Historian Lawrence Goldstone (Out of the Flames; Birdmen) has written many books, and his attention to historical detail shines in Assassin of Shadows, a thriller about the assassination of President William McKinley.
In the wake of McKinley's shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., in September 1901, Walter George and Harry Swayne, Secret Service agents, seek to uncover why Leon Czolgosz shot the president, and if he did so at the behest of anyone else. The Secret Service was not what it is today; agents were primarily responsible for catching counterfeiters. But as McKinley's life hovers in the balance, Walter and Harry take their duty seriously.
Their meticulous research into various anarchist groups, and their interviews of Czolgosz's contacts, including the famous anarchist Emma Goldman, keep Walter and Harry busy, traveling from Chicago to Ohio to Buffalo. As they begin to narrow in on what seems to be a massive conspiracy behind Czolgosz, they realize that their own lives are on the line as well.
Well researched, and occasionally funny as the taciturn Harry and thoughtful Walter butt heads, Assassin of Shadows offers a glimpse of a period of U.S. history that few contemporary Americans are familiar with. The eight days between the attack and McKinley's death kept the nation on tenterhooks; Assassin of Shadows, with its curveball ending, will keep readers guessing until literally the last page, capturing that same tension. Fans of historical mysteries and presidential history are sure to enjoy this standout thriller. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Tucson, Ariz.