4.5 stars

Prior to starting this book I had never heard of Mary Surratt (the first woman executed by the U.S. government). Like most Americans I am familiar with the story of John Wilkes Booth shooting President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's theater. However I was entirely unfamiliar with the other cast of characters the U.S. government charged with conspiracy in the President's assassination.

Higginbotham creates an informative, engaging, and emotional story about Mary Surratt -- a Washington, D.C. widow who runs a boarding house visited at times by Confederate sympathizers, including Booth and others later charged in the assassination conspiracy. The tale is told through the perspective of both Mary, and one of her boarders, Nora Fitzpatrick. Readers gain a vivid sense of history, and get to know the characters through their narratives.

While the story was engaging throughout, there were times about a third of the way in where I thought to myself -- "let's get *on* with it!" However, the slow build up is needed to fully introduce and flesh out characters who will be very relevant later on in the story. Once the narrative really gets going, I didn't want it to stop. I also found myself deeply moved -- even though I knew the ending prior to starting the book. (It's historical fiction, so in this case one can't help but know the ending).

This book would make a fabulous choice for a book group as Mary Surratt's choices -- as well as her guilt or innocence -- leave much room for discussion.

I will just add the following as a closing thought. My older daughter jokingly aired the student's lament the other night at dinner, in this case about her history lessons: "When am I ever going to have to use this stuff?" I told her, while the dates, facts, and figures aren't the most important things to remember (once the test is over), the "morals of the story" are. Whether it's 1865 after the assassination of a beloved President or 2001 after a heinous attack on innocent civilians, we must remember in our grief, sorrow, and righteous anger that punishing scapegoats isn't the answer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review (I should note that while I was provided a galley, I ended up listening to the audio version of this book). ( )

A great book for history buffs! It delves into the mind of Mary Surrat, hanged as a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln. The story's events are plausible. It makes the reader wonder what Mrs. Surrat knew, and when she knew it! ( )

I read historical fiction almost exclusively, and unfortunately there's a lot of hist fic out there which leaves me dissatisfied. Some of it is dry because the writer is too in love with her research. Other writers are so in love with their own language that the characters feel equally distant. But Ms. Higginbotham finds just the right balance between accuracy and powerful writing. Her characters feel like real people.

Which may sound funny, since they WERE real people, but I think this put an even greater burden on Ms. Higginbotham. I'm fairly familiar with the Lincoln assassination. My own first attempt at historical fiction (in middle school) involved me going back in time and trying to save our 16th president (spoiler: I failed). Now, I live in the DC area. I've visited Surratt's Tavern, her boardinghouse on H Street (a Chinese restaurant today), and attended plays at Ford's Theatre. So I think my expectations were particularly high on this one--and Ms. Higginbotham delivered.

The first half of the novel is delightful--not something I thought I'd ever say about a book centered on Lincoln's assassination--as we get to know Mary Surratt and her boarders, including a cat named Mr. Rochester. Ms. Higginbotham does a great job humanizing the (possible) conspirators. The Catholic aspects were also of great interest to me, since my own current project involves 19th century American Catholics.

The second half of the novel is sad, of course, as we watch the inevitable happen while the characters remain ignorant of their fates. I did feel the trial got a bit tedious, but I realize this is simply a reflection of the real trial. My other nit-picky complaint is that I would've liked to see Mary interacting with her black servants at least once; they're merely shadows. Also, I wish the audiobook had had two narrators, one for Nora and one for Mary. But this isn't Ms. Higginbotham's fault.

My favorite line came near the end, when Nora (I think) observes that Lincoln himself would have shown mercy and pardoned Mary.

Overall, Ms. Higginbotham did an excellent job of taking a dour subject and several potentially despicable characters and breathing new life into them in a way that made me, a profound Lincoln admirer, willing to forgive them too. After all, there are two sides to every story. I'm so glad Ms. Higginbotham explored this one. ( )

Washington, D.C. 1865. The Civil War is winding down. Widow Mary Surratt -- a Southern sympathizer whose elder son is off somewhere in the Confederate Army -- along with her daughter Anna, moves into the city from the tavern in Maryland her husband ran to take possession of another property, which she turns into a boarding house. One of her first boarders is Honora (Nora to everyone) Fitzpatrick, a lively young lady. Mary's son John is also a frequent resident, along with his friends and associates, including the renowned actor John Wilkes Booth (with whom both young ladies are quickly smitten). Some nefarious plot to benefit the dying Confederacy seems to be afoot, of which Mary becomes only gradually aware as her son's involvement in the scheme deepens. The plot is aimed at President Lincoln, but it is only after his assassination that the full extent of conspiracy is revealed. -- The story is told in alternating chapters by Mary and Nora, leading up to Mrs. Surratt's conviction by a military tribunal and execution. Involving, with good characterizations, but not the last word in historical fiction, IMHO. ( )

If you aren’t an Abraham Lincoln history buff, the name Mary Surratt won’t mean anything. Mary was the boarding house owner where John Wilkes Booth met with his fellow conspirators. She is also the first woman executed by the U. S. government.
A lot is known about Mary, biographical information mainly. But the truth of her role, or non-role, in Lincoln’s assassination is mystery to this day. In this first historical fiction work, which I know of, author Susan Higginbotham weaves an interesting story about Mary, John Wilkes Booth, Lewis Powell, David Herold, George Atzerodt, and the others who played major roles in killing Lincoln. One of the questions that has haunted historians is what role did John Surratt, Mary’s son, play in the assassination and why did he never return to defend his mother after she was arrested?
Billed as the “The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Assassination,” Higginbotham tells the story from two viewpoints. First is Mary, then one of her boarders, Miss Nora Fitzpartick. Of course, Nora’s appearance, which I knew nothing of, sent me scouring Google to determine if she was a real character, or a plot device. She is real, although not much is known about her.
The story begins in August 1864 and ends on July 7, 1865, immediately after the hangings. There is an Epilogue for Nora that in June 1869.
I liked the back and forth of the narrative between Mary and Nora. It provides a realistic look at the time and at the players, especially the charming Mr. Booth. I didn’t get swept up in the story like I had hoped. That’s why I give Hanging Mary 4 out of 5 stars. ( )