About the Book:

While refurbishing an old ranch building in San Angelo, Texas, the author Preston Darby and his long time friend Ken Casper find the mummified human remains hidden between the walls of the structure. An autopsy reveals the memoirs of John Wilkes Booth secreted in the abdominal cavity. The memoirs disclose the scheme between Booth and his collaborators to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln. But the story also reveals that their plans were discovered by a greater conspiracy of high-ranking Union officials whose plan was much more insidious…to assassinate the President. Reluctantly and in order to save himself, Booth agreed to be the one to pull the trigger, but foils the groups plan to silence him after the deed by escaping. The conspirators incorrectly identify a body as Booth, and promptly hang his accomplices before the true masterminds’ identities can be revealed. Thus, begins the tale of Booth’s years traveling the world, encountering a host of notable characters, and living a secret lie.

Book Review:  ★★★★★★

This book provided an entertaining historical fiction tale, with a panorama view of American history, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, all the way up through 1903. There are many historical figures that make appearances in the book such as Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp and the Earp brothers, the Prestons, General George Armstrong Custer, Samuel Clemens, and several others. The premise of the book is that following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his killer — John Wilkes Booth — actually survived his flight from the nations capitol, and managed to live the remainder of his life in hiding. The assassination itself, which actually plays a very minor role in this novel, was the product of many high up’s in the cabinet of Lincoln — and that Booth was merely doing what had to be done, to save his own life, since he was part of the conspiracy to kidnap Lincoln, and got caught.

The story is very well done. Entertaining, and fun to follow, the characters provide an interesting view of nearly 60 years worth of American West history. As Booth goes into hiding he makes his living as a hired gun, and gambler — that ends up meeting the most interesting people. The story is fun — but not a lot of depth.

What I didn’t like about the book is that it creates the whole Lincoln conspiracy — and then fails to explain who was actually behind the assassination, or who was involved. It is a book that seemed to leave me with more questions about the half finished story lines — more than one — that were started, and then never really finished. And I found the ending to be — while intriguing — also, somewhat of a let down. But it does provide an interesting look into some of the historical events that helped shape this nation, but they were only brief glimpses, as seen through Booth himself. It was as if the author started multiple different story lines, and then never really pulled any of them together. And realizing this used a cop out ending of an unfinished, unauthenticated diary.

Tags: Death Penalty, Detective, Historical Fiction, Murder, Mystery, Suspense

Category: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense/Thriller