including that of the first woman ever executed by the U.S. government, Mary Surratt. With an unforgettable cast of characters, vivid historical detail, and page-turning action, Killing Lincoln is history that reads like a thriller.

Getting past the first 100 pages was the most challenging part of this read. I strongly encourage you to do it though. Once you get past the battle scenes, the book is intriguing and, although not my favorite book, I did learn a lot. If you love history, the Civil War, or learning about Lincoln, you will love this book. 

As a side note: The book club was perfectly split on this one. Half liked it half did not. No one loved it. How about that? 
 

 I'm joining: 
Ricki Jill for Literary Friday