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Conspiracy
The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - And Why It Failed
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2020)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.
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.
687 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
1576 people are currently reading
14705 people want to read
About the author
Brad Meltzer
319 books7,300 followersBrad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!
His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 893 reviews
March 16, 2020
I'm biased, but I loved it. Seriously, can't WAIT to share this with you all! xo
May 15, 2020
In their second collaborative piece about a little-known assassination plot on a president, Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch turn to one of the most beloved—or hated, depending on your outlook—men ever to ascend to the presidency, Abraham Lincoln. Little known by many at the time of his election, Lincoln was not one to shy away from controversy for his strong anti-slavery views. He toppled favourites to win the Republican nomination and then entered a presidential fight that was drawn along more than state or party lines, woven into the fabric of a still adolescent America. As Meltzer and Mensch illustrate, there was trouble brewing before the ballots were cast, but once Lincoln won, those who did not support him came out in droves. Of those who sought to keep slavery intact and reacted with the most vigour was a group called the Knights of the Golden Circle. This covert group had plans to remove the man and rebalance the American political situation before Lincoln could official spend a day in office, during a stop in Baltimore. While there have been numerous presidential assassination attempts and successes—Lincoln included—none had been successfully plotted or executed by a group on a president-elect. As news of the Knights plan leaked, a little known detective agency was brought in to help foil the plot and keep the president from being pushed into the crosshairs. This is the story of the Knights, their plot, and how it was stymied by some quick thinking. With wonderful detail and quotes from all parties involved, Meltzer and Mensch keep the reader feeling right in the thick of things of this situation that has barely—if ever—made mention in any history books. Recommended to those who love a good political drama that’s steeped in history and intrigue, as well as the reader who loves learning about some of the parts of American history that are not readily seen in every school primer text.
I have long loved the work of Brad Meltzer and am thoroughly impressed with the work that he does alongside Josh Mensch. Some bemoan that the book is too outlandish, though I think the fact that this was a real event and not something pulled from the fictional archives of a stellar writer—of which Meltzer surely is—makes it all the more exciting. Laying the groundwork, the authors provide the reader with some backstories on all the key characters involved in the situation, including a few about whom I knew nothing before reading this book. With this and a healthy dose of the political situation at the time, the reader can see the developing plot to kill Lincoln during his ride towards Washington for the inauguration in early March 1861. The details of the story are clear and flow so well, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, as one would expect in a piece of well-crafted fiction, though this is surely steeped in reality. The authors use a great narrative style that removes much of the stuffy nature that can be found in recounting historical happenings without losing the importance of the events being shared. With a mix of short and longer chapters, the reader can learn what they need to without getting bogged down in too much minutiae, though the information was plentiful on each page. The eventual assassination plot and its execution by the likes of John Wilkes Booth dominate the history texts, but Meltzer and Mensch bring to life this earlier attempt to shed some light on just how hated Lincoln and his beliefs were to many within the country, as well as to the extent to which parts of the American public were happy to see their as-yet official president killed and left as an asterisk in the history texts. No president will match the character and actions of Abraham Lincoln, though some will try to spin it to make their megalomaniacal ego glow even more!
Kudos, Messers. Meltzer and Mensch, for this refreshing look at America on the brink and one of its leaders who dodged a literal bullet to effect change.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have long loved the work of Brad Meltzer and am thoroughly impressed with the work that he does alongside Josh Mensch. Some bemoan that the book is too outlandish, though I think the fact that this was a real event and not something pulled from the fictional archives of a stellar writer—of which Meltzer surely is—makes it all the more exciting. Laying the groundwork, the authors provide the reader with some backstories on all the key characters involved in the situation, including a few about whom I knew nothing before reading this book. With this and a healthy dose of the political situation at the time, the reader can see the developing plot to kill Lincoln during his ride towards Washington for the inauguration in early March 1861. The details of the story are clear and flow so well, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, as one would expect in a piece of well-crafted fiction, though this is surely steeped in reality. The authors use a great narrative style that removes much of the stuffy nature that can be found in recounting historical happenings without losing the importance of the events being shared. With a mix of short and longer chapters, the reader can learn what they need to without getting bogged down in too much minutiae, though the information was plentiful on each page. The eventual assassination plot and its execution by the likes of John Wilkes Booth dominate the history texts, but Meltzer and Mensch bring to life this earlier attempt to shed some light on just how hated Lincoln and his beliefs were to many within the country, as well as to the extent to which parts of the American public were happy to see their as-yet official president killed and left as an asterisk in the history texts. No president will match the character and actions of Abraham Lincoln, though some will try to spin it to make their megalomaniacal ego glow even more!
Kudos, Messers. Meltzer and Mensch, for this refreshing look at America on the brink and one of its leaders who dodged a literal bullet to effect change.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 23, 2021
Very good book, well researched. Draws upon a lot of sources and paints a good picture of the times and the very real threat to the life of Abraham Lincoln before he ever took office. There is still debate as to the viability of the threat and conspiracy, but when you read this book you can certain understand why many thought this is a credible threats sand why the cloak of secrecy shrouded his journey through Baltimore just a few days before his Inauguration. The pressure he was under was supreme and therefore dangerous and desperate times called for undercover work, and unorthodox methods (at the time). No idea why interesting history, such as this, never makes it into the classroom - nobody who reads this will ever think that History is boring!
September 16, 2025
My wife recommended this book to me. It's truly a must-read for Lincoln fans and Civil War buffs. The focus here is the prewar era.
May 23, 2020
This is the great story of how a small-time detective firm and its agents (men & women) were able to infiltrate, gather information, and befriend the members of a well established pro-Southern secret society who were plotting to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln. For history and true-crime buffs.
June 23, 2020
Fantastic
This book is three stories in one. We learn about President Lincoln’s early life. Also, Allan Pinkerton, a detective , hired to investigate a threat to a railroad, instead discovers a threat on Abraham Lincoln life. Also, we learn about white supremacists bent on preserving the southern way of life.
Abraham Lincoln’s early life was a difficult one. His mother and sister both died when he was young. He had an uncaring father who forced him to work on the family farm. Lincoln had no formal education. He taught himself read and write. Needless to say he was very tall and awkward as a teenager. Yet, he overcame these obstacles to become one of the greatest presidents.
Samuel M Fulton, a railroad tycoon, got word that white supremacists might sabotage his train and/or tracks to prevent Abraham Lincoln from leaving Baltimore and going to Washington D.C. and thus stopping his inauguration Fulton called Allen Pinkerton.
Allen Pinkerton ran a successful detective agency. He was also an abolitionist. Pinkerton and his associates started digging for information. They traveled to Baltimore and Virginia to infiltrate various secret southern societies. Allen Pinkerton found something truly frightening. A secret society was planning to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
A barber named Cypriano Ferrandini was a local leader of Baltimore’s chapter of a secret society called Knights of the Golden Circle. Ferrandini’s plan was to murder Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton’s agents were able to infiltrate the society and prevent the future president’s death.
I have no doubt that many white Supremacist would gladly give their lives for their sick beliefs
This book is three stories in one. We learn about President Lincoln’s early life. Also, Allan Pinkerton, a detective , hired to investigate a threat to a railroad, instead discovers a threat on Abraham Lincoln life. Also, we learn about white supremacists bent on preserving the southern way of life.
Abraham Lincoln’s early life was a difficult one. His mother and sister both died when he was young. He had an uncaring father who forced him to work on the family farm. Lincoln had no formal education. He taught himself read and write. Needless to say he was very tall and awkward as a teenager. Yet, he overcame these obstacles to become one of the greatest presidents.
Samuel M Fulton, a railroad tycoon, got word that white supremacists might sabotage his train and/or tracks to prevent Abraham Lincoln from leaving Baltimore and going to Washington D.C. and thus stopping his inauguration Fulton called Allen Pinkerton.
Allen Pinkerton ran a successful detective agency. He was also an abolitionist. Pinkerton and his associates started digging for information. They traveled to Baltimore and Virginia to infiltrate various secret southern societies. Allen Pinkerton found something truly frightening. A secret society was planning to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
A barber named Cypriano Ferrandini was a local leader of Baltimore’s chapter of a secret society called Knights of the Golden Circle. Ferrandini’s plan was to murder Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton’s agents were able to infiltrate the society and prevent the future president’s death.
I have no doubt that many white Supremacist would gladly give their lives for their sick beliefs
February 3, 2021
The narrator for this historical book was a perfect choice and did a great job. I was hoping for a bit more detail in the part where John Wilkes.Booth murdered Abraham Lincoln but I do understand why it was brief.
December 9, 2023
Catching up…
What if Lincoln were killed sooner than what happened? What would our country look like without all that he accomplished during his term?
This book tells the story of that failed plot to kill Lincoln while in Baltimore on his way to his inauguration in February 1861.
Not all historians agree with how and what happened…
Or…
How many conspirators existed.
But…
Historians do agree that this did happen.
Because…
The threat was taken seriously enough, that they disguised Lincoln, so that he could sneak into Washington on a train.
So…
This story tells that story, as well as asks and answers the question…
How did it reach the point that Lincoln was so disliked that his life was in jeopardy before he even took office?
With short chapters (81 of them), the story is a page-turning thriller.
June 5, 2020
True story: A college history class was so bad that I changed my major to avoid taking another one - and changed the course of my career (for the better, fortunately, but that's another story). Suffice it to say I'm not a history buff. So why in the world would I even consider reading a book like this?
Good question, and three answers come to mind: First, I'm familiar with, and respect the work of, the authors; second is an enticing title and description. The third is perhaps happenstance; being mostly stuck at home to avoid catching the deadly COVID-19 and thus having time to read more books than usual, I simply needed a break from the mystery/thrillers that I favor almost to the exclusion of other genres.
Now that I've finished this one, I've come to a couple of conclusions: First of all, this is a well-written, easy-to-read and informative book. It also made me realize that I should venture outside my reading comfort zone more often. Put another way, maybe - just maybe - I don't hate history nearly as much as I thought I did.
As the subtitle suggests ("The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - and Why It Failed"), there was a little-known plan to assassinate Abraham Lincoln before he could be inaugurated - in fact, as he traveled to Washington, D.C., for the event. It's no secret that many Americans, especially those in states that supported slavery, weren't happy with Lincoln's election. While at the time he didn't promise to abolish slavery outright, he was personally against the practice and said he would not support slavery in new western states that wanted to join the Union. Apparently, a few fringe groups - perhaps forerunners to today's Ku Klux Klan - decided that the best defense was a good offense. They would, they vowed, prevent the newly elected President from even getting a foot in the Oval Office door.
The story reveals their plan and the subsequent investigation of it, led by noted detective Allan Pinkerton, as he and his team infiltrate the groups to learn specifics and, most important, develop a plan of their own to foil the instigators. Readers then follow Lincoln and his traveling companions as they almost literally inched their way toward the nation's capital city (transportation was, shall we say, a bit slower then than now; at one point, lacking a railroad bridge over a river, rail cars had to be disconnected and ferried across the river to be reattached on the other side). Stops in cities large and small, like Cincinnati and Westfield, New York - home of the little girl who, we all should recall, suggested to Lincoln that he grow a beard to improve his appearance - add a different and welcome dimension to the events of the days. Just as an aside, I must say I'm familiar with Westfield for a very different reason - it's the site of Barcelona Harbor (Lake Erie) and a unique lighthouse we've visited and photographed many times.
More than that I'll leave for other readers, saying only that I enjoyed the book immensely; just the revelation that heretofore mostly boring history actually could be interesting was enough to make me happy. But I also learned a lot - just ask my husband, who endured my interruptions of, "Wow, honey, did you know..." until he gave up and started reading the book for himself (bless his heart). I should also note that substantial documentation and sources are included at the end of the story (helpful for those who might like to learn even more).
All told, I highly recommend this book - even if you aren't a fan of history, it's likely you'll think of it in kinder terms after you read this. Kudos to the authors for undertaking such a meaningful project!
Good question, and three answers come to mind: First, I'm familiar with, and respect the work of, the authors; second is an enticing title and description. The third is perhaps happenstance; being mostly stuck at home to avoid catching the deadly COVID-19 and thus having time to read more books than usual, I simply needed a break from the mystery/thrillers that I favor almost to the exclusion of other genres.
Now that I've finished this one, I've come to a couple of conclusions: First of all, this is a well-written, easy-to-read and informative book. It also made me realize that I should venture outside my reading comfort zone more often. Put another way, maybe - just maybe - I don't hate history nearly as much as I thought I did.
As the subtitle suggests ("The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - and Why It Failed"), there was a little-known plan to assassinate Abraham Lincoln before he could be inaugurated - in fact, as he traveled to Washington, D.C., for the event. It's no secret that many Americans, especially those in states that supported slavery, weren't happy with Lincoln's election. While at the time he didn't promise to abolish slavery outright, he was personally against the practice and said he would not support slavery in new western states that wanted to join the Union. Apparently, a few fringe groups - perhaps forerunners to today's Ku Klux Klan - decided that the best defense was a good offense. They would, they vowed, prevent the newly elected President from even getting a foot in the Oval Office door.
The story reveals their plan and the subsequent investigation of it, led by noted detective Allan Pinkerton, as he and his team infiltrate the groups to learn specifics and, most important, develop a plan of their own to foil the instigators. Readers then follow Lincoln and his traveling companions as they almost literally inched their way toward the nation's capital city (transportation was, shall we say, a bit slower then than now; at one point, lacking a railroad bridge over a river, rail cars had to be disconnected and ferried across the river to be reattached on the other side). Stops in cities large and small, like Cincinnati and Westfield, New York - home of the little girl who, we all should recall, suggested to Lincoln that he grow a beard to improve his appearance - add a different and welcome dimension to the events of the days. Just as an aside, I must say I'm familiar with Westfield for a very different reason - it's the site of Barcelona Harbor (Lake Erie) and a unique lighthouse we've visited and photographed many times.
More than that I'll leave for other readers, saying only that I enjoyed the book immensely; just the revelation that heretofore mostly boring history actually could be interesting was enough to make me happy. But I also learned a lot - just ask my husband, who endured my interruptions of, "Wow, honey, did you know..." until he gave up and started reading the book for himself (bless his heart). I should also note that substantial documentation and sources are included at the end of the story (helpful for those who might like to learn even more).
All told, I highly recommend this book - even if you aren't a fan of history, it's likely you'll think of it in kinder terms after you read this. Kudos to the authors for undertaking such a meaningful project!
October 1, 2020
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.
I had a small book hangover after I finished this book. This book was amazing. Of course we are taught about the tragic assassination of former President Lincoln from elementary school, but I had no idea about an earlier attempt on his way to the White House. Meltzer's approach to writing does an amazing job keeping the suspense building & don't want to stop reading/listening. If he keeps writing books like this. I'll keep reading/listening to them.
I had a small book hangover after I finished this book. This book was amazing. Of course we are taught about the tragic assassination of former President Lincoln from elementary school, but I had no idea about an earlier attempt on his way to the White House. Meltzer's approach to writing does an amazing job keeping the suspense building & don't want to stop reading/listening. If he keeps writing books like this. I'll keep reading/listening to them.
March 13, 2020
Brad Meltzer's second presidential conspiracy is a fast paced thriller with a difference. It actually happened!
Had the assassination plot been successful would have had devastating results for the young, and future American nation. Find a comfortable reading spot, the book is impossible to put down. I look forward to the next book.
Had the assassination plot been successful would have had devastating results for the young, and future American nation. Find a comfortable reading spot, the book is impossible to put down. I look forward to the next book.
January 7, 2025
brad, imma need you to write more of these conspiracy books bc this was AMAZING😙🤌🏽
April 26, 2020
Fantastic! I easily give this book 5 stars. The historical detail is amazing. Clearly Meltzer and Mensch did a lot of research—all well documented. The details are woven through a compelling narrative that presents the information not as a dry history book but as an intense political mystery thriller. I’ve read many history books, but the way Meltzer/Mencsh present theirs is both informative and exciting. A great read about a little known conspiracy to kill President-Elect Abraham Lincoln.
Two favorite quotes:
"The hardest fights don’t reveal a winner—they reveal character."
"America is not simply a country of ideas; we are a country of ideals. What makes America exceptional isn’t our weapons or our might. It’s our principles and our continuing to fight to live up to them. Faced with darkness, we must each reach for the light."
Two favorite quotes:
"The hardest fights don’t reveal a winner—they reveal character."
"America is not simply a country of ideas; we are a country of ideals. What makes America exceptional isn’t our weapons or our might. It’s our principles and our continuing to fight to live up to them. Faced with darkness, we must each reach for the light."
March 6, 2021
The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President—and Why It Failed
by
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
4 Stars
I won The Lincoln Conspiracy in a Goodreads giveaway, so first of all I’d like to thank Goodreads, the publisher, and the authors for a chance to read and review the book. It’s an interesting and entertaining look at a little-known event in American history: a secret plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln in February 1861, before he was sworn in as America’s 16th president. The book is well researched, well written, and highly recommended.
by
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
4 Stars
I won The Lincoln Conspiracy in a Goodreads giveaway, so first of all I’d like to thank Goodreads, the publisher, and the authors for a chance to read and review the book. It’s an interesting and entertaining look at a little-known event in American history: a secret plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln in February 1861, before he was sworn in as America’s 16th president. The book is well researched, well written, and highly recommended.
May 9, 2021
The plot to assassinate the President-elect as he traveled through Baltimore on his way to his inauguration in Washington, DC provides a controversial start to the administration of our 16th President. The authors researched and told the story well especially as to how Alan Pinkerton came to discover the plot in the first place as he was not in government service at the time. The very thought of a group of fanatics succeeding in this plot and the potential ramifications is beyond comprehension yet the actions of a few Baltimore men with southern sympathies gets scant attention by Civil War historians. For example, Shelby Foote (The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume 1) takes 3 pages to discuss the event while David Herbert Donald (Lincoln) used 2 1/2 pages in his biography. Carl Sandburg’s 6 volume biography (The War Years Vol 1) devotes an entire chapter titled “From Springfield to Washington” where he describes the threat to Lincoln. With little to go on historically, the authors surrounded their narrative with filler trying to describe the mob and violent mentality of many southern radicals from Preston Brooks caning of Senator Charles Sumner to succeeding state governments forcibly occupying federal forts and arsenals. Unfortunately, the authors weren’t able to describe the true reactions of the “plotters” when they discovered Lincoln’s team evaded them and that the criminals involved in the plot didn’t have to answer for their actions.
August 9, 2020
Even though I was familiar with the subject matter in this book, it was still a great summer read. The author did a good job of keeping the reader's focus and attention on the story. We learn about a serious plot to murder Lincoln as he is changing trains in Baltimore on his way to Washington to assume the office of Chief Executive. The cast of characters is fairly short, so it's easy to follow the narrative. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in our 16th president or anyone who likes a great, quick, suspenseful summer read.
December 5, 2020
I greatly enjoyed the storytelling element to this book. I love history, but there is an art to recounting historic events. If it's too dull, it loses everything. I think the authors did a great job of assembling the narrative here. It kept my interest and the pacing was just about perfect to get me to keep turning pages. It was a story I never knew about before, and it brought so many interesting things to my attention that felt important and fun to learn about (despite the villainous intent, it was enjoyable).
I feel this is somewhere closer to 4.5 stars because there were some instances I felt false suspense was built around things that either didn't pan out or were inconsequential. That did somewhat annoy me on a couple occasions. But then my indecisive mind leans back heavily toward 5 stars because of the inspiring ending. It was something so good to read, especially right now with the year we have had. Light is coming, we all just have to buckle down and believe. As well as advocate for changes and not be complacent.
Abraham Lincoln is a figure of hope and inspiration. But this book did a great job at bringing humanity to someone that for many of us is probably pictured as a figment. It also ties in all the dark beginnings of this country that we need not ignore. It's our history and we must acknowledge that suffering is deep in the roots of this nation. I definitely recommend this one.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I feel this is somewhere closer to 4.5 stars because there were some instances I felt false suspense was built around things that either didn't pan out or were inconsequential. That did somewhat annoy me on a couple occasions. But then my indecisive mind leans back heavily toward 5 stars because of the inspiring ending. It was something so good to read, especially right now with the year we have had. Light is coming, we all just have to buckle down and believe. As well as advocate for changes and not be complacent.
Abraham Lincoln is a figure of hope and inspiration. But this book did a great job at bringing humanity to someone that for many of us is probably pictured as a figment. It also ties in all the dark beginnings of this country that we need not ignore. It's our history and we must acknowledge that suffering is deep in the roots of this nation. I definitely recommend this one.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
August 20, 2022
This was so good.
I listened to Brad Meltzer's other conspiracy nonfiction book, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, at the recommendation of a friend who knew I love the American Revolution timeframe. I enjoyed that one so much that I decided to pick up this one, despite not being as invested in the Civil War period. But - wow, this was better than I ever expected.
Before starting, I assumed that this was a book about the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln's assassination to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. (I didn't see the slugline, lol.) But this is actually about a plot to kill Lincoln before he was ever inaugurated - and it is fascinating. The Pinkerton detective agency plays a major role in here, especially Kate Warne, who is so cool.
The details in here are so captivating and Meltzer's writing skills are perfectly suited to this genre. 5/5 stars.
I listened to Brad Meltzer's other conspiracy nonfiction book, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, at the recommendation of a friend who knew I love the American Revolution timeframe. I enjoyed that one so much that I decided to pick up this one, despite not being as invested in the Civil War period. But - wow, this was better than I ever expected.
Before starting, I assumed that this was a book about the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln's assassination to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. (I didn't see the slugline, lol.) But this is actually about a plot to kill Lincoln before he was ever inaugurated - and it is fascinating. The Pinkerton detective agency plays a major role in here, especially Kate Warne, who is so cool.
The details in here are so captivating and Meltzer's writing skills are perfectly suited to this genre. 5/5 stars.
April 18, 2021
Very well written. Chapters are short and the book moves along. It was interesting reading it in today’s climate with the capitol riots not far behind us. I found it strange in a way how little people have changed from then to now
May 29, 2020
Another excellent read from Brad Meltzer! Highly recommend!
September 15, 2020
I listened to this on audio and Wow, this what I needed to hear. A time when our country was DEEPLY divided and yet managed to stay united. But first there was a plot to assassinate the President elect before he was even sworn into office. The Secret Service was still a dream and really there was not much thought given to protecting the man in its highest office. The story reads like thriller fiction- . Much has been said about what difference Lincoln might have made if he had lived to serve out his term. In this book we are invited to wonder what might have happened if another man had had to rise to the heights Lincoln achieved. This story gave me hope that this democratic experiment is not yet over for the country.
March 24, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learned much from it because the authors were excellent at storytelling. For example, I wasn't aware that Lincoln's presidency led to the American civil war or that this incident was the first assassination attempt on his life. In my opinion, the early nation-building process was usually painful and inevitably bloody. For example, while the Americans believed in the Declaration of Independence as an ideal to live by, some did not see that maintaining slavery was incompatible with such an ideal. Moreover, I am surprised to learn that the Democrats and some churches of those days were pro-slavery! Interesting indeed. Anyway, I take it for granted that the authors did their due diligence in their research that led to this narrative because it is strongly compelling.
December 21, 2020
3.5/5
I was bouncing back and forth between feeling 3 or 4 stars on this one as I got through it. I have relatively little history background and so effectively the entire story was new to me. All I knew going in was that Lincoln won the election, that the divide was high between the north and south regarding slavery, that he survives this assassination attempt, and that there's a civil war at some point.
The bad:
- The writing style isn't technically bad, but it's almost juvenile in the fact that it assumes you're totally unable to put two and two together. For example, basically every character is named and their motivations re-explained every time we encounter them, kind of like a book that's designed to be read non-linearly. While many authors go a little too far in the opposite direction for my liking, this is just way too far. Yes, I know the name of the barber -- leave out either the fact that we're meeting the barber, or his name.
- The fact that every chapter ends with a tacked-on "cliffhanger" doesn't work when we have 80+ chapters. Saying something like "but X wouldn't know what dangers were about to be ahead" 80 times doesn't make for a "gripping" read, it's just annoying. I think it's cliche to begin with, but it's fine a few times.
- The book seems like they really have to prove the point that the South seceding was about slavery. I didn't think it wasn't, but a lot of effort is spent making the point, and I suspect at least some of that time could have been spent on other things considering (I think?) everyone already knows that. This could just be more of issue #1, alternatively, or maybe people think it wasn't about that. Regardless, I don't think it's the job of this specific book to prove people wrong, if that's the motivation.
- The overly dramatic tone is largely unnecessary. Again, it's something that works if you use it sparingly, and is totally lost if you use it all the time.
- There's quite a bit of hyperbole about what Lincoln might have been feeling at different times. I'm a little iffy on this kind of thing, but he does largely back it up with quotes, so this is a minor point.
The good:
- A great story. The author has clearly done his research.
- It's hand-holdy in a good way, for me, because I didn't have much background to leapfrog off of. For example, we discuss the process of Lincoln getting elected, something I knew nothing about but gave a lot of insight into the system in 1860.
- The comparisons to today's life is pretty startling. I'm not sure if it was written to make it that way, but it's effective regardless.
A little in between: the book could have been a lot shorter, but at the same time, I enjoyed a lot of the back story. In the end, I think it could have been a little more succinct, but not much. Much of the time, a chapter just nudges us a tiny bit forward with very little added, and those could have been merged into other chapters and trimmed down.
I was bouncing back and forth between feeling 3 or 4 stars on this one as I got through it. I have relatively little history background and so effectively the entire story was new to me. All I knew going in was that Lincoln won the election, that the divide was high between the north and south regarding slavery, that he survives this assassination attempt, and that there's a civil war at some point.
The bad:
- The writing style isn't technically bad, but it's almost juvenile in the fact that it assumes you're totally unable to put two and two together. For example, basically every character is named and their motivations re-explained every time we encounter them, kind of like a book that's designed to be read non-linearly. While many authors go a little too far in the opposite direction for my liking, this is just way too far. Yes, I know the name of the barber -- leave out either the fact that we're meeting the barber, or his name.
- The fact that every chapter ends with a tacked-on "cliffhanger" doesn't work when we have 80+ chapters. Saying something like "but X wouldn't know what dangers were about to be ahead" 80 times doesn't make for a "gripping" read, it's just annoying. I think it's cliche to begin with, but it's fine a few times.
- The book seems like they really have to prove the point that the South seceding was about slavery. I didn't think it wasn't, but a lot of effort is spent making the point, and I suspect at least some of that time could have been spent on other things considering (I think?) everyone already knows that. This could just be more of issue #1, alternatively, or maybe people think it wasn't about that. Regardless, I don't think it's the job of this specific book to prove people wrong, if that's the motivation.
- The overly dramatic tone is largely unnecessary. Again, it's something that works if you use it sparingly, and is totally lost if you use it all the time.
- There's quite a bit of hyperbole about what Lincoln might have been feeling at different times. I'm a little iffy on this kind of thing, but he does largely back it up with quotes, so this is a minor point.
The good:
- A great story. The author has clearly done his research.
- It's hand-holdy in a good way, for me, because I didn't have much background to leapfrog off of. For example, we discuss the process of Lincoln getting elected, something I knew nothing about but gave a lot of insight into the system in 1860.
- The comparisons to today's life is pretty startling. I'm not sure if it was written to make it that way, but it's effective regardless.
A little in between: the book could have been a lot shorter, but at the same time, I enjoyed a lot of the back story. In the end, I think it could have been a little more succinct, but not much. Much of the time, a chapter just nudges us a tiny bit forward with very little added, and those could have been merged into other chapters and trimmed down.
July 12, 2020
I think I would've given this book 5 stars if I just hadn't finished The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz right before (a definite 5 star book for me). As much as I enjoyed this book - and I truly loved reading about Honest Abe and the mystery that unfolded about the planned assassination attempt prior to his inauguration - I found it to be limited in scope. I think I just wanted more - especially about Abraham Lincoln! There were plenty of great little nuggets of information that I never knew which made reading this a joy. Definitely a 4.5 star page turner!
September 8, 2020
LOVED IT!! I learned so much
July 6, 2020
I have to admit, I still think of Meltzer as a 'comics guy', but his novels have sold well, and now, he is found a niche as some sort of hybrid Dan Brown and Jesse Ventura- as a mainstay on the History Channel talking conspiracy and history- though he seems like he will have a longer shelf-life than either of those two.
The hip fad in Nonfiction is finding lost tidbits in History and this book is marketed in such a way that it resembles recent works by Bill O'Reilly and Brian Kilmeade, et al. Inside, it probably closer resembles Swanson's Manhunt (maybe even Larson's Devil in the White City)- it is nonfiction written as action book.
In which case, it's hard to argue against it. (I am not sure how unknown it is. I read Pitch's great book "They have killed Papa dead " and it covers it, though there, it feels oddly appended to a book about Lincoln's Assassination.) This is a page turner. Meltzer works in Lincoln, Pinkerton, Frederick Douglass, Jefferson Davis along with the plot, to kill the President-elect, and the start of the Civil War.
I doubt anything in here qualifies as 'new', but it does have a bibliography that's a who's who in Lincoln and Civil War scholars (Burlingame, Holzer, Goodwin, McPherson, Foote to name a few) as well as drawing from the actual writings of Lincoln, Pinkerton and Douglass. No doubt, Meltzer took from all of these histories to craft a solid book. Also, of note, it features Kate Warne, who is the first female detective.
I tend to think almost everyone would like this book. It marks the checkmarks for me- whether you don't know much about Lincoln, or like me, you have a 'Lincoln shelf'. It never drags, though it is full of facts. You speed through the pages, but it will likely take more than one setting to finish it off.
Anyway, a fantastic piece of history, one we will never know the true details, but the major details are true, and Meltzer tells a great story that you likely don't know
The hip fad in Nonfiction is finding lost tidbits in History and this book is marketed in such a way that it resembles recent works by Bill O'Reilly and Brian Kilmeade, et al. Inside, it probably closer resembles Swanson's Manhunt (maybe even Larson's Devil in the White City)- it is nonfiction written as action book.
In which case, it's hard to argue against it. (I am not sure how unknown it is. I read Pitch's great book "They have killed Papa dead " and it covers it, though there, it feels oddly appended to a book about Lincoln's Assassination.) This is a page turner. Meltzer works in Lincoln, Pinkerton, Frederick Douglass, Jefferson Davis along with the plot, to kill the President-elect, and the start of the Civil War.
I doubt anything in here qualifies as 'new', but it does have a bibliography that's a who's who in Lincoln and Civil War scholars (Burlingame, Holzer, Goodwin, McPherson, Foote to name a few) as well as drawing from the actual writings of Lincoln, Pinkerton and Douglass. No doubt, Meltzer took from all of these histories to craft a solid book. Also, of note, it features Kate Warne, who is the first female detective.
I tend to think almost everyone would like this book. It marks the checkmarks for me- whether you don't know much about Lincoln, or like me, you have a 'Lincoln shelf'. It never drags, though it is full of facts. You speed through the pages, but it will likely take more than one setting to finish it off.
Anyway, a fantastic piece of history, one we will never know the true details, but the major details are true, and Meltzer tells a great story that you likely don't know
May 6, 2022
Excellent book about a plot to assassinate president elect Abraham Lincoln before he even took the oath of office. Everyone knows about Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth in April of 1865. But not many have heard of the plot to kill the president elect while he was on his way from Illinois to Washington D.C. to be sworn in as our 16th president. I have read quite a few book on Lincoln, so I had heard about this plot, but by reading this book by Brad Meltzer, I learned a lot about the details of how the whole situation developed and evolved, and how it was managed to be thwarted by Allan Pinkerton and his detective agency. Meltzer does a great job of explaining the history leading up to Lincoln's election, and the rift in the country at that time over the institution of slavery, and how that great divide lead some people to desperately want to prevent Lincoln from ever taking office.
November 18, 2024
As I’ve (probably) mentioned in older reviews, I’m not much of a non-fiction reader. Despite that, I found myself really enjoying this book. Meltzer, an accomplished novelist (as well as comic-book author?) works alongside researcher Josh Mensch to portray a Lincoln that is—in the author’s own words—always human. Combined with the interesting history of the precursor to the Secret Service: the Pinkerton Private Detection Agency, this book is a great portrayal of a scary time in America that’s written with enough narrative awareness in mind to keep fiction-lovers hooked long enough to finish the story.
August 18, 2020
This sucked me in right from the start. The writing is really good - lots of history and background information but concise, well organized, and with just the right about of suspense to keep you reading. It actually reads a little bit like a murder mystery even though you know there isn’t going to be a murder!
I found the portrayal of Lincoln multilayered, I learned a lot about Pinkerton and his detective service, and I gained a new perspective on the run up to the Civil War. Highly recommended.
I found the portrayal of Lincoln multilayered, I learned a lot about Pinkerton and his detective service, and I gained a new perspective on the run up to the Civil War. Highly recommended.
April 20, 2020
Read this Page Turner
Bestselling author Brad Meltzer has combined forces again with historian Josh Mensch to create another riveting look at history about our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. I’ve been a reader and fan of the contemporary thrillers from Meltzer and have enjoyed the other history books when these authors join forces. It combines excellent storytelling with careful historical research—as documented in the pages of endnotes in these books.
As you read, you learn remarkable insights about Abraham Lincoln. Toward the end of the book, the well-known African American journalist Frederick Douglass meets President Lincoln at the White House. “As Douglass approached and was introduced to the President, Lincoln rose and extended his hand to welcome him. “At once I felt myself in the presence of an honest man,” Douglass wrote, “one whom I could love, honor, and trust without reserve or doubt.” (Page 357) I loved the writing and found the story engaging. I recommend THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY – particularly if you enjoy learning about some unusual history.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed
Bestselling author Brad Meltzer has combined forces again with historian Josh Mensch to create another riveting look at history about our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. I’ve been a reader and fan of the contemporary thrillers from Meltzer and have enjoyed the other history books when these authors join forces. It combines excellent storytelling with careful historical research—as documented in the pages of endnotes in these books.
As you read, you learn remarkable insights about Abraham Lincoln. Toward the end of the book, the well-known African American journalist Frederick Douglass meets President Lincoln at the White House. “As Douglass approached and was introduced to the President, Lincoln rose and extended his hand to welcome him. “At once I felt myself in the presence of an honest man,” Douglass wrote, “one whom I could love, honor, and trust without reserve or doubt.” (Page 357) I loved the writing and found the story engaging. I recommend THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY – particularly if you enjoy learning about some unusual history.
W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books including 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed
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