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The Lincoln Conspiracy

The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - and Why It Failed

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The Lincoln Conspiracy

By: Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

"Everyone knows that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, but how many know that there was a previous, unsuccessful attempt on his life? Let narrator Scott Brick tell you all about it.... Brick can make a nursery rhyme sound exciting, and he's on fire in this audiobook." (AudioFile magazine)

The best-selling 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, DC, 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

"The Lincoln Conspiracy is, despite its dark subject matter, relentlessly fun to read...It's an expertly crafted book that seems sure to delight readers with an interest in lesser-known episodes of American history." (NPR.org)

"Filled with amazing American history, secret societies, incredible research, and a shocking conspiracy to murder Abraham Lincoln at the dawn of his presidency. A brilliant combination of edge of your seat history and superb storytelling." (James L. Swanson, best-selling author of Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer)

"Meltzer and Mensch maintain suspense despite the known outcome of the story, and convincingly counter claims that Pinkerton made the whole thing up for publicity purposes. Readers new to the "Baltimore Plot" will appreciate this comprehensive and well-written overview." (Publishers Weekly)

©2020 Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch (P)2020 Macmillan Audio
Abraham Lincoln Military Politics & Activism Presidents & Heads of State Assassin Civil War War American History

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Critic reviews

"The Lincoln Conspiracy is, despite its dark subject matter, relentlessly fun to read.... It's an expertly crafted book that seems sure to delight readers with an interest in lesser-known episodes of American history." (NPR.org)

"Filled with amazing American history, secret societies, incredible research, and a shocking conspiracy to murder Abraham Lincoln at the dawn of his presidency. A brilliant combination of edge of your seat history and superb storytelling." (James L. Swanson, best-selling author of Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer)

"Meltzer and Mensch maintain suspense despite the known outcome of the story, and convincingly counter claims that Pinkerton made the whole thing up for publicity purposes. Readers new to the 'Baltimore Plot' will appreciate this comprehensive and well-written overview." (Publishers Weekly)

All stars
Most relevant  
Really enjoyable listen. The multiple viewpoints the author brought into the narrative were particularly fascinating and how they all interlinked. Also handy how the chapters themselves were short and sweet - meant I could easily stop/start when life got in the way 😂

Really interesting, easy listen

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Narrator very good. Exciting story, well told. I'd never heard this story before. Good choice.

lincoln

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A slow burner that never quite succeeds in taking off. The book is very well written and researched by Brad Meltzer and I was hoping it would develop into a similar book as Manhunt by James L. Swanson about Lincoln's actual assassination but unfortunately it never did.

A slow burner

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