Josh Mensch Books

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 President Lincoln 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 pro-Southern secret society that didn't want an antislavery President in the White House. They planned an elaborate scheme to assassinate the brand new President in Baltimore as Lincoln's inauguration train passed through en route to the Capitol. The plot was investigated by famed detective Allan Pinkerton, who infiltrated the group with undercover agents, including 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.

Set during a pivotal time in American history, this narrative uncovers a little-known episode that reveals George Washington's character and the roots of America's counterintelligence efforts, which eventually influenced the modern CIA. In 1776, a select group of soldiers served as Washington's bodyguards, earning his trust. However, unbeknownst to him, some were involved in a treasonous conspiracy. As the Revolutionary War approached, these traitorous soldiers, in collaboration with New York's Governor William Tryon and Mayor David Mathews, devised a deadly plot against Washington. This account details the secret conspiracy and its exposure, featuring a cast of leaders, deceivers, and confessional figures. It illustrates the intense challenges Washington faced and how close America came to losing the war. In this gripping historical exploration, bestselling author Brad Meltzer partners with history writer Josh Mensch to reveal the shocking truth behind what has been overlooked in history. Through thorough research, they vividly depict how Washington not only triumphed over the world's most formidable military but also uncovered the conspiracy against him in the critical days leading up to July 4, 1776.