The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is one of the most well-known moments in American history: most people can name the man who pulled the trigger and even identify where it happened. In Killing Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard take a different approach to this familiar event, examining both the days leading up to the assassination and the reckoning that followed. History buffs will find surprising new details alongside the familiar facts many of us first learned in school.
Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard is a fast-paced nonfiction account of the final days of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, set against the closing moments of the Civil War. The book follows Lincoln as the Union moves toward victory while also tracing John Wilkes Booth’s growing obsession with the Confederate cause and his plot to assassinate the president. At its core, the book explores how one act of violence changed the course of American history. It presents Lincoln not just as a president, but as a weary, deeply human figure carrying the burden of a divided nation, while also dramatizing Booth’s conspiracy, the assassination at Ford’s Theatre, and the manhunt that followed.
I give Killing Lincoln 4 out of 5 stars. Rather than reading like a dry history text, it moves with the tension and momentum of a thriller, capturing both the political weight of Lincoln’s leadership and the chaos that followed his death. The storytelling is cinematic and immersive, making this well-known historical event feel immediate. The authors’ dramatic style strengthens the history by giving it life on the page. I also appreciate how O’Reilly and Dugard play to each other’s strengths and share a clear love of history in the book that launched their partnership. The day-by-day structure, along with chapters that follow different individuals, creates bite-sized pieces of information that are easy to digest and leave readers wanting to know more.
I have read several O’Reilly/Dugard works over the past few years, and I was especially excited to read the book that started it all. As a history buff and a lover of lesser-known facts, I always appreciate the way this pair surprises me with new information. Readers who have enjoyed their more recent books may notice that this was their first collaboration. It is polished, though occasionally stiff, and it is clear the writers found an even stronger rhythm in later works.
Readers interested in presidential or Civil War history will find this book both informative and entertaining. I would also recommend it to readers who enjoy books by Brian Kilmeade or David McCullough. Given the discussion of the assassination plot and the later execution of the perpetrators, it may not be suitable for younger readers under 13.
Killing Lincoln was my choice for a July nonfiction read. I’m working my way through books about the American presidents and have especially enjoyed reading about Lincoln and his contemporaries over the past few months. What book in this vein would you recommend I read next?
This post contains affiliate links.
What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Sex Positive, Brooklyn Rose
- Current audio book: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, Kate Westbury
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Magic of Chamomile Cottage, Heather Webber
Discover more from Read With Lindsey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
