March 24, 2013

Killing Lincoln by Bill O"Reilly


Title: Killing Lincoln
Author: Bill O'Reilly
ISBN: 9780805093070
Type: Hardback
Genre: History
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company ( September 27, 2011)
Synopsis: The author of The O'Reilly Factor recounts one of the most dramatic stories in American History - How one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the bloody saga of America's Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of increasingly harrowing battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation, with the former Confederates allowed to reintegrate into American society. But one man and his band of murderous accomplices, perhaps reaching into the highest ranks of the U.S. government, are not appeased. 
In the midst of the patriotic celebrations in Washington D.C., John Wilkes Booth - charismatic ladies' ma and impenitent racist - murders Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. A furious manhunt ensues, and Booth immediately becomes the country's most wanted fugitive. Lafayette C. Baker, a smart but shifty New York detective and former Union spy, unravels the string of clues leading to Booth, while federal forces track his accomplices. The thrilling chase ends in a fiery shootout and a series of court-ordered executions - including that of the firs woman ever executed by the U.S. government, Mary Surratt. Featuring some of history's most remarkable figures, vivid detail, and page-turning action, Killing Lincoln is history that reads like a thriller. 

My review: I am a history buff so this book looked interesting to me. I learned a lot by reading this book. One of which was that Lincoln knew he was going to die. He had many nightmares about this causing him to have many sleepless nights. There were many things telling Lincoln not to go to that theatre that night but all were ignored. I wonder if he had listened to his instincts would he have lived a longer life. There were some dry spots in this book for me but there were also many spots that I wanted to keep reading to find out more. I enjoyed the additions of the pictures as they added a little more insight. You do not have to be a fan of Bill O'Reilly to read this book as there are no political views at all in this book. It is just the history of a horrible tragedy in America's history. All in all this book was a good read and I would suggest to it anyone even if you are not a history buff. I know I am glad I read it. I give this book 4 stars.

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