Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
Teen Zone Nonfiction-Main Level - 973.7092 S

I tend to get bored with Non-Fiction books but I loved Chasing Lincoln's Killer!

8 hours before President Abraham and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln arrive at Ford Theater, actor John Wilkes Booth learns of their evening plans and sets in motion a plan to assassinate not only the President, but the Vice President and the Secretary of State. From that point forward, James L. Swanson follows the actions of Booth, his co-conspirators, their pursuers and the parties of Lincoln, Secretary of State Seward, and then-Vice President Johnson up until the point of Booth's capture and his accomplices' prosecution and hanging.

Swanson's telling of this story is exhilarating, emotional and action-packed while staying true to historical events (the author notes in the opening notes of the book that the events described are "[...] far too incredible to have been made up.") Chasing Lincoln's Killer based on Swanson's adult book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, is specifically geared toward a youth and teen audience, but I didn't feel at all like I was reading a "dumbed down" version of another book at all.

The Lincoln assassination is a much more complex and interesting story than any history teacher ever told me and I walked away from this book feeling both interested in and well educated on the subject! It was definitely an interesting and worth-while read for teens and adults looking to actually have a great time learning about an important event in American history!