354 reviews for:

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever

Martin Dugard, Bill O'Reilly

3.85 AVERAGE

suzan_loves_books_131's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this book and learned things about President Lincoln's assassination that I didn't know or had forgotten about. It also covers the last battle of the Civil War and Robert E. Lee surrendering, which I thought was very interesting. It reminded me what a terrible thing it was for our nation to be so divided, at war with each other, killing each other. I don't think the authors intended this book to be a scholarly work or to be great literature, but, as O'Reilly stated in the preface, they wanted it to read as a 'thriller', and it does. It is a page-turner. I would probably have given it 4 stars but I really didn't care for the frequent times the authors wrote what someone was feeling or thinking, surmising, but writing it more as fact. That gave the book a fictional, less credible feel. Also, there were things I was really curious about and would like to have known where they got their information, but there were no footnotes or sources. I wish they would have included that.

sisa_moyo's review

challenging informative medium-paced

Killing Lincoln chronicles the last few weeks of Lincoln’s life and the state of American politics at that time. From the North-South divide, the hatred of Lincoln owing to the emancipation proclamation to the detailed end of the Civil war between Grants Union forces and Lee’s Confederate forces. 

As always O’Reiley And Dugard manage to take some time in American and or world history and factually and artfully weave it into a thrilleresque narrative of an assassination of some key historical figure. Killing Lincoln is no exception as the authors are able to build up to the final moments of the president’s life and lay out the various conspiracies on the plot to end it that still hang to this day - from the various players who’s involvement was indisputable to those that history suspects. 

And while I felt that quite a lot of time was spent detailing the end of the Civil War, and he cat and mouse between Grant and Lee, overall it was a thoroughly informative and enjoyable listen me. It would be too for those interested in history generally, American history especially, and the life of Lincoln at Civil War’s end particularly. I also enjoyed listening to the audiobooks in this series as they are read by the author Bill O’Reiley who masterfully delivers each line and chapter as if it were a plot twist in some fictional work. 

bremerj1's review against another edition

5.0

Growing up, and to this day, Lincoln was my favorite President - for numerous reasons. When I saw that Bill O'Reilly wrote the book "Killing Lincoln," I was a bit apprehensive as I don't always have much stock in the O'Reilly Factor tv program (that being said as a Republican). But, after being recommended the book, I gave in and read it. I couldn't be more pleased to read it.

If you have seen the movie "Lincoln" or read Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals," this will be a great companion read. While the movie focuses on the legislative action of the 13th amendment and the battle leading up to it, Killing Lincoln runs during the same time frame but from the battlefield to the celebration of victory to the tragic death.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for presidential history, as well as individuals who simply want to know more about the first assassination of a US President.

johndubash's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.25

napesjp's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially considering it's Bill O'Reilly and all. That said, there wasn't a lot of new stuff here. A decent introduction if you're not familiar with the conspiracy.

bookwormstl's review against another edition

4.0

This book was an excellent read on the assasination of Lincoln. It is full of all kinds of imformation you do not receive in History class. Read this and "The Destiny of the Republic" in order to become educated on several important events in our country's history.

manda_librarian's review against another edition

3.0

Bill O'Reilly, stop writing your "Killing" books in such a fashion that I start to believe that maybe the President won't be assassinated after all...that maybe history won't unravel the way I know it will!

sarabearian's review against another edition

Bill O'Reilly deftly uses suspense to recount events around the shocking assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The first portion of the book is a bit of a slow-going read, as you experience some of the final battles of the Civil War, but the pace picks up speed once Booth and the other conspirators are introduced. Give it a try!

-- Louisa A. --

angfarley's review against another edition

4.0

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of Lincoln's killing, but it turns out I didn't until I read this book! It's really interesting and contains vivid details about the assassination of President Lincoln. I'm glad I read this after seeing the movie "Lincoln" because it helped me place faces and people in his administration and family. A very good read that will leave you feeling like you have better insight into this President, the country at the end of the Civil War and his killer, John Wilkes Booth. I also suggest seeing the movie "The Conspirator" after reading the book; it goes into detail about the trial of Mary Surratt.

sunbaked's review

adventurous informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0