Killing Lincoln

Every once in a while, I get a craving to read history. When I do, I prefer a book that tells the history like it's a story, which all history really is. I am very satisfied with my experience with this book about the Lincoln assassination. The factual events of this tragic incident and all the things that lead to it are told in a very readable narrative style.

The thing that stands out most when reading this account of the assassination is the fast pace narration. The reading experience is akin to reading a fictional thriller. The chapters are mostly short and focused and move quickly from one important event to the next. I was never bored with the storytelling.

The book also appears to be well-researched. There are many details about events leading up to the assassination that make the reader feel a part of the action. I particularly enjoyed the detailed timeline of the assassination day.

The only part of the book that is a bit tedious is chapters about the end of the Civil War. The chapters are well-written and detailed, but some of the detail seems a bit unnecessary unless you are a reader that likes to read about battles. I could have done without such detail myself.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am interested now in reading more in O'Reilly's assassination series.

Wow.