Civil War Buffs: These Books are For You

Reviews by librarians Jennifer Niederhausen, Dona Stein and Heather Timko
, Adult Services Division, 
:

This is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. This has led to a rush of many new novels featuring President Abraham Lincoln. If you are a Lincoln enthusiast, you will need to check out one of these new books. 

Happy reading!

The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln By Stephen L. Carter, July 2012, 515 pages.

This thrilling new novel takes as its starting point an alternate history: President Abraham Lincoln survives the assassination attempt at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Two years later he is charged with overstepping his constitutional authority, both during and after the Civil War, and faces an impeachment trial.  Here is a vividly imagined work of historical fiction that captures the emotional tenor of post–Civil War America, a brilliantly realized courtroom drama that explores the always contentious question of the nature of presidential authority, and a galvanizing story of political suspense.  Fans of historical fiction of the civil war ear will certainly enjoy this new take on what would have happened if Lincoln had survived.

The Lincoln Conspiracy By Timothy L. O’Brien, September 2012, 368 pages. 

In the late spring of 1865, as Washington mourns the death of Lincoln, Detective Temple McFadden witnesses a murder at the B&O Railroad Station, and then makes an even more staggering discovery. On his slain friend's body he finds two diaries, one that clearly belongs to Mary Todd Lincoln and one that he learns was penned by John Wilkes Booth. Together, these documents reveal the true depth and reach of the conspiracy behind the assassination.   Bristling with twists and building to a climax that will leave readers gasping, this book  offers a riveting new account of what truly motivated the assassination of one of America's most beloved presidents, and who participated in the plot to derail the train of liberty that Lincoln set in motion.

The Lincoln Letter By William Martin, August 2012, 448 pages.

Treasure hunters Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington are heading for adventure in Washington D.C., the sleek, modern, power-hungry capital of America, and the crowded, muddy, intrigue-filled nexus of the Civil War. Their prize? A document of incredible historical importance and incalculable value: Abraham Lincoln's diary.  What if Lincoln recorded his innermost thoughts as he moved toward the realization that he must free the slaves? And what if that diary slipped from his fingers in 1862? Peter and Evangeline must race against these determined adversaries to uncover a document that could shake the foundation of Lincoln's legacy. This is an excellent choice for readers of political thrillers.