The Lincoln Deception (A Fraser and Cook Historical Mystery, Book 1) - by David O Stewart

About the Book

From his deathbed in 1900, John Bingham, the prosecutor of the John Wilkes Booth conspirators, reveals there was a deeper secret to the Lincoln assassination, but takes that secret to his grave, fearing the truth could threaten the republic.

Book Synopsis

"A taut, suspenseful, terrifically well-researched historical thriller about the greatest crime of the 19th Century." William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Lincoln Letter and Bound for Gold.

In 1900, former Congressman John Bingham tells his doctor, Jamie Fraser, about a terrible secret he learned thirty-five years ago while prosecuting John Wilkes Booth's co-conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln--a secret that could destroy the republic. Then Bingham dies before revealing what he knows.

Obsessed with discovering Bingham's secret, Fraser encounters aspiring newspaper publisher Speed Cook--the last black man to play baseball in the big leagues. Navigating perilous social norms designed to separate blacks and whites, they set out to unravel the truth.

While dodging race riots, kidnappers, and muggers, elusive clues reveal an alliance between the nation's foremost cotton tycoon--with connections to a Northern pro-Confederacy faction--and the last general of the Confederate Army.

Now face-to-face with the treacherous pair, Fraser and Cook must survive long enough to expose the deception thrust upon the entire nation.

Publisherʼs Note: The Fraser and Cook Historical Mystery Series will be enjoyed by fans of American history and period mystery novels. Free of graphic sex and with some mild profanity, this series can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

"...more than enough to satisfy any reader of historical whodunits...its conclusion has a wry double edge that Lincoln himself would have appreciated."--Washington Post

"...a rip-snorting tale about those involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. What secret did Union prosecutor John Bingham carry to the grave...did the conspiracy involve more than John Wilkes Booth?"--Frank J. Williams, Founding Chair of The Lincoln Forum and retired Chief Justice, Rhode Island Supreme Court

"The Lincoln Deception is a superb melding of fact, mystery, and imaginary 'what-ifsʼ that blow open the conspiracy shrouds surrounding the murder of a president."--GateHouse News Service

"David O. Stewart dramatically reopens the file on the Lincoln assassination conspiracy with a nail-biting, historically grounded page-turner. Where the facts end and the fiction begins will inspire plenty of debate. Meanwhile, enjoy this for the terrific read Stewart provides."--Harold Holzer

The Fraser and Cook Historical Mystery Series
The Lincoln Deception
The Paris Deception
The Babe Ruth Deception

Review Quotes

"This fast-paced and smartly researched first novel is astonishingly good, complete with sharp and colorful characters, nicely drawn by Stewart." (Best historical novel of 2013)
--Stephen L. Carter Bloomberg View, December 3, 2013

"Impressive debut novel...Eschewing the wild fantasies of many conspiracy thrillers, Stewart constructs a plausible version of history that works as both fiction and speculative inquiry."
--Publishers Weekly, July 22, 2013

"One of the most satisfying treats of "The Lincoln Deception" is the engaging way it reminds us that the actual story [of the Lincoln assassination] was much more complicated. . . . There is more than enough to satisfy any reader of historical whodunits. . . its conclusion has a wry double edge that Lincoln himself would have appreciated."
--Washington Post, December 7, 2013

"Stewart's debut novel, set in 1900, is dense with detail and intrigue, making a hearty read for conspiracy addicts."
--Library Journal, September, 2013

"The Lincoln Deception is a superb melding of fact, mystery, and imaginary 'what-ifs' that blow open the conspiracy shrouds surrounding the murder of a president."
--GateHouse News Service, September 20, 2013

"Stewart delivers a strong narrative current driven by historical exposition and good old-fashioned drama. The result is a brisk action plot with the pace of an Elmore Leonard novel. Perhaps most impressive is Stewart's grasp of dialogue. The exchange between his characters is not only natural but full of verve and humanity and contributes heartily to a plot bursting with surprises.

"It's difficult to believe that this is his first novel. Let's hope that it isn't his last."
--Michael Williams, Erickson Tribune, October 2013