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)

Fascinating!

This was a natural after reading The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage. The story of the plotting of Lincoln's assassination, from the point of the assassin, and the ensuing account of his escape, 12 days on the lam, and eventual capture and death are told so well that it keeps the listener on the edge of his seat. The unwitting errors in navigation that led to Booth's capture make the reader realize just what a fluke it was that Booth was brought to justice, rather than disappearing into the deep South where he might have been hailed as a hero, rather than the cold-blooded killer that he was. On the flip side, the listener gains insight into the fact that Booth believed he was a patriot to a righteous cause, that of the lifestyle embraced by the South, and that his actions were justified. This is a "must listen" for any reader who enjoys American history or biography.

A 5 STAR- GREAT LISTEN !!

There have been several books on the Lincoln assassination written since this one, but I have no need or want of them because this book is written so superbly that no questions remain.

Swanson has done his research and has Very skillfully crafted not just a book of thoroughness but one of very high readability. MANHUNT is a facinating, exciting and rewarding read, Narrated well Highly Recommended !!

A Must for History Buffs; Terrific for Everyone

Lincoln's assassin almost escaped. It was a near thing ~ he would have disappeared into the Deep South, and perhaps out of the country, were it not for a few mistakes and some bad luck. And he would have escaped a hero and a patriot ~ at least in his own mind and in the hearts of die-hard confederates. Manhunt tells this tale.

Swanson helps us track Booth's flight, his eventual betrayal and ultimate capture and death. But he does much more. By presenting the plot to assassinate the President from the assassin's perspective, and following Booth and his cohorts through the deed and its aftermath, we are shown history through a usually neglected lens. This is not to imply any sympathy for Booth. Instead, Swanson helps us to better understand this moment of history and marvel at how historic events so often turn on mundane, seemingly trivial, details.

Swanson tells a terrific tale and recounts an important moment in our past. Thomas narrates it superbly. We gain a more-than-worthwhile Audible selection.

Many surprises

I enjoyed listening to this book...until the end. The choice to narrate of the death of JWB in a somewhat glorified and worshipful tone surprised me. This was a man who carefully planned, shot and killed the President. Possibly the narrator's [Richard Thomas] intention was to mesmerize the listener. Instead, his narration came across as if it were a tribute to JWB. It made me wonder...will there also be a suspensful story written about Lee Harvey Oswald that glorifies his death as well. Otherwise, the book is quite interesting and suspensful.

So you thought you knew all the facts....

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could visualize every scene, the narrator was terrific and I learned so much about John Wilkes Booth and the entire cast of characters involved in his escape from Washington and eventual capture.. A must read book for anyone who loves this country's history and a must read for anyone who loves a good story, written well. Bravo Mr. Swanson!!

Brilliant!

A page turner for sure. One of my favorites! I thought it would be somewhat predicable but it really keeps your attention. The author does a wonderful job going back and forth between the hunter and hunted. Reads like fiction in a way rather then fact because you feel like you are sitting right in the presidents box or in the brush hiding from the Yankee troops. This coming from someone who is not a fan of fiction.

It wont disappoint. When Booth dies you actually feel somewhat bad for him. I know it sounds bad but I couldn't help it.

History woven together with threads of fiction.

The story was incredible! A fantastic fiction woven between historical testimony and facts. It was difficult and sad to listen to what happened to President Lincoln, but incredible as well. Very interesting to see so much of this tale from the perspective of John Wilkes Booth or from the testimony of people around him (especially when I'm listening to this while I'm also reading Lincoln On Leadership). It was occasionally hard to follow as it would jump from following JWB to mention another character for one or two sentences and then jump again to some other event, and it seemed Swanson could have been better focused, but perhaps he was trying to follow timestamps from certain events that were all happening simultaneously.
There were also numerous times in the audio where I would missunderstand or miss a transition and I found myself jumping back 30 seconds quite often. Later in the book, when going over the arrests and convictions and the detectives and soldiers fighting for reward money, it was difficult to remember who was who, so it would have been nice to either have a brief reminder written in, or have the actual book to be able to look back and check for myself why the characters were.
The big thing that frustrated me about the audio version was that they simply divided the book into approximately hour-long segments and had a terrible stock TV-thriller-documentary-style suspenseful audio clip that blared into random parts of the story. Had they taken some time to properly separate the book at logical points in the story, it would have been much better, and the suspenseful music clip probably wouldn't have been so offensive and distracting.
Other than that the narration was very well performed.
Overall highly recommended, but be prepared for some emotional moments.

Good book

I enjoyed this book. The details of the great assassin's attempt to escape are fascinating. I thought I knew the story but I was wrong. The author tells it with care and compassion and the tragic figure of Booth becomes almost human.

thrilling

Thrilling and educational account of historic events with very vivid detailing. An enjoyable way to learn and be entertained. I highly recommend this book.

Delightful.

Very interesting and very well written. I enjoyed following the history and ideas of the people involved.