IF the assassination of President Lincoln happened in today’s world, the subsequent search for his killer would have been reported with breathless detail, complete with its own logo and theme music on 24-hour cable news, not to mention blogs. Fortunately, we can rely, instead, on James L. Swanson’s gripping, fact-filled thriller, “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.” Scrupulously researched, he follows the trail from D.C. into the Maryland swamps, down to the Virginia woods and on to the capture of John Wilkes Booth. (William Morrow, $26.95)
While other countries turned their backs on the United States during the invasion of Iraq, Great Britain was a notable exception. Brit journalist Con Coughlin (who also penned a Saddam Hussein bio) details the U.S.-U.K. relationship on the road to war in “American Ally: Tony Blair and the War on Terror.” (Ecco, $26.95)
Introduced in last year’s New Yorker debut-fiction issue as a short story, Justin Tussing’s debut novel, “The Best People in the World,” is the 1972 coming-of-age tale of a small-town Kentucky teen who befriends the town hermit and hooks up with his history teacher. The three unlikely confederates leave town, visiting New York and settling in Vermont. (HarperCollins, $24.95)
Francis and his sister, Clare, grew up with hippie parents and a love of music. They remain close as adults. When Fran, a church youth-group leader, suffers a tragedy, he turns to the punk rock of his youth, strapping on a bass, getting a tattoo and joining a band. “Donorboy” author Brendan Halpin writes his new novel, “Long Way Back,” from Clare’s point of view. (Villard, $22.95)
When it comes to profiting on love and marriage, there’s a lot more involved than saying ‘I do.’ In “A More Perfect Union,” Hana Schank tells of her yearlong trip through the wedding industrial complex, during which she manages to maintain her sense of humor (and love for her guy). (Atria Books, $22)