The Murder of Willie Lincoln: A Novel

by Burt Solomon

The Murder of Willie Lincoln is an exciting historical fiction debut by award-winning journalist Burt Solomon.

Washington City, 1862: The United States lies in tatters, and the Civil War seems without end, despite Abraham Lincoln's determination to keep his beloved country united. Lincoln's soul is tested when tragedy strikes the White House: Willie, Lincoln's eleven-year-old son, the shining light in the president's life, dies--of typhoid fever, the doctors say.

Then a message arrives, suggesting that murder, not illness, caused Willie's death. Lincoln asks John Hay, his trusted aide, to investigate. Hay, a boxer and a poet, is an adventurous, irreverent, skeptical, even cynical young man who is as close to Lincoln as a son.

The more Hay unearths, the more daunting his task seems. Suspicions of a secessionist conspiracy within the Executive Mansion itself. A threat to Lincoln's surviving sons. An extortion attempt against the president's hellcat of a wife. As the war rages on, John Hay chases the truth of Willie's murder through the loftiest and lowest corners of Washington City.

As he closes in, he discovers just how far Lincoln's enemies will go to keep him silent.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, 19th Century, Mystery Thriller, Civil War, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2017

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can only imagine.

Death and its aftermath visits Abraham Lincoln hour after hour and day after day. The horrendous loss of life on the battlefield weighs heavy on his soul. He wears it like a second skin close to his heart.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, catches in his breath like a continuous sob that never leaves. The loss of his beloved son, Willie, is just too much to bear. Eyes brimming with tears, Lincoln turns within and tries to right this ship. A country is torn apart in hatred and he, Lincoln, visualizes only love. Love for a wee boy taken in his innocence.

It's February of 1862 and the city of Washington has been embraced by war and covered in the miasma of swampy water, poor drainage, and the fumes of stagnation surrounding the Potomac area. It's the perfect breeding ground for typhoid, typhus, and a multitude of transferrable diseases. And so young Willie succombs to typhoid fever within days.

Burt Solomon surrounds you, within this White House, with the notables of the day. Mary Todd Lincoln (also known as the Hell-Cat), Robert and Tad, Seward, Alan Pinkerton, and a vast cast of advisors and staff. We come to know John Hay, Lincoln's assistant private secretary. Hay has been influenced by the notoriety of Vidocq, a prior criminal himself and the founder of the Surete Nationale of France. Vidocq believes in precise investigation and research. "Start at the edge and work your way in."

With peaked interest and a questioning nature, John Hay visits Lincoln and presents the ultimate scenario: what if Willie did not die a victim of typhoid but of murder instead? In addition, Hay has received threatening letters left in his satchel in his office. Strange Bible verses and peculiar messages. Lincoln, in his deep grief, allows Hay to investigate further.

Solomon sets the stage for deep inquiries into motive and opportunity. Would it have been a staff member of the White House? Could it have been the conspiracy of secessionists in the Executive Mansion? Was it the dosage of arsenic or mercury that could mimic the symptoms of typhoid? What better way to strike at Lincoln and inflict the ultimate pain?

Burt Solomon presents a remarkable storyline of historical fiction surrounding the Lincoln White House of the time period. His research is impeccable and his ability "to take you there" is uncanny. You will be well-taken with the character presentation of John Hay and his relationship with Lincoln. Solomon's Lincoln is wrapped in loss and tragedy. But he also injects the famous Lincoln humor. Watch for the "Dranesville" story that Lincoln shares here.

This is quite the read that allows us the liberty of questioning what we once believed. Although a work of fiction, Burt Solomon heightens the degree of inquiry. In modern times, we are painfully aware that not all is what it appears to be. Well done, Mr. Solomon. So well done.

I received a copy of The Murder of Willie Lincoln through NetGalley. My thanks to Forge Books and to Burt Solomon for the opportunity.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Lincoln buff! So when this book caught my eye at the library I had to get it. Interesting details and facts were put into this book. It kinda gives you a more sinister outcome of what could have happen to Willie Lincoln. It took me a lot of pages to really get into the story not because of the storyline but I think it's the way the author presented it. I feel in love with John Hays.He was quite the character. You would have thought maybe he was a little cynical but you could really tell how much he loved President Lincoln. He sets out to solve the mysterious death surrounding Willie. Like I said I'm a huge Lincoln buff so I enjoyed reading about one history parts and mystery parts. Makes you wonder if this could be plausible. And Mary Lincoln is portrayed has some of sort of hell cat a Momma lion if you will. And that is how Mothers are suppose to be. Great read if you like a lot of history and mystery.

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if Willie Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln didn't die in 1862 because of illness? What if he was murdered instead? Who would kill a child? And why? Could it be that someone hated his father enough to kill the son? Lincoln asks his trusted aid John Hay, to investigate Willie's death, to find out if the boy's death could have been brought on by someone in the White House.

The Murder of Willie Lincoln is a "What If" story about Abraham Lincolns sons' death. This historical mystery book felt very well-researched, I particularly liked the author's note at the end of the book where he explained how much is true in the story. Personally, did I find the story both engrossed me, but also there were parts when I felt the investigation dragged on a bit. I have to admit that I sometimes found the story a bit hard to focus on as John Hay dug for information and interviewed people. But, there are also moments that shined, and that's often when Abraham or his wife Mary Lincoln was involved in the story. Those moments, their loss of their son was so gripping. I thought after finishing the book that I wouldn't have minded the book without the mystery, and I love historical mystery books.

Now, it may sound that I did not enjoy the mystery of Willie's death, but I did. It was just that it did not grip me the same way as the parts when the parents mourned their son. However, I was still curious to learn the truth and I was, to be honest, astonished about the ending of the book.

I found The Murder of Willie to be an interesting book and it made me want to read more about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willie Lincoln, the eleven-year-son of President Abraham Lincoln, died on February 20, 1862 of typhoid fever or did he? Burt Soloman’s The Murder of Willie Lincoln questions this statement. Mr. Solomon, a”contributing editor for The Atlantic and National Journal where he has covered the White House” and “in 1991, he won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency, decided to try his hand at fiction, and with Abraham Lincoln being a favorite subject of his, Solomon resolved to question Willie’s death.

It is 1862, and the Lincoln White House is embroiled in the Civil War when in February Willie and Tad, Lincoln’s youngest living sons, become quite ill. The Ancient (Lincoln) and the Hell-Cat (Mrs. Lincoln) suffered through the days of Willie’s delirium while also providing the most ‘expert’ care for both of their sick sons. Willie would alternate from coma-like state to eating pudding and asking to see Tad’s goat, Nanko. Ultimately and finally, Willie closed his eyes for the last time, and “a guttural wail erupted”. Lincoln cried out,”My boy is gone.” Death by typhoid fever.

Then a message appears in an aide’s satchel. Mr. John Hay grabs for the envelope and reads to whom it was addressed ‘MR. TRAITOR LINCOLN. Questions begin. The author presents a quite plausible scenario and a thorough one. The setting plays a major role. Washington City; 1862; The South/Virginia too close to Washington City; slavery ever present; “At ten o’clock, any Negro caught on the street would be subject to a ten-dollar fine and a jail cell until morning.”; secessionists everywhere; Lincoln, the President-elect, had to sneak into Washington City “in the dead of night” with Detective Pinkerton’s assistance to avoid “Baltimore’s murderous plug-uglies”. Hate grows worse daily!

I find Lincoln captivating as I believe the author does. He has written an intriguing mystery with history thrown in for free!! 4 stars

[Matt Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a little trouble following the suspect list and the "reveal" was a genuine suprise. But this speculative historical fiction did a better job time traveling me to 1860s washington d.c. ...the author brought lincoln, seward, etc. to life. Good reads. :)

[Becky]

I received this book for an honest review.
This book is fiction, isn’t it??
While reading the Murder of Willie Lincoln by Burt Soloman I kept thinking “You know this could really be true” Just like all the different stories and plots you hear about was this really murder or accidental death.
The book begins with the United States in the middle of a Civil War and President Lincoln is doing everything he can to win but while is mind on ending the war. Suddenly his youngest son Willie gets sick.
Now there is another dark cloud over the White House and young Willie struggles against typhoid fever or could it be poison? The death of his youngest son crushes President Lincoln and he begins to think, was typhoid fever really the cause of his son’s death. So, he asks a trusted aide, John Hay, to investigate.
Hay is more than happy to oblige and he begins to trudge through mud, sewers and seedy spots all over D.C to dig deep into a possible murder investigation and has several suspects, but what Hay discovers could ruin the President and his family, but this secret will never be told. No one must ever know.
I enjoyed this book and Soloman made it read like it was realistic. I would suggest that anyone who likes mystery read this book through twist and turn to find a murder and the truth is buried. Also, anyone who likes history just reading how bad things were in our nation’s capital in 1862.


The Murder of Willie Lincoln

[Annabelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagined history/mystery about the death of Willie Lincoln. An unflattering picture of the Lincoln family. I disliked the solution to the supposed crime.

[Jill Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a fictional tale, this story felt real. To know so much of it was straight out of the history books helped. Thoroughly enjoyed this alternate history.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise for the story and applaud the creative liberties it took. I’d give it 3.5 stars if I could.

[Sherri Siegfriedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. It took me quite a while to get into it & after 100 pages still wasn't sure I wanted to continue. Not because of the subject matter but how the author was presenting it. I had to keep going back to check facts that just blew by me. Gave me a lot to think about as far as really dysfunctional family goes but so many questions about the 3 boys & how they were being raised. Makes me wonder about Tad being autistic or a savant? I've read a number of books on Mary Todd Lincoln and from the beginning she seemed like a train wreck just waiting to happen. But a fascinating subject! And not at all surprised who was behind the so called conspiracy! I'm not sure if I would choose another book by this author.

[David Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book in the murder mystery genre. Filled with real historical facts, it's clear the author did his homework and spent considerable time building the story on a framework of true characters, incidents, and statements. I found the murder mystery enjoyable enough with many twists and turns. The ending came as a complete surprise. Readers who like Lincoln and murder investigation type novels will find this appealing.

[Curtis Edmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book right after I read THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT, which I quite enjoyed. This book, however, is not nearly as enjoyable, which is a shame.

Two main points:

First, the TR book works much better because it's first-person narration; this is third-person limited and it's extremely clunky by comparison. The first-person works better for John Hay, who is the best part about both books.

Second, the TR book works much better because TR is a more interesting character than Lincoln. Not to say that Honest Abe isn't interesting, certainly he is, but TR is much more lively. Of course, the death (murder?) of Willie Lincoln has a huge effect on his father, making the martyred Christ of democracy's passion play that much more depressed than usual. But Lincoln's hard to write anyway, even from Hay's perspective (Hay, after all, wrote seven volumes of Lincoln memoirs, with Nicolay, he had maybe the best perspective of anyone). We don't really learn anything about Lincoln that we don't know already.

Finally--I'm not out to spoil this, but I did not think the central mystery was handled well, and was rolling my eyes considerably at the "solution."

THE MURDER OF WILLIE LINCOLN is a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time, and should be of great interest to Lincoln fans, but I can't see my way clear to recommending it, certainly not to the degree that I recommend the TR book.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the quality of the writing, I might have given this book four stars, but the author does something that, to my mind, is unethical. I love historical fiction, and I understand that historical novelists, as opposed to authors of straight history, have more or less artistic license. That's what makes historical fiction so enjoyable! But this author has abused that license to besmirch a real historical figure who I believe was a good and decent person; I won't tell you who since that would be a spoiler. Granted, the whole premise of the book is a little "out there" -- Willie Lincoln being murdered by poisoning rather than dying of typhoid fever -- but the author has done his research and actually makes it plausible. He also does a fine job of conveying the atmosphere -- both physical and emotional -- of the time and place, and his dialogue and psychological insights seem spot-on. In other words, Burt Solomon is a very capable writer, and I might read something else by him, since I enjoyed his writing style immensely. But I take serious issue with who he made the villain, and feel that it crossed an ethical line. Those who can tolerate much more looseness with historical fact than I do might be okay with it.

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Burt Solomon transports readers back to Washington City in 1862. Abraham Lincoln is the president; America is embattled in a great Civil War. The Lincoln family is devastated when their middle surviving son, William Wallace, better known as Willie, dies from typhoid fever. Students of the Lincolns can with confidence that neither Abe nor his wife Mary is ever the same.

Lincoln is so beside himself with grief, and given the political climate of the time, he begins to wonder how little Willie could have died. He asks his personal secretary, John Hay, to discreetly look into Willie’s death, just to make sure that he didn’t suffer at another’s hands.

This is not a fast read; it wasn’t a page-turner for me. However, what I did find riveting what the details. Solomon has done an excellent job in recreating the period so that readers may feel they have traveled to the 1860s.

Right before the ending was revealed, Hay made his case for Willie’s death at the hands of a well-known traitor. The fact that this person had not been seen before in the storyline was a little disconcerting, but it’s fiction, so I was willing to let it slide. But as Hay further drew his net, an settled on a completely different person, I found it unrealistic. The motive makes sense, but Solomon isn’t able to make a strong case.

The Murder of Willie Lincoln receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

[Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a had time putting this book down. I enjoy having some variety in the books I am reading, so a good historical novel about one of my favorite presidents, and a murder mystery as well, seemed a good choice. I was not disappointed. It is so well researched and well integrated with actual historical events and people of 1862 Washington D.C., that everything was completely believable. I appreciated the author's "Afterward" section that explained in detail the differences between the historical people and events, and those which were revised or added to the storyline. It helps to answer the natural questions of "did that really happen?" or "is that a real person?".
I did not like a couple of places where sexual encounters were included which were completely unnecessary to the plot development. Who knows why someone feels that these have to be included in many novels.
Other than that, this is history in its most enjoyable form. Not a "photograph" of history, but a vivid "painting".

[Tom Bantle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and entertaining historical mystery. Solomon’s choice of John Hay as his “detective” is brilliant: history tells us a lot about him, he kept a journal, he had access to President Lincoln and everyone else in the White House. Solomon brings Hay to life and draws sharp characterizations of those he encounters.

Plot wise, Solomon’s red-herrings are scattered and rather unbelievable. Spoiler alert: when you do finally know who the murderer was and who was a confederate, Solomon chose wisely. Historically, one was involved in the assassination of Lincoln; the other was present at the next two Presidential assassinations and at Tad Lincoln’s death.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Could have been a very good book had the language been a little less flowery (for lack of a better word) and more relateable. The book drug on far more than needed at times. I didn't feel the need for every single little description and thought to be spelled out. John hay comes across as arrogant and a wind bag, even when thinking to himself. Lincoln comes across as somewhat dramatic and weak in places and that doesn't ring true. The premise of the book itself was quite interesting and makes you wonder if it could have happened, though not this way.

[JMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery featuring Abraham Lincoln? I had to give it a try, and was glad I did. I especially liked the main character, John Hay. As in real life, Hay is one of Lincoln’s private secretaries. His delightful fictional counterpart sets out to discover whether or not Lincoln’s beloved son Willie was poisoned, and who might have done the deed. The historical references and figures in the book were spot-on and used judiciously, making for a very enjoyable read.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was willing to give the author another try after I read his other novel that revolved around the attempted murder of Theodore Roosevelt. This one was only slightly better though I enjoyed the depiction of the inner workings of the Lincoln White House. Again, I had troubling picturing John Hay as a detective but his efforts are commendable especially when he is threatened by violence from time to time. The ending is, I will say, is surprising.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional story based on real-life events. Willie Lincoln actually died of typhoid fever, but the premise of this book is that he was murdered, instead, and that John Hay, an advisor to President Lincoln, takes it upon himself to find the killer.

A bit slow-paced, but quite entertaining, and historically very accurate.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting picture of the culture and society of Washington city during the Lincoln days while exploring a theory about Wilkie Lincoln's death. I always like to google historical figures when I read and this author seems very accurate.

[Natali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it! Very nicely done. Entertaining and interesting. As someone who is interested in the period, I knew that the plot strayed from reality a little, but that did not clash with the joy of reading the book.

[Darcie Saunier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I found it odd at times. I listened to the audiobook version and that might be the trouble as the book seems to jump from scene to scene. Perhaps the reader on the audiobook didn't pause long enough for me to make that mental break.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solomon did a great job of giving the reader a sense of place. I got lost in the number of characters presented and that gave me some difficulty in following the story to end. Was it worth the read, yes BUT....

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt like I was always walking into a conversation that was started without me. Hard to follow.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-paced mystery that gets better & better as it goes along. The surprises toward the end are what really make the story -- and then lend everything before them a spooky kind of credibility.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[Mary Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read 2 books about Elizabeth Keckley (sp), I found it hard to imagine her as an important character in the plot.
Kept falling asleep reading this.

[D. Wickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It gives an alternate (totally fictional) reason for the death of President Lincoln's son Willie, while in the White House.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but mostly kind of boring. I bought it for my 10 year old son, but quickly realized this book is NOT for kids!