• Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

  • By: Edward Steers Jr.
  • Narrated by: William Coon
  • Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (130 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln  By  cover art

Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

By: Edward Steers Jr.
Narrated by: William Coon
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.99

Buy for $13.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2001 The Lincoln Group of New York's Award of Achievement A History Book Club Selection.

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is usually told as a tale of a lone deranged actor who struck from a twisted lust for revenge. This is not only too simple an explanation; Blood on the Moon reveals that it is completely wrong. John Wilkes Booth was neither mad nor alone in his act of murder. He received the help of many, not the least of whom was Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd, the Charles County physician who has been portrayed as the innocent victim of a vengeful government. Booth was also aided by the Confederate leadership in Richmond. As he made his plans to strike at Lincoln, Booth was in contact with key members of the Confederate underground, and after the assassination, these same forces used all of their resources to attempt his escape.

Noted Lincoln authority Edward Steers Jr. introduces the cast of characters in this ill-fated drama. He explores why they were so willing to help pull the trigger, and corrects the many misconceptions surrounding this defining moment that changed American history.

About the author: After completing an acclaimed career as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health, Edward Steers Jr. has turned his research skills to the Lincoln assassination. He is the author of several books about the president, including The Trial. He lives in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

©2001 The University Press of Kentucky (P)2012 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"An exceptionally well-written and thorough book on the assassination. For anyone who is sincerely interested in the assassination, this book is a 'must read." ( Historian)
"Steers has a sharp ear for historical discordance and a novelist's eye for illuminating detail. Provocative reading." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Steers has written a careful synthesis of what is known about Lincoln's murder." ( New York Review of Books)

What listeners say about Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    86
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    64
  • 4 Stars
    33
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    78
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling and informative

I learned much about Booth and his fellow conspirators while being entertained by the unfolding of the assassination and manhunt. The book covers some Civil War history, Abolition politics and Southern intrigue as background to the assassination but spends most of its time creating a well researched timeline of the plot and assassination.

The author dispels many common myths about the assassination plot. He convincingly shows that the government got it right when it indicted and prosecuted Dr Mudd, Mary Surratt and the others involved. He has gone back to original sources and shows where sloppy research and misunderstandings have created erroneous impressions that Booth was a lone madman.

The writing is well paced and the passages detailing the assassination and manhunt manage to be gripping while remaining factual and avoiding melodrama.The performance was slightly distracting. The reader has a tendency to enunciate every word very precisely. This hampers the ability to differentiate important details from stray background information. Still, I found the overall performance very good.

I would recommend the book to anyone interested in this pivotal chapter in American History.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazed.

What made the experience of listening to Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln the most enjoyable?

The reader is clear and pleasant to the ears. Very detailed information is presented to support a view that has been in question for so long. As a history buff and constant learner, I was amazed at the questions I had running through my head that included "but what about this....." which were discussed and answered with obvious, extensive research.

What did you like best about this story?

Just amazed at the contradictory evidence to the ever popular belief that Dr. Mudd was innocent and that even in this 21st century we can question ourselves on the accuracies of written history.

What about William Coon’s performance did you like?

Mr. Coon was articulate, relaxed in his tone, and for the most part maintained continuity between chapters.

Any additional comments?

I have read several books about Lincoln and this to me was one on my short list of jaw-dropping "wow" moments that made me appreciate the hours and hours of research culminated for this well-written book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Terrific listen.

Blood on the moon is a totally gripping account of the events leading up to and subsequent to the assassination of Abe Lincoln. Detailed biographies of every major player is given. This book deals with the plots to kidnap / kill the president and really doesnt delve into the civil war and Washington politics that a lot of other works tend to do. You are truly moved by the funeral. The trial of the conspirators is remarkably recreated before your eyes.

My only complaint with Blood on the Moon is the author's habit of when presented with a historical question where no definitive answer is known, the author drops his opinion down and without any justification, simply moves on. This is more annoying then anything else and should not prevent you froookm enjoying this wonderful book

William Coon did an excellent job reading this book to me and Ill gladly listen to other productions of his in the future.


Well worth the 1 credit

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Engrossing

What made the experience of listening to Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln the most enjoyable?

This book is full of so many important details of the assasination that i never knew existed - the spy network, the Dahlgren raid. the kidnap plot, the players. It is thorough but not labrious and the story maintains a level of suspense throughout.

Have you listened to any of William Coon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Performances can either make or break an audio book. William Coon does such a wonderful job at narration. I'll certainly look for other books that he narrates

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I think the book warrants several listenings - it sevrved me well though several commumtes to work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your money. Story is boring & tedious,

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Better voice, create a storyline not just bland factsd

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not this writer

Would you be willing to try another one of William Coon’s performances?

No

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Total dissappointment

Any additional comments?

Want my money back

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very wordy and lots of information packed in

This book is for the die hard Lincoln assassination fan who go in already having a wealth of knowledge. I'm just getting into this topic and knew a lot about the conspiracy etc but this book packs in a lot more that you might not really care about and find your eyes glazing over. Such as: every little nitty gritty detail about the funeral including the decor, heights, widths, lengths of various items used...
The narrator sounds bored the entire time so it's a little hard to get through all the extra cumbersome tidbits.
I did appreciate the debunking of the myths and rumors that had been circulating these 150+ years, especially regarding JWB's body.
I have an interest in Powell and his back story and I hoped that some of the myths and rumors about his attack on Seward would have been mentioned but I was left disappointed. He, as always, was only mentioned in as far as what part he played and the interest he held at the trial.
I suggest you listen a little at a time to digest all the information and let it sink in and not try to pack it in a couple days like I did. I'm sure I missed a lot due to attention span. Or lack thereof.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Well researched. Well written! Excellent read. Recommend as someone who studies Lincoln . Manhunt by James Swanson is an excellent read too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating account!

Hard to stop listening. Fascinating account.
Very informative. So thankful I listened. Great read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A conspiracy theory???

Don't waste you're credit or money. Buy a good Lincoln biography instead. This was a waste of time, everything in here can be found in almost any Lincoln biography. The red hair conspiracy was laughable at best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book.

I can not recommend this higher or would. I love this book. Get it you won’t be disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!