An enjoyable adventure, however niche the content. I personally hit the right demographic though as a bookseller its one I find I'd have a harder time selling

I requested this one because although I had heard of the Baltimore plot, I had never heard of lady spies involvement in it. Often history is told from men's perspectives and we hear less of the many skills and accomplishments of women. I loved that we got to see a whole division of women spies and their many successful operations in this book. I feel the time jumps were a little jarring and made the book drag a little bit, it took me awhile to finish this one. I did loved the whole story told and how much I learned, and the art and layout was really eye catching. Overall there is something for everyone in this one.

A fun historical romp! I love books that create new adventures with real historical figures-- the mashup of history with imagination is fascinating!

Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

I really like the artsyle of this graphic novel, the art really impressed me and i love it so much. I don't read a lot of graphic novels and more familiar with manga but I absolutely enamored by the stunning visual in here and the coloured pages. This was really fun to read as its based on a real female detective and its a historical fiction which is fun to read.


Overall, really enjoyed my reading and love the storyline although it can get bit slow to build up to the main event and climax.

4 stars

A graphic novel about Kate Warne, the first woman Pinkerton detective, & her efforts to protect Abraham Lincoln from an assassination attempt leading up to his first inauguration. I really liked the style of story telling, & Kate herself as an MC.

[What I liked:]

•I really enjoyed the way the story is set up & framed! Especially the opening sequence, where we see a woman being interviewed & only get her side of the conversation. The way the art panels are laid out & the story is structured is very engaging.

•There is lots of action & excitement! Disguises, sinister plots, & chases across town. The story has a nice feeling of forward momentum, with the slower moments equally engaging as they reveal important details from the past.

•Kate is an intriguing character: feminist, career PI, & a good heart. Her backstory is also touching. It was easy to root for her to succeed, not just in saving the President but also in her personal life.

•I learned some interesting tidbits of history, including about the Illinois “black laws”! (You can read more that here: 100 Best Documents at the Illinois State Archives) The art was also decently historically accurate, especially concerning fashion.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The jumps in timeline were a bit disorienting at first, mainly I think because they happened a few times before I got used to who the MC’s were.

CW: racism, sexism, violence

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I am not going to publish this review, because I feel that it might just not been for me and because o didn't finish it. I got half way through but it wasn't catching my attention nor retraining it, and I kept thinking I should pick it up and give it another try but didn't want to. Didn't enjoy the pacing and felt like I wasn't getting the point of the story, it wasn't for me. But I found the art beautiful.

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I thought this was an okay read. I liked learning more about Kate Warne and all she went through to become a detective. The art was well done and I could mostly tell what was happening during any action scenes. I thought it was an interesting choice to focus on Kate Warne and Mrs. Lincoln. I know some of it was fictionalize, but all in all, I would recommend this to anyone interested in Kate Warne.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel about the first woman detective, Kate Warne. I had not heard of her prior to this graphic novel and it was a good introduction to her. I definitely want to find a novel about her!

Kate Warne is an unusual woman, a detective at the Pinkerton Detective Agency . An unusual outfit for its time they hired women and minorities to do detective work. Kate Warne is one such woman, engaging in spy craft she helps foil the plot on the life of Abraham Lincoln by southern secessionists. This was inspired by amazing story of a woman well ahead of her time, she engaged in spy craft, dressed as a man to have more freedom to move around in society and along with a group of other women they helped to foil a plot against the life of Lincoln. Amazing story of a remarkable woman.

Thanks to Boom Studios for giving me the ARC through Netgalley in exchange of a honest review.

Better Angels is a graphic novel based on the first female detective Kate Warne and how she unveiled the assesination plot against Lincoln by secessionists in Baltimore, Maryland; and how Pinkerton's detective agency basically saved his life before the Civil War broke out.

I'm not very knowledgeable about American history so when I first saw this graphic novel I thought it was historical fiction. Then became intrigued when discovered it was not. Jeff Jensen presents the events through the PoV of Kate herself and intertwines her past life and how she came to be a detective with the present issue with Lincoln, thus making a both engaging and informative read, although I'm not sure how historically accurate this story is.

The artwork is great, every character had distinctive features and the color palette used fits the era.

My only complain is that the ending felt a bit rushed, I expected it to end in some kind of cliffhanger considering the detectives also worked during the Civil War, however it ended as if Warne's journey ended after saving Lincoln. I'm not sure if there's going to be a continuation but i hope so.

This wasn’t for me. I thought the story was very confusing and I wasn’t sure who was who because some of the characters looked alike. This made it hard to follow the story. Not a great one for me.

This graphic novel follows the true story of Kate Warne, better known as America’s First Female Detective. To get her job she had to disguise herself as her deceased husband and convince the Pinkertons to hire her.

One of her first cases involved preventing an early attempt on the life of Abraham Lincoln - this book tells that story. It does the job well - though a little pre-reading of her history made the story even more enjoyable. The graphics were nicely done, though, like movies and TV shows depicting that era, the colors are somewhat muted in order to indicate the age of the story.

For the adult, teen, or pre-teen, reader looking for a powerful story depicting a female protagonist (a true story at that), this book should fill the bill. I would like to see more stories featuring Kate Warne and her team of sleuths. This book gets 4-1/2-stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

I received a copy of this graphic novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am not really overly knowledgeable in the history of the USA, I know the basics but it’s still a strange country quite far away…🙃
This graphic novel sounded interesting because it depicts one event in the long history of a influential country that probably would have had a big impact to the future of the USA and through this perhaps even to everyone else…🤔
It was surprisingly interesting and not at all dry for a historical story, the main character was interesting and an actual historical figure - the first female detective employed by Pinkerton. The story was exciting and adventurous. The art was handsome. 😊
Overall I liked it a lot and I feel a bit smarter!😉

Two of my favorite genres merged into one: Graphic Novels and History! I really enjoyed reading this and had no idea about Kate Warne's existence till now.

The historical texts are well-written and Kate's spunk is enjoyable as the narration unfolds.

If you are a history buff and/or enjoy graphic novels, you will like this one!

Thank you #NetGalley and #Boom! Studios for giving me the opportunity to read this.
#BetterAngelsAKateWarneAdventure

I was so excited to read this! Based on real events, Kate Warne is America's first female detective who uses stealth, acting, and costumes to get information about one of the first plots against Abraham Lincoln's life in 1861. With views toggling among several time periods and characters (including Kate and Mary Todd Lincoln), this tells the story of women empowerment and agency during the late 1800s.

I think the various perspectives made this more difficult to follow. I really loved the sections showing Kate Warne doing her sleuthing and finding information about the assassination plot. I wish that the whole story followed that one linear plot line. Instead, the story is bookended with a reflection of Mrs. Lincoln after her husband's death as she retells the story. It also flashes among several points in Warne's timeline including her childhood to beginning work as a detective to the present detective assignment.

I want to know even more after reading this! What an interesting moment in history that we seldom hear about.

Kate Warne was a real person, America's first female detective, working at the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency. Warne stopped an assassination attempt by errant Confederates on the life of the then president-elect, Abraham Lincoln. This book tells that story, and the story of how Warne came to work for the Pinkerton Agency.

And it tells it very well. The writing is complex, the characters are well defined. The Lincolns don't feel like cameos, they feel like real people. Dialogue especially is excellent.

The art is fun, colourful, characters are expressive, pages are interestingly constructed.

A real treat.

A graphic novel based on Kate Warne, America's first female detective and her discovery of the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln. With Lincoln heading to his inauguration ceremony, the states are in turmoil and at the brink of a civil war. Female detective Kate Warne uncovers a plot to assassinate the new president and in turn, kick off the war. A fantastically exciting take on how she plays a major role in foiling the plot against Lincoln. It will have you begging for more and perhaps doing a little research of your own.

I loved the history, research, and realism of this book. A title I would gladly add to my classroom library.

A graphic novel inspired by the true story of Kate Warne, America’s first female detective, and her signature achievement--cracking a plot by Confederate radicals to kill Abraham Lincoln.

An outstanding novel, graphic or otherwise, in and of itself. The story, Better Angels is about the very brave and unconventional Kate Warne. Kate never felt comfortable with the role women were supposed to play in 1800’s America, and after a disagreement with her father, she sets out to make for herself the life she wants.

After many jobs, and failed attempts at being a Victoria-era woman, she sees an ad for the Pinkerton company. She wanted to be a detective. Forget there was no such thing as a female detective or police or anything close.
She was going to get the job. Using her brains and her acting skills, she convinced Mr. Pinkerton himself, that a female detective would be invaluable to his detective agency.
What better spy, than someone no one sees, even when they stand next to you.

1861 and America was coming apart at the seams. Abe Lincoln had just been elected and the South refused to recognize him as their President, (gee, history always repeats itself, doesn’t it?”

Lincoln believed if he did a tour of the country, let everyone see him, hear him, realize that he has the best interest of America, not just the north, not just the Republicans, but ALL of America. (Reminder, The now Democratic party was once called the Republican Party) The idea of his own safety, or the idea that anyone would go so far as to do him or his family harm, was just not something the noble man could conceive.

So with the safety of Lincoln and his family, and the future of America fell into the hands of the then untried lawman; the detective.
But there was only one who would prove to be up to the task—an individual whose extraordinary cleverness and resourcefulness would alter the course of history. More amazing, is that person and her team were women.

I loved the way this story was told. The illustrations were beautiful, and the writing brought everything, everyone, and that part of history alive.

I earnestly hope this is not the only tale of Kate Warne we see. I’m sure there are many more adventures as a Pinkerton agent and after she left them to work on her own. I for one will stand in line to buy any further tales Mr. Jensen writes of my new favorite hero.

Thanks to @Netgalley, BOOM! Studios, and, Jeff Jensen for the Earc of this graphic novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and I wasn't let down by it. It's not one I ultimately remember vivid details from but the artwork was gorgeous and really took me to that time period.