Timothy L. O'Brien

In the Spring of 1865, as America mourns the death of President Abraham Lincoln, a shocking discovery is made. Police detective Temple McFadden stumbles upon two diaries that together reveal the true story behind the Lincoln assassination.

With many people after the diaries, Temple's quest to bring the conspirators to justice endangers his life as well of the lives of his wife and friends. Temple's journey to the truth takes him through the Civil War-era capital district, into bawdy houses and back alleys where he struggles to remain one step ahead of the enemies that await him at every turn.

With an interesting and diverse cast of characters this story follows many twists toward a climax that may leave readers gasping.

The author did a fantastic job making his characters believable.

The story was well developed and I enjoyed reading it, although at times it did seem to drag a bit. Overall, this was a great story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good conspiracy theory.… (altro)

First published in Oct 2005, then in trade paperback published in Jun 2016. An account of the life and business dealings of Donald J. Trump before he became the GOP candidate for President of the United States. The author describes the failed business dealings and bankruptcy cases of "The Donald" and Americans fascination with him and his claims of being a mastermind real estate developer and casino operator. If you are among the millions of people who voted in the election that put Donald .J. Trump in the White House I recommend reading this book to gain insight into what kind of a person now holds the highest office in the land.… (altro)

I received The 'Lincoln Conspiracy', by Timothy L. O'Brien, from LibraryThing. The story starts with Temple McFadden finding a package that includes two diaries. And so starts a rousing tale of twists and turns. Temple is a detective worthy of sleuthing with the very best in literature. The way he came to be so educated and able to defend himself was a good story in itself and was tied seamlessly into the story. The idea of a larger conspiracy in Lincoln's assassination is well thought out and believable. I loved the characters and the book, even more after I found out it was part of a series.… (altro)

3.5 Stars

When Washington D.C. detective Temple McFadden arrives at the B&O railroad station to meet an associate, he has no idea that he is about to become embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding the death of President Lincoln. After witnessing the murder of his associate, Detective McFadden makes a quick search of his body and uncovers a set of diaries related to Abraham Lincoln. These diaries, which are sought by two rival factions who will do anything to retrieve them, contain information that indicate that there was more to President Lincoln's assassination than meets the eye. Although holding onto the diaries puts Temple's life, as well as the lives of his wife and friends, in jeopardy, he boldly commits himself to finding out the truth behind the President's death.

The greatest strength of The Lincoln Conspiracy is its diverse cast of characters, although it is, at times, a bit of a challenge keeping everyone straight. The novel's principal characters, Temple McFadden and his wife Fiona, are well-drawn and easy to like. Many of the book's supporting characters, whether they be fictional or straight from the pages of history, prove to be memorable. I particularly enjoyed the scenes featuring Mary Todd Lincoln. Although the unraveling of the conspiracy theory underlying this novel's plot isn't as thrilling as it could have been, Timothy L. O'Brien has done a masterful job of bringing post-Civil War era Washington D.C. and its residents to life. As a result, it has sparked an interest in me to read more about this particular era, which is one that prior to reading this novel held little appeal to me.

While I don't know if Timothy L. O'Brien intends this book to be the first in a series or if he has written it as a stand alone, I would be interested in reading another novel that features Temple and Fiona McFadden.

The Lincoln Conspiracy should appeal to fans of historical thrillers, as well as to readers of historical fiction interested in novels about President Lincoln and/or the post-Civil War era.

Note: An e-copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review as part of the novel's Virtual Book Tour.… (altro)