Plot Summary

The Hour of Peril

Daniel Stashower
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The Hour of Peril

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2013

Book Brief

Daniel Stashower

The Hour of Peril

Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2013
Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 19th Century

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Hour of Peril by Daniel Stashower recounts an attempt by Baltimore secessionists to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, and the efforts of America's first private detective, Allan Pinkerton, to foil the plot. Lincoln, who was elected president in 1860, took a train tour across the country, despite looming secessionist threats. Captain Cypriano Ferrandini led a conspiracy to kill Lincoln upon his arrival in Baltimore, but Pinkerton, with the help of Kate Warne, well-disguised and rerouted Lincoln, ensuring his safe arrival in Washington, D.C.

Suspenseful

Mysterious

Adventurous

Informative

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.0

1,875 ratings

66%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Hour of Peril by Daniel Stashower is a meticulously researched work that offers a thrilling narrative about the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Readers praise its gripping storytelling and historical accuracy. However, some find the pacing uneven and feel that it occasionally delves too deeply into minute details, which might detract from the overall momentum.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Hour of Peril?

Readers who enjoy gripping historical non-fiction and espionage will find The Hour of Peril riveting. Fans of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson or Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose will appreciate Stashower's detailed narrative of Abraham Lincoln's secret journey to Washington.

4.0

1,875 ratings

66%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Hour of Peril by Daniel Stashower won the 2014 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime, showcasing its excellence in the true crime genre.

The book details the true story of the Baltimore Plot, a little-known conspiracy to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln during his train journey to his inauguration.

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Book Details
Pages

368

Format

Biography • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 19th Century

Publication Year

2013

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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