John Wilkes Booth: Beyond the Grave

Can it be said that Americans enjoy few things more than a conspiracy theory? Just look at the persistence surrounding the supposed plot to kill President Kennedy. Though there are clouds surrounding the murder (thanks, Oliver Stone!), the legend has grown greater than the act itself. The same goes for Jameson's book, in which a crime has become a national folktale. A distant relative of Booth's, Jameson is on the trail of his ancestor who might not have been killed by federal troops after all (so say hushed relatives). Though the evidence is purely circumstantial and anecdotal, it is illuminating. It shines light on the ongoing obsession that there may be more to the story than we are privy to. If anything, this book simply poses questions that might never be answered. Aren't humans pattern-making creatures? Therefore, what events lend themselves to pattern-making better than the conspiracy to kill a sitting president? Jameson intertwines wit, research, and family history into an enjoyable read.--Booklist
This provocative examination of Booth's story is certain to generate impassioned debate among historians and Lincoln lovers.--Publishers Weekly