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Saving Lincoln
In the closing days of the Civil War, Beth Wendland, a Union spy in Richmond, learns of a Confederate conspiracy to send a wagon bomb to destroy the White House and kill President Lincoln and his generals. Abandoned by her political masters, Beth must evade Rebel soldiers and the bomb's mastermind to deliver the information to Washington before the conspirators can unleash their deadly attack. Assisted by the Federal officer who loves her, Beth risks more than her life to snuff out the burning fuse of the world's first vehicle bomb and prevent disaster on the eve of victory. With it's strong and resourceful heroine, Saving Lincoln will appeal to readers who enjoyed Cold Mountain and Eye of the Needle.
362 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2013
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403 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 21, 2018
Historical fiction with some factual events and characters.
The heroine of the book Beth starts out as an actress in a low budget traveling theater group and her life turns far worse before she escapes and makes her way to her Aunt's house in Richmond, VA. Although she is from New Jersey, she must remain in the Confederate South due to the nature in which she left her family, and of course, the Civil War. Her Aunt is a Union sympathizer, and aids the union soldiers imprisoned in Richmond. Beth is eventually recruited as a spy gathering information on a disgusting Confederate officer. The story is decent, but it drags on for far too long.
The heroine of the book Beth starts out as an actress in a low budget traveling theater group and her life turns far worse before she escapes and makes her way to her Aunt's house in Richmond, VA. Although she is from New Jersey, she must remain in the Confederate South due to the nature in which she left her family, and of course, the Civil War. Her Aunt is a Union sympathizer, and aids the union soldiers imprisoned in Richmond. Beth is eventually recruited as a spy gathering information on a disgusting Confederate officer. The story is decent, but it drags on for far too long.
June 12, 2018
A good adventure with lots of twists and turns. It dragged a little at times, but always picked back up. Some characters are made up, some are based on real people. All in all a good historical thriller.
June 2, 2019
Overall a fun read with interesting characters. Not much about actually saving Lincoln, but the protagonists story was compelling. Predictable good guys (gals) and bad guys, but but the historical coverage of Richmomd and Washington made it worthwhile.
January 23, 2017
Good historical mystery dealing with the Civil War and a potential plot to kill Lincoln. good use of real people, although the protagonist is fiction.
July 19, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
April 27, 2015
Beth Wendland ran away from her home in New Jersey, ending up in New Orleans during the Civil War, an actress in a theater troupe that dealt as much in prostitution as plays. When the head of the troupe sells her to a wealthy local brothel owner, she is treated almost as a slave, until she finally escapes. On the run, wanted for a murder she didn’t commit, Beth makes her way to Richmond and the home of her aunt, a Union sympathizer.
Beth becomes a spy for the Union, handled by a young Union officer who falls in love with her. When she learns of a plot to use a wagon loaded with explosives to assassinate Lincoln and his top officers, she risks life and limb to thwart the dastardly plan.
Saving Lincoln by Robert Kresge is an action-filled historical thriller that skillfully weaves history and fiction in a story that has twists and turns on every page, as Beth evades a vicious Confederate spymaster and renegade Rebels in her quest to avoid a catastrophe, while trying to protect her relatives and friends as the Confederacy is in its last throes and Richmond has fallen. Kresge paints a sweeping picture of the human side of one of America’s deadliest wars, and gives us a heroine patterned after the many women who risked all to help save the Union. This is a must-read story for anyone interested in Civil War history, or who just likes a spine-tingling story.
Beth becomes a spy for the Union, handled by a young Union officer who falls in love with her. When she learns of a plot to use a wagon loaded with explosives to assassinate Lincoln and his top officers, she risks life and limb to thwart the dastardly plan.
Saving Lincoln by Robert Kresge is an action-filled historical thriller that skillfully weaves history and fiction in a story that has twists and turns on every page, as Beth evades a vicious Confederate spymaster and renegade Rebels in her quest to avoid a catastrophe, while trying to protect her relatives and friends as the Confederacy is in its last throes and Richmond has fallen. Kresge paints a sweeping picture of the human side of one of America’s deadliest wars, and gives us a heroine patterned after the many women who risked all to help save the Union. This is a must-read story for anyone interested in Civil War history, or who just likes a spine-tingling story.
August 6, 2016
I started out with high hopes.
I'm a history nut and anything from colonial to Civil War is fascinating to me.
Can't say that for this book.
The rating went down the more I read.
I was sorely disappointed.
The author began strong, but it turned into a story about the physical abuse of two women at the hands of a sadistic, unhinged Confederate officer.
Do I doubt that violations and abuse took place? Certainly not. Do I think some men found the war an excuse to assert their "power"? Definitely. Did it need to play such a prominent role in a book that supposed to be about saving the president? Absolutely not.
The actual "saving" of Lincoln was a tad over the top as well.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I can't even recommend it as a diversionary read from more historically accurate books because it is just not worth your time.
I'm a history nut and anything from colonial to Civil War is fascinating to me.
Can't say that for this book.
The rating went down the more I read.
I was sorely disappointed.
The author began strong, but it turned into a story about the physical abuse of two women at the hands of a sadistic, unhinged Confederate officer.
Do I doubt that violations and abuse took place? Certainly not. Do I think some men found the war an excuse to assert their "power"? Definitely. Did it need to play such a prominent role in a book that supposed to be about saving the president? Absolutely not.
The actual "saving" of Lincoln was a tad over the top as well.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I can't even recommend it as a diversionary read from more historically accurate books because it is just not worth your time.
December 26, 2014
I can see this making a very entertaining movie
INFINITELY more believable than portraying Abraham Lincoln as some sort of vampire hunter, I enjoyed this read from the start to it's thrilling conclusion. Also educational, as I found myself searching the internet for some of the characters to differentiate fact from fiction. Although I found the use of painting the villain as a bitter, disfigured, rapist to be effective, he might want to consider updating his characterization of evil, as this could also be used to describe half of the NFL, and the behavior would (apparently) only warrant a 2 game suspension these days.
INFINITELY more believable than portraying Abraham Lincoln as some sort of vampire hunter, I enjoyed this read from the start to it's thrilling conclusion. Also educational, as I found myself searching the internet for some of the characters to differentiate fact from fiction. Although I found the use of painting the villain as a bitter, disfigured, rapist to be effective, he might want to consider updating his characterization of evil, as this could also be used to describe half of the NFL, and the behavior would (apparently) only warrant a 2 game suspension these days.
December 7, 2014
Snail Mail
The story was overall ok.....too much emphasis on men taking liberties helpless women...this may have been realistic for the time period, but quite overemphasized for the story. And plot of the story took as long to develop as it took a letter to go from Richmond to Washington during the War this book was describing.
The story was overall ok.....too much emphasis on men taking liberties helpless women...this may have been realistic for the time period, but quite overemphasized for the story. And plot of the story took as long to develop as it took a letter to go from Richmond to Washington during the War this book was describing.
November 21, 2014
A Great historical read
This book was very good. I like historical fiction, were the authors take real history and weave in fictional characters to give other aspects of what happened. This main character, Beth was a strong person, and I imagine her character was just a composite of real people during those trying times in the Civil war.
This book was very good. I like historical fiction, were the authors take real history and weave in fictional characters to give other aspects of what happened. This main character, Beth was a strong person, and I imagine her character was just a composite of real people during those trying times in the Civil war.
February 14, 2015
The setting in Saving Lincoln was well developed, well researched, and nicely done. I would like to know more about Beth's motivations for helping the Union cause, but apart from that it was very well done. The plot kept me interested as each new situation emerged. Every time I thought I knew how it would end, another plot twist would emerge. It left me wanting more.
August 20, 2016
Well-researched, nicely-structured, strong characters who are well-delineated. I generally have a hard time getting into books, so I'm not surprised that I found the latter part more compelling. The pace and intensity rise as the Civil War draws to an end. The ending is blood-chilling. Any American knows what had to be coming, but Kresge chose the perfect scene to let go. Kudos.
November 25, 2014
The fictional characters were strong and the storyline was good. I always enjoy reading fictional history. This book brings a lot of insight of how difficult life was for civilians during the civil war.
January 2, 2015
Amazing work of historic fiction.
Strongly recommended with good use of merging of both real and fictional characters. Learned a great deal about the use of woman in Richmond during the war.
Strongly recommended with good use of merging of both real and fictional characters. Learned a great deal about the use of woman in Richmond during the war.
January 17, 2015
Cool! After reading about finely milled gun powder in the Lord John series, this was an interesting continuation of that type of warfare. A bit graphic in places, it seemed to be a really good historical fiction!
January 18, 2016
I enjoy reading historical fiction, especially around the time of the Civil War. This did not disappoint me. A strong heroine, despite the abuse she had to face. Enjoyed the mystery of the murder plot and resolution.
March 6, 2015
Overall, a good read. Slow start; parts were contrived and the ending was predictable. Gives some different perspectives with regionalities, allegiances and genders during war time. Mostly about the spy culture of the Civil War.
November 18, 2014
Well written
While this is a work of fiction, many of the people mentioned were real people. The story is well told and I enjoyed every moment.
While this is a work of fiction, many of the people mentioned were real people. The story is well told and I enjoyed every moment.
January 6, 2015
Really enjoy reading books about the Civil War era but this one was really good! A great book about the spy network during the war and a good love story.
January 7, 2015
Set in closing days of the Civil War in Richmond, a woman spies for the Union and discovers plot to kill Lincoln. Great characters - lots of action.
October 16, 2015
Quick read of a spy/romance set during the Civil War with a strong female character who helps the North by getting messages to them from Richmond.
November 21, 2015
An okay read, but it's always hard to build up a real sense of drama when you know the target isn't going to die.
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July 24, 2016Fast-paced, exciting, informative and accurate in every detail. A wonderful read, by a writer steeped in the history, lore and romance of the Civil War.
February 21, 2015
Interesting historical fiction with a great ending. Unfortunately it rambled on forever.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews