To Kill a King: A History of Royal Murders and Assassinations from Ancient Egypt to the Present

"To Kill a King" is a nonfiction compilation about the gallons of blue blood that have been spilled throughout history. The author reports little-known details about famous and obscure royal victims and offers theories about the murderers' motivations despite royalty's semi-divine status as God's anointed representatives on earth. Just one of many compelling examples to be found in "To Kill a King": Gen. MacArthur's advisors urged him not to prosecute or execute Emperor Hirohito for war crimes because the Japanese ruler was considered a living god by his subjects. It was feared that the emperor's execution would have had the same effect as "crucifying Jesus Christ" in the West and cause riots, complicating America's occupation of Japan after World War II.