The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin, John Wilkes Boot... read full description
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Sep 16, 2008
Matt
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This was positively Shakespearean. Not in the poetry, but in the sheer drama of it. The plotting, the conspiracy, the murder. Swanson does a terrific job of cobbling together a stunningly complete and compelling narrative of Booth's time on the lam while armies hunted for him, all from interviews with the subjects, court transcripts, newspaper accounts, and other books written by those involved at at the time. He reveals the roots of Booth's motivation, and his ego, along with that of his co-con
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Sep 20, 2009
S.
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I suggest reading "Manhunt" backwards. That way, when you get to the end, Lincoln hasn't been fatally wounded, Mary Todd hasn’t tottered over into madness and that poor couple of horses haven't been shot and sunk in the swamp.
Seriously though, this account of JW Booth’s capture is worth reading. The drawback is sometimes the writing lays it on too thick. It works effectively at the beginning: the assassination itself, for example, is gripping. And since Booth was an actor, More...
Seriously though, this account of JW Booth’s capture is worth reading. The drawback is sometimes the writing lays it on too thick. It works effectively at the beginning: the assassination itself, for example, is gripping. And since Booth was an actor, More...
Jan 18, 2009
Alicia
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I really liked this book a lot. I had no idea what all was involved with the assasination of Abraham Lincoln. It makes me wonder what they teach us in school. I highly recommend reading it.
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Mar 01, 2008
Michael
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Read this book for a fascinating glimpse into the mid-19th century, not for the writing. The author uses first-hand accounts, trial testimony etc. to re-construct some events leading up to Lincoln's assassination and then, mostly, the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators. (Did you even know there were co-conspirators?) It includes many long quotations from correspondence, diary entries, witness statements etc., all of which I greatly enjoyed reading. The author's own writing
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Aug 08, 2011
This is a very compelling account of the murder of Abraham Lincoln and the chase for John Wilkes Booth that followed. It's told in a back and forth way, which leaves you with cliffhangers at each chapter's end, in the style of many a good thriller-type mystery. Although you know the outcome of the attempted assassinations, Swanson somehow still has you on the edge of your seat. This would be a good book for anyone interested in history but not entirely accustomed to reading it straight up. T
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Mar 25, 2009
Heidi
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My husband read this first, and his succinct review was that "a whole lot of nothing happens." Yeah, that's about right!
However, I liked this book. Swanson obviously is fascinated by this topic, and it comes through in his narrative. Although he cannot know for certain the thoughts and motivations of the major players, his research seems so thorough that he is in a good place to make reasonable conjectures. Despite the absence of action throughout most of the book, he h More...
However, I liked this book. Swanson obviously is fascinated by this topic, and it comes through in his narrative. Although he cannot know for certain the thoughts and motivations of the major players, his research seems so thorough that he is in a good place to make reasonable conjectures. Despite the absence of action throughout most of the book, he h More...
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Aug 04, 2011
Judy
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April 1865 was one of the most momentous months in American history. Richmond fell to Union troops, Jefferson Davis was on the run, the government of the Confederacy collapsed, Lincoln was assassinated, and a 12 day manhunt was launched for his killer, John Wilkes Booth. In Manhunt, James Swanson has written an incredible book taking the reader through the days before the assassination to the capture, killing and burial of Booth, to the trial, imprisonment, and execution of co-conspirators, to
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Aug 03, 2011
Marilyn
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Three and a half stars. Vivid recounting of the end of the Civil War, the assassination of Lincoln, and the hunting down of John Wilkes Booth. The author is not the world's best writer but his love for his subject, his enthusiasm, his command of the subject leap off the page and grab you by the shirt and urge you to keep reading because hey, if you thought that was interesting, just wait until you read what's in the next chapter.
One small niggle: you could make a drinking game out of t More...
One small niggle: you could make a drinking game out of t More...
Jul 29, 2011
I loved this, and just raced through it, even though I knew how it was going to turn out. When I was much younger I read a lot about the Lincolns, especially Mary Todd, but there were many treasures in Swanson's account. For instance, the self-castrating christian Boston Corbett who was literally "mad as a hatter," and the haunted Major Rathbone, who never recovered from witnessing the tragedy. Especially riveting were the tales of the other conspirators, including the big strappin
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Jul 05, 2011
Neil
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My guilty pleasure is true crime. I feel a little less guilty when it's HISTORICAL true crime; it doesn't seem so much like gawking at a chalk outline... . Anyway, this book is a pleasure.
After the shooting, the population of Washington turned into a mob, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Anything that would connect someone to the reviled Booth was mortally dangerous and quickly destroyed. So I thought that not much was known about what Booth did while he was on the ru More...
After the shooting, the population of Washington turned into a mob, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Anything that would connect someone to the reviled Booth was mortally dangerous and quickly destroyed. So I thought that not much was known about what Booth did while he was on the ru More...
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Jun 01, 2011
Sarah
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Okay, so here's the deal, in brief. This book is definitely a page turner. I give it full points for keeping your interest, which is clearly the author's aim. I wish that he would have trusted his subject a little more instead of forcing it into a thriller. It is apparent that his efforts went to that purpose rather than to good scholarship. Geesh, that sounds snobby, doesn't it? Look, the fact is, if you don't know that something is a word for word, verifiable quote, you simply cannot make it o
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Mar 09, 2011
Ashton
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Chasing Lincoln’s Killer is one of those books that strike your attention and then you almost have to read it.But the book has its up and its downs. The book exaggerate an little, but the book can be superior. In the book Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, is both exciting and humdrum. At the begging of the book, it does get very interesting. The lead is very descriptive on how Booth is going to kill Lincoln. For example, in the book it says “Booth and his henchmen planned, like highway robbers, to ambus
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Mar 02, 2011
Natalie
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Okay, so I liked this book and there was a lot of new and interesting information. It's interesting to note that there were two other assassination attempts, both of which failed, and other men involved in the assassinations. The writer wrote it in a way that was very engaging. But the last half of the book was a bit odd. It seemed like the author was sympathizing with Booth. He even compared him to Christ in two instances I can think of. That's what really got me.
After thinkin More...
After thinkin More...
Feb 13, 2011
Scott
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Picked up this book on a lark, just wanted something non-fiction. Plus it was read by Richard Thomas, one of my favorite all-time actors. This book on CD was fantastic. Cannot recommend high enough. Best book on CD I've listened to this year.
As implied by the title, the subject matter primarily regards the events that occurred directly after Lincoln was shot, until the time Booth was caught. Stanton, Booth, etc. What is not immediately apparent by just the title is that the sto More...
As implied by the title, the subject matter primarily regards the events that occurred directly after Lincoln was shot, until the time Booth was caught. Stanton, Booth, etc. What is not immediately apparent by just the title is that the sto More...
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Feb 08, 2011
Terry
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I was reading the chapter where Booth is about to shoot Lincoln and I found myself sitting tensely in the chair with the book close to my face and hurredly turning the pages to find out if he gets away with it, or does he get caught! Hellooo-oooo!!!
This book is so well written that it swoops you up into the excitement and blood-pumping emotions of the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination. Booth is not demonized, nor is he glorified. This is an interesting recount of what was going o More...
This book is so well written that it swoops you up into the excitement and blood-pumping emotions of the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination. Booth is not demonized, nor is he glorified. This is an interesting recount of what was going o More...
Dec 12, 2010
I am still in the process of reading Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. Personally, Manhunt is not a book I would have chosen to read, but it was one of the books assigned for my history class. So far, I think it is pretty interesting. Lincoln's assassination thus far, has been an obscure topic for me. Therefore beginning this book, I do not have much prior insight on what I am going to be learning about, but the context and historical aspects are simple to understand, and easy to r
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Nov 30, 2010
Holden
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Nov 30, 2010
Austin
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Nov 17, 2010
Brendon
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Oct 16, 2010
Annie
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Well-written historical nonfiction about the assassination of President Lincoln and subsequent manhunt for the killer, John Wilkes Booth. I first read about Lincoln’s assassination in Assassination Vacation and found it fascinating so I wanted to delve deeper into this subject. The book begins with the fall of Richmond, an event which helps spur Booth’s kidnapping plot to turn into a hasty murderous conspiracy plot. Booth recruited others to kill the Vice President and the Secretary of Stat
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Oct 14, 2010
Alex
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Oct 13, 2010
Maira
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Oct 13, 2010
Neil
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Oct 13, 2010
Ally
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I started reading Manhunt with a mentality of "Alright, let's get this over with." But by the end of the day I found myself halfway through the book. I eventually pried myself away long enough to get some sleep and then immediately finished it up the next morning. I am a person who isn't exactly fascinated with history, however I am interested in crime scenes and detective work which initially led me to read this book. It is CSI of the 1860s to say the least.
The details of Ab More...
The details of Ab More...
Sep 23, 2010
Agatha
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Recommended by my friend Michael Bishop. I also recommend it for a thrilling, fast-paced read. The author begins with the day of Lincoln's assassination and the assassination attempts on Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward, and with John Wilkes Booth's planning with his team of malevolent cronies. Then it takes you through the assassination, follows Booth's and Herold's flight out of Washington into southern Maryland, and traces their 12-day path from one home
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Aug 13, 2010
Elmwoodblues
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After the audiobook reading, the author sat for an interview. Born on Lincoln's birthday, Mr. Swanson speaks of his lifelong interest in and collection of Lincoln source material. Swanson speaks of the effort in paring this book down from 1000 pages, from 500 pages, and the density is apparent in the story.
Do we know the outcome? Like any good and compelling piece of historic research, that is unimportant. With Lee's surrender, we are shown Lincoln as a happy man, a too-busy husba More...
Do we know the outcome? Like any good and compelling piece of historic research, that is unimportant. With Lee's surrender, we are shown Lincoln as a happy man, a too-busy husba More...
Feb 08, 2010
Joshua
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I noticed I never ventured into the five star category for books I really, really love so I'm vowing to be more generous with the stars this year for stuff that blows me away. Manhunt, the second five star book of 2010!
I've been wanting to read this for ages but kept putting it off and putting it off until I saw it on a friend's shelf a few weeks ago. I borrowed it and soon after was completely swept away in its complete and vivid retelling of the Abraham Lincoln assassination by Joh More...
I've been wanting to read this for ages but kept putting it off and putting it off until I saw it on a friend's shelf a few weeks ago. I borrowed it and soon after was completely swept away in its complete and vivid retelling of the Abraham Lincoln assassination by Joh More...
Jan 22, 2010
Joanne
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This was a great history to follow the fictional All Other Nights. I knew very little about the Lincoln assassination, Wilkes Booth, or the mechanisms of Civil War law enforcement. Interestingly, the manhunt was coordinated by Stanton, the Secretary of War, who dispatched Union troops all over the border of the South. I also didn't know that Stanton suspected Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy of conspiring to kill Lincoln, and that at that time several of the Confederate generals hadn't yet
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Sep 05, 2009
Jim
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This is an incredible book...difficult to put down as the action just keeps coming fast and furious. Which is a bit amazing as it is an all-to-true story. Mr. Swanson has indeed done his homework as his detailed descriptions are just amazing!
The book starts out just a few days before the assassination as both John Wilkes Booth and his cohorts plot to kill not only President Lincoln, but also vice-president Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. From that point, the act More...
The book starts out just a few days before the assassination as both John Wilkes Booth and his cohorts plot to kill not only President Lincoln, but also vice-president Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. From that point, the act More...
Jun 04, 2009
Lisa
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Having read a billion-page bio of Lincoln this year, I thought it only appropriate to now take on the search for his assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The book begins with the plot to assassinate Lincoln (and others in his cabinet), which evolved from a kidnapping plot; follows the night of the attacks and murder; and then moves on to Booth's escape and eventual capture.
Parts of the book were downright fascinating; other parts were dragged down with detail. Interestingly, while in the in More...
Parts of the book were downright fascinating; other parts were dragged down with detail. Interestingly, while in the in More...
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