Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

From Goodreads,

"Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia.

"This story is true. All the characters are real and were alive during the great manhunt of April 1865. Their words are authentic and come from original sources: letters, manuscripts, trial transcripts, newspapers, government reports, pamphlets, books and other documents. What happened in Washington, D.C., that spring, and in the swamps and rivers, forests and fields of Maryland and Virginia during the next twelve days, is far too incredible to have been made up."

So begins this fast-paced thriller that tells the story of the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and gives a day-by-day account of the wild chase to find this killer and his accomplices. Based on James Swanson's bestselling adult book MANHUNT: THE 12-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN'S KILLER, this young people's version is an accessible look at the assassination of a president, and shows readers Abraham Lincoln the man, the father, the husband, the friend, and how his death impacted those closest to him."

Goodreads - Chasing Lincoln's Killer

I have always despised history.  There are so many dates and people to keep up with.  I didn't enjoy it and school and college weren't much better.  However, the older I get the more I find myself watching documentaries and willing to read historical books.  I've read "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy (which I plan to reread), and I expected I would enjoy this book too.

This book gives the true story of the night Lincoln was shot by Booth.  The details tell of what led up to the assassination and the chase that followed after to apprehend the assassin.

I enjoyed this book, but not nearly as much as the book about JFK.  I know the basic details of the assassination of Lincoln.  He was shot in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth.  I've always heard/been told that Booth ran to a warehouse after the shooting.  This book definitely had the true details and facts.  The entire time I was reading I was waiting for Booth to reach a warehouse, but it never happened.  I soon found out that he was on the run for days and ended up in a final standoff in a barn.  I love that this book gives the details and information to correct a lie that has been told for who knows how long.  I like that this book is packed with details.  It is a great historical book packed with facts.

One thing that I don't like about this book is that the chapters jump around from person to person frequently.  One paragraph they are telling of Lincoln's status and the next they are talking about Booth on the run.  The chapters jump like this frequently and it is just frustrating.  I would prefer to have shorter chapters that focus on one part at a time instead of cramming multiple pieces in one chapter.

This book is perfect for a history buff.  If you enjoy anything presidential or related to Lincoln then this book is for you.  I give it 4 stars.