4.5 - Thanks to the Cold War, it's easy to forget that there was a time when America and Russia fought on the same side. Though Russia started off as an Axis power, by the middle of the war they were in alliance with England and America. Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin made up the 'Big Three'. When these political superpowers agree to meet, it's the perfect opportunity for the enemy to come up with an assassination scheme.

The book discusses a basic timeline of the war where Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin are concerned. Intertwined are bits on the Axis side from spies to soldiers both on the battlefield and in occupied cities. The main focus is on the rapport between the 'Big Three' Allied leaders as they correspond, eventually leading up to an agreement to meet in Tehran, Iran.

Naturally, having three of the most powerful men in the world together in one room comes with great risks. One lapse in security measures could lead to disaster. For Roosevelt in particular, getting to Tehran wasn't a simple matter of hopping on a plane. The journey across the Atlantic alone could prove fatal.

Though well-researched, a lot of this book appears to be speculation. The potential for an assassination attempt was there and undoubtedly rumors went along with it, but whether or not any plans were set in motion or thwarted seems murky. Regardless, there are a lot of interesting tidbits to be learned. I haven't seen too many books on this subject.

My biggest quip is really a minor one, which is that I felt two main subjects of the book could have flowed together more smoothly. With a somewhat dramatized narrative, there are a lot of cliffhangers. When going back and forth between two settings, I personally lost some of the impact getting absorbed in another plot.

Lastly, the narrator of the audiobook, Scott Brick, does a wonderful job. So many nonfiction audiobooks are read in a monotone. I appreciated the engaging tone of the narration without it becoming theatrical.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free audiobook ARC to listen to and review.

If high school history books were written by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, no one would ever again say the subject was boring. The Nazi Conspiracy is a wild piece of history, and it's told in a way that not only gives information about the conspiracy, but a greater understanding of events prior to the U.S. entry into WWII. They weave personal stories from some of the characters from history that many may not know about, and the details help make this a book I couldn't put down. Narrator extraordinaire Scott Brick is wonderful and perfect for this book, and I highly recommend it!

I am a huge Brad Meltzer fan. I’ve read all his fiction books and his nonfiction books and watched his show “Decoded” so it was predetermined I would love this one.

I think what I enjoyed the most about this book is that it reads like watching an entertaining documentary. I also love that the book tells of so much more than the alleged assassination attempt of the big three first meeting in Iran.

I liked the nonlinear timeline and felt the narration was fantastic.

I love learning about the world wars. There is so many different angles and points of view I don’t think I’ll ever get enough. I think my interest got piqued because my grandfather was a prisoner of war in Japan during WW2. He was a very strong man, and it was so sad to lose him.

The year is 1943 and President Franklin Roosevelt has a critical goal of getting a face-to-face meeting with allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. When the Nazi’s find out about the meeting, an assassination plot takes fold.

This was my first nonfiction of the year and its been a long time since I read a history novel. I listened to the audio of this, and the narration was superb – no complaints with this aspect.

Now the story, it read like a novel – action packed and expertly crafted. However, even though we were moving super-fast, it still managed to feel like it dragged out in places. I did learn many interesting new factoids – which is always a goal of mine and had fun doing so. I loved all the action that the authors were able to incorporate into the book, really kept me hanging on.

Overall, this was a fantastic book with fantastic narration full of interesting facts about WWII. This one is releasing next week – on January 10th! Thank you to MacMillan Audio, @macmillan.audio, the author, and @netgalley for a copy of this ALC in exchange for this honest review

con·spir·a·cy
* a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful:
* the action of plotting or conspiring

At 10 hours and 40 minutes, The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer is much ado about (probably) something.

There were somethings about WWII that I didn't know, like a torpedo that was launched by the Navy that was propelled towards the ship with FDR on deck.

Honestly, it was a chore to get through this one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch the author, Scott Brick the narrator and Macmillan Audio the publisher for approving my request to listen to the advance read copy of The Nazi Conspiracy in exchange for an honest review.

I tried very hard to like this book. There are moments that were enjoyable. Meltzer is an excellent storyteller. The book reads like a novel. Perhaps the books would have been better as a fictionalized account of the alleged plot to assassinate the "Big Three". If you enjoy a good story, this book will satisfy you. If you are looking to enrich your knowledge of WWII, I would give this book a pass.

Another entertaining book from Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. Well researched and packed with interesting facts.

The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Metzer and Josh Mensch is a narrative nonfiction account beginning in 1943. It follows the events leading up to the first in person meeting of Joe Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt and the decisions these world leaders made that changed the course of the war. The book ends before the end of WWII, however, the anticipation of winning has peaked.

For readers of WWII historical fiction, this book will read like their favorite title with all the action, pacing, characterization, tension, and drama. For WWII history buffs, there will be plenty of new information

The audio version is perfectly paced. Scot Brick’s resonant voice rings true in all the right places. His enunciation is a pleasure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

While the book was very interesting the writing style was not for me. The authors made some events more dramatic than they were. At times I felt they over explained a lot. Overall this book would be great for someone that has very little knowledge about WWII and the Big Three. Those that have researched on their own may find it somewhat boring.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the advanced copy.

I always look forward to a new Brad Meltzer book. His storytelling ability is showcased here. This book revolves around an alleged plot to kill the Big 3 Allied leaders (Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill) in Tehran, Iran during a conference in World War 2. But while this story is the main focus of the book, Meltzer weaves a tale about all of the things going on in World War 2. And he really combines them in a wonderful story, rather than just a bunch of random events.

As if this wasn't enough, the audiobook is narrated by none other than Scott Brick. His voice lends to the intrigue of the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

1943. The tide has turned in Europe. The Soviets have held off the Nazi invasion of Russia, sustaining mind-boggling casualties in the tens of millions. The Americans and British, despite pressure from Stalin for a cross-Channel invasion of mainland Europe, have instead followed up their defeat of Axis forces in North Africa by invading Italy, taking over the southern half of the country and capturing Mussolini.

With Germany starting to reel, FDR works hard to get the leaders of the Big Three together to plan the next stage. After much back and forth, navigating the antipathy between Churchill and Stalin, a summit is at last arranged in late November in Tehran, Iran, where all three allies have a presence.

But a cadre of Nazi agents and Iranians loyal to Germany hatch a plan to assassinate the three Allied leaders during the Tehran conference, led by SS officer Otto Skorzeny, a hero in Germany after his daring rescue of Mussolini from a mountaintop fortress in Italy.

In the third entry in their Conspiracy series about assassination plots of American presidents, Brad Meltzer (better known for his fiction) and Josh Mensch (a journalist and TV producer) take on this little-known (at least to me) plot that could have dramatically altered the course of World War II.

The plot itself is actually a little sketchy -- there is some debate whether it actually happened or whether it was really a Soviet false flag operation, although the general consensus is that it was for real. In and of itself, it probably adds up to no more than a lengthy blog post, a curiosity of no great import because (as we know, not spoiling anything) it failed.

Mainly, the plot grants the authors a platform on which to give readers a thumbnail history of the war itself, including the Pacific theater as well since that is what drew the U.S. in. That's not really a big attraction for someone like me who is already well versed in that area, but it may be illuminating for those who do not necessarily know the whole story, even as it's told here from 30,000 feet. But even for me, it works -- they get it right, without going into too much detail.

Still. the best parts of the book take place on the ground in Tehran. Of course, that's new to me, I'd never heard of this before, so no surprise that it grabbed my attention. But it is the part of the story that takes place on a relatable scale -- individuals in a specific city planning certain actions, as opposed to world leaders, huge armies, global geopolitical maneuvers, and unspeakable horrors that lead to mass casualties.

I wonder how this would have been played out in the hands of a writer of political thrillers -- like, say, Brad Meltzer! Or Steve Berry. That would have allowed some artistic license in shaping characters, imagining dialogue, even connecting those past events to some contemporary geopolitical intrigue. (In fact, there is a 2018 novel by Charles Whiting writing as Leo Kessler that does exactly that, but it's not well known.)

But despite that little bit of what-if-ery, I'm perfectly happy with this book as is. I enjoyed listening to it in audio despite the presence of the eternally annoying Scott Brick as narrator -- kudos to the producer who (finally!) convinced Brick to narrate at a reasonable pace and with a minimum of melodrama. And though there is no direct connection to the world today, there remains the relevancy of reminding readers about the dangers of unchecked nationalist authoritarianism.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for providing an advance copy of the audiobook.

It seems like Brad Meltzer and Josh Mench or building a stellar catalog of conspiracies from George Washington, Lincoln and now the Nazi conspiracy to kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill. With the great narrative and an excellent research they set out to tell us the story of the face-to-face meeting between the World War II allies that almost ended in tragedy. With great detail to refuge and bait and switch tactics they pull off something not attempted in recent history. I loved every book I have read by these two authors this one included. I couldn’t listen to it fast enough and with the great narrator and a great story makes for a great audiobook and that’s exactly what you get with “the Nazi conspiracy“ by Brad Meltzer and Josh Minch. Now I’m excited to see what they’ll tackle next. If you love history then you’ll love this book I thought I was a well read on towers blocks in assassinations but I had never heard of this one. They say you live and you learn and I certainly am and thanks to these two authors. I love this book love the narrator and highly recommend that I received it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

An interesting book about an event that I did not know much about. The author has a lot of historical information, there is a lot of debate among historians about whether or not there was an assassination plot at the Tehran conference or not, so I'm not sure what to believe or not believe. Good narrator, though.

I am a huge fan of this author’s fiction books, and enjoyed a couple of his previous non-fiction books too, so I was excited to get an advance copy of this book. When I saw that the audio version is read by Scott Brick – one of my favorite narrators – it sweetened the pot.

As indicated by the sub-title, the book is about a Nazi plot to assassinate Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin all in one fell swoop when the Big 3 gathered together in Tehran. There is a lot of background leading up to the potential big day, and it could have gotten boring and tedious to read, but it didn’t. Maybe because much of it was new to me, I found it informative and well-written.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the rather ambiguous ending – was there really a Nazi plot, or was it made up by some of the parties involved? The author presents both sides of the argument, and leaves it up to the reader to decide – or to attempt to search for additional information on their own. Knowing the amount of research the author does, though, I don’t know if anyone could learn more than what is included in this book.

Can one imagine trying to attempt what was known in the '40s as the Big Three? These three men Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin led the world Allied nations during World War 2. The leaders after lots of back and forthing, agreed to meet in Tehran, to discuss ways to bring this horrendous war to an end. However, there seemed to be a plot afoot which was to kill these three,. There seems to be many clues to the verity of this plot, but no real answers that point to its truthfulness. The two who claim it was true were a former Nazi and a KGB operative, so we are asked to make an educated guess as to the actual plot.

One can't imagine the fallout this act might have had if successful and I couldn't help but think of the assassination of JFK and how we were devastated as a people. So, one might conjecture that this might have swung the war into the Nazi's advantage. There were so many facts that were presented in this story and the authors, Brad Meltzer, and Josh Mensch, keep the action coming and the level of interest quite high. We do see these three leaders as very much in charge of what they governed and at times seem to come to head blows because of their separate but strong personalities.

All of these men also show the very pressure this war has put upon them both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Roosevelt perhaps is the worst one effected since his body is already suffering from his polio and age. Later. the big three meet again in Malta, where they want to start a way for the nations to rebuild after the extreme tragedy of this war.

Victory is Hitler's goal will even order the German youth as young as twelve to defend Berlin. So many lose their lives. And so does Roosevelt sadly..... "I felt myself as if I was hit by an unimaginable blow" says Winston Churchill. Our country is devastated as we had lost a courageous man who placed his country's needs above his own. A man who led the nation through the darkest days of war will always be remembered.
This was a fine tale of espionage, of character, of duplicity, loyalty, and steadfast dedication.

Thank you to the authors, Scott Brick for a fine narration, NatGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this informative story.

Just when I feel like I've read about every facet of World War II, The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch shares a behind- the-scenes look at the secret plot to kill the leaders of The Big Three Ally nations - Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Winston Churchill of the UK, and Joseph Stalin of the USSR.

Just imagining how history would have changed if those assassination attempts by the Nazis were successful is mind-boggling. The book reads like a novel and isn't bogged down in dense details like many historical tomes. I enjoyed the anecdotes, especially all of the personal descriptions of three dominant world leaders.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audio book.

Truly a wonderful listen. When it first started I was a little iffy about the narrator but as the story progressed it fell into a rhythm that the narrator really brought out. It was a fascinating listen filled with a lot of information about the plot to kill the big 3 during World War II, but it was done in such a way that kept the story interesting instead of feeling like a history book.
Completely enjoyed it.

This book was so great! I am a history buff and I don't think I have heard of this plot before. I'm not surprised by it. Learning about how the allied powers came together for the big 3 conference up till FDRs death was such an interesting time. The story was easy to follow. It was very well researched, without feeling bogged down. The pacing was really good.
I enjoyed the narrators voice. It was a pleasant tone and he spoke clearly.
Definitely will recommend.

Wow! As a history buff, I adored this book. The Nazi Conspiracy is incredibly well researched and rich in detail. The book explores the relationship between FDR, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin and the motivations for their actions after the United States entered World War II. When the Big Three finally meet, the plot to kill one or all of them is discovered. The Nazi Conspiracy reads like a fast passed thriller. The narrator in the audiobook is absolutely fantastic, wonderful voice, easy to listen to and throughly engaging. This book has it all!

<i>First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.</i>

A longtime fan of Brad Meltzer’s writing, I have come to also admire his collaborative work with Josh Mensch. Together, these two pen stellar pieces of ‘little known’ history that allow the reader to feel refreshed when reading about topics that have sometimes been overdone. Meltzer and Mensch explore a unique angle of the Second World War, as well as a plot that would have changed the world significantly. Eager to wrap my head around this piece, I devoured the book and was left to wonder ‘what if...’ on numerous occasions.

After a tumultuous few years in the Second World War, US President Franklin Roosevelt is looking forward to meeting with this two greatest allies, Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) and Joseph Stalin (leader of the USSR). While these three men have been juggling the war on two major fronts, they have yet to sit down as a group of three to plot out how to exterminate Hitler and the Nazis. Secret discussions determine that Tehran, Iran would be the ideal place for these three to meet and hash out a plan to neutralise Germany before any other Axis powers can come to their aid.

While planning remained covert, the Nazis had a stellar spy network that leaked the information back to the highest level within the Party. Hitler and his closest associates thought it best to plot something so nefarious that it would not only show his might, but also resonate deeply, while crippling the war effort. Hitler thought it best to use German soldiers to infiltrate the Tehran meeting and assassinate all three men, thereby turning the tables on a growing Allied effort in 1943. Hitler would expect nothing less than success. While the end result was anything but spectacular for the Nazis, Meltzer and Mensch posit that the entire plan could have been a Russian piece of war folklore.

The authors take the reader through the build-up to this remarkable summit, as well as the Nazi planning to kill all three leaders. Paced with wonderful anecdotes, asides, and a great narrative, Meltzer and Mensch offer the reader a new look into a very documented period in world history. While I vowed not to read anything set during the Second World War—mostly because I was tired of hearing about Nazi death camps and Hitler marching across Europe—I was happy to read this piece and learn a great deal as I devoured the text.

Meltzer and Mensch have worked together before and impressed me with their efforts. Taking a little known event and turning it into a great piece of writing proved helpful yet agin. From the inside look at all four sides (US, UK, USSR, and German), as well as some of the cultural aspects to a summit in Iran, the authors provided an impactful piece that is sure to garner a great deal of attention. I am pleased I took the gamble and am happy to see Brad Meltzer keeping his avenues open with a variety of writing projects geared towards different audiences. Well worth the effort, particularly with Scott Brick as narrator for those who listen to the audiobook.

Kudos, Messrs. Meltzer and Mensch, for a stunning look at history through a unique lens. I am eager to see what other projects you two have in the works.