John Adams Under Fire

The Founding Father's Fight for Justice in the Boston Massacre Murder Trial

By: Dan Abrams, David Fisher

Narrated by: Dan Abrams, Roger Wayne

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a New York Times best seller!

“An expert, extremely detailed account of John Adams’ finest hour.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre

The New York Times best-selling author of Lincoln’s Last Trial and host of LivePD Dan Abrams and David Fisher tell the story of a trial that would change history.

History remembers John Adams as a Founding Father and our country’s second president. But in the tense years before the American Revolution, he was still just a lawyer, fighting for justice in one of the most explosive murder trials of the era.

On the night of March 5, 1770, shots were fired by British soldiers on the streets of Boston, killing five civilians. The Boston Massacre has often been called the first shots of the American Revolution. As John Adams would later remember, “On that night the formation of American independence was born.” Yet when the British soldiers faced trial, the young lawyer Adams was determined that they receive a fair one. He volunteered to represent them, keeping the peace in a powder keg of a colony, and in the process created some of the foundations of what would become United States law.

In this book, New York Times best-selling authors Dan Abrams and David Fisher draw on the trial transcript, using Adams’ own words to transport listeners to colonial Boston, a city roiling with rebellion, where British military forces and American colonists lived side by side, waiting for the spark that would start a war.

©2020 Dan Abrams and David Fisher (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Excellent Historical Book

On March 5, 1770, five citizens of the town of Boston were killed, apparently murdered by British troops. This book describes two trials in which John Adams defended first the captain and later eight individual soldiers. There were dozens if not hundreds of witnesses to what occurred that night, but their accounts differed widely, to say the least. Most interesting to me was the development of the law. While there was a jury of 12 men, there were also several judges that heard the case and, in charging the jury, gave their views of the evidence. The prohibition against self-incrimination kept the defendants from testifying, but hearsay was generally allowed. Few objections to testimony were raised. The lawyers quoted freely to the jury from legal texts. The developing precept of proof of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt was advanced by these proceedings. The narration was excellent; it kept the listener focused on the story. I would recommend this title to anyone interested in early American history.

Well done, Nothing Out of Order

A tight account of the testimony given at trial and has sparked even more curiosity. Now I must read ‘The Boston Massacre’.

Difficult to follow

Interesting part of unkown part of our American history by a well written
author...good. enjoyed

inspired me to learn more about Adams

the book was professionally done and performed. It was a bit didactic and and didn't really color the characters beyond their cerebral descriptions

perfection

I enjoyed mixing my love of history and my live if true crime! can’t wait to listen to the other books!

This should become a movie

I hope this book inspires a movie. It was a wonderful courtroom drama that had my full attention.

Fascinating

I have read a number of Dan Abram’s legal history books starting with “Lincoln’s Last Trial”. I have enjoyed them all. Therefore, I could hardly wait to read Abram’s latest book.

The book is well written and researched. Maybe a bit more legal detailed for a layperson, but interesting. The story covers the March 5, 1770 event in Boston known as the Boston Massacre. A mob started throwing snowballs at a squad of British soldiers. The soldiers opened fire killing five and injuring six. They were put on trial and John Adams was the defense attorney. Adams stood by his convictions and ethics, but his actions hurt him for years politically and financially.

I found this story most interesting but was familiar with most of the key points. Abrams went into more details than most authors covering this subject. Abrams called this event “John Adams finest hour.” I highly recommend this book for those interested in American history and legal history.

The book is nine hours and fifty-three minutes. Roger Wayne does a good job narrating the book. Wayne is an actor, voice-over artist and audiobook narrator.

Took Me By Surprise

I wasn't sure why I had gotten this book when offered as a Daily Deal. Courtroom drama with a history lesson thrown in. Even tho' I put off starting, it was worth the listen. The issues faced in presenting a good defense are as relevant today as when a jury trial was in its infancy. Thank you for the history lesson Mr. Abrams and Mr. Fisher.

New respect for John Adams

I really enjoyed this book. The narration was well done. Roger Wayne made it easy to distinguish quotes from the different witnesses and the lawyers.

It did drag a little at the end. Those closing statements were long.

I learned a lot of new facts about the events surrounding the Boston Massacre and about John Adams. I also learned some historic tidbits too, mostly about the laws, juries, insults, and that Sam Adams wrote under the pseudonym Vindex. It was also the longest trial in colonial history.

Transcripts weren't taken of trials back then, but these trials were an exception. The transcript of Preston's trial was sent to England and never made public. Others and Preston himself took notes.

What I gather from the conflicting testimonies from the 50 witnesses called is that the a mob of civilians incited violence with sticks and throwing snowballs. Someone, (most likely Montgomery) shouted "fire" (after he was knocked to the ground). That set off the other officer (officers?) to fire too. It was chaotic and tragic. "Mobs will never do" was one of my favorite quotes at the end.

I came away with a whole lot of respect for John Adams. He lost business as a lawyer and it damaged his reputation because he defended the British officers. But it took courage to defend the rule of law. And! He was never paid by the Crown for his service, nor did Preston ever thank him.

4 out of 5 Muskets.

Some reviewers are confused...

First: the book is excellent. It's well-written and delivered. Dan Abrams has an excellent voice.

There are several reviews complaining about the density (thoroughness) of some parts, with reviewers saying it's hard to get through it.

However, this book is part of a series of books that closely examines trials from history. The topic almost demands density.