Manhunt

The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.)

Paperback, 496 pages

English language

Published Feb. 5, 2007 by Harper Perennial.

ISBN:
978-0-06-051850-9
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
81701709

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4 stars (9 reviews)

The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin led Union cavalry and detectives on a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia, while the nation, still reeling from the just-ended Civil War, watched in horror.

A Confederate sympathizer and a member of a celebrated acting family, John Wilkes Booth threw away his fame and wealth for a chance to avenge the South's defeat. Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln's own blood relics, this book is a fully documented work, but it is also a tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal, an hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters.--From publisher description.

5 editions

Review of 'Manhunt' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Manhunt follows the events surrounding the days before Lincoln's assassination and the 12-day search that followed for John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators. It is a fascinating true story of how the plot was hatched, how each piece fell into place (and the ones that didn't) on that tragic night in April 1865, and how Booth ultimately evaded capture until his luck ran out.

As I was reading, I kept reflecting on how much our world has changed with technology. Part of Booth's luck in escaping Washington was due to people not hearing about the assassination yet. Now we hear almost instantly when something happens, good or bad. I don't think Booth or any of his cronies would have made it 1 hour if they attempted their scheme today. I also thought about how, due to events like this, our presidents would not be able to freely ride about town …

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Subjects

  • Assassination
  • History
  • History - Military / War
  • History: American
  • United States - Civil War
  • History / General
  • Case studies
  • Criminal Investigation
  • Fugitives from justice
  • Investigation
  • United States
  • General