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A review by davidr
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower
5.0
This is a wonderful book about the detective Allan Pinkerton, and how he uncovered and foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln before he became president. Pinkerton grew up in Scotland, where he developed strong feelings for social reformation. He immigrated to the United States, where he lucked into solving a counterfeiting ring. Soon he found his way into the business of running a private detective agency.
Pinkerton had strong feelings against slavery. As an abolitionist, he raised money for John Brown. Pinkerton even ran a station in the underground railway prior to the Civil War.
So it is seems that Pinkerton had a strong affinity for Abraham Lincoln. But that is not exactly how he got involved with Lincoln. Pinkerton was hired to protect the railroad that was transporting Lincoln to his inauguration in Washington DC. Pinkerton hired men and women to fill important roles in his agency. He was flabbergasted that women wanted to work for him; but he took a chance, and it paid off well.
I won't add any spoilers here. Let me just say that even though this is a history book, it reads like a detective novel. Some parts of it were thrilling, while occasionally it lost some momentum.
I listened to this book as an audiobook, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. His voice is a perfect match for the book.
Pinkerton had strong feelings against slavery. As an abolitionist, he raised money for John Brown. Pinkerton even ran a station in the underground railway prior to the Civil War.
So it is seems that Pinkerton had a strong affinity for Abraham Lincoln. But that is not exactly how he got involved with Lincoln. Pinkerton was hired to protect the railroad that was transporting Lincoln to his inauguration in Washington DC. Pinkerton hired men and women to fill important roles in his agency. He was flabbergasted that women wanted to work for him; but he took a chance, and it paid off well.
I won't add any spoilers here. Let me just say that even though this is a history book, it reads like a detective novel. Some parts of it were thrilling, while occasionally it lost some momentum.
I listened to this book as an audiobook, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. His voice is a perfect match for the book.