Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

Few families in American history have been both beloved and hated as much as the Booths. It takes a skilled historical storyteller to present a clear picture of the complicated Booth family before John Wilkes Booth became the most wanted man in America. Karen Joy Fowler does this and more as we get to know mother, famous father and all those children and what led up to that fateful night in Ford's Theater. A few of the sons were hailed as great actors trained under the guidance of their illustrious father whose antics on and off the stage leave little doubt as to the madness that ran in the family. Theirs is a colorful history and a complicated family environment from the father's bigamy to their financial troubles with farming to life as living theater in cities on the East Coast. It is evident that the author did extensive research and what she filled in for the fictional parts is in perfect sync with the storyline. Snippets of Abraham Lincoln's life echo what the Booths and the rest of the country were experiencing and are an illuminating addition. Even though this book is historical fiction it reads like a well paced biography. For readers interested in Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and historical fiction that draws you in from the first page.  4 stars