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Hanging Mary

A Novel

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"This is my favorite kind of historical fiction: evocative, deeply moving, and meticulously researched."—Jillian Cantor, author of Margot and The Hours Count

Meet Mary Surratt, the woman who could have saved Lincoln. Find out what stopped her in this vivid reimagining of Lincoln's assassination.

1864, Washington City. One has to be careful with talk of secession, of Confederate whispers falling on Northern ears. Better to speak only when in the company of the trustworthy. Like Mrs. Surratt.

A widow who runs a small boardinghouse on H Street, Mary Surratt isn't half as committed to the cause as her son, Johnny. If he's not delivering messages or escorting veiled spies, he's invited home men like John Wilkes Booth, the actor who is even more charming in person than he is on the stage.

But when President Lincoln is killed, the question of what Mary knew becomes more important than anything else. Was she a cold-blooded accomplice? Just how far would she go to help her son?

Based on the true case of Mary Surratt, Hanging Mary reveals the untold story of those on the other side of the assassin's gun.

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    • Library Journal

      Starred review from July 1, 2015

      Departing from the English settings of her previous novels (The Stolen Crown; The Traitor's Wife), Higginbotham transports readers to the final months of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln's assassination, and the aftermath. Dual narrators Mary Surratt and Nora Fitzpatrick, a resident of Mary's boardinghouse in Washington, DC, provide overlapping and differing perspectives on events that led to Mary's conviction and execution for her role in the murder of the president. With one son in the Confederate army, Mary's sympathies already were with the South, but the involvement of her other son, Johnny, with John Wilkes Booth draws her into webs of conspiracy. Odd visitors, secret messages, a kidnapping gone awry. What did Mary know and when? The author's success lies not only in developing individual characters but also in capturing the overall mood of the capital with swings of jubilation and despair. Imprisoned twice and called to testify during Mary's military trial, Nora remains convinced of Mary's ignorance of the conspirators' assassination plans. Detailed author's notes provide thumbnail sketches of the later lives of major characters and delineate ways the novel digresses from historical accounts. VERDICT Compelling narrators carry readers through complex events while leaving many questions open for discussion. A fine choice for historical fiction fans, particularly book club members, who will appreciate the reading group guide.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Mankato

      Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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