In the Houses of Their Dead: The Lincolns, the Booths, and the Spirits

Historian Alford (Fortune’s Fool) brings an ingenious twist to the well-known tale of Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. Alford adds details and corrects common misconceptions about their lives as the story works toward its inevitable conclusion. With the six degrees of separation theory in hand, the author points out every point where the lives of these two families intersected in the young and divided United States. Narrator Danny Campbell puts his experience and expertise to good use. His even, authoritative tone delivers the facts clearly, aiding in their absorption. This is especially important given the multitude of time lines being followed from beginning to end. One of the main themes throughout the book is the abundance and popularity of spiritualists and the spiritualism movement of this era. The Booths and Lincolns consulted many and had some in common. Life was precarious even without a civil war, and the living wanted to maintain their connections to their dearly departed.