What do you think?
Rate this book
The First Assassin
Winter 1861: the United States teeters on the brink of civil war. In Washington, D.C., Colonel Charles P. Rook is tapped to organize the district’s security and to protect president-elect Abraham Lincoln from the death threats pouring in to the White House. He surrounds the president with bodyguards and fills the city’s rooftops with sharpshooters, diligently investigating the conspiracies being fomented with increasing intensity by Southern secessionists. Yet amidst the chaos and confusion, a foreigner slips unnoticed into the teeming city. Hired by a wealthy Southern planter to eliminate President Lincoln and destroy the Union once and for all, the assassin catches Rook’s attention by cutting down anyone who gets in his way. As the bodies begin to pile up, Rook realizes he is caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with a cold-blooded killer who will stop at nothing to complete his mission. Rook’s only hope is Portia, a runaway slave who holds the key to the assassin’s identity—if she can stay alive long enough to deliver it. Packed with dynamic characters, rich period detail, and a chillingly sinister villain, The First Assassin is a riveting thriller for fans of historical fiction.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2009
115 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
John J. Miller
35 books23 followersJohn J. Miller writes for National Review, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He is the author of The First Assassin, a historical thriller, plus several works of nonfiction. He is a contributing editor of Philanthropy magazine and a consultant to grantmaking foundations. The Chronicle of Higher Education has called him “one of the best literary journalists in the country.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 13, 2012
Usually, people say that thrillers are "taut," which is an odd sort of metaphor. You want your sheets to be taut, if you care about that sort of thing. You want your sails to be taut, if you want the wind to take you anywhere. But why does a book have to be taut? The only thing I can figure out is that tautness implies tension (which is another thing you always hear about thrillers, is that they are tense). A taut rope has a lot of stored-up energy in it, and it may break at any moment, so there's that. So maybe that's what you need in a thriller: energy plus suspense.
The First Assassin is about an attempted (fictional) assassination on Abraham Lincoln that (spoiler alert!) never happened. That takes out a good bit of the suspense right there; you know that the assassin won't succeed. You can still tell the story, though, and do a good job of it, but to do that you are well-advised to keep the story energized. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite happen here.
Johm Miller's The First Assassin manages to do a good job in keeping up the action about half the time. And the action, when it happens, is fairly good. You have a Union officer seeking to keep the President safe, and he is busy in most of the book in ferreting out plots. You have a young, attractive female slave on a Low Country plantation, who is handed a shocking piece of information about an assassin. You have said assassin, a sinister Cuban gun-for-hire, slinking around the mean streets of Washington. All of this is good, and the action scenes, when they happen, are well-written, and well, taut. (That's the word people use. I told you so.)
The problem is that so many parts of The First Assassin are, well, slack. There's an annoying subplot about who will inherit the estate of the South Carolina fire-eater who hires the assassin that could just as easily have been cut out. There is scene after scene after scene where the intrepid Union officer is summoned to meet with General Scott and brief him on what just happened. There's a fairly interesting bit about an American-style Gunpowder Plot that fizzles out and disappears halfway through.
The single most annoying bit of business is the assassin's scheme to kill the President, and how he goes about doing it. Without giving too much away, all you really need is a paragraph to explain what the assassin buys to conceal his weapon, and another two about how he conceals it. What you get is a whole raft of exposition about the people he buys the equipment from, which I guess is there to serve as local color, but mostly just gets in the way of the story.
The characters are something of a mixed bag. Lincoln is here, and if there's any character that's easier to write into a fictional narrative than Lincoln, I'd like to know about him - we know so much of what he says, and his habits, that it's hard to treat him like a regular character in a regular novel. Here, he mostly functions as a quote machine, saying the things we know he said. The Confederate sympathizer who serves as a means for the good guys to track down the bad guys is too phony and self-centered to make much of an impact. The courageous slave girl is there to suffer and not much more.
Where Miller does well in The First Assassin is to tell the historical story of the early days of the Civil War, to make the city of Washington come alive, and to set up action scenes that are lively, gripping, and telling. The First Assassin works on its own merits, but it doesn't transcend them. (That's what you say in a book review when you say that the book is pretty good and you should read it but don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.)
The First Assassin is about an attempted (fictional) assassination on Abraham Lincoln that (spoiler alert!) never happened. That takes out a good bit of the suspense right there; you know that the assassin won't succeed. You can still tell the story, though, and do a good job of it, but to do that you are well-advised to keep the story energized. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite happen here.
Johm Miller's The First Assassin manages to do a good job in keeping up the action about half the time. And the action, when it happens, is fairly good. You have a Union officer seeking to keep the President safe, and he is busy in most of the book in ferreting out plots. You have a young, attractive female slave on a Low Country plantation, who is handed a shocking piece of information about an assassin. You have said assassin, a sinister Cuban gun-for-hire, slinking around the mean streets of Washington. All of this is good, and the action scenes, when they happen, are well-written, and well, taut. (That's the word people use. I told you so.)
The problem is that so many parts of The First Assassin are, well, slack. There's an annoying subplot about who will inherit the estate of the South Carolina fire-eater who hires the assassin that could just as easily have been cut out. There is scene after scene after scene where the intrepid Union officer is summoned to meet with General Scott and brief him on what just happened. There's a fairly interesting bit about an American-style Gunpowder Plot that fizzles out and disappears halfway through.
The single most annoying bit of business is the assassin's scheme to kill the President, and how he goes about doing it. Without giving too much away, all you really need is a paragraph to explain what the assassin buys to conceal his weapon, and another two about how he conceals it. What you get is a whole raft of exposition about the people he buys the equipment from, which I guess is there to serve as local color, but mostly just gets in the way of the story.
The characters are something of a mixed bag. Lincoln is here, and if there's any character that's easier to write into a fictional narrative than Lincoln, I'd like to know about him - we know so much of what he says, and his habits, that it's hard to treat him like a regular character in a regular novel. Here, he mostly functions as a quote machine, saying the things we know he said. The Confederate sympathizer who serves as a means for the good guys to track down the bad guys is too phony and self-centered to make much of an impact. The courageous slave girl is there to suffer and not much more.
Where Miller does well in The First Assassin is to tell the historical story of the early days of the Civil War, to make the city of Washington come alive, and to set up action scenes that are lively, gripping, and telling. The First Assassin works on its own merits, but it doesn't transcend them. (That's what you say in a book review when you say that the book is pretty good and you should read it but don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.)
April 24, 2011
Well, as the stars indicate, I thought it was OK - - Its a rather long and somewhat tedious story of an assassin picked by two conservative Southerners to go to Washington and kill Abraham Lincoln. The book describes life in the United States just prior to the start of the Civil War. It covers both the view of Southerners and Northerners as well as life on a plantation from the slaves point of view. All of these issues are important but maybe would be better in a different setting - maybe a non-fictional account of that time period. The actual hunt for the killer starts about mid-way through the book. If you would like to know what Washington D.C. was like at that time in history then you'll like this book. If you're looking for a high-octane hunt for an assassin you might want to try another book.
September 10, 2017
Well-researched and entertaining but something about the writing style - particularly the dialogue and over-explaining every character's action (failing to "show, don't tell") - didn't connect with me. At times, the dialogue reminded me more of corny '80s action movies, taking me away from the Civil War-era setting. That said, it's a well-plotted novel that delivered some genuine thrills and was hard to put down, particularly during the third act.
Described by Vince Flynn as "like The Day in the Jackal set in 1861 Washington," this book is likely to appeal most strongly to people who understand Flynn's reference. I'm sure a cinematic adaptation of this would be fun to watch as well!
Described by Vince Flynn as "like The Day in the Jackal set in 1861 Washington," this book is likely to appeal most strongly to people who understand Flynn's reference. I'm sure a cinematic adaptation of this would be fun to watch as well!
May 27, 2012
At first one might think "ho hum," another presidential assassin story, but once you are into it, you just might not be able to put it down. This is told primarily from the point of view of the Colonel who is in charge of keeping President Abraham Lincoln generally safe when nobody but himself believes that one or more killers might be out to assassinate this most hated president. Conspiracy theories abound, and Colonel Rook must defy orders so that he can pursue the killers, one of which is a psychopath skilled in the art of international assassination.
With the entry of a young slave who is given the task of running away from her home on a southern plantation to deliver proof that President Lincoln is about to be killed, the story becomes even more intriguing. The novel weaves back and forth between the characters with their specific agendas, but never becomes so complicated that the reader can't easily follow the plot. Lincoln himself is used mainly as a prop around which events happen and no attempt is made to develop his character.
One of the novel's best features is how well it depicts the chaos and deterioration of the nation's capital as one southern state after another secedes from the union.
With the entry of a young slave who is given the task of running away from her home on a southern plantation to deliver proof that President Lincoln is about to be killed, the story becomes even more intriguing. The novel weaves back and forth between the characters with their specific agendas, but never becomes so complicated that the reader can't easily follow the plot. Lincoln himself is used mainly as a prop around which events happen and no attempt is made to develop his character.
One of the novel's best features is how well it depicts the chaos and deterioration of the nation's capital as one southern state after another secedes from the union.
August 15, 2016
“The First Assassin” was a well written historical novel. The events portrayed were realistic, as were the various characters in the story. The story is about Abraham Lincoln's first days in office, and the growing conflict between the north and south. The south has just attacked Fort Sumter, and has formed a plan to have Abraham Lincoln assassinated. The north has a conflict in its ranks as to how much the military should protect Abraham Lincoln. Col. Rook goes against orders to supply additional protection for the president, and stumbles on different plots in the making. Meanwhile, Lucius, a slave in South Carolina, uncovers information and a photograph related to the assassination, and sends his granddaughter, Portia, to inform the president. Being a slave complicates Portia's trip north. Mazorca, the assassin, reaches Washington D.C., and begins planning the assassination, with some help from Violet Grenier, a southern sympathizer. The story has its own twists and turns, keeping the reader interested out the book.
February 24, 2010
Good historical thriller, though you obviously know the outcome of a plot to assassinate Lincoln in 1861. The development of the minor characters is fine, though only one (Colonel Rook) is fully developed throughout the book. The historical details are well-done and thoroughly researched. The end felt a bit rushed, with a lot of loose ends tied up a bit too neatly, but otherwise it was a good read.
June 6, 2015
A nice piece of historical fiction about one of my favorite historical eras, the Civil War. Not the most exciting book but one that I think, conveys well the speed of the times. I love the portrayal of Lincoln, it captures his brilliant wit in the face of unimaginable troubles. If you like civil war fiction this story is worth the read.
October 3, 2016
This is an excellent thriller set in the first month of Lincoln's presidency. The characters are realistic and the action is believably from the 19th century (too much historical fiction lets 21st century attitudes and methods seep into the story, this one doesn't).
December 27, 2025
The dust cover braces readers of The First Assassin to expect a 19th-century Day of the Jackal. But author John Miller is an historian dipping his toes into fiction, a pedant who apologizes for diversions from recorded fact, who feels it his duty to clutter the plot with education:
“The portly fellow with the mutton chops. Is that who I think it is… General So-And-So?”
“The very same, dear. It’s hard to believe the hero of Battle Such-And-Such is right here in Important City.”
“And on the day of Big Event, no less!”
“Of course, I’ve seen his portrait in Mrs. Socialite’s parlor, but he’s so much more impressive in person, don’t you think?”
“How lucky Missy Ingenue is, betrothed to such a prominent citizen of That State.”
“She’ll no doubt bring a handsome dowry, given that Missy’s father is a leading purveyor of Necessary Commodity.”
The pace improves in the last hundred pages or so.
“The portly fellow with the mutton chops. Is that who I think it is… General So-And-So?”
“The very same, dear. It’s hard to believe the hero of Battle Such-And-Such is right here in Important City.”
“And on the day of Big Event, no less!”
“Of course, I’ve seen his portrait in Mrs. Socialite’s parlor, but he’s so much more impressive in person, don’t you think?”
“How lucky Missy Ingenue is, betrothed to such a prominent citizen of That State.”
“She’ll no doubt bring a handsome dowry, given that Missy’s father is a leading purveyor of Necessary Commodity.”
The pace improves in the last hundred pages or so.
July 12, 2019
Not sure how to rate this! To me it is a kind of book that I would take to the beach! I don't like typical beach reads but it is a very fast read and I will read anything, fiction or non-fiction that is connected to the Civil War or Lincoln. Lincoln had a small part but he had some good lines of humor. This was set in the time just before the war started and already assassin were after him.
I loved that a slave girl, Portia, demonstrated great courage and determination on her mission to protect Pres ident Lincoln. Added interest was provided by a bookshop owner and a poor bookbinder. I had no sympathy for the people planning the assassination. It was mainly a fictional account of a planned assassination of President Lincoln and with story giving a good picture of slave life during the during the time period with an accurate representation of the laws involving fugitive slaves.
I loved that a slave girl, Portia, demonstrated great courage and determination on her mission to protect Pres ident Lincoln. Added interest was provided by a bookshop owner and a poor bookbinder. I had no sympathy for the people planning the assassination. It was mainly a fictional account of a planned assassination of President Lincoln and with story giving a good picture of slave life during the during the time period with an accurate representation of the laws involving fugitive slaves.
October 17, 2019
Nicely written and historically framed story about a fictional early assassination attempt against Abraham Lincoln. The pace is propulsive. I enjoyed the ride, but really savored the very interesting and accurate look at Washington DC early in Lincoln’s presidency. Also well and accurately depicted are the Fort Sumter confrontation, slavery practices, and the clashing attitudes as the Civil War began. One star off because the writing, though good, is journalistic, not literary, and the fictional characters have very little depth.
May 30, 2018
An interesting story line that caught my attention
This book wasn't the type of story I usually read but reading the description of the book sounded intriguing (plus it was free). So I started reading it and it really pulled me in. It made me want to do a little research into the life of President Lincoln. You should really give this book a try.
This book wasn't the type of story I usually read but reading the description of the book sounded intriguing (plus it was free). So I started reading it and it really pulled me in. It made me want to do a little research into the life of President Lincoln. You should really give this book a try.
August 27, 2018
Interesting premise
While story was a little “ far fetched” the possibilities are reasonable , did many slaves know how to read and write, was the box big enough to survive in for two days? While not as polished as I would like, for a first novel it certainly kept me interested enough to try more of this author’s efforts.
While story was a little “ far fetched” the possibilities are reasonable , did many slaves know how to read and write, was the box big enough to survive in for two days? While not as polished as I would like, for a first novel it certainly kept me interested enough to try more of this author’s efforts.
October 27, 2018
Civil War drama
Great historical piece. Recommend immensely. Will there be a sequel??
Highly impressed with Rooke and Portia👍🏻 I’m sure we might see them again, in a possible sequel.
Great historical piece. Recommend immensely. Will there be a sequel??
Highly impressed with Rooke and Portia👍🏻 I’m sure we might see them again, in a possible sequel.
February 8, 2019
Quick and captivating.
Enjoyed this book. A good historical fiction that takes you there. When I put it down I couldn't hardly wait to pick it up again. I wonder what MS. Violet and Bennent are up to now?
Enjoyed this book. A good historical fiction that takes you there. When I put it down I couldn't hardly wait to pick it up again. I wonder what MS. Violet and Bennent are up to now?
January 4, 2024
Not a remarkable story but kept me interested.
An assassin has been hired to kill Abraham Lincoln and the story is about an officer trying to secure the safety of the president.
This is all in the background of the start of the civil war.
An assassin has been hired to kill Abraham Lincoln and the story is about an officer trying to secure the safety of the president.
This is all in the background of the start of the civil war.
January 7, 2018
This was a fast and easy read, but I didn't enjoy it that much. It was meh. some parts were exciting, but it switched back and forth on different POV's too much.
October 14, 2019
A very plausible story.
August 4, 2020
A good historical thriller, but I wasn't as engrossed as I thought I would be.
April 12, 2023
I liked it well enough but I don’t know if it’s something that I would reread. Some parts were more interesting than others and some parts dragged a bit.
April 18, 2019
Truly enjoyed this book. A historical thriller that reads so easily with a cast of characters you have always known and now get to know better. Mr Miller did an excellent job.
January 9, 2012
This novel was republished recently by Amazon/Kindle and offered as the Kindle low-cost book of the day. I enjoyed the historical setting in Washington, DC of early 1861, just after Lincoln's election, and including his inauguration and the early months of his presidency. The book opens with a mob scene at the train station in Baltimore, through which Lincoln's train must pass. If the president had been on that official train, instead of passing through Baltimore secretly in the wee hours of the morning, he might have been assassinated before taking office. A similar mob fires on federal troops several days later, producing the first casualties of the coming war. Security in Washington is very lax and the city is virtually undefended, even though several southern states have already succeeded and the succession of Virginia and Maryland would leave the city surrounded by rebel territory. The novelist creates a fictitious but highly probable professional assassin, hired by a southern plantation owner. The novel follows the detection of that assassin and several other plots against the government and the resolution of the action.
The characters in the book are a bit too stereotypical and two-dimensional, but the historical setting makes this book worthwhile. I had not realized that the Capitol building itself was unfinished as of 1861 and that the George Washington Monument was only half-finished, on which work had been suspended for several years. The city, absent the Congress, which adjourned after the inauguration, was little more than the swamp on which it had been built. Many southern supporters were leaving the city to avoid the invasion that they expected. Only the inaction of the South, after taking Fort Sumter, spared the city, until a regiment from New York arrived. The interruption of telegraph and rail communication through Baltimore left the president quite isolated.
The book is not a par with such favorites as "Manhunt", which has better character development and vivid action, but I recommend it to readers who are interested in the Civil War.
The characters in the book are a bit too stereotypical and two-dimensional, but the historical setting makes this book worthwhile. I had not realized that the Capitol building itself was unfinished as of 1861 and that the George Washington Monument was only half-finished, on which work had been suspended for several years. The city, absent the Congress, which adjourned after the inauguration, was little more than the swamp on which it had been built. Many southern supporters were leaving the city to avoid the invasion that they expected. Only the inaction of the South, after taking Fort Sumter, spared the city, until a regiment from New York arrived. The interruption of telegraph and rail communication through Baltimore left the president quite isolated.
The book is not a par with such favorites as "Manhunt", which has better character development and vivid action, but I recommend it to readers who are interested in the Civil War.
November 18, 2016
If I were to write a one-sentence elevator pitch for John J. Miller's The First Assassin, it would be this: Gone With the Wind meets The Day of the Jackal. Like Margaret Mitchell's tome about the American South before, during, and after the Civil War, Miller's book presents a historical picture of America leading up to that conflict. Like Frederick Forsyth's Jackal, The First Assassin is a taut thriller about a hired gunman preparing to assassinate a political leader, in this case Abraham Lincoln.
The First Assassin takes place during the winter of 1861 as Lincoln takes office and the secessionist south starts to peal away from the Union. Union Col. Charles Rook is assigned responsibility for the security of Washington, DC, and of the president.
It's not an easy job. Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, has just fallen. Virginia and Maryland teeter on leaving the Union. Washington is left in a precarious position, nearly surrounded by secessionist states. Moreover, the city is filled with secessionists. But the real battle for Rook is convincing his superiors that the biggest threat to Washington and the president lies not across the Potomac River but within the city itself.
One of those threats is Mazorca, a professional killer hired by a bitter southern plantation owner to murder Lincoln. Rook's only chance to catch Mazorca is a young escaped slave who can identify the assassin.
Miller, who normally writes nonfiction, brings the America of 1861 alive with rich detail and believable characters. His picture of the pro-slavery south leaves no doubt the Civil War was about the economics of slavery and not "state rights" as some revisionists suggest. His portrayal of northern leaders, too foolish to believe the many secessionists in DC could be spies or saboteurs, is equally harsh.
Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or thrillers, The First Assassin is the choice for you.
The First Assassin takes place during the winter of 1861 as Lincoln takes office and the secessionist south starts to peal away from the Union. Union Col. Charles Rook is assigned responsibility for the security of Washington, DC, and of the president.
It's not an easy job. Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, has just fallen. Virginia and Maryland teeter on leaving the Union. Washington is left in a precarious position, nearly surrounded by secessionist states. Moreover, the city is filled with secessionists. But the real battle for Rook is convincing his superiors that the biggest threat to Washington and the president lies not across the Potomac River but within the city itself.
One of those threats is Mazorca, a professional killer hired by a bitter southern plantation owner to murder Lincoln. Rook's only chance to catch Mazorca is a young escaped slave who can identify the assassin.
Miller, who normally writes nonfiction, brings the America of 1861 alive with rich detail and believable characters. His picture of the pro-slavery south leaves no doubt the Civil War was about the economics of slavery and not "state rights" as some revisionists suggest. His portrayal of northern leaders, too foolish to believe the many secessionists in DC could be spies or saboteurs, is equally harsh.
Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or thrillers, The First Assassin is the choice for you.
May 15, 2021
[Imported automatically from my blog. Some formatting there may not have translated here.]
Readers of National Review will recognize the author's name: John J. Miller is one of their correspondents, and writes for other, lesser, publications too, like the Wall Street Journal. So I became aware of this book via that link, and decided to take a chance. Hey, not bad.
It's set in the dark days of 1861: Abraham Lincoln is assuming the Presidency, and the Union is being rent asunder. Anti-Union plots and conspiracies abound. But one seems more serious than others: embittered South Carolina slaveowners hire a mysterious professional killer named Mazorca to stalk and kill Lincoln only a few weeks into his first term.
The book's hero is Colonel Rook, who's part of General Winfield Scott's efforts to defend Washington D.C. Rook is a good detective, but Mazorca is ruthless and deadly. Fortunately, a few slaves become aware of the plot, and send a plucky slave girl north to inform the good guys of Mazorca's identity. But that's a perilous journey for a slave—will she make it?
Miller obviously did his historical homework, especially in describing the 1861 environs. (The US Capitol dome under construction; the Washington Monument unfinished; Mount Vernon falling into disrepair.) I thought I caught one anachronism when a character uses the word "okay" — surely that wasn't used in 1861? No, I was wrong, it was in normal use long before then.
It's a pageturner, no doubt. If I had to quibble, it's a little in-your-face about history. (Yes, someone does exclaim to Rook: "Colonel! Fort Sumter has given up!")
I read this in paperback, so that's where the Amazon link will take you, but the Kindle price of $4.99 is kind of a steal.
October 23, 2010
--review by my friend anna-
The First Assassin is about Abraham Lincoln who has just become president, and the year is 1861. War is about to start between the North and the South, and people from the South are leaving Washington. Bennett, a plantation owner from South Carolina, wants to eliminate the union and kill Lincoln. A slave named Portia is on a quest from her grandfather, to go to Washington and warn Lincoln by giving him a photo of the killer. But it’s a dangerous journey, and the question is if she will make it all the way there. Slave hunters are after her and her friend. And while all this is going on, Colonel Rook tries to protect the president because Rook feels there is a big treat, but Lincoln doesn’t want protection or bodyguards. Rook gets some help from colleagues and tries to uncover this conspiracy.
The book is exciting, and it gives you some very colorful characters. But it has to be said that this is a novel and the author has mixed fact and fiction. The author wants to tell us what could have happened, and therefore it’s important not to see the book as real. Still some of the people in the book are real, and some of the things being said are also real.
I recommended the book to everyone that is interesting in historical novels. You get a good idea what life was like in the middle of the 19th century in the US. On top of that it’s a good thriller. It’s very exciting and even a bit frightening in places.
The author has written non-fiction books but this is his first fiction book. And the First Assassin is a strong debut.
The First Assassin is about Abraham Lincoln who has just become president, and the year is 1861. War is about to start between the North and the South, and people from the South are leaving Washington. Bennett, a plantation owner from South Carolina, wants to eliminate the union and kill Lincoln. A slave named Portia is on a quest from her grandfather, to go to Washington and warn Lincoln by giving him a photo of the killer. But it’s a dangerous journey, and the question is if she will make it all the way there. Slave hunters are after her and her friend. And while all this is going on, Colonel Rook tries to protect the president because Rook feels there is a big treat, but Lincoln doesn’t want protection or bodyguards. Rook gets some help from colleagues and tries to uncover this conspiracy.
The book is exciting, and it gives you some very colorful characters. But it has to be said that this is a novel and the author has mixed fact and fiction. The author wants to tell us what could have happened, and therefore it’s important not to see the book as real. Still some of the people in the book are real, and some of the things being said are also real.
I recommended the book to everyone that is interesting in historical novels. You get a good idea what life was like in the middle of the 19th century in the US. On top of that it’s a good thriller. It’s very exciting and even a bit frightening in places.
The author has written non-fiction books but this is his first fiction book. And the First Assassin is a strong debut.
December 12, 2011
In his debut historical mystery, John J. Miller weaves a taut web of suspense set in the winter of 1861 at the beginning of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. One man, Colonel Charles Rook, has a deep concern for the president’s safety. His commanding officer, however, considers Rook’s job to be security for Washington D.C. as a whole, rather than the protection of one man, even if that man is the head of a nation in a state of disarray.
But Rook has his priorities in the right place. A group of Southern secessionists’ primary goal is the death of President Lincoln. Their hatred of him knows no bounds to the extent that one plantation owner hires an amoral, highly skilled foreign assassin, Mazorca, to kill Lincoln. As Mazorca wields his plans throughout the D.C. area, people die.
Working against the secessionist plot are a few of the plantation owner’s slaves, including Portia, who endures an arduous trip to the nation’s capitol to warn the president of the upcoming assassination attempt.
Tension builds as Mazorca and Rook each work to achieve their goals. This book is a terrific read for history aficionados willing to consider alternate possibilities, for conspiracy buffs, as well as for readers who enjoy a good plot with well-developed characters.
But Rook has his priorities in the right place. A group of Southern secessionists’ primary goal is the death of President Lincoln. Their hatred of him knows no bounds to the extent that one plantation owner hires an amoral, highly skilled foreign assassin, Mazorca, to kill Lincoln. As Mazorca wields his plans throughout the D.C. area, people die.
Working against the secessionist plot are a few of the plantation owner’s slaves, including Portia, who endures an arduous trip to the nation’s capitol to warn the president of the upcoming assassination attempt.
Tension builds as Mazorca and Rook each work to achieve their goals. This book is a terrific read for history aficionados willing to consider alternate possibilities, for conspiracy buffs, as well as for readers who enjoy a good plot with well-developed characters.
February 15, 2013
Not a stand out book in any way, but it was not a miserable experience either. There were many predictable moments and just as many moments that were unremarkable enough that I couldn't recall them now if I wanted to. Those things said, reading about regular civilians in the time of the Civil War, hearing about people leaving cities or states because they weren't sure how the state would go, was somewhat entertaining. There were moments that reflected politics now and moments that were so opposite what we would expect to happen that they were almost laughable. Times have changed and the book reflects that, but some things are always the same and that is shown here too. I'd call this book average, with average plot and characters. While this story wasn't quite what I expected it to be, I wouldn't say that it was a total waste of my time.
January 29, 2014
Historical fiction isn't usually my thing but because I do enjoy the spy-type thrillers I gave this book a read. Perhaps it's just the style I like, but I felt this story skipped from scene to scene too frequently and the chapters were too long. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't have a real connection to the characters. You get some limited background on Rook and a couple other key characters but other than being thrown in to the middle of their lives at that particular moment in time, you know very little about them.
I would have liked to see more development of the characters and a more emotional connection to them. Some of the detail included seemed overstated - stating the obvious or was insignificant to the overall storyline.
A good casual read that could have been better with more development.
I would have liked to see more development of the characters and a more emotional connection to them. Some of the detail included seemed overstated - stating the obvious or was insignificant to the overall storyline.
A good casual read that could have been better with more development.
May 22, 2013
Sorry, there are just too many books out there that are far more my cup of tea. I gave it 150+ pages, but I just can't do another 300 in which every motivation is literally spelled out to the point of eliminating any and all subtext, let alone suspense. This is not a horrible book, but whoever decided to market it as a "thriller" must have a very limited frame of reference indeed. It's summer beach reading for those who find Dan Brown too psychologically deep -- Jan Karon attempting historical fiction -- with pacing and characters no more challenging, nor complex, than a slightly-better-than-average Hallmark Hall of Fame.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews