The JFK Conspiracy
Brad Metzler, Josh Mensch
This was a great read that was full of interesting insight to the lives of the Kennedys with a good amount of time spent around the election. Also a not often spoke about assassination plot. I felt like this was well researched and written. I’d recommend to anyone who is looking to learn more about jfk as it goes beyond just the failed assassination plot.
I had the audio book and loved the narration. Was very easy listening.

Thank you to the Authors, Net Galley, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC

This is an account of a little known assassin and his attempt to kill the president elect. It is also a sweet story about Jackie Kennedy and her close personal relationship with her secret service detail. Amazing behind the scenes details of what it was like to be in the presence of a changing white house and the effects tv and the press changed the office forever.

The JFK Conspiracy
By Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is not my first look at JFK, nor my first Brad Meltzer book.

I enjoy Brad’s writing and his commitment to research. I enjoyed learning about JFK through the lens of Jackie O and Clint Hill, in various previous reads.

This was something altogether different but no less enjoyable. The book begins with Jack’s military service and a look at some lesser-known acts of heroism. I was instantly intrigued.

Then, as the campaign for the Presidency heats up with religion and civil rights being at the forefront, I was struck with some similar parallels between this past November 2024, and late 1959-early 1960. What poignant timing.

The second half of the book looks at the Kennedy ascension to the Presidency and a widely unknown foiled assassination attempt by ex-postal worker and anti-Catholic Pavlick. The storytelling through parallel timelines was really well done.

I had no idea that there was a near-miss assassination attempt prior to JFK's inauguration. This story is the main focus of this book and is very intriguing. Nicely done. Well-paced. Thoroughly researched. Added credit for bringing the hero (the informer) to the forefront. I would definitely recommend this read to others.
However, the beginning of the book was a bit distracting. The writer made it seem that if you didn't vote for Kennedy, you were somehow a racist. Also, if you are of a protestant religious denomination, you were also a racist and hated America. I wasn't around at that time, but I find that very difficult to believe. I like to read historical books without the political sway, as I lean neither left nor right. I understand that the book was written about a political figure, but alienating half of the population in the middle of a historical narrative doesn't sit quite right with me. And don't worry... I feel the same way about Bill O'Reilly books.
Barely missed the 5 star review for me.

Despite there being a number of great JFK books on the market, this one gives an untold perspective on JFK's story. I really enjoyed the book and the narrator!

This is a great read. The narration is outstanding. I learned so much from the story and there are parts if it that are eerily timely and relevant. Well done!

It’s not every day I learn a new conspiracy to kill Kennedy. I’m not surprised it was Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch that wrote about it! I love when these two team up. The audio book gets an added bonus of Scott Brick narrating (one of my favorite narrators) .
But did you know that there was a plot to kill Kennedy before he even took office? I didn’t either! This book follows the would-be assassin, and the Kennedy’s during the time between the election and JFK taking office, then it jumps to the fateful day in Dallas. Very well researched often seen through the eyes of former U.S. Secret Service agent Clint Hill.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley #NetGalley