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John Hay Mysteries
The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt
The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt is a historical thriller from award-winning political journalist and Washington insider Burt Solomon, featuring Teddy Roosevelt's near death...accident or assassination attempt?
Theodore Roosevelt had been president for less than a year when on a tour in New England his horse-drawn carriage was broadsided by an electric trolley. TR was thrown clear but his Secret Service bodyguard was killed instantly. The trolley's motorman pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the matter was quietly put to rest.
But was it an accident or an assassination attempt...and would there be another "accident" soon?
The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt casts this event in a darker light. John Hay, the Secretary of State, finds himself in pursuit of a would-be assassin, investigating the motives of TR's many enemies, including political rivals and the industrial trusts. He crosses paths with luminaries of the day, such as best-pal Henry Adams, Emma Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Mark Hanna, and (as an investigatory sidekick) the infamous Nellie Bly, who will help Hay protect the man who wants to transform a nation.
Theodore Roosevelt had been president for less than a year when on a tour in New England his horse-drawn carriage was broadsided by an electric trolley. TR was thrown clear but his Secret Service bodyguard was killed instantly. The trolley's motorman pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the matter was quietly put to rest.
But was it an accident or an assassination attempt...and would there be another "accident" soon?
The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt casts this event in a darker light. John Hay, the Secretary of State, finds himself in pursuit of a would-be assassin, investigating the motives of TR's many enemies, including political rivals and the industrial trusts. He crosses paths with luminaries of the day, such as best-pal Henry Adams, Emma Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Mark Hanna, and (as an investigatory sidekick) the infamous Nellie Bly, who will help Hay protect the man who wants to transform a nation.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2019
43 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Burt Solomon
12 books24 followersI was born and raised around Baltimore, educated at Harvard College, and became a journalist in Boston and Washington, D.C. I was a prize-winning White House correspondent for National Journal and am currently a contributing editor at The Atlantic.
I've written three nonfiction books that read like fiction, and now three novels that stay close to nonfiction. My trilogy of John Hay mysteries showcases my detective at different stages of his life--the latest, "The Murder of Andrew Johnson," has Hay at age 36, recently a husband and newly a father, getting used to both.
I live in Arlington, Virginia, with my loving wife. I'm a proud father of two children who live nearby (lucky us!) and grandfather to three little guys (and a fourth on the way). I've started playing the violin of late, with more enthusiasm than talent.
I've written three nonfiction books that read like fiction, and now three novels that stay close to nonfiction. My trilogy of John Hay mysteries showcases my detective at different stages of his life--the latest, "The Murder of Andrew Johnson," has Hay at age 36, recently a husband and newly a father, getting used to both.
I live in Arlington, Virginia, with my loving wife. I'm a proud father of two children who live nearby (lucky us!) and grandfather to three little guys (and a fourth on the way). I've started playing the violin of late, with more enthusiasm than talent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 11, 2020
The author clearly studied up on Washington and America in 1902. He showed it off constantly whether it added to the plot or not. Too often, it did not.
The plot was very weak and John Hay was portrayed as a very unlikable guy. Not a man you'd want to root for. The book dragged with way too much superfluous filler.
The plot was very weak and John Hay was portrayed as a very unlikable guy. Not a man you'd want to root for. The book dragged with way too much superfluous filler.
December 15, 2019
“Dee-lighted,” Theodore Roosevelt says when he greets his Secretary of State, John Hay, in an early chapter of THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT. That could be an excellent one-word review of Burt Solomon’s novel. It is a thoroughly delightful read for several reasons.
For myself, I was excited to read a work of fiction featuring John Hay. Hay began public life with one of the most fascinating jobs in the world: serving as one of President Lincoln’s two secretaries. (Solomon’s previous novel featuring Hay, THE MURDER OF WILLIE LINCOLN, is set in this period.) Hay was an astute and incisive chronicler of the Lincoln presidency, and spent his career weaving in and out of Republican politics. He had been picked as Secretary of State by William McKinley, and stayed on in the new administration after McKinley’s assassination.
Although Roosevelt would be the target of an assassin’s bullet after he left the White House, Solomon’s novel centers on a real-world episode that took place during his presidency --- a Massachusetts carriage accident that injured TR and killed his lone Secret Service bodyguard. In Solomon’s fiction, the supposed accident was, as TR suspects, a conspiracy --- and he enlists Hay to get to the bottom of it.
Solomon presents Hay in much the same way --- and much to the same effect --- as Hilary Mantel did of Thomas Cromwell in WOLF HALL. Both Hay and Cromwell are public men whose best work is hidden because it has to be. (And both work for an impetuous and mercurial boss, although it really isn’t fair to either Henry VIII or TR to draw the comparison much further.) Cromwell and Hay are presented as having more modern habits of mind than either historical figure likely would have had. The difference is that Hay is much more fun to be around as a narrator. This is largely because Hay was a more well-rounded individual --- Solomon, for instance, always has him jotting down poetry, which is not too far from reality. (He also puts Hay, at 60 years old, in the boxing ring, which isn’t exactly historical and doesn’t do much to move the plot forward.)
The structure of the book, though, owes less to Mantel and more to Agatha Christie. This is a very old-fashioned sort of murder mystery, where most everyone is a suspect and there are the standard red herrings and false leads. A better comparison would be THE ALIENIST, Caleb Carr’s superb psychological mystery (which also features TR as a minor character). Both books share an abiding love for turn-of-the-century America and a profound interest in how the country was changing and growing at that time.
Primarily, though, THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT is about delighting its audience, and Solomon does a thorough job of doing just that. He breathes life not only into the character of John Hay, but also to a host of other luminaries ranging from Henry Adams to Nellie Bly. Hay is nobody’s idea of a great detective, but he works his way through the labyrinthine plot with verve and purpose. Anyone with any kind of interest in the period and the characters will be glad to immerse themselves in the narrative, and the more casual mystery reader will appreciate the overall sense of suspense and gratification at the resolution.
Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
For myself, I was excited to read a work of fiction featuring John Hay. Hay began public life with one of the most fascinating jobs in the world: serving as one of President Lincoln’s two secretaries. (Solomon’s previous novel featuring Hay, THE MURDER OF WILLIE LINCOLN, is set in this period.) Hay was an astute and incisive chronicler of the Lincoln presidency, and spent his career weaving in and out of Republican politics. He had been picked as Secretary of State by William McKinley, and stayed on in the new administration after McKinley’s assassination.
Although Roosevelt would be the target of an assassin’s bullet after he left the White House, Solomon’s novel centers on a real-world episode that took place during his presidency --- a Massachusetts carriage accident that injured TR and killed his lone Secret Service bodyguard. In Solomon’s fiction, the supposed accident was, as TR suspects, a conspiracy --- and he enlists Hay to get to the bottom of it.
Solomon presents Hay in much the same way --- and much to the same effect --- as Hilary Mantel did of Thomas Cromwell in WOLF HALL. Both Hay and Cromwell are public men whose best work is hidden because it has to be. (And both work for an impetuous and mercurial boss, although it really isn’t fair to either Henry VIII or TR to draw the comparison much further.) Cromwell and Hay are presented as having more modern habits of mind than either historical figure likely would have had. The difference is that Hay is much more fun to be around as a narrator. This is largely because Hay was a more well-rounded individual --- Solomon, for instance, always has him jotting down poetry, which is not too far from reality. (He also puts Hay, at 60 years old, in the boxing ring, which isn’t exactly historical and doesn’t do much to move the plot forward.)
The structure of the book, though, owes less to Mantel and more to Agatha Christie. This is a very old-fashioned sort of murder mystery, where most everyone is a suspect and there are the standard red herrings and false leads. A better comparison would be THE ALIENIST, Caleb Carr’s superb psychological mystery (which also features TR as a minor character). Both books share an abiding love for turn-of-the-century America and a profound interest in how the country was changing and growing at that time.
Primarily, though, THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT is about delighting its audience, and Solomon does a thorough job of doing just that. He breathes life not only into the character of John Hay, but also to a host of other luminaries ranging from Henry Adams to Nellie Bly. Hay is nobody’s idea of a great detective, but he works his way through the labyrinthine plot with verve and purpose. Anyone with any kind of interest in the period and the characters will be glad to immerse themselves in the narrative, and the more casual mystery reader will appreciate the overall sense of suspense and gratification at the resolution.
Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
March 10, 2020
This is an entertaining read with a clever plot. The challenge of writing any historical fiction is to stay true to what is known, but then use the “what is not known” to create a story, or in some cases bend timing and events to make a compelling story.
The background is that President Teddy Roosevelt was in an accident in Pittsfield Massachusetts in 1902, when a trolley ran into the horse drawn carriage. Roosevelt’s bodyguard is killed, but the driver, the other rider in the carriage, Governor of Massachusetts and the driver were thrown from the carriage, but did not died (so far, all true).
But Roosevelt believes it was an attempted assassination. He has his Secretary of State, John Hays, investigate. The investigation proceeds, building on interactions with other known (historical) figures of the time (and these figures play prominent roles in the story).
The author captures the times (turn of the century) and place (DC) well, and how people are coping with the new technologies of communication and horseless carriages; he also does a nice job of locating a key scene at Mason Island, now Roosevelt Island. Other scenes take place around Lafayette Square, where Hay lives, and where Roosevelt’s temporary living quarter is when the white house is being renovated.
I had the pleasure of meeting that author at a book event at my local bookstore, One More Page, where he gave an overview of the times of the book, and the way he used the constraints of both history as well as the mystery novel to construct the story.
While the book may seem to start slow to many readers, it picks up at end, and it is a surprising climax. Well worth the read, both for the mystery as well as a sense of DC life in 1902.
The background is that President Teddy Roosevelt was in an accident in Pittsfield Massachusetts in 1902, when a trolley ran into the horse drawn carriage. Roosevelt’s bodyguard is killed, but the driver, the other rider in the carriage, Governor of Massachusetts and the driver were thrown from the carriage, but did not died (so far, all true).
But Roosevelt believes it was an attempted assassination. He has his Secretary of State, John Hays, investigate. The investigation proceeds, building on interactions with other known (historical) figures of the time (and these figures play prominent roles in the story).
The author captures the times (turn of the century) and place (DC) well, and how people are coping with the new technologies of communication and horseless carriages; he also does a nice job of locating a key scene at Mason Island, now Roosevelt Island. Other scenes take place around Lafayette Square, where Hay lives, and where Roosevelt’s temporary living quarter is when the white house is being renovated.
I had the pleasure of meeting that author at a book event at my local bookstore, One More Page, where he gave an overview of the times of the book, and the way he used the constraints of both history as well as the mystery novel to construct the story.
While the book may seem to start slow to many readers, it picks up at end, and it is a surprising climax. Well worth the read, both for the mystery as well as a sense of DC life in 1902.
August 5, 2023
John Hay, detective? Can't say that I was clamoring for it...and the ultimate resolution to the mystery feels like a convenient cliche, allowing it to tie into real history. But the personalities, Hay included, were well characterized, and the taste of life at the turn of the 20th century was fascinating enough to keep me interested.
December 15, 2019
“Dee-lighted,” Theodore Roosevelt says when he greets his Secretary of State, John Hay, in an early chapter of THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT. That could be an excellent one-word review of Burt Solomon’s novel. It is a thoroughly delightful read for several reasons.
For myself, I was excited to read a work of fiction featuring John Hay. Hay began public life with one of the most fascinating jobs in the world: serving as one of President Lincoln’s two secretaries. (Solomon’s previous novel featuring Hay, THE MURDER OF WILLIE LINCOLN, is set in this period.) Hay was an astute and incisive chronicler of the Lincoln presidency, and spent his career weaving in and out of Republican politics. He had been picked as Secretary of State by William McKinley, and stayed on in the new administration after McKinley’s assassination.
Although Roosevelt would be the target of an assassin’s bullet after he left the White House, Solomon’s novel centers on a real-world episode that took place during his presidency --- a Massachusetts carriage accident that injured TR and killed his lone Secret Service bodyguard. In Solomon’s fiction, the supposed accident was, as TR suspects, a conspiracy --- and he enlists Hay to get to the bottom of it.
Solomon presents Hay in much the same way --- and much to the same effect --- as Hilary Mantel did of Thomas Cromwell in WOLF HALL. Both Hay and Cromwell are public men whose best work is hidden because it has to be. (And both work for an impetuous and mercurial boss, although it really isn’t fair to either Henry VIII or TR to draw the comparison much further.) Cromwell and Hay are presented as having more modern habits of mind than either historical figure likely would have had. The difference is that Hay is much more fun to be around as a narrator. This is largely because Hay was a more well-rounded individual --- Solomon, for instance, always has him jotting down poetry, which is not too far from reality. (He also puts Hay, at 60 years old, in the boxing ring, which isn’t exactly historical and doesn’t do much to move the plot forward.)
The structure of the book, though, owes less to Mantel and more to Agatha Christie. This is a very old-fashioned sort of murder mystery, where most everyone is a suspect and there are the standard red herrings and false leads. A better comparison would be THE ALIENIST, Caleb Carr’s superb psychological mystery (which also features TR as a minor character). Both books share an abiding love for turn-of-the-century America and a profound interest in how the country was changing and growing at that time.
Primarily, though, THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT is about delighting its audience, and Solomon does a thorough job of doing just that. He breathes life not only into the character of John Hay, but also to a host of other luminaries ranging from Henry Adams to Nellie Bly. Hay is nobody’s idea of a great detective, but he works his way through the labyrinthine plot with verve and purpose. Anyone with any kind of interest in the period and the characters will be glad to immerse themselves in the narrative, and the more casual mystery reader will appreciate the overall sense of suspense and gratification at the resolution.
Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
For myself, I was excited to read a work of fiction featuring John Hay. Hay began public life with one of the most fascinating jobs in the world: serving as one of President Lincoln’s two secretaries. (Solomon’s previous novel featuring Hay, THE MURDER OF WILLIE LINCOLN, is set in this period.) Hay was an astute and incisive chronicler of the Lincoln presidency, and spent his career weaving in and out of Republican politics. He had been picked as Secretary of State by William McKinley, and stayed on in the new administration after McKinley’s assassination.
Although Roosevelt would be the target of an assassin’s bullet after he left the White House, Solomon’s novel centers on a real-world episode that took place during his presidency --- a Massachusetts carriage accident that injured TR and killed his lone Secret Service bodyguard. In Solomon’s fiction, the supposed accident was, as TR suspects, a conspiracy --- and he enlists Hay to get to the bottom of it.
Solomon presents Hay in much the same way --- and much to the same effect --- as Hilary Mantel did of Thomas Cromwell in WOLF HALL. Both Hay and Cromwell are public men whose best work is hidden because it has to be. (And both work for an impetuous and mercurial boss, although it really isn’t fair to either Henry VIII or TR to draw the comparison much further.) Cromwell and Hay are presented as having more modern habits of mind than either historical figure likely would have had. The difference is that Hay is much more fun to be around as a narrator. This is largely because Hay was a more well-rounded individual --- Solomon, for instance, always has him jotting down poetry, which is not too far from reality. (He also puts Hay, at 60 years old, in the boxing ring, which isn’t exactly historical and doesn’t do much to move the plot forward.)
The structure of the book, though, owes less to Mantel and more to Agatha Christie. This is a very old-fashioned sort of murder mystery, where most everyone is a suspect and there are the standard red herrings and false leads. A better comparison would be THE ALIENIST, Caleb Carr’s superb psychological mystery (which also features TR as a minor character). Both books share an abiding love for turn-of-the-century America and a profound interest in how the country was changing and growing at that time.
Primarily, though, THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT is about delighting its audience, and Solomon does a thorough job of doing just that. He breathes life not only into the character of John Hay, but also to a host of other luminaries ranging from Henry Adams to Nellie Bly. Hay is nobody’s idea of a great detective, but he works his way through the labyrinthine plot with verve and purpose. Anyone with any kind of interest in the period and the characters will be glad to immerse themselves in the narrative, and the more casual mystery reader will appreciate the overall sense of suspense and gratification at the resolution.
Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
January 31, 2020
Just released in Dec. 2019, this historical fiction novel is based on a real event. It was an enjoyable and humorous read, putting Secretary of State John Hay in the role of detective. Solomon introduces a host of interesting characters, descriptions of people and places are pithy and inventive, his language is authentic and charming, and the plot is fast paced. At first, I found the idea of Secretary of State John Hay in the role of detective might strain credulity, since he’s 63 years old at the time. However the voice of the piece suits the old gent just fine, (including his failed attempts at poetry) he’s self-deprecating and down to earth and well aware of his faults, so it works.
At first Hay believes he’s just investigating an accident, but as events unfold the plot keeps getting more involved. Soon we’re questioning everyone, including the Pittsfield chief of Police! While Secretary of State Hay must also attend to business during this time, I found the little asides into foreign policy deftly done, brief and easy to understand. Best of all, the ending was a complete surprise, unraveling with a series of dramatic reveals. After reading this one, I absolutely intend to read Solomon’s first book 'the Murder of Willie Lincoln'.
At first Hay believes he’s just investigating an accident, but as events unfold the plot keeps getting more involved. Soon we’re questioning everyone, including the Pittsfield chief of Police! While Secretary of State Hay must also attend to business during this time, I found the little asides into foreign policy deftly done, brief and easy to understand. Best of all, the ending was a complete surprise, unraveling with a series of dramatic reveals. After reading this one, I absolutely intend to read Solomon’s first book 'the Murder of Willie Lincoln'.
February 15, 2020
I did not like this book like I had thought I would. I almost quit reading it halfway through, but I didn't--and I wish I had. John Hay is an unlikable character, the book dragged on forever, and then at the end is the usual author's note about how many liberties he took with the book.
January 14, 2020
Historical fact: In September 1902, less than a year after he assumed the Presidency upon the murder of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt was involved in a collision between the horse-drawn carriage in which he was riding and an electric streetcar, resulting in the death of a Secret Service agent assigned to him. -- From this tantalizing historical footnote, Burt Solomon has spun a (mostly) satisfying mystery, for TR is convinced this was no accident, but an attempt on his life. Ironically, he dispatches the man with perhaps the most to gain from his death, Secretary of State John Hay, to investigate. (At the time, the Secretary of State was next in line to succeed to the Presidency, after the Vice President.) Hay has had some experience in sleuthing (dating back to his time in the Lincoln White House), but he enters his task with mixed feelings. He is not initially convinced that there is anything to Roosevelt's suspicions, but, then, odd discrepancies begin to crop up. Why, for example, was the streetcar stopped for a period of some 19 minutes at the top of the hill above the collision site? Was the streetcar drive an anarchist...or merely a labor rabble-rouser? Why is the attorney appointed for the two trolley employees arrested in connection with the incident murdered in Washington, D.C., when he comes to speak with Hay and others? Who, besides Hay himself, has a motive for wanting to see President Roosevelt dead? Mark Hanna, the Ohio Senator who was a power behind McKinley's throne? J. P. Morgan, who opposes TR's initiatives against monopolies? George B. Cortelyou, the President's personal secretary (a position he also held under McKinley)? Was TR even the intended target -- or was it papermaking magnate Winthrop Crane, currently the Governor of Massachusetts? Hay begins to suspect he might be stumbling onto something nefarious when his life is threatened. Can he find answers before he himself becomes a victim? -- John Hay makes a very appealing detective, struggling with his strong attraction to Lizzie Cameron, collaborating with Nelly Bly, and shuttling back and forth between Pittsfield, MA, and D.C. The puzzle is very engaging and keeps the reader guessing. My only objection is that the ending/resolution of the book struck me as a bit rushed, and I did not believe enough ground had been previously laid for the solution offered. Then it's over. End of book. -- Still, I am eager to investigate Solomon's previous novel -- and can recommend this as an enjoyable mystery story.
April 4, 2020
William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, bringing Theodore Roosevelt to the top spot. Less than a year into T. R’s presidency he was on a tour of New England when his carriage was rammed by a runaway streetcar. The new president was injured and his bodyguard was killed. An accident? Teddy suspected foul play and sent John Hay, his secretary of state, to investigate. And that’s the book. There is a lot to like about TAMOTR, written in Hay’s first person voice. The carriage accident is just the beginning. Hay is warned off the investigation and more dirty deeds follow.
What I really enjoyed though was the dedication to detail. Turn-of-the-century America is vividly displayed (specifically Washington D.C.) in the political dealings, the styles of dress, popular culture, and especially the ways new technologies were clashing with the old. Automobiles, moving pictures, telephones, electric lights. What a confusing and exciting time it must have been to be alive.
What I really enjoyed though was the dedication to detail. Turn-of-the-century America is vividly displayed (specifically Washington D.C.) in the political dealings, the styles of dress, popular culture, and especially the ways new technologies were clashing with the old. Automobiles, moving pictures, telephones, electric lights. What a confusing and exciting time it must have been to be alive.
December 18, 2019
John Hay was a friend of Abraham Lincoln's and the only secretary of state to publish a book of poetry. This book (and the first in the series) posit that he was also a detective, investigating crimes at the behest of the presidents he served. The (real life) near disaster when an electric trolley rammed into Roosevelt's carriage is recreated here as a possible assassination attempt, with Hay--who, because of his office, was next in line for the presidency--investigating at TR's command. Helping him in Washington, where so many of his suspects cluster, is retired newswoman Nelly Bly, now respectably married and rather bored. Neither the cover nor the blurb much appealed to me, but once I started reading, Solomon's writing--and Hay's voice--fascinated me and kept me turning pages until rather too late at night.
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January 2, 2026sill reading
Historical fact: 1902 - TR was finishing campaign tour of Mass. and was in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires. A trolley car, running when all were supposed to be stopped while TR in town for a few hours, barrels down a hill, runs into TR's carriage, killing his bodyguard and throwing him and Mass. Gov. out of carriage, both survived with surface injuries. Deemed an accident and both motorman and conductor of streetcar convicted of manslaughter....... but
Fictional book: TR tells Secy State John Hay to investigate to see if anarchists behind this and it was more than an accident. TR is my fave pres. so this book is great. I read a couple of chapters at a time to savor it. So it's a historical mystery. It got mixed reviews, but so far I'm giving it 5 stars, as it is a book I would read again (there's so many details you really can't absorb all of them the first time around).
I can't figure out where to ask this question, so I guess I'll wonder forever.
In the prologue, TR is heading to Lenox. Yet, when Hull is questioned, he said he was heading to the country club (in Pittsfield) to 'get there before the President'. Which one is right?
Still reading, will post review later - but absolutely enjoying this book !!
Historical fact: 1902 - TR was finishing campaign tour of Mass. and was in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires. A trolley car, running when all were supposed to be stopped while TR in town for a few hours, barrels down a hill, runs into TR's carriage, killing his bodyguard and throwing him and Mass. Gov. out of carriage, both survived with surface injuries. Deemed an accident and both motorman and conductor of streetcar convicted of manslaughter....... but
Fictional book: TR tells Secy State John Hay to investigate to see if anarchists behind this and it was more than an accident. TR is my fave pres. so this book is great. I read a couple of chapters at a time to savor it. So it's a historical mystery. It got mixed reviews, but so far I'm giving it 5 stars, as it is a book I would read again (there's so many details you really can't absorb all of them the first time around).
I can't figure out where to ask this question, so I guess I'll wonder forever.
In the prologue, TR is heading to Lenox. Yet, when Hull is questioned, he said he was heading to the country club (in Pittsfield) to 'get there before the President'. Which one is right?
Still reading, will post review later - but absolutely enjoying this book !!
March 19, 2021
A bit disappointing. The author had a great premise (was the 1902 Pittsfield, MASS accident in which Teddy could have been killed an accident - or an attempted murder? Unfortunately, he was too wordy and had too many characters. I liked the ending - didn't figure out who was behind the attempt - but there were many pages that I skimmed because who cared?
If you're a Teddy fan, like me, don't bother reading it. However, if you enjoy the challenge of a historical mystery then you would probably enjoy this.
If you're a Teddy fan, like me, don't bother reading it. However, if you enjoy the challenge of a historical mystery then you would probably enjoy this.
December 18, 2019
“Dee-lighted,” Theodore Roosevelt says when he greets his Secretary of State, John Hay, in an early chapter of THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT. That could be an excellent one-word review of Burt Solomon’s novel. It is a thoroughly delightful read for several reasons.
Read the full review at Bookreporter.com: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/...
Read the full review at Bookreporter.com: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/...
December 20, 2024
What a delightful book!!! I so enjoyed it. Even though a historical fiction novel, it is based on the occurrence that really happened. Loved all the characters--you felt like you were right there in 1902. Good to know that politicians were ladies men back then also. The mystery of "who done it" was handled so well and kept you wondering/guessing which is what a great novel should do.
January 14, 2020
Audiobook. Too many characters, too many adverbs and adjectives in every single sentence. I couldn’t get interested in this book due to the abundance of descriptive words that took away from the plot/story. Stopped listening after 1-1/2 hours.
July 19, 2020
John Hay, a Secretary of State under TR as well as secretary to Abraham Lincoln, is tasked to investigate an accident that nearly killed TR in 1902. It is a good mixture of historical facts and historical conjecture.
August 23, 2020
I thought I'd like this much more than I did. The Lizzie subplot seemed just filler, the Sherlock references grew tiresome, and the constant Lincoln references were annoying. Maybe I should have read the Lincoln book first.
Read
January 1, 2020did not finish - lost interest
January 19, 2020
Slow start but once it picks up (and Nellie Bly shows up!) it was difficult to put it down! Loved the idea of John Hay, Secretary of State at the time, doing detective work and solving the case!
February 1, 2020
I just do not like mysteries written in the first person.
February 29, 2020
A fun little book. Enjoyed the settings especially Washington DC in 1902. And the characters. Based on some true events of which I knew nothing about so I really appreciate that aspect of the story.
August 12, 2020
Very good. Now I have to back and read the first one. Good history
September 3, 2020
A good yarn.
October 21, 2020
Dull, dull, dull! When you pick up the book out of a sense of obligation and find no reading pleasure, it’s time to move on.
March 8, 2021
Very wordy. Tedious. Plot moved slowly. I did not finish it
July 30, 2021
Fun idea, but sometimes it seems like he is confused about the tone he wants to take for the book and the main character.
November 29, 2021
A historical who-dunnit, weaving a fictional tale of an attempted assassination with real people and real events early in the Roosevelt administration.
March 3, 2022
Very good read! fascinating piece of history!
October 14, 2022
Interesting and fun re-imaging of a true event in the life of TR.
December 14, 2022
Entertaining. Okay.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews