Review: Riveting account
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 29, 2012
Most Americans are taught in elementary school that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's theatre by John Wilkes Booth.  Those who study further learn more details about this event, that Lincoln was not the only target that night, and that Lincoln was not the universally loved figure that he is today.  Interesting information but in general it is usually overshadowed by the post war chaos that took place during Reconstruction.  This book, with its'  focus on the days immediately before and after the assassination, brings this traumatic episode to life.  Details of the conspiracy itself are revealed, as are the tensions within Lincoln's own administration, all of which were new information to me, even though I have a degree in, and am certified to teach, History.This is an exciting read due to the material, not to the writer's skills.  The narrative proceeds through the hours before the assassination which is an effective structure but does necessitate a certain amount of jumping from one group's actions to the another.  This could have been handled a bit better to make the flow of the narrative smoother.  The author has also taken some quotes out of context in order to provide dialog in some places, made his best guess as to which theory about the events to include but he has indicated where he has taken these liberties quite honestly so that anyone interested in digging deeper can check out original source material.  In general this is an excellent blend of history and fiction and sheds light on one of the most important events in American history.