Manhunt The 12-Day Chase For Lincoln's Killer Summary

Manhunt Book Review “Manhunt The 12- Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” by James L. Swanson is a highly detailed account of everything related to the Lincoln’s assassination. Swanson accounts almost every hour of the chase for Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Swanson uses extensive detail to create a suspenseful and dramatic depiction of the Lincoln assassination. James L. Swanson is an accomplished author. He has recived the Edgar Award for his New York Times Bestseller “Manhunt The 12- Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer”. He has degrees in history from the University of Chicago. He also has several other books. They follow a similar theme of presidents and their assassins, such as his book about John F. Kennedy. He writes much like a journalist. He does not have and apparent bias and writes in a narrative format. This book is truly a page turner. On reveiwer writes, “Don't start reading this book unless you have blocked out some time. You won't want to put it down. Many people may might think Booth acted alone, and in a unpremeditated …show more content…
The story comes alive because Swanson was so meticoulous in his research. He even quotes the exact words spoken by people over a hundred years ago. He quotes Mary Lincoln’s last words to her husband before he got shot,” What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you” (Swanson, 39). Swanson even dedicates an entire paragraph describing the box that the Lincoln’s were sitting in, describing in detail the appearance and even the positioning of the Lincoln’s. To add drama Swanson also quotes the scenes happening in the play while concurnently descrbing the maneuvers and cunning of booth as he crept into the Box with his .44 Deringer. I really liked this part because it was the most intense. I imagined this scene to be similar to how TV shows add drama by switching between an upcoming climax and an ongoing