James L. Swanson books in order
American historian
- Lived
- 1959–2025
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 9
James L. Swanson published 2 novels, 2 non-fiction books, 4 children's books and 1 other book, beginning with Manhunt (2006). The best-known is Chasing Lincoln's Killer (2009).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with James L. Swanson
Start here
Chasing Lincoln's Killer
James L. Swanson's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Manhunt (2006)
Bloody Crimes (2010)
Non-fiction in order
Lincoln's Assassins (2006)
End of Days (2013)
Children's books in order
Chasing Lincoln's Killer (2009)
Bloody Times (2010)
The President Has Been Shot (2013)
Chasing King's Killer (2018)
Other books in order
Deerfield Massacre (2023)
About James L. Swanson
James L. Swanson was an American author and historian famous for his New York Times best-seller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, focusing on the biography of John Wilkes Booth and his plot to kill Lincoln and other cabinet members. For this book he earned an Edgar Award. He was a Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and appeared on C-SPAN on behalf of the Koch-affiliated libertarian CATO Institute think tank.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
James L. Swanson FAQ
- How many books has James L. Swanson written?
- James L. Swanson published 2 novels, 2 non-fiction books, 4 children's books and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read James L. Swanson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Chasing Lincoln's Killer.
- What is James L. Swanson's last book?
- End of Days (2013).
- What is James L. Swanson's most famous book?
- Chasing Lincoln's Killer (2009) is James L. Swanson's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.