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The Mistress and the Key
In 1752, Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity, which would soon become the most powerful tool in the American revolution, but while his many accomplishments have been lauded, his mysterious connection to Paul Revere and a cabal of powerful alchemists has been lost to history—until now.
Card shark Hailey Gordon and ex-con Nick Patterson—fresh off uncovering one of the biggest secrets of the Revolutionary War alongside American history professor Adrian Jensen—now find themselves in Philadelphia, immersed in the history of Benjamin Franklin and
Paul Revere. The Liberty Bell, Charles Willson Peale's Museum, the Tomb of The Unknown Revolutionary Soldier—all are connected to Franklin in amazing ways. The more they discover, the more shocking the implications become.
These long-buried secrets Hailey and Nick are chasing have previously only been known by a select few, who would prefer to keep it that way. A woman known as The Heiress—part of a mysterious organization known as The Family—is one of these rare historians. After generations of members have failed before her, The Heiress has been tasked to finally unearth the alchemical secrets Revere and Franklin may have discovered during their lifetimes.
And she's not about to let Nick and Hailey get in her way.
In this thrilling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Ben Mezrich, history is about to change forever
Card shark Hailey Gordon and ex-con Nick Patterson—fresh off uncovering one of the biggest secrets of the Revolutionary War alongside American history professor Adrian Jensen—now find themselves in Philadelphia, immersed in the history of Benjamin Franklin and
Paul Revere. The Liberty Bell, Charles Willson Peale's Museum, the Tomb of The Unknown Revolutionary Soldier—all are connected to Franklin in amazing ways. The more they discover, the more shocking the implications become.
These long-buried secrets Hailey and Nick are chasing have previously only been known by a select few, who would prefer to keep it that way. A woman known as The Heiress—part of a mysterious organization known as The Family—is one of these rare historians. After generations of members have failed before her, The Heiress has been tasked to finally unearth the alchemical secrets Revere and Franklin may have discovered during their lifetimes.
And she's not about to let Nick and Hailey get in her way.
In this thrilling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Ben Mezrich, history is about to change forever
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2024
65 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Ben Mezrich
56 books1,462 followersBen Mezrich has created his own highly addictive genre of nonfiction, chronicling the amazing stories of young geniuses making tons of money on the edge of impossibility, ethics, and morality.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 7, 2024
If you've read any of Ben Mezrich's nonfiction books, you'll know they have this edge-of-your-seat thriller quality that makes them impossible to put down. So, when I spotted The Mistress and the Key, a fictional thriller with a history-fueled plot, I figured it was an automatic win. But, much to my surprise, the book was just… okay.
The Mistress and the Key is a "National Treasure"-style adventure, blending historical facts and theories in a way that feels very Dan Brown. It's a continuation of The Midnight Ride—something I only learned after finishing the book. Not realizing this upfront might've made me feel a bit untethered in the story. Had I read The Midnight Ride, I might have been more grounded in the events that kicked off this adventure.
Don't get me wrong; the premise is intriguing, and I love Mezrich's knack for weaving historical tidbits into the narrative. But where the book fell flat for me was the characters. I just couldn't connect with them, and without that emotional investment, it's hard to feel fully swept away, even when the plot is charging full speed ahead.
There were fun moments, and I appreciated Mezrich's historical flourishes, but I couldn't help wishing he'd taken this same material and given us a nonfiction dive into Ben Franklin instead. Mezrich's nonfiction work is so vivid it often feels like fiction anyway, so why not lean into his strengths?
While The Mistress and the Key has its charms, I think I'll stick to Mezrich's nonfiction for my next read. This might be your jam for those who are already fans of The Midnight Ride or love a historical thriller with some big adventure energy. For me, it didn't quite hit the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Mistress and the Key is a "National Treasure"-style adventure, blending historical facts and theories in a way that feels very Dan Brown. It's a continuation of The Midnight Ride—something I only learned after finishing the book. Not realizing this upfront might've made me feel a bit untethered in the story. Had I read The Midnight Ride, I might have been more grounded in the events that kicked off this adventure.
Don't get me wrong; the premise is intriguing, and I love Mezrich's knack for weaving historical tidbits into the narrative. But where the book fell flat for me was the characters. I just couldn't connect with them, and without that emotional investment, it's hard to feel fully swept away, even when the plot is charging full speed ahead.
There were fun moments, and I appreciated Mezrich's historical flourishes, but I couldn't help wishing he'd taken this same material and given us a nonfiction dive into Ben Franklin instead. Mezrich's nonfiction work is so vivid it often feels like fiction anyway, so why not lean into his strengths?
While The Mistress and the Key has its charms, I think I'll stick to Mezrich's nonfiction for my next read. This might be your jam for those who are already fans of The Midnight Ride or love a historical thriller with some big adventure energy. For me, it didn't quite hit the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 21, 2024
This is a fair enough book that takes readers on a wild, National Treasure-like ride through American revolutionary history and world geography. It's interesting.
That being said, the book has a few things that drove me a bit batty. First, the book starts several hours after a big, impactful event. Maybe it's a previous book, I don't know. All I could discern was that it happened a few hours before the story of this book started. As such, it's never fully explained, particularly the why behind it.
Then, there's the primary character of the first section of the book, one that disappears from the story about three-quarters of the way through.
And, there's more. The ending is really just a set up for another book. It wraps up quickly and nothing really gets resolved.
It's a good book, but not a great one.
That being said, the book has a few things that drove me a bit batty. First, the book starts several hours after a big, impactful event. Maybe it's a previous book, I don't know. All I could discern was that it happened a few hours before the story of this book started. As such, it's never fully explained, particularly the why behind it.
Then, there's the primary character of the first section of the book, one that disappears from the story about three-quarters of the way through.
And, there's more. The ending is really just a set up for another book. It wraps up quickly and nothing really gets resolved.
It's a good book, but not a great one.
March 25, 2025
I decided not to waste any more time on this and did not finish the book. This is rare for me to not finish a book. I had enjoyed Mezrich’s “The Accidental Billionaires” and the National Treasure movies, so with what seemed to be a winning combination of excellent storytelling and a historical thriller, I was excited to read this book. I was dismayed that I had to stop reading after a quarter in because life is short. The plot is so forced and contrived that I could not bring myself to care and continue reading for the historical details. There is no apparent logical connection between Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere and I felt like the book was mightily trying to convince me otherwise. I could not summon any empathy for any of the supposed protagonists. There is also highly unnecessary and graphic violence which I skipped over. I am thoroughly disappointed and will likely stick to Mezrich’s nonfiction.
October 11, 2024
An unlikely pair searches for a secret hidden within history
Hailey Gordon was working her way through a graduate level mathematics program at MIT using her skills with numbers to rack up wins at casinos. Nick Patterson was a street=smart thief recently released from a stint in prison who was trying to fence artwork from an infamous museum heist in Boston of years ago. Their paths crossed by accident (Hailey was evading casino security at the time), and decided to join forces in offloading the paintings. That decision has led them into a search to find a secret from Revolutionary War times that, if it proves true, could upend much of what people believe about that period in history. In this, the second stage of their quest (after the events that unfolded in author Ben Mezrich’s previous novel, The Midnight Ride), the pair is still dodging FBI Special Agent Zack Lindwell, who suspects that the trail of apparently missing art they are leaving behind is not the straight-out theft that it appears to be, as well as members of a shadowy group known as The Family, who have demonstrated that they have no problem with killing to get their hands on what Hailey and Nick are tracking down. With the help of history professor and noted expert on Paul Revere, Adrian Jensen, the path leads from Mr. Revere to Ben Franklin, from Boston to Philadelphia to New York, and will weave elements like the Liberty Bell and alchemy into the story along the way. Can they find out what it was that Revere, Franklin and others seem to have left behind for later generations to pursue before either the FBI and/or the Boston PD throw them in prison or The Family (and the mysterious woman known only as The Heiress) catches up to them, and removes them from the trail…permanently?
When I read the initial synopsis of this thriller, it immediately brought to mind the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry and the Pendergast books by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston, both of which are terrific series that combine twisty plots, quirky bits of history, and intriguing characters to provide a terrific read, with perhaps a dash of Dan Brown. The concept of this new series could prove similarly enjoyable, but in the end the storyline didn’t grab my interest in the same way. Having grown up and gone to college in the Boston area (thanks to the author for the shout out for my alma mater, Tufts), the setting and history were certainly ones with which I was quite familiar, and I was intrigued to see what might be made of them, but the characters felt a little flat and the plot just sort of chugged along. Those who have read the first book in the series will realize that, just as the end of that book was not the end of the quest, the culmination of the events in this installment is also only the end of this stage of the quest (which will continue along in the next book, it would seem). I found this to be a somewhat enjoyable read, neither horrible nor terrific. There are plenty of interesting tidbits about Ben Franklin’s accomplishments among other things, and new historical figures find their way into the mix as well. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me early access to The Mistress and the Key.
Hailey Gordon was working her way through a graduate level mathematics program at MIT using her skills with numbers to rack up wins at casinos. Nick Patterson was a street=smart thief recently released from a stint in prison who was trying to fence artwork from an infamous museum heist in Boston of years ago. Their paths crossed by accident (Hailey was evading casino security at the time), and decided to join forces in offloading the paintings. That decision has led them into a search to find a secret from Revolutionary War times that, if it proves true, could upend much of what people believe about that period in history. In this, the second stage of their quest (after the events that unfolded in author Ben Mezrich’s previous novel, The Midnight Ride), the pair is still dodging FBI Special Agent Zack Lindwell, who suspects that the trail of apparently missing art they are leaving behind is not the straight-out theft that it appears to be, as well as members of a shadowy group known as The Family, who have demonstrated that they have no problem with killing to get their hands on what Hailey and Nick are tracking down. With the help of history professor and noted expert on Paul Revere, Adrian Jensen, the path leads from Mr. Revere to Ben Franklin, from Boston to Philadelphia to New York, and will weave elements like the Liberty Bell and alchemy into the story along the way. Can they find out what it was that Revere, Franklin and others seem to have left behind for later generations to pursue before either the FBI and/or the Boston PD throw them in prison or The Family (and the mysterious woman known only as The Heiress) catches up to them, and removes them from the trail…permanently?
When I read the initial synopsis of this thriller, it immediately brought to mind the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry and the Pendergast books by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston, both of which are terrific series that combine twisty plots, quirky bits of history, and intriguing characters to provide a terrific read, with perhaps a dash of Dan Brown. The concept of this new series could prove similarly enjoyable, but in the end the storyline didn’t grab my interest in the same way. Having grown up and gone to college in the Boston area (thanks to the author for the shout out for my alma mater, Tufts), the setting and history were certainly ones with which I was quite familiar, and I was intrigued to see what might be made of them, but the characters felt a little flat and the plot just sort of chugged along. Those who have read the first book in the series will realize that, just as the end of that book was not the end of the quest, the culmination of the events in this installment is also only the end of this stage of the quest (which will continue along in the next book, it would seem). I found this to be a somewhat enjoyable read, neither horrible nor terrific. There are plenty of interesting tidbits about Ben Franklin’s accomplishments among other things, and new historical figures find their way into the mix as well. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me early access to The Mistress and the Key.
December 21, 2024
Many thanks to @grandcentralpub for the #gifted print copy of this thrilling, fast-paced mystery series steeped in American history!
When I read the description of The Mistress and the Key, I knew I had to read it. But after just one chapter, I realized I needed to go back and read The Midnight Ride first - and I’m so glad I did. The second book picks up immediately after the first, and reading them in order added critical context to the intricate storylines and character dynamics.
This series is told through multiple POVs: a good-hearted ex-con fresh out of prison, a brilliant card-counting MIT student, a renowned professor, and an FBI art theft agent. Together, they form an unlikely and begrudging team, racing through Boston and then across the globe to solve mysteries hidden by America’s most iconic figures. Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and other historical legends come alive in this thrilling narrative, which also explores events and objects like the Gardner Museum theft, the USS Constitution, the Liberty Bell, and more. Mezrich weaves fact and fiction together in a really fun way.
Think National Treasure or The DaVinci Code crossed with an intense Netflix limited series (which they totally should make and I’d 100% watch) - it’s a fast-paced, fact-meets-fiction adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I often found myself googling paintings, historical events, and artifacts, eager to separate truth from fiction. While the beginning of The Midnight Ride felt a little overwhelming, the characters and story quickly clicked, and by the end of The Mistress and the Key, I was fully invested in this dynamic crew and their quest.
The second book ends with a mind-blowing cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see where Ben Mezrich takes this series next. If you love stories that weave history, art, and high-stakes adventure, this series is not to be missed!
The audiobooks are both narrated by Corey Carthew, who does a remarkable job working with the variety of POVs in the book. He’s. Narrated a lot of fast-paced crime fiction and was just what these books needed in a narrator. The Midnight Ride is 8h and 14m while The Mistress and the Key is 11h and 49m.
When I read the description of The Mistress and the Key, I knew I had to read it. But after just one chapter, I realized I needed to go back and read The Midnight Ride first - and I’m so glad I did. The second book picks up immediately after the first, and reading them in order added critical context to the intricate storylines and character dynamics.
This series is told through multiple POVs: a good-hearted ex-con fresh out of prison, a brilliant card-counting MIT student, a renowned professor, and an FBI art theft agent. Together, they form an unlikely and begrudging team, racing through Boston and then across the globe to solve mysteries hidden by America’s most iconic figures. Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and other historical legends come alive in this thrilling narrative, which also explores events and objects like the Gardner Museum theft, the USS Constitution, the Liberty Bell, and more. Mezrich weaves fact and fiction together in a really fun way.
Think National Treasure or The DaVinci Code crossed with an intense Netflix limited series (which they totally should make and I’d 100% watch) - it’s a fast-paced, fact-meets-fiction adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I often found myself googling paintings, historical events, and artifacts, eager to separate truth from fiction. While the beginning of The Midnight Ride felt a little overwhelming, the characters and story quickly clicked, and by the end of The Mistress and the Key, I was fully invested in this dynamic crew and their quest.
The second book ends with a mind-blowing cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to see where Ben Mezrich takes this series next. If you love stories that weave history, art, and high-stakes adventure, this series is not to be missed!
The audiobooks are both narrated by Corey Carthew, who does a remarkable job working with the variety of POVs in the book. He’s. Narrated a lot of fast-paced crime fiction and was just what these books needed in a narrator. The Midnight Ride is 8h and 14m while The Mistress and the Key is 11h and 49m.
January 4, 2025
Hailey Gordon and Nick Patterson are in Philadelphia trying to solve a mystery that could connect Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. Both men were fascinated with the mysteries of alchemy, and Hailey and Nick seek answers. Their search will lead them around Philadelphia to historic sites where they will uncover hidden secrets. Nick and Hailey discover links between Revere, Franklin, and the Statue of Liberty by piecing the secrets together. History could change based upon their findings.
This is the first book by Ben Mezrich that I've read. The first few chapters failed to capture my imagination and I put the book down for a month. As I continued reading the book, I slowly became more interested in the topic. By the middle of the book, I was hooked. Now I needed to find out exactly what Nick and Hailey were going to discover. I'm glad that I gave this book a second chance. The Mistress and the Key is historical fiction that challenges the reader's knowledge of history and expands upon it with new possibilities. Mezrich carefully researches his topics and the local area giving excellent descriptions of the locale. Nick and Hailey are engaging characters that play off each other's strengths. It might be helpful to read the first book where Mezrich introduces Nick and Hailey since there is a definite feeling of missing out on something within the first few chapters. I enjoyed the story and unique historical perspective, leaving me with a Dan Brown Da Vinci Code feeling.
Thank you to Hachette Books and Ben Mezrich for the early reader's copy.
This is the first book by Ben Mezrich that I've read. The first few chapters failed to capture my imagination and I put the book down for a month. As I continued reading the book, I slowly became more interested in the topic. By the middle of the book, I was hooked. Now I needed to find out exactly what Nick and Hailey were going to discover. I'm glad that I gave this book a second chance. The Mistress and the Key is historical fiction that challenges the reader's knowledge of history and expands upon it with new possibilities. Mezrich carefully researches his topics and the local area giving excellent descriptions of the locale. Nick and Hailey are engaging characters that play off each other's strengths. It might be helpful to read the first book where Mezrich introduces Nick and Hailey since there is a definite feeling of missing out on something within the first few chapters. I enjoyed the story and unique historical perspective, leaving me with a Dan Brown Da Vinci Code feeling.
Thank you to Hachette Books and Ben Mezrich for the early reader's copy.
December 13, 2024
It's a wild ride, and it's fun in places, but The Mistress and the Key doesn't live up to the Midnight Ride. The events of this book begin hours after the event of Mezrich's previous book The Midnight Ride (which I very much enjoyed), but there are a few issues with that. First, this book is not tagged as part of a series on the cover or on Goodreads. That's very odd because these two books are intimately connected. My primary issue with The Midnight Ride was that it didn't come to a full conclusion, and this book proves that. But if that was the goal, why not market it that way? Second, even for a reader of The Midnight Ride (for me it was over a year ago) it was tough to jump back into this world. Events were referenced as if they had happened mere chapters before, so this was pretty jarring. I have to wonder if these books were intended as a single work?
Beyond that, while Mezrich's writing and American history are usually easy winners for me this book and many of its characters felt a bit too cartoonish to really pull me in. And, yet again, we get a book that doesn't get a conclusive finish but rather hints at the next book in the series. So it's okay, and I'll likely read that next book hoping it can return to something closer to The Midnight Ride.
Beyond that, while Mezrich's writing and American history are usually easy winners for me this book and many of its characters felt a bit too cartoonish to really pull me in. And, yet again, we get a book that doesn't get a conclusive finish but rather hints at the next book in the series. So it's okay, and I'll likely read that next book hoping it can return to something closer to The Midnight Ride.
December 17, 2024
The sequel to the wildly successful Midnight Ride, THE MISTRESS AND THE KEY by Ben Mezrich fell somewhat flat for me.
Hailey Gordon and Nick Patterson are back, this time in Philadelphia as they search for the connections and secrets between Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere. Will the cavern beneath Jeff Pokowski’s construction site offer up any clues? And who is the Heiress and what does she know? As the two race against outside forces, namely the FBI and Boston PD, can they put the pieces together?
As noted, I did not enjoy this sequel as much as the original. It was somewhat interesting, however as I grew up and live just outside of Philadelphia and my mother spoke of Ben Franklin like he was her next door neighbour the whole time I was growing up. I’ll give some props for the location and the topic but I found my interest waning quite often. I’ll just consider this a one-off as I have enjoyed Ben Mezrich’s previous novels and will look forward to his next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
Hailey Gordon and Nick Patterson are back, this time in Philadelphia as they search for the connections and secrets between Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere. Will the cavern beneath Jeff Pokowski’s construction site offer up any clues? And who is the Heiress and what does she know? As the two race against outside forces, namely the FBI and Boston PD, can they put the pieces together?
As noted, I did not enjoy this sequel as much as the original. It was somewhat interesting, however as I grew up and live just outside of Philadelphia and my mother spoke of Ben Franklin like he was her next door neighbour the whole time I was growing up. I’ll give some props for the location and the topic but I found my interest waning quite often. I’ll just consider this a one-off as I have enjoyed Ben Mezrich’s previous novels and will look forward to his next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
November 13, 2024
The Mistress and the Key by Ben Mezrich takes place immediately after the events of his book, The Midnight Ride.
“Hailey and Nick have just uncovered one of the biggest secrets of the Revolutionary War. Now they find themselves in Philadelphia - looking at connections between Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. The more they discover, the more shocking the implications become. There are some who want to keep the secrets buried - and will do anything to keep it that way.”
Do you like a Dan Brown story? Taking historical figures, events and monuments and inventing a wild story about what really happened? You’ll love this. Lots of famous people here, including Mozart and Gustav Eiffel. I never knew Eiffel’s connection to the Statue of Liberty. Hailey and Nick continually race around and find more stuff. The action seldom lets up. The Family is a great bad-guy - almost a Bond-level villain.
Thought this was better than the last book. Lots of crazy action in this one.
“Hailey and Nick have just uncovered one of the biggest secrets of the Revolutionary War. Now they find themselves in Philadelphia - looking at connections between Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. The more they discover, the more shocking the implications become. There are some who want to keep the secrets buried - and will do anything to keep it that way.”
Do you like a Dan Brown story? Taking historical figures, events and monuments and inventing a wild story about what really happened? You’ll love this. Lots of famous people here, including Mozart and Gustav Eiffel. I never knew Eiffel’s connection to the Statue of Liberty. Hailey and Nick continually race around and find more stuff. The action seldom lets up. The Family is a great bad-guy - almost a Bond-level villain.
Thought this was better than the last book. Lots of crazy action in this one.
November 24, 2024
Mezrich’s book is a continuation of The Midnight Ride published in 2022 which first explored the fictional connection between Paul Revere and Ben Franklin. It is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy the escapades of Hailey, Nick and Zack but it does give you the background of the Gardner Heist which occurred in 1990 and remains unsolved. Although the escapes seem fanciful, they are entertaining moving at a fast clip from one thing to the next until they think they have solved the mystery only to have it surface anew and point in another direction. It is a fun adventure especially if you have been to the places Hailey and Nick visit. If not, it certainly raises your curiosity level about wanting to see them.
June 15, 2025
Love me some good ol’ historical conspiracy theory books, and this one does not disappoint.
What do the following have in common:
The Philosopher’s Stone
Benjamin Franklin
Paul Revere
Benjamin West’s Benjamin Franklin painting
Hellfire
Motzart
Gustav Eiffel
Thomas Edison
The Eiffel Tower
The Statue of Liberty
This book has all the “answers.”
(Be sure to have Google handy.)
Well done, Ben Mezrich! 👏
Oops, I forgot to mention the Cheshire cat. 😉
What do the following have in common:
The Philosopher’s Stone
Benjamin Franklin
Paul Revere
Benjamin West’s Benjamin Franklin painting
Hellfire
Motzart
Gustav Eiffel
Thomas Edison
The Eiffel Tower
The Statue of Liberty
This book has all the “answers.”
(Be sure to have Google handy.)
Well done, Ben Mezrich! 👏
Oops, I forgot to mention the Cheshire cat. 😉
April 6, 2025
This is my 1st fiction piece by Ben Mezrich... I purchased it on the strength of a couple non-fiction books I've read of his. 9 chapters in, the characters aren't resonating with me. I am putting this book down for now. It's extremely rare when I put a book down without reading to completion, but it happens from time.. It's just not working for me.. Perhaps I'll try again later...
January 7, 2025
This book was not interesting. I'm annoyed that I spent an Audible credit on it. My own fault for doing that despite its mediocre Goodreads rating, but the premise sounded very entertaining. It was not.
June 12, 2025
A very pale imitation of the “National Treasure” films—complete with Ben Franklin /clues hidden in art works/masonry references—but without any of the urgency of the stories or charm of the characters. Yawn!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
Must’ve done a lot of research for this book. I found it very interesting but a little too far-fetched for me. I will say it made me wonder if these things were true, but it wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down.
October 2, 2024
Recycled writing from other series.
November 3, 2024
Written for the younger set
November 3, 2024
Interesting theory wound into facts about Benjamin Franklin and the Freemasons. I spent hours fact checking my history knowledge and the people/events in this fictional mystery.
December 16, 2024
good 2nd entry in this series lots of action as the mystery tries to be solved
Read
March 19, 2025Too much info.
March 29, 2025
Very good
May 26, 2025
This book was so different from any book I’ve ever read. I absolutely loved following the mystery through the different historical monuments. That was such a cool element about this book!
June 3, 2025
I love Ben’s non-fiction, the was a fun ride!
June 25, 2025
This story just keeps getting more and more fantastical and there is only so much disbelief I can suspend unfortunately
July 27, 2025
Ok, historical figures with lots of liberties.
August 10, 2025
Not the funnest read…lot of history mingled with suspense…seemed to jump around a lot and not really have the conclusion I wanted…
I finished, but almost chose not too several times…
I finished, but almost chose not too several times…
August 11, 2025
This was a fun book. National treasure part3? Really enjoyed the lure of Franklin, revere, Mozart, and Edison all playing toward sorcery.
August 20, 2025
National Treasure had nothing on this one. I can't wait for the sequel.
September 1, 2025
Good, not as good as Midnight Ride
September 25, 2025
Disappointed in this book, after reading some of the reviews I thought it would be better. I see a small comparison to Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series but it lacked the punch.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews