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Book Review of Death of an Assassin: The True Story of the German Murderer Who Died Defending Robert E. Lee (True Crime History)

TomasBar avatar reviewed on + 7 more book reviews


Death of an Assassin is a very interesting and outstanding book. Ann Marie Ackermann has discovered and presented a small bit of history that shows how each of us can affect another person for both good or bad. Through a lot of research, the author shows how one man changed the life and future of a village and its people as well as the lives and people of a nation on the other side of the world. The information on the forensic ballistics was very interesting. We sometimes think our ancestors were not too smart because they did not know things like we do, but I believe that is an error in our understanding of the past.

This book is well written and was a joy to read. I wanted to jump forward and find out who the assassin was, but Ms. Ackermann presented him at the right time to keep the story flowing. I was happy to learn how immigration worked in the 1830's. I did not know that some countries required you to give up your citizenship before you arrived in the United States. So, if I understand it correctly, during the voyage all the immigrants were "stateless". This book was full of very interesting information that I did not know. To me it is a sign of an outstanding book if I learn from it.

I recommend this book for all who are interested in learning how anyone can touch another and possibly change the world.