Clear the decks, and make sure you have enough uninterrupted time to read all 315 pages in one sitting. This historical narrative is one you will want to read straight-through. It is that riveting.

I've read many of O'Reilly's political and autobiographical books. I've not read his venture into fiction – “Those Who Trespass” – but “Killing Lincoln” is NOTHING like his previous efforts. In fact, I wonder just how much of this is O'Reilly, and how much belongs to Martin Dugard, whose name is also on the book (in much smaller letters).

Not being a fan of the Civil War, and not being a student of Lincoln, reading this book was exciting, but also revealing. I learned the part George Armstrong Custer played in a key battle. I learned how Booth hid in the cold woods for days. Well, I won't give away any more spoilers in case the potential reader of this book has the same non-background in this key part of American history.

Now, I am not a total blank when it comes to Lincoln and the Civil War, but those parts that were familiar to me as I devoured this book, took on new life and new meaning for me. This book is as exciting as it gets, and will make a great movie – oh, wait, I guess that has also been done?

It doesn't matter – historian or novice – take time to read this book. There are almost enough pictures to fill out the narrative, but a couple of times a reference is made that would have been best served with an accompanying illustration.

Oh, I found one weird oxymoron in the reprint of an 1865 newspaper the authors put at the end of the book. The Harper's Weekly of April 29 (two weeks after the assassination) includes the phrase, “civilized warfare.” Warfare – Civilized? I don't think so.