James Swanson's book reveals in-depth the true story behind the Assassination of Lincoln and the attacks on Secretary of State Seward and the failed attempt to murder Vice-President Johnson. Swanson, using official documents and work of previous historians and contemporary accounts in newspapers and other sources, provides the reader with a compelling and fascinating account of John Wilkes Booth escape from Ford's Theater and the ensuing 12 day manhunt for him.

Booth, who had earlier in the war planned to kidnap Lincoln and take him to Richmond, VA, the capital of the Confederacy, decides on assassination within hours of learning that Lincoln was planning on attending a play at Ford's Theater. Booth's co-conspirators are those who had agreed to help Booth with his earlier planned kidnapping of the president.

Swanson re-creates the erie scene as Booth sneaks into the Presidential Box at Ford's and shoots the president and then makes his own fatal mistake in breaking his leg on his jump to the stage. While initially escaping Washington without serious difficulty, the days ahead would bring unbearable hardships for Booth and his young fellow accomplice, David Herold. Meanwhile, Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, mobilizes the manhunt marshalling Union troops and detectives from as far away as New York City.

Booth's escape plan was to reach Virginia and then the deep south, depended on crossing the Potomac River with the assistance of known southern sympathizers and confederate agents. The failure to quickly cross the Potomac and the endless delays and increasing pain from his broken leg, would expose Booth to too many people and ultimately lead to his capture and death.

Booth believed his murdering Lincoln would be received with joy and was upset to learn the nation was repulse by the act. Adding to his disappointment was the violent and bloody, yet unsuccessful attack on Seward and, the total failure to even attack Vice President Johnson. Always the actor, Booth played out his final scene in a barn at Garrett's farm in northern Virginia. Meanwhile, Booth's other conspirators were tracked down and would soon face trial and execution.

Swanson's account ends with a epilogue that details the post-assassination lives of key principals.