I began reading this book to write a review for the local paper. The premise was interesting. President Lincoln kept a diary and, in the midst of the Civil War, it went missing. Now, in present day, Peter Fallon and his lady love Evangeline, are trying to find out, but intrigue and danger follow. The story is told in present day and flashes back from 1861-65. The historic fiction was enjoyable, but the present day... Look, imagine Nic Cage in National Treasure. Imagine Nic wants to be Indiana Jones. But Nic Cage will never be Indiana Jones. Peter Fallon will always be Nic Cage, and that's just not my cup of tea. The dialogue was in turns too preachy (we are talking D.C. and abolition after all), too crude (people get hit in the "balls" alot. I'm not kidding), but most of all, it just tried too hard. I am sure Peter Fallon is the dreamiest character/guy ever, intelligent, funny, incredibly fit, attractive and likeable. That's what William Martin wants us to think. But I just think Fallon is a bit like the guy you try to avoid, not because he's a bad guy, just because he tries too hard to be something he's not. Namely, Indiana Jones. To me, this novel read like a man's romance novel- and that's not a compliment. But then, I'm not a guy. So maybe you'll like 'The Lincoln Letter', but if you don't, I warned you.