Freelance writer Buhk (True Crime: Michigan; The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases) has pulled many famous-and infamous-Civil War crimes into one excellent volume. He recounts 16 stories-from the familiar (the trial of John Wilkes Booth's cohorts) to the humorous (the fictional cross-dressing Sue Mundy) to the gruesome (the killing of the Beckham family, including four children). Buhk is careful to try to relate all sides of each story as many have been sensationalized and are to this day still subject to debate. He provides a snapshot of the United States at war-not always a pretty picture. Not for the faint of heart, the book details the mistreatment of slaves (and former slaves) and prisoners of war, the rampant lawlessness during and after the war, harsh punishments (e.g., whippings, hanging prisoners by their thumbs), and the rapid trials and executions. Its extensive footnotes and bibliography will be fodder for researchers. Verdict Especially during this sesquicentennial anniversary, this should prove a popular book with Civil War buffs. Easy to read with occasional humorous turns of phrase; highly recommended.-Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.