Most Popular Books by Josh Mensch

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, the bestselling authors of The First Conspiracy, which covers the secret plot against George Washington, now turn their attention to a little-known, but true story about a failed assassination attempt on the sixteenth president in The Lincoln Conspiracy. Everyone knows the story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, but few are aware of the original conspiracy to kill him four years earlier in 1861, literally on his way to Washington, D.C., for his first inauguration. The conspirators were part of a white supremacist secret society that didn’t want an abolitionist in the White House. They planned an elaborate scheme to assassinate the President-elect in Baltimore as Lincoln’s inauguration train passed through, en route to the nation''s capital. The plot was investigated by famed detective Allan Pinkerton, who infiltrated the group with undercover agents, including Kate Warne, one of the first female private detectives in America. Had the assassination succeeded, there would have been no Lincoln Presidency and the course of the Civil War and American history would have forever been altered.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An absolute home run! You will never look at WWII the same way again." —Brad Thor, #1 bestselling author "Meltzer and Mensch are masters." —Jon Meacham, author The Soul of America "A true story that reads like a thriller." —Alexander S. Vindman, LT. Col., U.S. Army (Ret.) "An outstanding and memorable reading experience....a true page-turner from beginning to end." —Bookreporter.com From the New York Times bestselling authors of The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes the little-known true story of a Nazi plot to kill FDR, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill at the height of World War II. In 1943, as the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape—an assassination plot that would’ve changed history. A true story filled with daring rescues, body doubles, and political intrigue, The Nazi Conspiracy details FDR’s pivotal meeting in Tehran and the deadly Nazi plot against the heads of state of the three major Allied powers who attended it. With all the hallmarks of a Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch page-turner, The Nazi Conspiracy explores the great political minds of the twentieth century, investigating the pivotal years of the war in gripping detail. This meeting of the Big Three changed the course of World War II. Here’s the inside story of how it almost led to a world-shattering disaster.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, is often ranked among Americans’ most well-liked presidents. Yet what most Americans don’t know is that JFK’s historic presidency almost ended before it began—at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite. On December 11, 1960, shortly after Kennedy’s election and before his inauguration, a retired postal worker named Richard Pavlick waited in his car—a parked Buick—on a quiet street in Palm Beach, Florida. Pavlick knew the president-elect’s schedule. He knew when Kennedy would leave his house. He knew where Kennedy was going. From there, Pavlick had a simple plan—one that could’ve changed the course of history. Written in the gripping, page-turning style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s bestselling series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life. Meltzer and Mensch are at the top of their game with this brilliant exploration of what could’ve been for one of the most compelling leaders of the 20th century.

Taking place during the most critical period of our nation’s birth, The First Conspiracy tells a remarkable and previously untold piece of American history that not only reveals George Washington’s character, but also illuminates the origins of America’s counterintelligence movement that led to the modern day CIA. In 1776, an elite group of soldiers were handpicked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards. Washington trusted them; relied on them. But unbeknownst to Washington, some of them were part of a treasonous plan. In the months leading up to the Revolutionary War, these traitorous soldiers, along with the Governor of New York, William Tryon, and Mayor David Mathews, launched a deadly plot against the most important member of the military: George Washington himself. This is the story of the secret plot and how it was revealed. It is a story of leaders, liars, counterfeiters, and jailhouse confessors. It also shows just how hard the battle was for George Washington and how close America was to losing the Revolutionary War. In this historical page-turner, New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer teams up with American history writer and documentary television producer, Josh Mensch to unravel the shocking true story behind what has previously been a footnote in the pages of history. Drawing on extensive research, Meltzer and Mensch capture in riveting detail how George Washington not only defeated the most powerful military force in the world, but also uncovered the secret plot against him in the tumultuous days leading up to July 4, 1776. Praise for The First Conspiracy: "This is American history at its finest, a gripping story of spies, killers, counterfeiters, traitors and a mysterious prostitute who may or may not have even existed. Anyone with an interest in American history will love this book." —Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God “A wonderful book about leadership and it shows why George Washington and his moral lessons are just as vital today. What a book. You’ll love it.” —former president George H.W. Bush

New York Times bestselling authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch adapt their instant bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, for young readers to bring them the heart-pounding story of the assassination plot that nearly changed the course of history. It''s 1943. Nazi Germany and its Axis power allies are ravaging Europe and the Pacific with a terrible war. At this juncture, President Franklin Roosevelt has one critical goal: a face-to-face meeting with his allies, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The first ever meeting of the "Big Three" is set to take place in Tehran, Iran, where the leaders of the three great superpowers will discuss and decide on some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. But when the Nazis learn about the meeting, they form their own secret, deadly plan: an assassination plot that would forever change history...if they''re successful. This riveting true story, filled with daring rescues and high stakes intrigue, explains how this pivotal meeting in Tehran changed the course of World War II, and how the Nazi conspiracy to assassinate the Allied leaders nearly led to world-shattering disaster. Renowned authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch bring their New York Times bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, to young readers for the first time with this action-packed page-turner that offers an informative overview of World War II and details the heart-pounding true story of the Nazi plot to assassinate Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill at the height of World War II. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills, so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer unravels the truth behind the secret assassination attempt on George Washington and how the plot helped create the CIA and the FBI in this young reader''s adaptation for younger audiences. 1776. The early days of the Revolutionary War. It supposedly began with Thomas Hickey, a private in the Continental Army, and New York governor William Tryon. In an astonishing power grab, they plotted to kill Hickey''s boss: a man by the name of George Washington. In the end, Hickey was caught, brought to trial, and found guilty. It would seem he became the first person in the new nation to be executed for treason. But to this day, nobody knows for sure if this story is true. In The First Conspiracy, Brad Meltzer sheds light on the close-kept secrets and compelling details surrounding this story and exposes the history of how the assassination plot catalyzed the creation of the CIA and FBI. This page-turning investigation offers young readers an in-depth look at the facts and remaining questions that surround this contested historical event.

Een razendspannend spionageverhaal over de topontmoeting tussen Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill en Jozef Stalin in 1943 – en hoe die bijna uitliep op een catastrofe die de koers van de Tweede Wereldoorlog had kunnen veranderen In 1943, terwijl de oorlog tegen nazi-Duitsland wereldwijd op volle kracht woedde, had de president van de Verenigde Staten, Franklin Roosevelt, een belangrijk doel: een afspraak in levenden lijve met zijn bondgenoten Jozef Stalin en Winston Churchill. Deze bijeenkomst van de drie wereldleiders in Teheran zou overeenstemming moeten brengen over de cruciaalste strategische beslissingen in de oorlog. Maar zodra de nazi’s erachter kwamen dat deze afspraak zou plaatsvinden, beraamden ze in het diepste geheim een dodelijk complot dat de koers van de geschiedenis had kunnen veranderen. Meltzer en Mensch reconstrueren op minutieuze wijze de gebeurtenissen, beschrijven de geheime operaties, afluistertechnieken, boodschappen in code en verkeerd begrepen informatie in een omgeving waarin niemand elkaar kon vertrouwen, en geven een inkijkje in de strategieën van de grootste politieke kopstukken van de twintigste eeuw. In de pers ''‘Een spannend spionageverhaal’ Plus Magazine ‘Meltzer en Mensch gaan niet voorbij aan de twijfels over het bestaan van het complot, maar beargumenteren overtuigend dat het echt was, en geven de nodige historische context terwijl ze een bijna thrillerachtige vaart in het verhaal houden. Tweede Wereldoorlog-liefhebbers zullen door dit boek betoverd worden.’ Publishers Weekly ‘Een meeslepend verslag. Een fascinerend en mogelijk controversieel boek.’ Booklist ‘Een kleurrijke tocht door een doolhof aan plotwendingen die de geschiedenis veranderd hadden kunnen hebben.’ Kirkus Reviews

Detta är den hisnande historien om nazisternas hemliga plan att mörda Franklin D. Roosevelt, Josef Stalin och Winston Churchill – mitt under ett av andra världskrigets mest avgörande skeden. 1943, medan kriget härjade i Europa, hade president Roosevelt ett mål: ett möte ansikte mot ansikte med sina allierade Stalin och Churchill. Ledarna sammanstrålade i Teheran för att fatta några av krigets viktigaste strategiska beslut. Men när nazisternas underrättelsetjänst fick nys om mötet planlade de en mordkomplott som kunde ha förändrat historiens gång. Berättelsen om denna sammansvärjning är fylld av vågade räddningsaktioner, dubbelgångare och politiska intriger. De amerikanska författarna Brad Meltzer och Josh Mensch utforskar i denna bladvändare 1900-talets stora politiska personligheter och skildrar detaljerat rafflande händelser. Toppkonferensen mellan de tre allierade stormaktsledarna skulle komma att avgöra andra världskrigets utgång. Här är konspirationen som kunde ha lett till en världsomvälvande katastrof.