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Hanging Mary
Meet Mary Surratt, the woman who could have saved Lincoln. Find out what stopped her in this vivid reimagining of Lincoln's assassination
In 1864 Washington, one has to be careful with talk of secession. Better to speak only when in the company of the trustworthy, like Mrs. Surratt. A widow who runs a small boarding house, Mary Surratt isn't half as committed to the cause as her son, Johnny. If he's not escorting veiled spies, he's inviting 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.
Based on the true history of Mary Surratt, Hanging Mary reveals the untold story of those on the other side of the assassin's gun.
In 1864 Washington, one has to be careful with talk of secession. Better to speak only when in the company of the trustworthy, like Mrs. Surratt. A widow who runs a small boarding house, Mary Surratt isn't half as committed to the cause as her son, Johnny. If he's not escorting veiled spies, he's inviting 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.
Based on the true history of Mary Surratt, Hanging Mary reveals the untold story of those on the other side of the assassin's gun.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
134 people are currently reading
4862 people want to read
About the author
Susan Higginbotham
20 books1,023 followersWelcome! I write historical fiction and nonfiction set in medieval and Tudor England and, most recently, nineteenth-century America.
As a writer of biographical fiction, one of my main goals is to avoid the stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions that have gathered around historical figures over the centuries. At the same time, I strive to remain true to known historical facts and to the mores of the times in which my characters lived. I use both primary sources and modern historical research to bring my characters to life.
As a writer of biographical fiction, one of my main goals is to avoid the stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions that have gathered around historical figures over the centuries. At the same time, I strive to remain true to known historical facts and to the mores of the times in which my characters lived. I use both primary sources and modern historical research to bring my characters to life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
March 25, 2016
4.5 stars
Prior to starting this book I had never heard of Mary Surratt (the first woman executed by the U.S. government). Like most Americans I am familiar with the story of John Wilkes Booth shooting President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's theater. However I was entirely unfamiliar with the other cast of characters the U.S. government charged with conspiracy in the President's assassination.
Higginbotham creates an informative, engaging, and emotional story about Mary Surratt -- a Washington, D.C. widow who runs a boarding house visited at times by Confederate sympathizers, including Booth and others later charged in the assassination conspiracy. The tale is told through the perspective of both Mary, and one of her boarders, Nora Fitzpatrick. Readers gain a vivid sense of history, and get to know the characters through their narratives.
While the story was engaging throughout, there were times about a third of the way in where I thought to myself -- "let's get *on* with it!" However, the slow build up is needed to fully introduce and flesh out characters who will be very relevant later on in the story. Once the narrative really gets going, I didn't want it to stop. I also found myself deeply moved -- even though I knew the ending prior to starting the book. (It's historical fiction, so in this case one can't help but know the ending).
This book would make a fabulous choice for a book group as Mary Surratt's choices -- as well as her guilt or innocence -- leave much room for discussion.
I will just add the following as a closing thought. My older daughter jokingly aired the student's lament the other night at dinner, in this case about her history lessons: "When am I ever going to have to use this stuff?" I told her, while the dates, facts, and figures aren't the most important things to remember (once the test is over), the "morals of the story" are. Whether it's 1865 after the assassination of a beloved President or 2001 after a heinous attack on innocent civilians, we must remember in our grief, sorrow, and righteous anger that punishing scapegoats isn't the answer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review (I should note that while I was provided a galley, I ended up listening to the audio version of this book).
Prior to starting this book I had never heard of Mary Surratt (the first woman executed by the U.S. government). Like most Americans I am familiar with the story of John Wilkes Booth shooting President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's theater. However I was entirely unfamiliar with the other cast of characters the U.S. government charged with conspiracy in the President's assassination.
Higginbotham creates an informative, engaging, and emotional story about Mary Surratt -- a Washington, D.C. widow who runs a boarding house visited at times by Confederate sympathizers, including Booth and others later charged in the assassination conspiracy. The tale is told through the perspective of both Mary, and one of her boarders, Nora Fitzpatrick. Readers gain a vivid sense of history, and get to know the characters through their narratives.
While the story was engaging throughout, there were times about a third of the way in where I thought to myself -- "let's get *on* with it!" However, the slow build up is needed to fully introduce and flesh out characters who will be very relevant later on in the story. Once the narrative really gets going, I didn't want it to stop. I also found myself deeply moved -- even though I knew the ending prior to starting the book. (It's historical fiction, so in this case one can't help but know the ending).
This book would make a fabulous choice for a book group as Mary Surratt's choices -- as well as her guilt or innocence -- leave much room for discussion.
I will just add the following as a closing thought. My older daughter jokingly aired the student's lament the other night at dinner, in this case about her history lessons: "When am I ever going to have to use this stuff?" I told her, while the dates, facts, and figures aren't the most important things to remember (once the test is over), the "morals of the story" are. Whether it's 1865 after the assassination of a beloved President or 2001 after a heinous attack on innocent civilians, we must remember in our grief, sorrow, and righteous anger that punishing scapegoats isn't the answer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review (I should note that while I was provided a galley, I ended up listening to the audio version of this book).
February 17, 2016
Though this novel took awhile to 'hook' me... once it did I couldn't read fast enough. Upon finishing I realize that the slowness of the first part was necessary in order to really appreciate the complications the characters faced in the second part. Still many questions left that will never be fully answered. A fascinating period in our Nations history. Well written and engrossing.
January 10, 2022
Hanging Mary vividly reimagines the life of Mary Surratt who could have changed the course of history, but something stopped her from intervening in the plans leading to the assassination of President Lincoln.
1864, in Washington, Mary Surratt takes boarders to help with the debt occurred by her late husband. The Surratts are Southern sympathizers and you have to be careful with voicing your opinion in regards to secession. Mary’s son, John, becomes acquainted with John Wilkes Booth, a charismatic actor. A concern is being raised by one of the boarders in regards to her son’s deteriorating character. It is being dismissed as pure jealousy as both men used to be close friends and now both Johns, the son and the actor, are very close. There are other concerns being raised such as guns being seen at the house, but that is brushed aside as for protection as John rides regularly into the country.
As the backgrounds of the characters are revealed, the storyline builds up interestingly and holds a reader in suspense. The aftermath is tragic and continues to hold the mystery of how it will unfold implicating Mary.
Beautifully written with depth, giving a sense of closeness to characters and intimate atmosphere, the events leading to the assassination of President Lincoln progress quickly, giving the story a fast pace. This is one of those stories that we all know the ending, and yet the vivid imagination breaths lives into the historical figures and conjures engrossing and poignant story.
P.S. Also highly recommend recently released book by this author – John Brown’s Women
1864, in Washington, Mary Surratt takes boarders to help with the debt occurred by her late husband. The Surratts are Southern sympathizers and you have to be careful with voicing your opinion in regards to secession. Mary’s son, John, becomes acquainted with John Wilkes Booth, a charismatic actor. A concern is being raised by one of the boarders in regards to her son’s deteriorating character. It is being dismissed as pure jealousy as both men used to be close friends and now both Johns, the son and the actor, are very close. There are other concerns being raised such as guns being seen at the house, but that is brushed aside as for protection as John rides regularly into the country.
As the backgrounds of the characters are revealed, the storyline builds up interestingly and holds a reader in suspense. The aftermath is tragic and continues to hold the mystery of how it will unfold implicating Mary.
Beautifully written with depth, giving a sense of closeness to characters and intimate atmosphere, the events leading to the assassination of President Lincoln progress quickly, giving the story a fast pace. This is one of those stories that we all know the ending, and yet the vivid imagination breaths lives into the historical figures and conjures engrossing and poignant story.
P.S. Also highly recommend recently released book by this author – John Brown’s Women
February 15, 2016
On April 14, 1865, in the waning days of the Civil War, 26-year-old actor John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in the head while the President was watching a play from his box at Ford’s Theatre. Booth was a disaffected supporter of the Confederacy who hated Lincoln, but his actions were part of a larger plot. The conspiracy began as a half-baked scheme to kidnap Lincoln that later evolved into a plan to assassinate the President, Vice-President Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward. Only Booth was successful in killing his target.
John Wilkes Booth (Photo from Wikipedia)
In the ensuing search for Booth and his conspirators, dozens of people were arrested. Just about anyone who had any contact with them was subject to investigation and, at least temporarily, imprisonment. One of those who came to the attention of authorities early on was Mary Surratt, a widow who owned a reputable boarding house in Washington that Booth was known to visit. Her son John, who had fled the country, was a friend of Booth’s and a Confederate sympathizer and courier.
Mary’s role in the crime was less clear. Some of the scheming likely went on in her boarding house. She conveyed instructions from Booth to the keeper of a tavern she owned outside the city, where Booth stopped later that fateful April night. But whether she was a willing accomplice or an unwitting pawn is the subject of debate.
Hanging Mary offers a fictional take on Mary Surratt’s involvement in these events. How did this respectable widow, trusted to maintain a wholesome environment by the families of lodgers that included an unmarried lady and even a ten-year-old schoolgirl, manage to get mixed up in the most notorious crime of the day? Was she a villain or a victim?
Mary gets a chance to tell her side of the story in chapters that alternate with others from the perspective of Miss Honora (“Nora”) Fitzpatrick, one of the lodgers. Between the two of them, a more nuanced picture emerges of the various members of the household and their associates. Booth is handsome and charming, a local celebrity the young ladies are proud to know. The convivial atmosphere in the house belies the darker intentions of some members of the group.
The story of the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln, his death, the investigation, and the subsequent trials is a complex one, involving many people, some better known to history than others. This novel focuses on a small part of the larger historical picture. There is a vivid sense of 1860s wartime Washington, still lively and hopeful before the assassination but plunged into harrowing uncertainty afterwards. As so often occurs in history, an atmosphere of fear and panic can result in an unsatisfying justice.
Mary Surratt (Photo from Wikipedia)
A copy of this book for review was provided by Sourcebooks Landmark/NetGalley.
Related links:
“Was Mary Surratt a Lincoln Conspirator?”
Video from Smithsonian:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/...
John Wilkes Booth (Photo from Wikipedia)
In the ensuing search for Booth and his conspirators, dozens of people were arrested. Just about anyone who had any contact with them was subject to investigation and, at least temporarily, imprisonment. One of those who came to the attention of authorities early on was Mary Surratt, a widow who owned a reputable boarding house in Washington that Booth was known to visit. Her son John, who had fled the country, was a friend of Booth’s and a Confederate sympathizer and courier.
Mary’s role in the crime was less clear. Some of the scheming likely went on in her boarding house. She conveyed instructions from Booth to the keeper of a tavern she owned outside the city, where Booth stopped later that fateful April night. But whether she was a willing accomplice or an unwitting pawn is the subject of debate.
Hanging Mary offers a fictional take on Mary Surratt’s involvement in these events. How did this respectable widow, trusted to maintain a wholesome environment by the families of lodgers that included an unmarried lady and even a ten-year-old schoolgirl, manage to get mixed up in the most notorious crime of the day? Was she a villain or a victim?
Mary gets a chance to tell her side of the story in chapters that alternate with others from the perspective of Miss Honora (“Nora”) Fitzpatrick, one of the lodgers. Between the two of them, a more nuanced picture emerges of the various members of the household and their associates. Booth is handsome and charming, a local celebrity the young ladies are proud to know. The convivial atmosphere in the house belies the darker intentions of some members of the group.
The story of the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln, his death, the investigation, and the subsequent trials is a complex one, involving many people, some better known to history than others. This novel focuses on a small part of the larger historical picture. There is a vivid sense of 1860s wartime Washington, still lively and hopeful before the assassination but plunged into harrowing uncertainty afterwards. As so often occurs in history, an atmosphere of fear and panic can result in an unsatisfying justice.
Mary Surratt (Photo from Wikipedia)
A copy of this book for review was provided by Sourcebooks Landmark/NetGalley.
Related links:
“Was Mary Surratt a Lincoln Conspirator?”
Video from Smithsonian:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/...
July 2, 2019
Susan Higginbotham takes a break from the history of British monarchs( Her Highness, the Traitor, The Stolen Crown: The Secret Marriage that Forever Changed the Fate of England) to tell the story of Mary Suratt, the American woman who was accused and found guilty of aiding John Wilkes Booth in his assassination of President Lincoln.
First line There were two things for which I could thank my late husband: buying our house in Washington, and dying.
It is the August 1864 and the Civil War rages on as Mary Surratt and her grown children, John and Anna rebuild their lives and pay off their drunken husband and father's debt that he left upon his death in 1862. With eldest son, Issac in Texas and a member of the Confederate army, Mary decides that she and her children will move into the Washington home and take boarders at their place in Maryland. One of those boarders is a young woman, Honora ( Nora) Fitzpatrick who soon sees Mary as a surrogate mother. Soon young John Surratt brings to the house a young actor that makes his acquantaince, John Wilkes Booth. The curly haired, dark blue eyed actor was all the rage in Washington during the war and neither Anna nor Nora can deny his attraction. What no one can imagine is just what path this relationship is going to lead all those involved. Mary and Nora take turns telling the story before and after the assasination of Lincoln.
I don't often thank authors in my review enough but I am certainly going to do it now. As a Canadian interested in all things history, I had only given a linear thought to the time period. North and South - a nation divided eventually Confederacy is defeated, Emancipation Proclamation- slaves freed, Lincoln assassinated, Booth killed on the run. But Susan Higginbotham, like all good writers of history and historical fiction says, "oh but there is more of a.... to the story." Washington was in fact not just in mourning but also on a widescale manhunt to find not only Booth but all those who aided and abetted him in the assasination plot. Eventually, the authorities would come knocking on Mary Surratt's door. So a deep thank you to the author for bringing this novel to her reading audience.
Goodreads Review 02/07/19
First line There were two things for which I could thank my late husband: buying our house in Washington, and dying.
It is the August 1864 and the Civil War rages on as Mary Surratt and her grown children, John and Anna rebuild their lives and pay off their drunken husband and father's debt that he left upon his death in 1862. With eldest son, Issac in Texas and a member of the Confederate army, Mary decides that she and her children will move into the Washington home and take boarders at their place in Maryland. One of those boarders is a young woman, Honora ( Nora) Fitzpatrick who soon sees Mary as a surrogate mother. Soon young John Surratt brings to the house a young actor that makes his acquantaince, John Wilkes Booth. The curly haired, dark blue eyed actor was all the rage in Washington during the war and neither Anna nor Nora can deny his attraction. What no one can imagine is just what path this relationship is going to lead all those involved. Mary and Nora take turns telling the story before and after the assasination of Lincoln.
I don't often thank authors in my review enough but I am certainly going to do it now. As a Canadian interested in all things history, I had only given a linear thought to the time period. North and South - a nation divided eventually Confederacy is defeated, Emancipation Proclamation- slaves freed, Lincoln assassinated, Booth killed on the run. But Susan Higginbotham, like all good writers of history and historical fiction says, "oh but there is more of a.... to the story." Washington was in fact not just in mourning but also on a widescale manhunt to find not only Booth but all those who aided and abetted him in the assasination plot. Eventually, the authorities would come knocking on Mary Surratt's door. So a deep thank you to the author for bringing this novel to her reading audience.
Goodreads Review 02/07/19
July 9, 2017
Before picking up this book at the library, I had heard the name Mary Surratt but knew little of her story or her involvement in President Lincoln's assassination. This novel is an in-depth look at Surratt's life and relations with others connected to the assassination. Like other reviewers have stated, I feel that it was slow moving at times, and I kept thinking, "Just get on with it!" However, I feel that may not necessarily be the author's fault but the fact that I knew the outcome since this is based on real-life events, so there wasn't really any mystery as to how the book would end.
I liked the alternating perspectives of Surratt and Nora Fitzpatrick, though Nora's sections gave a bit of a YA feel to the book. This was a super quick read, though, and I really loved the atmosphere Higginbotham created. The amount of research that Higginbotham did for the novel is clear, and I applaud her ability to turn little-known historical figures into captivating characters, blending real-life events with fictional elaboration. Also, the cover is super gorgeous to me!
I liked the alternating perspectives of Surratt and Nora Fitzpatrick, though Nora's sections gave a bit of a YA feel to the book. This was a super quick read, though, and I really loved the atmosphere Higginbotham created. The amount of research that Higginbotham did for the novel is clear, and I applaud her ability to turn little-known historical figures into captivating characters, blending real-life events with fictional elaboration. Also, the cover is super gorgeous to me!
June 5, 2017
First, a personal note about this book. We don't live far from Richmond and go there a few times a year on a weekend. There's a great Art museum and (0f course) a Museum of the Confederacy next to it. Last time we went there was a used book sale, and I picked up this ARC copy that a professor there donated. How cool is that? (This is the story of Mary Surrat, who was hung for conspiracy of murdering Lincoln.)
Of course the big problem with historical fiction is the reader knows how it's going to end, so the journey there is the meat of the matter. As with other historical figures, I always wondered how odd it was that a lady who ran a boarding house was hung where Booth went after his infamous crime. Ah. It turns out that's not how the story goes.
Higginbotham spins a great story about what might have happened that covers all the bases and is based on research. How odd that in such a proper time when young unmarried women couldn't walk by themselves down the street from their house unescorted, they could share beds with literal strangers (of the same sex of course.)
The story is told from female viewpoints (who are infatuated with Booth--who knew he was the Brad Pitt of his era? I always thought he looked like Poe).
And while the cover photo here on the book shows a very young, attractive blond, here's what Mary (and the others convicted and hung) looked like:
Anyway, a very fascinating book with a great story and I'm looking forward to more from this writer.
Of course the big problem with historical fiction is the reader knows how it's going to end, so the journey there is the meat of the matter. As with other historical figures, I always wondered how odd it was that a lady who ran a boarding house was hung where Booth went after his infamous crime. Ah. It turns out that's not how the story goes.
Higginbotham spins a great story about what might have happened that covers all the bases and is based on research. How odd that in such a proper time when young unmarried women couldn't walk by themselves down the street from their house unescorted, they could share beds with literal strangers (of the same sex of course.)
The story is told from female viewpoints (who are infatuated with Booth--who knew he was the Brad Pitt of his era? I always thought he looked like Poe).
And while the cover photo here on the book shows a very young, attractive blond, here's what Mary (and the others convicted and hung) looked like:
Anyway, a very fascinating book with a great story and I'm looking forward to more from this writer.
March 4, 2016
4.5 stars!!
a little slow paced early on and takes a bit to get into, but once it picks up you won't want to put it down!
I became emotionally immersed into the events of spring 1865 and waited with baited breath to read the outcomes I already knew were coming. It was so interesting to read from the view point of these women who were peripherally involved yet maybe actually not so much?? So many questions still remain, and as readers we get to decide how we think things might have gone down.
Susan Higginbotham has a knack with writing that helps you bond and feel sympathy for characters you never expected to have such feelings for.
Having visited Washington DC and the site of the Lincoln assassination within the last 9 months gave me a different perspective too as I was able to put real images to the places described. Even so, I found myself "googling" many of the major players and places. I personally am fascinated with history and loved learning more about this rocky time in our country's past.
Recommended to American history buffs, Lincoln assassination enthusiasts, and any one who enjoys well written historical fiction!
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance readers copy**'
a little slow paced early on and takes a bit to get into, but once it picks up you won't want to put it down!
I became emotionally immersed into the events of spring 1865 and waited with baited breath to read the outcomes I already knew were coming. It was so interesting to read from the view point of these women who were peripherally involved yet maybe actually not so much?? So many questions still remain, and as readers we get to decide how we think things might have gone down.
Susan Higginbotham has a knack with writing that helps you bond and feel sympathy for characters you never expected to have such feelings for.
Having visited Washington DC and the site of the Lincoln assassination within the last 9 months gave me a different perspective too as I was able to put real images to the places described. Even so, I found myself "googling" many of the major players and places. I personally am fascinated with history and loved learning more about this rocky time in our country's past.
Recommended to American history buffs, Lincoln assassination enthusiasts, and any one who enjoys well written historical fiction!
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance readers copy**'
August 5, 2016
This novel of historical fiction tells the story of Mary Surratt, the first woman hung in the U.S. convicted as a collaborator in the plot to assassinate Lincoln. Told in alternating voices, that of Mary Surratt and a young female resident at her boarding house, it covers the year leading to her execution. I can’t speak to the historical accuracy of this book, knowing nothing of Mary’s story. As a novel, I felt that it dragged. In my humble opinion, I think the duel narration has been over used in contemporary fiction. In this case, it slowed down the story significantly as we heard the same events told by both characters without adding anything to our understanding of what was happening. Mary’s and Nora’s voices were so similar that I often lost track of who was speaking. If I could award half stars, I would give this 2.5 stars, a middle of the road rating for a very average book.
December 26, 2018
This is a wholly new subject for me. Though I know a bit about the time period, I have not read any historical fiction on this subject. Hanging Mary is the story of Mary Surratt, who was hanged for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The story starts with her move to Washington to open up a boarding house, along with her son and daughter. The novel depicts Mary as being innocent of the plotting, and the author is probably right about it. It ends with the hanging of Mary and her alleged co-conspirators.
The first half of the novel moved at a fast pace. Waiting for the assassination to take place and how they would go about it made the story very interesting. There was a certain suspense to the narrative that held up almost until the act was done. But the second half was a bit of a tearjerker. Because you already knew the end of the story, it became a drag to see Mary's ordeals chalked out one by one.
The novel has two narrators: one is Mary herself and the other is a boarder who was living with her at the time - Honora Fitzpatrick. This was not a very good choice. Nora wasn't involved in anything and could provide nothing but a distant narrative. Mary herself, if she is not involved in the plot, could not serve to provide a sense of urgency to the narrative. It would have been nicer if John Surratt or Booth himself had been one of the narrators.
Another problem with the first person viewpoint is just that. It fails to provide a wider perspective. I would have loved to know what was going on in Booth's mind to make up this plot. But this most interesting character remained on the periphery of the story. John Surratt, too, was a very intriguing character but we did not get into his mind. Other than that they all supported the South (quite obvious!), the reader doesn't get much idea of what kind of passion moved these people to kill a man and risk their lives.
The reader could not even get inside Mary's mind, as she appeared to be busy with her daily life and didn't seem to care much about causes beyond supporting it because of her children. I would also have liked to get a bit more of their ideas about the abolition of slavery but other than Mary's daughter grumbling once, there was no discussion about it in the Surratt household. I suppose it was edited out to ensure that modern audiences would maintain sympathy with Mary. I think Mary's thoughts on everything the South stood for her should have been deeply explored. But it was not. Nora was by far the better narrator and her feelings and thoughts came through quite clearly. But in general, I don't find this dual first person narrative device of Higginbotham very effective.
The writing was decent and the history was well-researched. The feel of the era came through quite vividly, making up for the lack of good characters. Wherever the author could have inserted something relevant to the era, she did. This kept the interest alive - if not in Mary Surratt's ultimate fate, then in the depiction of the old buildings of Washington, the legal procedures, the social mores, and other things prevalent at the time. Weirdly enough, this made me want to visit the city!
The first half of the novel moved at a fast pace. Waiting for the assassination to take place and how they would go about it made the story very interesting. There was a certain suspense to the narrative that held up almost until the act was done. But the second half was a bit of a tearjerker. Because you already knew the end of the story, it became a drag to see Mary's ordeals chalked out one by one.
The novel has two narrators: one is Mary herself and the other is a boarder who was living with her at the time - Honora Fitzpatrick. This was not a very good choice. Nora wasn't involved in anything and could provide nothing but a distant narrative. Mary herself, if she is not involved in the plot, could not serve to provide a sense of urgency to the narrative. It would have been nicer if John Surratt or Booth himself had been one of the narrators.
Another problem with the first person viewpoint is just that. It fails to provide a wider perspective. I would have loved to know what was going on in Booth's mind to make up this plot. But this most interesting character remained on the periphery of the story. John Surratt, too, was a very intriguing character but we did not get into his mind. Other than that they all supported the South (quite obvious!), the reader doesn't get much idea of what kind of passion moved these people to kill a man and risk their lives.
The reader could not even get inside Mary's mind, as she appeared to be busy with her daily life and didn't seem to care much about causes beyond supporting it because of her children. I would also have liked to get a bit more of their ideas about the abolition of slavery but other than Mary's daughter grumbling once, there was no discussion about it in the Surratt household. I suppose it was edited out to ensure that modern audiences would maintain sympathy with Mary. I think Mary's thoughts on everything the South stood for her should have been deeply explored. But it was not. Nora was by far the better narrator and her feelings and thoughts came through quite clearly. But in general, I don't find this dual first person narrative device of Higginbotham very effective.
The writing was decent and the history was well-researched. The feel of the era came through quite vividly, making up for the lack of good characters. Wherever the author could have inserted something relevant to the era, she did. This kept the interest alive - if not in Mary Surratt's ultimate fate, then in the depiction of the old buildings of Washington, the legal procedures, the social mores, and other things prevalent at the time. Weirdly enough, this made me want to visit the city!
August 2, 2016
Mary Surrat is a widow, who along with her daughter Anna, run a boarding house in Washington. In the summer of 1865, Mary welcomes the friends of her son John (an avid supporter of the Confederacy), into her home knowing that they are Confederate sympathizers. The most notable being John Wilkes Booth. All seems well until the morning after Lincoln's assassination, when detectives show up at Mrs. Surrat's home to question her about John and Booth. Soon, Mrs. Surrat becomes a person of interest herself, for what she knows could alter everything.
This year I learned two names, Martha "Patsy" Jefferson and Mary Surrat. Two women that had very important roles in American history yet are seldom mentioned in textbooks. Its common knowledge that John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in Ford's theather. This novel is a fictionalized account of the larger plot behind the assassination. While most are aware of this part of history, this narrative presented it from a different perspective, one that was able to surprise. As a whole, it is a very well written book, engrossing and poignant. Fact and fiction were blended seamlessly. Characterization was also on point. Higginbotham depicted Mrs. Surrat in such a way that she elicits sympathy as well as disdain. Mary Surrat was accused of being a conspirator in Lincoln's murder and while she is not exactly blameless, the extent of her knowledge remains unclear, to this day. To think that this woman could have single-handedly altered the course of history if only she had issued a warning. Perhaps, Mrs. Surrat's worst crime was not being a more strict mother. The novel starts out slow but it builds up to a strong conclusion. Knowing what was coming, the ending was still shocking. A worthy read.
This year I learned two names, Martha "Patsy" Jefferson and Mary Surrat. Two women that had very important roles in American history yet are seldom mentioned in textbooks. Its common knowledge that John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in Ford's theather. This novel is a fictionalized account of the larger plot behind the assassination. While most are aware of this part of history, this narrative presented it from a different perspective, one that was able to surprise. As a whole, it is a very well written book, engrossing and poignant. Fact and fiction were blended seamlessly. Characterization was also on point. Higginbotham depicted Mrs. Surrat in such a way that she elicits sympathy as well as disdain. Mary Surrat was accused of being a conspirator in Lincoln's murder and while she is not exactly blameless, the extent of her knowledge remains unclear, to this day. To think that this woman could have single-handedly altered the course of history if only she had issued a warning. Perhaps, Mrs. Surrat's worst crime was not being a more strict mother. The novel starts out slow but it builds up to a strong conclusion. Knowing what was coming, the ending was still shocking. A worthy read.
November 14, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect, having come across the hitherto unbeknownst to me author at a local book Fair, but when is saw she wrote historical fiction, often about women forgotten by history, I knew I had to try her writing. I will be reading more by her, for sure! This book was obviously well researched with a detailed authors note at the end, the characters were consistent and well drawn, and the writing was good.
The pacing is slow, but it's an interesting read nonetheless. The narration might be a little too detailed and a little too much telling rather than showing, but it was straightforward and kept you moving forward in the story.
Even though I've been to Fords theater and the museum across the street where Lincoln died, and many facts of the case were (or should have been) fresh in my mind, this book brought it all to life and I learned so many things.
*Potential spoilers below, but this is history y'all*
I was particularly impressed by how the author matter of factly and sympathetically portrays sometimes we think we should strongly dislike. There's not an agenda or a side being taken here, it seems to be just an honest portrayal of the facts as much as they are known. I really enjoyed reading about Mary Surratt and if does seem like her execution - not spoken of much of at all at the aforementioned museum - was a tragic miscarriage of justice. She was involved, but mostly by association and not by intent, and she certainly had no idea what the end game was. I'm curious to read more about her.
The pacing is slow, but it's an interesting read nonetheless. The narration might be a little too detailed and a little too much telling rather than showing, but it was straightforward and kept you moving forward in the story.
Even though I've been to Fords theater and the museum across the street where Lincoln died, and many facts of the case were (or should have been) fresh in my mind, this book brought it all to life and I learned so many things.
*Potential spoilers below, but this is history y'all*
I was particularly impressed by how the author matter of factly and sympathetically portrays sometimes we think we should strongly dislike. There's not an agenda or a side being taken here, it seems to be just an honest portrayal of the facts as much as they are known. I really enjoyed reading about Mary Surratt and if does seem like her execution - not spoken of much of at all at the aforementioned museum - was a tragic miscarriage of justice. She was involved, but mostly by association and not by intent, and she certainly had no idea what the end game was. I'm curious to read more about her.
July 14, 2016
A very well-told tale of the circus that ensued after the killing of Lincoln, the incompetence and hasty actions of the government, and two women in the middle of it all.
I knew little about Mrs. Surratt but after reading this novel feel as though I knew her intimately--her hopes, dreams, love for her children, fears, faith. This woman's tale is told through two different narratives: her own and that of one of her lady boarders. Readers will come to their own conclusions as to Mary's involvement in what was an appalling crime.
Mary is guilty of a mother's love more than anything. Wrong place, wrong time. During the Civil War her son begins bringing home questionable characters. She runs a boarding house. What is she to do? Turn them all away? But while turning the other cheek may be one thing, aiding is another, and she ends up doing just that without realizing what exactly she's aiding. There's an innocence mixed in with her guilt, conflicting readers' opinions. One minute she guilty, the next she's not.
Her boarder Nora shows us the goings-on in the house through impartial eyes. We meet a young motherless lady who fears she'll be a spinster. We fall in love with a wounded Union soldier alongside her and get excited about her getting her photo done for her. We smile when she sits with John Wilkes Booth and does little acting skits with him. We see that there was more to him than a monster with rage in his heart.
The world at this time comes alive--the celebrations, the mourning, the captitol, the politics. And oh, what incompetence the investigation yields!! How glad I am that laws have changed since then. People are arrested for merely being related to Mr. Booth, for having known him, for having gone to a show with him at some point. People are arrested with no warning, no "phone call" aka letter for that period.
And yet Mrs. Surratt faces her demise with such dignity.
Was she guilty? Somewhat, to a point, of a mother's love more than anything. Did she deserve to die? One must read this and decide for themselves.
I knew little about Mrs. Surratt but after reading this novel feel as though I knew her intimately--her hopes, dreams, love for her children, fears, faith. This woman's tale is told through two different narratives: her own and that of one of her lady boarders. Readers will come to their own conclusions as to Mary's involvement in what was an appalling crime.
Mary is guilty of a mother's love more than anything. Wrong place, wrong time. During the Civil War her son begins bringing home questionable characters. She runs a boarding house. What is she to do? Turn them all away? But while turning the other cheek may be one thing, aiding is another, and she ends up doing just that without realizing what exactly she's aiding. There's an innocence mixed in with her guilt, conflicting readers' opinions. One minute she guilty, the next she's not.
Her boarder Nora shows us the goings-on in the house through impartial eyes. We meet a young motherless lady who fears she'll be a spinster. We fall in love with a wounded Union soldier alongside her and get excited about her getting her photo done for her. We smile when she sits with John Wilkes Booth and does little acting skits with him. We see that there was more to him than a monster with rage in his heart.
The world at this time comes alive--the celebrations, the mourning, the captitol, the politics. And oh, what incompetence the investigation yields!! How glad I am that laws have changed since then. People are arrested for merely being related to Mr. Booth, for having known him, for having gone to a show with him at some point. People are arrested with no warning, no "phone call" aka letter for that period.
And yet Mrs. Surratt faces her demise with such dignity.
Was she guilty? Somewhat, to a point, of a mother's love more than anything. Did she deserve to die? One must read this and decide for themselves.
June 14, 2016
Talk about an absolutely compelling book, this one definitely ranks right up there. This is not the history you get taught in 7th grade American History classes for sure. This author did a really good job of presenting these characters in all their sadly flawed ways and in their normal, this is what a parent thinks and feels way. I loved this book, and the author's notes at the end are almost more compelling reading than the fictionalized book itself.
July 16, 2016
You can read my original review on my blog -> Book Review: Hanging Mary by Susan Higginbotham
I came across Hanging Mary while scanning though available audiobooks on Hoopla. The title and cover caught my eye immediately. Who was this Mary and why did she hang? When I first saw the cover and title, I guessed that this book was going to be about a witch… not even close… Hanging Mary is actually about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; specifically, it is about one of the conspirators, Mary Surratt.
I must admit, I had never given much thought to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Aside from knowing the name of the President’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and that it took place in a private box in Ford’s Theatre, I knew practically nothing about it… I had no idea there was a group of conspirators in on the plot to kill the president. I was intrigued…
Hanging Mary is told through two alternating perspectives: Mary Surratt, and her boarder, Nora Fitzpatrick. After doing some research on Mary Surratt, I was impressed with the accuracy of Higginbotham’s depiction. I always appreciate a book that is well researched and true to the era. I think people often take for granted the amount of research and grunt work that goes into writing Historical Fiction. Kuddos to Higginbotham for creating such an authentic rendition of such a horrible event in American history.
Unfortunately, Hanging Mary came up a little short and I was left wanting more at the end. The pacing of the first half of the book was painfully slow. The pacing improves in the second half of the book, but it was too late by that point. While reading Hanging Mary, I always felt “left in the dark” since the book was told through the eyes of two people not directly involved in the conspiracy. I think it would have been more beneficial to not only have the story told through Mary’s eyes, but also through the eyes of someone directly involved in the conspiracy, like Mary’s son Johnny. I feel this strategy would have helped with the pacing and aided in “spicing up” the plot. While I liked Nora as a character, Nora’s point of view was not relevant in advancing the plot.
The second half of this book was the book’s saving grace. It is progressively better than the first half both in pacing and character development. The second half of Hanging Mary focuses on the trial and execution of Mary Surratt. I was really able to feel the emotions, specifically the fear and anxiety, throughout this portion of the book. Up until this point, Mary seems vapid and lacking emotion, however here we really get into her head and get to experience what it would have felt like to be on trial for conspiring to kill the president, then sentenced to hang. Higginbotham really outdoes herself with the final chapters and the depiction of Mary walking to the gallows. Wow. I had a pit in my stomach while reading the conclusion of this book.
Recap: Hanging Mary is remarkably accurate depiction of a horrific event in American history. The first half of the book is slow, but Higginbotham recovers in the second half. While the concept for this book was brilliant, Hanging Mary fell a little short. I was left wanting more after finishing. The story would have benefited being told from the POV of one of the primary conspirators in addition to Mary’s POV.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
I came across Hanging Mary while scanning though available audiobooks on Hoopla. The title and cover caught my eye immediately. Who was this Mary and why did she hang? When I first saw the cover and title, I guessed that this book was going to be about a witch… not even close… Hanging Mary is actually about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; specifically, it is about one of the conspirators, Mary Surratt.
I must admit, I had never given much thought to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Aside from knowing the name of the President’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and that it took place in a private box in Ford’s Theatre, I knew practically nothing about it… I had no idea there was a group of conspirators in on the plot to kill the president. I was intrigued…
Hanging Mary is told through two alternating perspectives: Mary Surratt, and her boarder, Nora Fitzpatrick. After doing some research on Mary Surratt, I was impressed with the accuracy of Higginbotham’s depiction. I always appreciate a book that is well researched and true to the era. I think people often take for granted the amount of research and grunt work that goes into writing Historical Fiction. Kuddos to Higginbotham for creating such an authentic rendition of such a horrible event in American history.
Unfortunately, Hanging Mary came up a little short and I was left wanting more at the end. The pacing of the first half of the book was painfully slow. The pacing improves in the second half of the book, but it was too late by that point. While reading Hanging Mary, I always felt “left in the dark” since the book was told through the eyes of two people not directly involved in the conspiracy. I think it would have been more beneficial to not only have the story told through Mary’s eyes, but also through the eyes of someone directly involved in the conspiracy, like Mary’s son Johnny. I feel this strategy would have helped with the pacing and aided in “spicing up” the plot. While I liked Nora as a character, Nora’s point of view was not relevant in advancing the plot.
The second half of this book was the book’s saving grace. It is progressively better than the first half both in pacing and character development. The second half of Hanging Mary focuses on the trial and execution of Mary Surratt. I was really able to feel the emotions, specifically the fear and anxiety, throughout this portion of the book. Up until this point, Mary seems vapid and lacking emotion, however here we really get into her head and get to experience what it would have felt like to be on trial for conspiring to kill the president, then sentenced to hang. Higginbotham really outdoes herself with the final chapters and the depiction of Mary walking to the gallows. Wow. I had a pit in my stomach while reading the conclusion of this book.
Recap: Hanging Mary is remarkably accurate depiction of a horrific event in American history. The first half of the book is slow, but Higginbotham recovers in the second half. While the concept for this book was brilliant, Hanging Mary fell a little short. I was left wanting more after finishing. The story would have benefited being told from the POV of one of the primary conspirators in addition to Mary’s POV.
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
May 2, 2016
I read historical fiction almost exclusively, and unfortunately there's a lot of hist fic out there which leaves me dissatisfied. Some of it is dry because the writer is too in love with her research. Other writers are so in love with their own language that the characters feel equally distant. But Ms. Higginbotham finds just the right balance between accuracy and powerful writing. Her characters feel like real people.
Which may sound funny, since they WERE real people, but I think this put an even greater burden on Ms. Higginbotham. I'm fairly familiar with the Lincoln assassination. My own first attempt at historical fiction (in middle school) involved me going back in time and trying to save our 16th president (spoiler: I failed). Now, I live in the DC area. I've visited Surratt's Tavern, her boardinghouse on H Street (a Chinese restaurant today), and attended plays at Ford's Theatre. So I think my expectations were particularly high on this one--and Ms. Higginbotham delivered.
The first half of the novel is delightful--not something I thought I'd ever say about a book centered on Lincoln's assassination--as we get to know Mary Surratt and her boarders, including a cat named Mr. Rochester. Ms. Higginbotham does a great job humanizing the (possible) conspirators. The Catholic aspects were also of great interest to me, since my own current project involves 19th century American Catholics.
The second half of the novel is sad, of course, as we watch the inevitable happen while the characters remain ignorant of their fates. I did feel the trial got a bit tedious, but I realize this is simply a reflection of the real trial. My other nit-picky complaint is that I would've liked to see Mary interacting with her black servants at least once; they're merely shadows. Also, I wish the audiobook had had two narrators, one for Nora and one for Mary. But this isn't Ms. Higginbotham's fault.
My favorite line came near the end, when Nora (I think) observes that Lincoln himself would have shown mercy and pardoned Mary.
Overall, Ms. Higginbotham did an excellent job of taking a dour subject and several potentially despicable characters and breathing new life into them in a way that made me, a profound Lincoln admirer, willing to forgive them too. After all, there are two sides to every story. I'm so glad Ms. Higginbotham explored this one.
Which may sound funny, since they WERE real people, but I think this put an even greater burden on Ms. Higginbotham. I'm fairly familiar with the Lincoln assassination. My own first attempt at historical fiction (in middle school) involved me going back in time and trying to save our 16th president (spoiler: I failed). Now, I live in the DC area. I've visited Surratt's Tavern, her boardinghouse on H Street (a Chinese restaurant today), and attended plays at Ford's Theatre. So I think my expectations were particularly high on this one--and Ms. Higginbotham delivered.
The first half of the novel is delightful--not something I thought I'd ever say about a book centered on Lincoln's assassination--as we get to know Mary Surratt and her boarders, including a cat named Mr. Rochester. Ms. Higginbotham does a great job humanizing the (possible) conspirators. The Catholic aspects were also of great interest to me, since my own current project involves 19th century American Catholics.
The second half of the novel is sad, of course, as we watch the inevitable happen while the characters remain ignorant of their fates. I did feel the trial got a bit tedious, but I realize this is simply a reflection of the real trial. My other nit-picky complaint is that I would've liked to see Mary interacting with her black servants at least once; they're merely shadows. Also, I wish the audiobook had had two narrators, one for Nora and one for Mary. But this isn't Ms. Higginbotham's fault.
My favorite line came near the end, when Nora (I think) observes that Lincoln himself would have shown mercy and pardoned Mary.
Overall, Ms. Higginbotham did an excellent job of taking a dour subject and several potentially despicable characters and breathing new life into them in a way that made me, a profound Lincoln admirer, willing to forgive them too. After all, there are two sides to every story. I'm so glad Ms. Higginbotham explored this one.
October 24, 2015
This novel brings to life a little-known woman from history: Mary Surratt was the first woman to be hanged in the US, for abetting the assassination of President Lincoln. Did this departure from 19th century chivalry mean that women were finally being viewed as equal to men and considered capable of plotting conspiracies and making history? I think it was more about the panic the nation felt as a whole about the vulnerability of its leaders and the need to make examples of those involved so as to prevent future attacks.
In any case, told from alternating perspectives between Mrs. Surratt and a young woman named Nora boarding at her house, this novel focuses on the women involved in a narrative so often told with only men as the leading figures. It is well-written and well-researched and had me caring for and sympathizing with each of its characters.
In any case, told from alternating perspectives between Mrs. Surratt and a young woman named Nora boarding at her house, this novel focuses on the women involved in a narrative so often told with only men as the leading figures. It is well-written and well-researched and had me caring for and sympathizing with each of its characters.
February 29, 2020
I could hardly put this one down.
September 3, 2017
"Hanging Mary" is the story of Mary Surratt, who is best known for being one of the Lincoln assassination conspirators and the first woman to be executed by the U.S. federal government. Her name has been inextricably tied to John Wilkes Booth in the plot that took the 16th president down. This book looks at whether her sullied name is warranted or could there be more to the story.
One of the reasons I love learning about history so much is that history is almost never clear cut and just when you think it is clear cut, there is always another perspective to ponder over and always a new way to see things. This book is one of those new perspectives. Lincoln is one of my favorite presidents to read about and I always wonder what would have happened had he lived. I can't get enough of reading about him. This is what initially drew me to this book. What kept me reading is the different perspective of Surratt. Throughout the book, she seems most concerned with making ends meet for her family and while she had Southern sympathies, she still seemed more concerned with running a reputable business and seeing her children stay out of trouble.
I also thought that the perspective on John Wilkes Booth was interesting. As someone looking back to the past, his name is synonymous with Lincoln's killing. In the book, the author gets at just how famous he is. He was like a A-list movie star of the present day. Everyone knew who he was. He made women swoon (some of the characters in the book trade trading cards with his face on them). Men wanted to be him. He wasn't some obscure figure, which makes his plot even more interesting to me.
The writing of the book is good. While it took me a bit to get into the story, once the action gets going, the book becomes interesting quickly. This is the perfect historical fiction for those that understand that history is still very much narrative and are looking for a new take on something so familiar to so many of us.
One of the reasons I love learning about history so much is that history is almost never clear cut and just when you think it is clear cut, there is always another perspective to ponder over and always a new way to see things. This book is one of those new perspectives. Lincoln is one of my favorite presidents to read about and I always wonder what would have happened had he lived. I can't get enough of reading about him. This is what initially drew me to this book. What kept me reading is the different perspective of Surratt. Throughout the book, she seems most concerned with making ends meet for her family and while she had Southern sympathies, she still seemed more concerned with running a reputable business and seeing her children stay out of trouble.
I also thought that the perspective on John Wilkes Booth was interesting. As someone looking back to the past, his name is synonymous with Lincoln's killing. In the book, the author gets at just how famous he is. He was like a A-list movie star of the present day. Everyone knew who he was. He made women swoon (some of the characters in the book trade trading cards with his face on them). Men wanted to be him. He wasn't some obscure figure, which makes his plot even more interesting to me.
The writing of the book is good. While it took me a bit to get into the story, once the action gets going, the book becomes interesting quickly. This is the perfect historical fiction for those that understand that history is still very much narrative and are looking for a new take on something so familiar to so many of us.
March 24, 2016
Susan Higginbotham usually writes about English royalty. I bought the book thinking it was about Mary Tudor and was both intrigued and surprised when I read the back. I knew about Mary Surratt, had preconceived notions of who she was and her role in the plot to kill Lincoln. Higginbottom's book is wonderfully written, her characters three dimensional, giving us a real picture into the life of families and their loyalties during the civil war. She writes of a different time, that despite the fractured country, the differences in political views, people respectfully kept their opinions to themselves, allowing them to share a home. The story is told from two perspectives, Nora, the daughter of Northern sympathizers, and Mary Surrat, mother to confederate sons, one fighting, the other running the blockade.
Higginbotham infuses a realness to her characters, Johnny Surrat's feverous dedication to the cause, his sister's petty selfishness, Nora's desperation to be appreciated and loved, Mrs. Surratt's overwhelming need to protect her children, at whatever the cost. John Wilkes Booth oozes oily charm, disarming his prey like a practiced seducer. All the players come together in a collision course with destiny, and Higginbotham fills in the ghosty outlines giving them human substance. I never gave Mary Surratt more than a passing thought as a scheming villain when I read about her in history. Susan Higginbotham's Mary becomes another hapless victim swept up in the war that rent families as well as the country.
Higginbotham infuses a realness to her characters, Johnny Surrat's feverous dedication to the cause, his sister's petty selfishness, Nora's desperation to be appreciated and loved, Mrs. Surratt's overwhelming need to protect her children, at whatever the cost. John Wilkes Booth oozes oily charm, disarming his prey like a practiced seducer. All the players come together in a collision course with destiny, and Higginbotham fills in the ghosty outlines giving them human substance. I never gave Mary Surratt more than a passing thought as a scheming villain when I read about her in history. Susan Higginbotham's Mary becomes another hapless victim swept up in the war that rent families as well as the country.
March 27, 2017
In this work of historical fiction, author Susan Higginbotham has given us a fresh look at a woman who was caught up in the fringe of a conspiracy that ultimately led to her downfall. Always protecting her children, and especially fearful for son’s activities, Mary Surratt agrees to help him in his quest to support the Confederacy. All the inhabitants of her boarding house, including her daughter Anna, are enamored with the handsome Mr. Booth and thrilled when he comes to visit. But this admiration comes to an abrupt end when President Lincoln is assassinated and Booth is on the run. Soon, anyone associated with him is rounded up and arrested. Mary is no exception, and it is only a matter of time before her involvement becomes known. Just how much she knew and what illegal acts she committed may never be known for sure, but in this fascinating account of a captivating time of American history, we see that she may not have been treated justly. This audio version was by expertly performed by Johanna Parker which added greatly to its enjoyment.
February 21, 2021
My undergraduate degree was in history, and I took a concentration of courses about the Civil War and the Lincoln presidency. So I was a little leery about about how this book would square with the history I learned. It certainly is quite favorable to Mary Surratt. She became a real person to me, and even became a sympathetic figure. I didn’t know (or maybe didn’t remember) about the involvement of her son and his connection to John Wilkes Booth. I will leave it to knowledgeable scholars to weigh in on whether Mary was guilty. I do think the punishment was too much, but the strong feelings against the confederacy and Lincoln’s death probably played a big part in her death sentence. It was a very interesting read that I especially recommend to HF lovers.
November 10, 2017
This was an interesting look at the first woman hanged by the United States government. It is the type of historical fiction I️ like because there was actually a lot of factual information about Mary Suratt, the alleged co-conspirator involved in the murder of Abraham Lincoln. Her story alternates with that of Nora Fitzpatrick who boarded in the Suratt house. I️ thought the two narrators worked well in this case and I️ actually want to learn more about Nora who was innocently dragged into the trial.
October 23, 2015
Another very interesting historical fiction that has me wanting to know more. I had never learned about this is any history class, and it's amazing how the author was able to write such an intriguing story based on evidence, journals, court records, etc. I have to admit that at times it was just heartbreaking to read.
September 3, 2017
I liked this one a great deal. I'm still not sure what I think about Mary Surratt's guilt or innocence, but that didn't impede my enjoyment of the novel.
April 19, 2018
Half the time I really enjoyed this book and the other half I just didn't feel like reading it(do to its slowness at times).
I can say, however, that I was very interested by the history behind the story. I had not know about Mary Suratt's role in the Lincoln Assassination until now, and am very interested to learn more about her story and the conspiration as a whole.
I can say, however, that I was very interested by the history behind the story. I had not know about Mary Suratt's role in the Lincoln Assassination until now, and am very interested to learn more about her story and the conspiration as a whole.
March 30, 2019
I listened to an episode of My Favorite Murder recently where Conan O’Brien talked about his fascination with the murder of Abraham Lincoln. One thing he said that I found particularly interesting was that “John Wilkes Booth killing Lincoln in 1865 would be like George Clooney assassinating the president today.”
So one of the things that I really liked about this book was that it definitely played Booth up as this handsome and beloved actor, because that’s never a perspective I’ve personally ever considered. To me, he’s always been the deranged villain, but from Nora Fitzpatrick’s narrative, we see him through this other lens.
That being said, I found Nora and Anna to be incredibly boring. I wanted more of the story to be told through Mary Surratt’s point of view. I found the last few chapters about the women being imprisoned, and the trial of the conspirators to be the most engaging. I felt like the focus on Nora’s romantic aspirations was an annoying red herring and I wish that more historical fiction would do without injecting a romance subplot.
See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram
So one of the things that I really liked about this book was that it definitely played Booth up as this handsome and beloved actor, because that’s never a perspective I’ve personally ever considered. To me, he’s always been the deranged villain, but from Nora Fitzpatrick’s narrative, we see him through this other lens.
That being said, I found Nora and Anna to be incredibly boring. I wanted more of the story to be told through Mary Surratt’s point of view. I found the last few chapters about the women being imprisoned, and the trial of the conspirators to be the most engaging. I felt like the focus on Nora’s romantic aspirations was an annoying red herring and I wish that more historical fiction would do without injecting a romance subplot.
See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram
November 25, 2017
I've read a fair bit about the Lincoln assassination but I'm still undecided on the level of guilt of some of the conspirators. Given that the change of plan from kidnapping to murder seems to have been a last-minute decision of Booth's it's entirely possible that some of the conspirators who went to the gallows weren't in on the plan. I find Mary Surratt's participation (or lack thereof) among those questions not satisfactorily answered by history books, so she's an interesting character to fictionalize.
The story covers the crucial few months in 1864-65 preceding the Lincoln assassination, from the perspectives of both Mary Surratt and Nora Fitzpatrick, one of her boarders. The story is quiet (no biff bang pow! despite the fact that there's a lot of espionage going on) but involving, Nora and Mary's voices clear and distinct even as they both fall under Booth's spell and don't really believe him capable of assassination until it's too late.
While Nora's story illustrates how easy it can be for ignorant bystanders to get sucked into the cycle of accusation in the drive to find the guilty in the immediate aftermath of a crime. Mary's is by far the more interesting because it shows how smart, sensible people can still be deceived, by others and by herself.
The Mary Surratt Higginbotham presents is one who didn't believe charming, polite Booth was capable of violence, or that her dear but disorganized son could possibly carry off something as daring as blockade running, let alone kidnapping, or that the disreputable characters both men brought to her boarding house did worse than get drunk and smoke cigars.
Surratt's southern sympathies are evident but her desire for safety (and that of her son) prevents her taking action on her own until she gets drawn in. After this book I'm still not sold that Surratt was completely innocent, but I can be persuaded that not all villains start out that way: it happens in steps until it's too late
A real page turner (it only took me two days to read) and highly recommended!
The story covers the crucial few months in 1864-65 preceding the Lincoln assassination, from the perspectives of both Mary Surratt and Nora Fitzpatrick, one of her boarders. The story is quiet (no biff bang pow! despite the fact that there's a lot of espionage going on) but involving, Nora and Mary's voices clear and distinct even as they both fall under Booth's spell and don't really believe him capable of assassination until it's too late.
While Nora's story illustrates how easy it can be for ignorant bystanders to get sucked into the cycle of accusation in the drive to find the guilty in the immediate aftermath of a crime. Mary's is by far the more interesting because it shows how smart, sensible people can still be deceived, by others and by herself.
The Mary Surratt Higginbotham presents is one who didn't believe charming, polite Booth was capable of violence, or that her dear but disorganized son could possibly carry off something as daring as blockade running, let alone kidnapping, or that the disreputable characters both men brought to her boarding house did worse than get drunk and smoke cigars.
Surratt's southern sympathies are evident but her desire for safety (and that of her son) prevents her taking action on her own until she gets drawn in. After this book I'm still not sold that Surratt was completely innocent, but I can be persuaded that not all villains start out that way: it happens in steps until it's too late
A real page turner (it only took me two days to read) and highly recommended!
March 7, 2016
Visiting Ford's Theatre in D.C. last year and learning more about the entire plot to kindap/kill the President and his cabinet was the first time I ever heard the name Mary Surratt. Finding out that she was a woman who was a part of this conspiracy and actually tried and hung for her involvement was very interesting to me. Naturally, when I heard about this historical novel and it's story I jumped on Netgalley and requested myself a copy.
The story behind this novel is fascinating, but the narrative from Susan Higginbotham was unfortunately pretty boring. I couldn't wait for the story to be done. The novel has a very heavy Catholic/religious bent to it, that I understand is somewhat a product of the time period, but it felt preachy. None of the characters were particularly well-drawn and both of the narrators - Mary Surratt and her boarder, Nora - sounded almost exactly the same in their voices and weren't distinctive in the least. I feel as if I would have read an actual historical account of this part of history, I would have felt more sympathy for Mrs. Surratt and her family, but reading this novel certainly didn't make me very sympathetic.
The parts of this novel that I found most interesting were the interactions with John Wilkes Booth, much of which I wonder has any truth in it. Was he really this charismatic, empathetic, passionate young man? Or a deranged, horrible killer? I'm intrigued enough to read more, and I will - considering I have various Lincoln-related books on my to-read shelf :)
In summary, I wouldn't recommend this novel. If you are interested in this particular chapter in American history, read a piece of Non-fiction and not this fictionalized account.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story behind this novel is fascinating, but the narrative from Susan Higginbotham was unfortunately pretty boring. I couldn't wait for the story to be done. The novel has a very heavy Catholic/religious bent to it, that I understand is somewhat a product of the time period, but it felt preachy. None of the characters were particularly well-drawn and both of the narrators - Mary Surratt and her boarder, Nora - sounded almost exactly the same in their voices and weren't distinctive in the least. I feel as if I would have read an actual historical account of this part of history, I would have felt more sympathy for Mrs. Surratt and her family, but reading this novel certainly didn't make me very sympathetic.
The parts of this novel that I found most interesting were the interactions with John Wilkes Booth, much of which I wonder has any truth in it. Was he really this charismatic, empathetic, passionate young man? Or a deranged, horrible killer? I'm intrigued enough to read more, and I will - considering I have various Lincoln-related books on my to-read shelf :)
In summary, I wouldn't recommend this novel. If you are interested in this particular chapter in American history, read a piece of Non-fiction and not this fictionalized account.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
Thanks SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for this ARC.
Warning: This novel will cause strong reactions and discussions may get heated.
Susan Higginbotham creates the perfect balance and does not choose sides so the reader has a lot to think about. I loved everything about this book. Can't wait to discuss with local reading group.
Warning: This novel will cause strong reactions and discussions may get heated.
Susan Higginbotham creates the perfect balance and does not choose sides so the reader has a lot to think about. I loved everything about this book. Can't wait to discuss with local reading group.
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