Books On Board

Burt Solomon Books in Order

  • 3 Books
  • 2017 – 2023 Published
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How to Read Burt Solomon's Books

Burt Solomon, a veteran Washington journalist and contributing editor at The Atlantic, has carved a unique niche in historical fiction. His primary contribution to the genre is the John Hay Mysteries, a series of historical thrillers featuring the real-life political figure John Hay as an amateur sleuth. Because the series spans multiple decades of American history, readers can approach the books in two distinct ways: by publication order or by chronological order.

Publication Order

Reading in publication order allows you to experience the series as Solomon wrote and released it. This is the most straightforward path and introduces Hay in the Civil War era, skips forward to his golden years under Theodore Roosevelt, and then goes back to fill in the Reconstruction-era gap. The publication order is as follows:

  1. The Murder of Willie Lincoln (2017)
  2. The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt (2019)
  3. The Murder of Andrew Johnson (2023)

Chronological Order

Chronological order is highly recommended for readers who want to follow John Hay's personal and political evolution. In real life, Hay rose from a young, ambitious secretary under Abraham Lincoln to become a seasoned statesman and Secretary of State. Reading the books chronologically aligns the narrative with Hay's aging process and the shifting landscape of 19th- and early 20th-century Washington, D.C.:

  1. The Murder of Willie Lincoln (Set in 1862 during the Civil War)
  2. The Murder of Andrew Johnson (Set in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era)
  3. The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt (Set in 1902 during the Gilded Age)

Deep Dive into the John Hay Mysteries

Solomon's thrillers are famous for their roman à clef approach, placing real-life historical figures into fictional conspiracy plots. Below is a closer look at the three installments in the series:

The Murder of Willie Lincoln (2017)

This debut novel reimagines one of the Lincoln family's greatest tragedies. Historically, Abraham Lincoln's eleven-year-old son Willie died of typhoid fever in 1862. In Solomon's reimagining, Willie is murdered, and young White House aide John Hay is tasked with quietly finding the killer. The investigation takes Hay through the spy-ridden, mud-slicked streets of Civil War-era Washington, D.C., and forces him to navigate the political rivalries of Lincoln's cabinet.

The Murder of Andrew Johnson (2023)

Set thirteen years later in 1875, this novel catches up with John Hay during the Reconstruction Era. Former President Andrew Johnson has died under suspicious circumstances. Hay, now working as a journalist, travels to cover the funeral and is quickly pulled into an investigation of whether the controversial president was poisoned. To write this book, Solomon researched period-specific newspapers, political memoirs, and even 19th-century embalming techniques to ensure absolute historical precision.

The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt (2019)

The final book chronologically leaps ahead to 1902. John Hay has risen to become the Secretary of State under President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. After a real-world streetcar collision in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, kills a Secret Service agent and injures the president, Hay begins to suspect the incident was actually an assassination attempt. The investigation weaves through the high-society circles of the Gilded Age, featuring appearances by historical figures like Nellie Bly and J.P. Morgan.

Burt Solomon's Historical Nonfiction

Before turning his hand to historical mystery novels, Solomon was an accomplished nonfiction author and journalist. For readers who enjoy his meticulous attention to historical detail, his nonfiction catalog is well worth exploring:

  • Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life and Untimely Death of the Original Baltimore Orioles (1999) – A narrative history detailing the legendary 1890s Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
  • The Washington Century: Three Families and the Shaping of the Nation's Capital (2004) – A chronicle of D.C. history told through the lenses of three prominent local families (the Boggs, Cafritz, and Hobson families).
  • FDR v. The Constitution: The Court-Packing Fight and the Triumph of Democracy (2009) – A detailed look at Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1937 attempt to expand the Supreme Court.

What to Know Before You Start

The John Hay Mysteries are perfect for fans of historical detail who appreciate political intrigue over pure action. Because Solomon is a former White House press correspondent, he brings an insider's view of Washington politics to the historical page. While the central murder conspiracies are fictional, they are framed entirely by real political events, and almost every major supporting character is based on a real person from history. Each book functions well as a standalone mystery, but the overarching character arc of John Hay makes the chronological reading order the most rewarding path.

Frequently Asked

Who is the main character in Burt Solomon's historical mysteries?

The protagonist of the series is John Hay, a real-world historical figure who served as assistant private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and later became the Secretary of State under Theodore Roosevelt.

What is the recommended reading order for the John Hay Mysteries?

While you can read them in publication order, the recommended path is chronological order (The Murder of Willie Lincoln, followed by The Murder of Andrew Johnson, and ending with The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt) to follow Hay's career progression naturally.

Are Burt Solomon's books suitable as standalones?

Yes. Each novel features a self-contained mystery and conspiracy that is fully resolved by the end of the book, meaning they can be read independently without confusion.

Is Where They Ain't a mystery novel?

No, Where They Ain't is a historical nonfiction book focusing on the rise and fall of the 1890s Baltimore Orioles and the birth of modern baseball.

What other nonfiction books has Burt Solomon written?

Solomon has written two other major historical nonfiction works: The Washington Century (2004) and FDR v. The Constitution (2009).

Are the murder cases in the books based on real events?

No, the core murder plots (such as Willie Lincoln being murdered or Andrew Johnson being poisoned) are fictional premises, though they are built around real-world events and historical settings.