by David Fisher
First published 2019
In the summer of 1859, Abraham Lincoln faces his most challenging legal case yet. Twenty-two-year-old Peachy Quinn Harrison stands accused of murder in Springfield, Illinois, and Lincoln must defend him. The situation grows complicated when Lincoln discovers the victim once worked as an apprentice in his own law office. Even worse, the accused young man is the son of one of Lincoln's close friends and political supporters. To win this case, Lincoln must work alongside a revivalist preacher who has been his longtime political enemy. They ran against each other twice for office, but now Lincoln needs this man's help to save Harrison's life. As newspapers across the nation watch Lincoln's every move, the future president knows that his handling of this trial could affect his political career. The case tests Lincoln's legal skills and forces him to navigate personal relationships while the entire country observes his actions. Based on actual court transcripts, this true crime story reveals Lincoln's final trial before he became president.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, crime, 19th-century, legal-thriller, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, legal-drama
Setting: Illinois, Springfield
Period: 1859, 19th-century
166 pages · Kindle Edition · Hanover Square Press