One Must Tell The Bees by J Lawrence Matthews

This was an extraordinary story, a hidden one. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated whilst at the theatre. The story goes behind the scenes how a chemist by the name of Holmes accompanied by a smart young boy called Abraham is called upon by Lincoln's advisor to go find the assassin and bring him back. Holmes has to pit his wits against the famous detective Alan Pinkerton as well as the wiley Boothe the assassin himself who has support in unexpected quarters. Traversing America ending where Boothe was holed up and where he died is part of the story. The other is the memoir that Watson receives, detailing Holmes own version of the Lincoln events and which culminate in Watson meeting up with Holmes to continue the story of what is actually happening now at the end of WWI. The two stories are distinct though the Lincoln one takes up most of the book. It was fascinating reading, detailed and descriptive of two extremely clever, innovative men who went far beyond the call of duty to do what had to be done at all times. This was a story that had to be read slowly to assimilate all that was going on. Sent by East Dean Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.