Reviews

• The Midnight Special: What a page turner! Daniel Stashower's fast moving book covers a little known moment in America's past and is just what I look for in reading history: entertainment. As well as Lincoln's first brush with a political assassin, The Hour of Peril gives you a close up look at Allan Pinkerton's life and the birth of of his famous detective agency. From "rebel-rouser" in Scotland to a trouble-shooting handy man in rural America Pinkerton was quick to use his wits, as well as his fists, when it was time to help someone with a problem. Lincoln too was a man who wasn't afraid of controversy in his pursuit of an education or a political office. Neither man was one to back down in the face of danger. Put these two together in the same book and you have a recipe for excitement. Much as I hate to admit it, this was the first time I had ever heard of an early attempt on Lincoln's life and even though I knew he would survive to be sworn-in as president, the suspense was still there and once started this book was hard to put down. The main narrative follows president-elect Lincoln as he makes his way from Springfield, Illinois, via train, to Washington DC for his inauguration. Rather than a straight run from point A to point B, the train would meander through several eastern states, cross the Mason- Dixon Line, and stop a various cities along the way to give Lincoln a chance to meet the citizens and official dignitaries at each location. The last stop before DC was Baltimore, Maryland where Lincoln might face his harshest critics yet. With a possible political split between the northern and southern states looming in the Nation's future, the Maryland railway system was of strategic importance to both sides. Emotions were high in "The Monumental City", tempers flared and rumors ran rampant, this was no place for the faint of heart. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, Pinkerton was working undercover for companies like Adams Express and the Illinois Central Railroad. During the course of his investigations Pinkerton caught wind of a possible assassination plot to kill Lincoln. Now the race was on, Pinkerton was determined to find the source of the rumors and see Lincoln safely to Washington DC. Depending on who you talked to in the mid 1800's, Pinkerton was either a skilled detective or a hot headed muck-raker, either way Lincoln trusted him and, for the most part, went along with his plans. In his day, Pinkerton was criticized for some of his methods but he did establish many procedures for crime detection that are still in use today. At times he was a bit hard nosed and would do whatever it took to achieve his goals. If that meant stepping on a few toes, entrapping a suspect or sending his own people into danger, then that was the price you paid for law enforcement in 1861. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in early American history, I found it well written and engrossing with just a touch of "film noir". Should the reader take Stashower's conclusions as the last word on this subject? Probably not, but if you'r interested, The Hour of Peril will lead you on to other books and authors who may have a slightly different take on the plot to kill Lincoln and on Pinkerton's merits for good or ill. From what I could determine Stashower's research was right-on and he seemed to be good a covering both sides of any controversy. I had no technical or formatting problems with this Kindle edition. Last Ranger

• Every schoolchild in America knows that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington in April 1865. But how many know that he narrowly averted assassination in February 1861, just days before his inauguration as President. This near tragedy that would have had incalculable implications for US history was prevented through the ingenious efforts of legendary detective Allan Pinkerton. It's an important but little known story of the Civil War era. As we learn from author Daniel Stashower, Pinkerton's agents had uncovered "the Baltimore plot," an audacious conspiracy intent on preventing Lincoln from becoming President on the eve of the Civil War. As Lincoln's train rolls inexorably toward what Stashower calls "the seat of danger" Pinkerton pulls off an ingenious feint that risks, but ultimately saves, Lincoln's life. It's a spellbinding story - even though we know in advance how it comes out. What we don't know is how the story would have come out had the plot been successful. Frankly, it's something I'd rather not think about. Barry Francis

• I rate this book one notch down because of its use of extraneous material, not always germain to the Lincoln event It is a good historical narrative of the events leading to the Lincoln inauguration, some of which are new or presented as new. Altogether an interesting story of the times and worth a good read.

• A terrific biography of Allen Pinkerton and the start of his now well known detective Agency set around the assassination attempt on Abraham Lincoln as he traveled to Washington to be inaugurated. This is a throughly researched and well written account of another assassination attempt on Lincoln, this one unsuccessful and the role of Allen Pinkerton, who was just starting his rise to innovator status in the new field of criminal detection, in making that attempt unsuccessful. This is a well-written book describing the mood of the country at the start of the Civil War. It is well worth the read whether as history or biography. It is also a good investment of time for fans of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlockians will find the biography of Pinkerton, a central character in one of the short novel stories, by a Sherlockian, one that adds to the understanding of "The Valley of Fear” and includes detours to include clarification of issues important to the story, such as the Molly Maguires and other issues of Sherlockian interest.

• "Hour of Peril" shines in describing life in Lincoln's time. It is excellent insight into the culture, technology and political passions of that interesting time when the telegraph was still fairly new and when railroads were only a crazy patchwork yet to be consolidated. It is also a fine account of the life and career of Alan Pinkerton, but as an historical mystery I found it disappointing - the tale could have been told better in half the length. I must admit that having just finished Goodwin's superb "Team of Rivals" probably raised my expectations too high for this book.

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