Stephen L. Carter's latest novel is an alternate history thriller that posits Lincoln surviving Booth's assassination attempt, only to face impeachment two years later at the hands of the Radicals of his own party. With the Senate moving towards a trial, a young African American woman, Abigail Canner, arrives in Washington to serve as a clerk for the law firm preparing to defend the president. Soon she finds herself tackling a series of mysteries all tied to the effort to bring down Lincoln. The question is, can she solve them in time to save the president -- and perhaps even the nation itself?

Fans of historical mysteries and alternate history novels will find much to like in Carter's enjoyable prose and fast-paced plotting, all of which builds to a satisfyingly enjoyable conclusion. Its theme of plutocrats and extremist Republicans conspiring to destroy a presidency is one that will resonate for many readers today, but Carter's writing ensures that his book will endure as one of the best of the alternate history genre.