Four American Presidents have been assassinated in office & this book offers a fascinating look at what could have happened if they had each survived. Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, & John F. Kennedy never got to complete their presidential terms, as each succumbed to an assassin's bullet. After examining what happened in the lead-up to their deaths & the weapons used, the author then considers what could have happened if they had lived.

Before starting this book, I knew the most about Lincoln & Kennedy, & had never really read anything about Garfield & McKinley. Very remiss of me, I feel. Here we are given a brief snapshot of their lives - enough to whet the appetite for reading more & there are some good starting points given in the book. The more important elements are the assassinations themselves & what happened with some searching questions being asked of those involved in protecting the President in at least three of the cases. The 'what ifs' are intriguing from a purely academic standpoint, but at times they feel a little too sunshine & rainbows. Overall it is an engrossing read which asks some pertinent questions alongside 'What If?'.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Collective Ink Limited/Chronos Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

★★★★

Lincoln and Garfield and McKinley and Kennedy. All presidents whose lives and terms were cut short.

Koerner compiles research and his own findings / theories to give insight into each of the presidential assassinations, backgrounds on each weapon used, and imaginings of the history America could have had, had these presidents survived.

Overall, the analyses were cohesive and clear. I think Garfield’s imagined presidency was the most in-depth bit of the book, and Koerner presented a sound theory of the whereabouts of Guiteau’s gun. In comparison to Garfield, Lincoln’s imagined presidency seemed to rely less on Lincoln’s potential hand in Reconstruction and civil rights issues and more on his enduring popularity to tell the story of what Lincoln could have accomplished; It wasn’t as concrete.

My other criticism is that Koerner seemed to take too much of a rose-colored approach to imagining these lost presidencies and the way they would have shaped America. While some darker points in our history may not have happened or some advancements could have taken place sooner, that does not mean that there would not have been tragedies and setbacks at all. If there’s one point this book drove home, it’s that there are always many reasons an event takes place, and changing one detail could change everything completely or only partially.



All that to say: If you’re looking for an overview of the presidential assassinations and their repercussions, this book is a great place to start!


Thank you NetGalley and Chronos Books for the e-ARC!

If you like books with lots of information, this one is for you. The book itself though read like conjecture and guessing, opinions - not facts. It read like a High school paper and felt like the author was pushing his own opinion onto us as readers. I hated how he guessed what would happen if the men had stayed alive in their situations. Like, that’s all his opinions and not based in fact on anything.

Thank you to Collective Ink Limited for eARC access for an honest review.

This book made me realize how much I miss history class. I love history and it was my favorite subject in school, this book made me realize how much I love it.

Reading over the tragic events and the aftermath of the presidential assassinations brought forward learning about them in school but with Koerner - it’s so much more.

His fact checking and in depth analysis of the facts is amazing. I found myself saying “holy crap” or “wow” over and over again. I loved that Koerner also included his own thoughts and what he believes would’ve happened had the assassinations not been successful. It’s incredible eye opening and I honestly can’t express enough how much this book should be read.

I’ll definitely be buying a copy for my dad and brother for Christmas as they both love history as well. I’ve already started recommending this to coworkers & friends as well.

Koerner's account is both thrilling and reflective as he analyzes the motivations behind every crime-a special combination of personal issues, societal influences, and psychoses. He does not spare systems for their failures: a lack of mental health support, easy access to firearms. The book, therefore, is not a narration of mere sad happenings but overall social commentary. In all, The Four Guns is a powerful examination of the darker sides of human nature and society. Through his astute blending of narrative and analysis, Koerner has made this a must-read book for anyone who wants to understand the complexity of violent crime in America.

The guns used in the assassinations of 4 US presidents has always fascinated me and the stories behind them lead to the wider motives of the assassins and the wider polilical context of the killings. The research that the author has accomplished in bringing the four events together is remarkable as is the commentary on the wider impact on US society and world events had the events not taken place. It becomes evident that the assassination of Lincoln started a sequence that links through to the shooting of JFK nearly 100 years later.

A thoroughly good read and is thought provoking in terms supposedly single events can impact the future.

OK - I am generally not a fan of counterfactual ("what if") history. It is often filled with suppositions and even fantasy that can never be proved - and depending on a few assumptions and interpretations of known facts, can vary wildly. None the less, I believe it is an interesting way to look at history and can be highly instructive. John Koerner falls victim to all that at times in his new book, The Four Guns.

Koerner has put together a well researched and highly readable book, focused on the stories of the four United States' Presidents to be assassinated in office. Even if frustrated at times with a few of his scenarios, I enjoyed reading the book and learned a reasonable amount regarding several of these Presidents. Even the section about Abraham Lincoln, a man I have studied rather extensively over many years, had good information that I was less familiar with. And while I could certainly pick quarrels with pieces of his "what if he had survived" scenarios, there seemed to be a legitimate view of what Lincoln might have done.

The sections focused on James Garfield and William McKinley were particularly interesting to me as I had far less knowledge about them as both individuals and as politicians/Presidents. The result was that Koerner taught me a good deal about both of them and gave me what I take to be a real sense for how they fit into the context of their era.

The last section of the book, about John Kennedy, was far less satisfying. He delves extensively into conspiracy theories (which I don't object to per se -and have studied to some extent - but which is it: Did the CIA kill JFK or was it a group that included his vice-president, Lyndon Johnson. I'm not sure you can have it both ways.). Likewise, I found his "what if" scenarios far less convincing. And then he strayed needlessly (in my opinion) into the deaths of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Junior, giving them limited coverage and distracting from his analysis of the main topic at hand.

So when all is said and done, I found The Four Guns to be an interesting and fun read - with some solid history included. It did little, however, to change my mixed opinion of counterfactual history. Fun to read and sometimes educational, but not necessarily the place to start if one is trying to really learn about these four leaders.

Fascinating and well researched
Four US Presidents have been successfully assassinated whilst in office, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F Kennedy, and this book looks at those assassinations. The circumstances around them, the guns themselves and what could have happened if each President had lived
Note from me before I get into the review: at the time I was granted access to this book from the publisher and this review were written (Summer 2024), there were only four assassinated US Presidents however I’m aware of the current unrest in America and the assassination attempt on former President Trump so things might be different but this review is based on the book that looks into the assassination attempts of four historical Presidents and my opinions at the time of writing. I felt compelled to add this disclaimer in a way that I haven’t for other reviews because of the events of this summer
This was a really interesting book that looked deeper into the assassinations in a way that none other seems to do. The research into the guns used, the circumstances around the assassinations, gives the reader an insight and an understanding into each President, what they were like, the challenges that faced them at the time of their assassinations which really sets the scene for the look into what could have happened had the President survived. I think this final section is the one that caught my attention most, it questions the readers beliefs and perceptions plus puts forward arguments for how each man could have changed America. To note, each Presidents survival and future is based on the previous assassinations happening which I think is a good idea as it feels more realistic for the predictions
This book makes the reader ask questions and look deeper into some very important and pivotal events in US history and how things could have been different in a very ordered and fact based approach
I would recommend this book to those who want to know more about the US Presidential assassinations or just wants to see and understand the known facts from a different perspective

I really enjoyed this very engaging book -- it was filled with interesting stories, with information in many cases I'd never heard before. The author can definitely tell a tale and I would, for sure, be interested in other work by this same writer. Very fun read but also very informative, as well !! The chapter about President Garfield I found especially interesting. Very well done . . .5 Stars !!

3.5 stars rounded down.

If y'all haven't figured out by now that if James Garfield is in it, I'll be reading it hahaha! When I saw this available on NetGalley I requested it immediately!

This short book goes over all four presidential assassinations and as the title would indicate, the guns that were used to commit them. Koerner discusses the details of the gun itself and how it was acquired by the assassin, what happened to the gun after the event, and then speculates what could have happened had the assassination never happened. The first two points listed, I thought the author did well on. I personally, know more about Garfield's assassination than most people have any right to know (shoutout to my master's thesis) so there really wasn't much information included there that was new to me. Nor with the Kennedy assassination because that one is so thoroughly researched in modern times. The Lincoln and McKinley chapters revealed new info to me that I found fairly interesting and really enjoyed!

However, the chapters where Koerner discusses what he thinks might have happened if these four presidents had survived felt unrefined. The author stating "[his] theory" is fine and was part of the appeal of this book for me (tbh I wanted to make sure he had the right idea about what might have been had Garfield been able to serve his full term.. or two?) but it was just clumsy and didn't end up appealing to me at all. It read like a high school paper to me and felt like he was pushing his opinions on the reader a bit too forcefully for it to have read as the scholarly text I wanted it to be.

Thanks to NetGalley, Chronos Books, and John Hunt Publishing for the ARC!

I like about history and the journey about why history can dramatically changed from one period to another period. This novel is really superb and I cannot wait until I finish reading this novel. Four Guns is a book for you to go.

Very well researched and written. Unlike some authors, who come to conclusions that leave the truth still ambiguous, John Koerner uses very good logic for evidence that may not be concrete. His analysis of what could have happened if each president survived their assassinations, is also, very intriguing and logical. And I am not one to go on hypothetical roads! I especially enjoyed the last chapters on the JFK assassination, finally learning new revelations that I have not read before. I will definitely be recommending this book even to those who do not like history.

Often when we study assassinations we only focus on the date of the assassination or when the president died. Equally important is the day when the assassin bought the gun and determined to end the president’s life. - John Koerner

I have read quite a few books on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and JFK, however The Four Guns by John Koerner gives the reader a look at these assassinations including the deaths of James Garfield and William McKinley from a different angle.

John gives the reader a run down of the day each of the listed four presidents was shot, and a look at the guns that took each of their lives. He feels it is essential to understand how each of the four weapons changed history. He also talks about where these guns are today.

He then focuses on the what ifs… What if they survived! What would the United States of America be today if they lived and died from old age.

I enjoy the layout of this book and the different perspective John had on each of these deaths. A lot of books have been written about these presidents, especially about Lincoln and Kennedy, but I felt that John Koerner brought something a little different to the table when writing about them.

I was truly disappointed with this book. I regret giving it even one star, but at least one is required for feed back purposes.
The premise and description were interesting. Very little else about this book was. It read like a badly written paper for a college class, one that would have received a very low grade. Throughout the entire book, the author kept stating, “This is my theory on….” I thought this was going to be a book based on careful, proven research, not one made up of of mostly conjecture on the writer’s part.
I will not be recommending this “book” to others.
* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This is a very quick and interesting read with a very different take on the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy. The author's title is focused on the gun used in each murder, the history behind how the gun was acquired, what happened to the gun (where is it at today), and one of the more speculative but interesting sections in what would have happened if each President would have somehow survived their assassination attempt.

As a fellow academician (retired now), Professor John Koerner offers very systematic historical research to detail the story of each event. The Lincoln assassination section is most intriguing when considering what would have happened had Lincoln survived. That section alone, while hypothetical, raises many interesting questions.

The Garfield section is very good. I've read several biographies on Garfield, and believe he would have been an amazing President had he not been taken after such a short tenure in office.

I found the section on McKinley the most intriguing. The author believes, and gives some compelling evidence, that there was a conspiracy in the McKinley murder although it was never proven.

The Kennedy assassination is given the most space of the four stories, and rightly so given it happened in the television era. The author firmly believes there was a conspiracy, and it could have been any number of suspects: the Mafia, Cubans, the CIA, LBJ, etc. The tragedy is we may never know the truth behind JFKs murder, and there likely was a conspiracy to keep many things out of the public sphere as the author explains.

The book is short, and there are places where the reader wants to know more. In terms of meeting the objective of the four guns, the author does that very well.

I want to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this new book. I attest this review is my own original work.

"The Four Guns" by John Koerner offers a provocative exploration of American history through the lens of four pivotal presidential assassinations: Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. The book serves three main purposes: dissecting the details of each assassination, tracing the history of the weapons used, and speculating on how history might have unfolded had these presidents survived.

Koerner meticulously examines the circumstances and conspiracy theories surrounding each assassination, providing a thorough analysis that is both educational and engaging. The narrative delves into the lesser-known histories of the assassination weapons themselves, revealing how they were obtained and their whereabouts today, which adds a unique layer to the historical recounting.

Perhaps most compelling is Koerner's speculative exploration of "what might have been." By considering scenarios where Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy survive, Koerner invites readers to contemplate how different America and the world might be. This counterfactual approach not only underscores the profound impact of these leaders' premature deaths but also sparks a broader reflection on the fragility and significance of leadership.

"The Four Guns" is a thought-provoking blend of history, mystery, and speculative analysis that challenges readers to think critically about the past and its implications for the present and future. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in presidential history, American politics, or historical what-ifs.

Good discussion about interesting points in history. Bit too much gun talk for me! I would prefer something a little more light-hearted.

Thank you to the publisher and for NetGalley, which provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I just finished The Four Guns: The Stolen History Of The Assassinated Presidents, by John Koerner.

I am definitely intrigued by Koerner’s argument that the Confederate Secret Service was involved in the Lincoln assassination, but I am not ready to take a position on that issue yet. I know they had plots against Lincoln, but whether Booth’s successful conspiracy also included them is something I definitely do want to do more reading on. I am glad that this book raised the issue, took a position and reminded me that I have to do more reading to determine which side I find more persuasive.

As an aside, I see that I gave Edwin Steer’s book, in which he argued for that proposition, a B+ 5 years ago, so I must have been impressed, but don’t recall reading it. I see that I already have Tidwell’s book that this one cites to, so I’ll have to add that to my reading book. Actually, the more I think about it, this is discussion is more of just an aside. I always consider it a positive thing when a book makes me want to want to learn more about a topic and this book checks that box.

I knew that the book was going to also include a discussion of the guns used. I came into reading this thinking that I wasn’t really the target audience for that aspect of the book. But, I did enjoy that aspect more than I expected, especially the part about Booth (who had two guns with him that night).

I especially liked this line, when talking about the National Archive’s web page describing the gun Oswald that Oswald supposedly used: “The most revealing aspect, though on the entire web page describing the gun is the word ‘Allegedly.’ In my opinion, the title should read ‘Mannlicher-Carcano Rifle Probably News Owned by Lee Harvey Oswald and Probably Never Used to Assassinate President J. Kennedy.’”

His discussion of whether there was a conspiracy against McKinley was interesting, but I’m not ready to take a position on that yet. I wish the author’s book on that topic was available in Kindle edition, but it isn’t.

His discussion of JFK was also very good, while his discussion on Garfield was good too. I hadn’t realized how many enemies Garfield had already been making during his first year in office.
For each assassination, the author speculates on what would have happened if the president had lived. Those discussions were very interesting.

Reading this book has prompted me to go get the Kindle version of his book on the JFK and Malcolm X assassinations.

In terms of a grade, I give this one an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).