Manhunt

The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

By: James L. Swanson

Narrated by: Richard Thomas

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The murder of Abraham Lincoln set off the greatest manhunt in American history, the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth. From April 14 to April 26, 1865, the assassin led Union cavalry and detectives on a wild 12-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 and sadness.

At the very center of this story is John Wilkes Booth, America's notorious villain. A Confederate sympathizer and a member of a celebrated acting family, Booth threw away his fame and wealth for a chance to avenge the South's defeat. For almost two weeks, he confounded the manhunters, slipping away from their every move and denying them the justice they sought.

Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln's own blood relics, Manhunt is a fully documented work, but it is also a fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, this is history as you've never read it before.

©2006 James L. Swanson (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

• Mystery Writers of America 2007 Edgar Award, Best Fact Crime
• 2006 Quill Award Nominee
• Audie Award Finalist, Nonfiction, Abridged, 2007

"Pure narrative pleasure, sure to satisfy the casual reader and Civil War aficionado alike." (Publishers Weekly)
"Swanson's synthesis of the sources is bound to be a cover-to-cover reading hit with history lovers." (Booklist)
"Manhunt is vigorous and clear without sacrificing accuracy....Just as Booth did, the book saves its heavy ammunition for a final showdown." (The New York Times)

Spellbinding

Swanson craftily frames the manhunt for Booth and his co-conspirators as a tale of suspense, relying on witness testimony, trial transcripts and newspaper accounts. He shies away from speculation, and the book is the better for it.

Although the book focuses on the manhunt, providing thrills and twists at every turn, it's actually a great primer on Booth, giving us a glimpse into the motivation of this complex player in American history.

The reading is solid and fast-paced, perfectly matching the tone of the written work. You'll want to know more after listening, and that makes this book a smashing success.

In three years of being an audible subscriber, I've finally found that holy grail book - a pitch-perfect tale that never, ever disappoints and is over way too soon.

Good Story, Great Narration

What a pleasant read. The story moved along and was quite suspenseful. I thought the story was well researched. Embarrassingly, at times I (almost) wanted Booth to escapae capture. I also really enjoyed the interview with the author at the end and I wish audio book publishers would do more interviews like that. The narrator, Richard Thomas was really wonderful! What a breath of fresh air, especially after my last several reads where the narrators were awful. (Please, someone tell authors NOT to read their own work!) Richard Thomas really read the story with nuance. I hope he decides to do more audio work.

At last some answers!

Like the rest of us I first learned of the Lincoln assassination when I was in grade school. Ever since that time I thought about the "whys" and "hows". How did Booth escape? Why was Dr Mudd arrested for only setting a visitor's ankle? Why was Mary Surratt hanged for running a boarding house? When I asked these questions of the teachers I was told about the excitement of the times and the lack of justice.

After reading this book I found out that much of what I was told was wrong. There was a reason Dr Mudd was arrested. There was a reason Mary Surratt was hung. This book is very well written, well researched, mostly well read and extremely informative. My only real complaint had to do with the way the reader made so many parts sound as though they ended in exclamation points. Other than that I thought it was great and would recommend it to anyone with questions about the Lincoln assassination.

Well researched; reads like great fiction

Swanson has done a masterful job of research, with every bit of this narrative taken from newspapers, diaries, letters, court transcripts, and other contemporary accounts of the actual manhunt. This story will keep you enthralled throughout; it's both superb storytelling and excellent history that will appeal to a broad audience. Highly recommended!

A great listen

This is a wonderful book/audiobook. You'll find yourself sitting in the car for "just one minute" to find out what happens next . . . Yes, it's history, but it's so thrilling and spellbinding that you'll be learning without even knowing it. :) Highly recommended.

Excellent Lincoln continuation narrative

If you enjoyed Team of Rivals, you will greatly enjoy this book since it is a natural follower to continue after Lincoln is killed, to see how and why Booth did what he did and how his conspiritors tried to help him. I also enjoyed the Q/A session at the end with the author. This book was well done and well read. You feel as if you are on the run with Booth and one is amazed how many times he managed to slip by the authorities. You will enjoy this book!

I love this book

I thought that this book very insightful and informative. Someone who read the book told me the author goes off on tangents of speculation. This abridgement is extremely well done and well edited. In my case, I enjoyed it so much that I am reading the full version of the book now. Even so, the author does offer explanations to the things that he speculates and offers other sources of why he is speculating. Overall, a fantastic book. I give four stars because I would have loved to have just downloaded book unabridged.

The ultimate true story thriller

Manhunt is told with the excitement of a dramatized story. The best part is that it is a true accounting of the events surrounding Lincoln's assassination, as well as the chase to catch Booth. I did not realize the extent to this conspiracy. Kudos to the reader for making this an excellent "read".

pretty good...

I found this book to be quite interesting, as it is somewhat different from what I remember in history class. Sometimes after listening to a nonfiction, historically themed book, I'll go to the local bookstore and look at the book for photos, etc. I was surprised how much of the bood had been deleted in order to record this abridged version. Really wish I could have heard an unabridged version. Richard Thomas was OK as a narrator, but certainly not the best I've heard.

Booth Retold

In all the accounts I have seen on the history channel no account had in such detail described the details of J. Booths flight to the South. I also always assumed that John Surrat was in DC at the time of the assination. This is the first time that I have known that he was 20 miles from my home town. Richard Thomas did an excellent jobe of narration. I recommend this book to all those who value the History of Americas Civil War.