Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin

There are four pages in this book that detail James Earl Ray’s rap sheet both prior to the assassination and afterward, which includes escape attempts and a prison assault on him. With such material and an appendix of historic events for context, a bibliography for continued study, and a full index, this is a book that should be of interest to not only the serious student of history but any American seeking to understand the impact of the life of Dr. King and his untimely murder. Like the book The Day Lincoln Was Shot, this book takes us step by step through the planning and execution of the horrendous act. The pictures, which have been carefully selected, bring us to a better understanding of the staging of these events.

Americans not living through this event might not know that James Earl Ray managed to effect his escape to Canada and then to the United Kingdom. This flight has caused speculation about other actors in these events. Swanson details all of the facts but comes to no easy conclusion, though he directs the interested reader to further study through the links contained in this book.