Chasing Lincoln's Killer!

Ben

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

James L Swanson

ISBN:0-439-90354-8

Historical Fiction

“He cocked the hammer into firing position. His hand reached for the doorknob.” Follow John Wilkes Booth on his twelve-day journey as he assassinated President Lincoln. From Washington DC through Maryland and Virginia, he hid for twelve days. On his attempted escape from capture, he braved swamps and survived in a forest. All in the hope of avoiding capture from man hunters after him.

In April 9, 1865 the Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The bloody Civil War was over! John Wilkes Booth, being mad at President Lincoln because President Lincoln freed the slaves, shot President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on Good Friday. John Wilkes Booth then escaped, and after some near captures, John Wilkes Booth left the United States and entered the remaining Confederate States (Southern States). I liked this book because it makes you feel like you are with John Wilkes Booth on his journey of betrayal. This book gives detailed information, like when John Booth crosses the Navy Yard Bridge and his sneaky lies. I enjoyed the part in the theatre; it is suspenseful as Booth gets ready to assassinate President Lincoln. The book does lack some information like what did Booth say when he was hiding in a forest? It would be very hard to find that now. It is written as if John Booth is speaking, so you can understand his character.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about President Lincoln or his assassin. This book makes you feel like you are really there. You learn John Booth’s inner thoughts. When John Booth was hiding in the woods, you feel like John Booth with little information about the outcome of assassination. In addition you feel the sadness of President Lincoln’s death, and learn about John Wilkes Booth’s plans to divide the Union.