JUNE 2018 - AudioFile
When President Lincoln’s son Willie died in 1862, the reported cause of death was typhoid fever. This captivating audiobook, narrated eloquently by Holter Graham, imagines that Willie was actually murdered, a victim of an opponent of his father’s controversial policies. Graham particularly excels when he provides the characters with distinct personas. His portrayal of John Hay, who is charged with investigating and solving the crime, is especially memorable. As Hay investigates, he discovers many suspects within the dark underbelly of the White House. As the intensity of the search increases, so do Graham’s tone, inflection, and display of emotions. While the ending requires listeners to have a scorecard, Graham’s presentation never falters, making this a satisfying audiobook from beginning to end. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Solomon offers a deeply imagined and entirely plausible account of the Lincoln White House at its saddest…You won’t guess whodunit until the final, suspenseful page.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin
“Well-plotted, beautifully researched and gripping to the final page.”—Daniel Stashower, author of The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
“Vivid, captivating, and, dare I say, seductively plausible.”—John Taliaferro, author of All the Great Prizes: The Life of John Hay, from Lincoln to Roosevelt
“An original plot, plausible characterizations of historical figures, and solid prose combine to make this historical fiction debut a winner.”—Publishers Weekly
“The puzzle is plausibly immersive, the solution heartrendingly surprising…Solomon portrays Hay as an effective, likable sleuth and compelling political player.”—Booklist
“An engaging roman a clef…here’s hoping that Mr. Solomon finds something else for John Hay to apply his fertile mind.”—The Washington Times
“The pace and characterizations in this mystery are superb. The historic backdrop is expertly painted, and everyone’s talk rings true: slave, free, secesh, Lincoln, even lascivious Kate Chase. But do not expect the expected ending.”—James M. Cornelius, Curator, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield, Ill.
JUNE 2018 - AudioFile
When President Lincoln’s son Willie died in 1862, the reported cause of death was typhoid fever. This captivating audiobook, narrated eloquently by Holter Graham, imagines that Willie was actually murdered, a victim of an opponent of his father’s controversial policies. Graham particularly excels when he provides the characters with distinct personas. His portrayal of John Hay, who is charged with investigating and solving the crime, is especially memorable. As Hay investigates, he discovers many suspects within the dark underbelly of the White House. As the intensity of the search increases, so do Graham’s tone, inflection, and display of emotions. While the ending requires listeners to have a scorecard, Graham’s presentation never falters, making this a satisfying audiobook from beginning to end. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
