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A true crime thriller — the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body!The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd —and $200,000 in cash. From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.
A true crime thriller — the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body!The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd —and $200,000 in cash. From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Steve Sheinkin is the critically acclaimed author of National Book Award Finalist and Sibert Medal winner Bomb: The Race to Build — and Steal — the World's Most Dangerous Weapon; Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction; and National Book Award Finalist The Port Chicago 50. He resides in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Reviews-
Starred review from November 19, 2012 This meticulous and tremendously suspenseful account of the attempted heist of Abraham Lincoln’s body in 1876 reads like a smartly cast fictional crime thriller, with a skillful buildup of tension and sharp character portrayals. Sheinkin (Bomb) lays the groundwork for the plot by delving into the history of counterfeiting, a booming business during and after the Civil War (“By 1864, an astounding 50 percent of the paper money in circulation was fake”). James Kennally, leader of one of the largest counterfeiting rings in the Midwest, masterminded the plot to steal the late president’s body from the Lincoln Monument, outside Springfield, Ill. His intent was to ransom the purloined corpse, hitting up the government for a tidy sum of money and the freedom of his jailed, top-notch engraver. Perhaps the most dynamic player is Lewis Swegles, a shrewd career criminal who juggled double roles as Secret Service informer and alleged conspirator. Sheinkin’s study of Swegles’s thought process and machinations intensifies the drama of the final showdown between the would-be robbers and government officials. A sizzling tale of real-life historical intrigue. Ages 10–14.
Few people know of the 1876 plot to snatch President Lincoln's body and ransom it for money and the release from jail of the era's most notorious counterfeiter, Ben Boyd. The plot was foiled only by the committed work of a Secret Service agent, a stool pigeon, and a loyal groundskeeper. Will Patton narrates this true story with tempered drama, bringing richness to the background material and excitement to the action. Patton's skillful manipulation of volume, pace, and expression catches listeners' attention, keeping them fully invested in Agent Patrick Tyrrell's attempts to thwart the gang of grave robbers. The entire family will enjoy this real-life cat-and-mouse thriller, complete with great characters, bungled plans, well-timed luck, and a spooky graveyard. C.B.L. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
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Few people know of the 1876 plot to snatch President Lincoln's body and ransom it for money and the release from jail of the era's most notorious counterfeiter, Ben Boyd. The plot was foiled only by the committed work of a Secret Service agent, a stool pigeon, and a loyal groundskeeper. Will Patton narrates this true story with tempered drama, bringing richness to the background material and excitement to the action. Patton's skillful manipulation of volume, pace, and expression catches listeners' attention, keeping them fully invested in Agent Patrick Tyrrell's attempts to thwart the gang of grave robbers. The entire family will enjoy this real-life cat-and-mouse thriller, complete with great characters, bungled plans, well-timed luck, and a spooky graveyard. C.B.L. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
