The Lincoln Conspiracy

A nation shattered by its presidentandamp;rsquo;s murder Two diaries that reveal the true scope of an American conspiracy A detective determined to bring the truth to light, no matter what it costs him andamp;#160; From award-winning journalist Timothy L. Oandamp;rsquo;Brien comes a gripping historical thriller that poses a provocative question: What if the plot to assassinate President Lincoln was wider and more sinister than we ever imagined? andamp;#160; In late spring of 1865, as America mourns the death of its leader, Washington, D.C., police detective Temple McFadden makes a startling discovery. Strapped to the body of a dead man at the Bandamp;amp;O Railroad station are two diaries, two documents that together reveal the true depth of the Lincoln conspiracy. Securing the diaries will put Templeandamp;rsquo;s life in jeopardyandamp;mdash;and will endanger the fragile peace of a nation still torn by war. andamp;#160; Templeandamp;rsquo;s quest to bring the conspirators to justice takes him on a perilous journey through the gaslit streets of the Civil Warandamp;ndash;era capital, into bawdy houses and back alleys where ruthless enemies await him in every shadowed corner. Aided by an underground network of friendsandamp;mdash;and by his wife, Fiona, a nurse who possesses a formidable arsenal of medicinal potionsandamp;mdash;Temple must stay one step ahead of Lafayette Baker, head of the Union Armyandamp;rsquo;s spy service. Along the way, heandamp;rsquo;ll run from or rely on Edwin Stanton, Lincolnandamp;rsquo;s fearsome secretary of war; the legendary Scottish spymaster Allan Pinkerton; abolitionist Sojourner Truth; the photographer Alexander Gardner; and many others. andamp;#160; Bristling with twists and building to a climax that will leave readers gasping, The Lincoln Conspiracy offers a riveting new account of what truly motivated the assassination of one of Americaandamp;rsquo;s most beloved presidentsandamp;mdash;and who participated in the plot to derail the train of liberty that Lincoln set in motion.Praise for The Lincoln Conspiracy andamp;#160; andamp;ldquo;History as a dangerous, inventive game . . . fascinating.andamp;rdquo;andamp;mdash;Martin Cruz Smith andamp;#160; andamp;ldquo;A notable fiction debut with an appealing detective hero and plenty of action. It gets off to a fast start and never stops.andamp;rdquo;andamp;mdash;Library Journal andamp;#160; andamp;ldquo;A historical puzzle as labyrinthine and grandiose as Scheherazadeandamp;rsquo;s tales . . . As clever as Sherlock Holmes, as wily as Pendergast in Preston and Childandamp;rsquo;s series, and wickedly funny on top of it all, the irresistible McFadden is due to return in a sequelandamp;mdash;thank goodness!andamp;rdquo;andamp;mdash;Booklist (starred review) andamp;#160; andamp;ldquo;[A] fast-paced, well-conceived adventure . . . There is nothing more fun than losing oneself in Oandamp;rsquo;Brienandamp;rsquo;s rich and riotous mixture of reimagination and fact.andamp;rdquo;andamp;mdash;Historical Novels Review andamp;#160; andamp;ldquo;Gripping . . . The history and overall arc of the novel are superb.andamp;rdquo;andamp;mdash;Associated PressFrom the Hardcover edition.