-
The First Conspiracy
- The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $31.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Interview: Listen in as Brad Meltzer talks with Audible editor Christina Harcar about how The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot Against George Washington came to be, shares a funny story on how his longstanding work relationship with narrator Scott Brick started, and reinforces why his children's books focus on real-life heroes.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Lincoln Conspiracy
- The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - and Why It Failed
- By: Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone knows the story of Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865, but few are aware of the original conspiracy to kill him four years earlier in 1861, literally on his way to Washington, DC, for his first inauguration. The conspirators were part of a pro-Southern secret society that didn't want an antislavery President in the White House. They planned an elaborate scheme to assassinate the brand new President in Baltimore as Lincoln's inauguration train passed through en route to the Capitol.
-
-
A Trip Through History
- By Bridget Preece on 05-05-20
By: Brad Meltzer, and others
-
The Lightning Rod
- A Zig & Nola Novel
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Archie Mint has a secret. He’s led a charmed life - he’s got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career. But when he’s killed while trying to stop a robbery in his own home, his family is shattered - and then shocked when the other shoe drops. Mint’s been hiding criminal secrets none of them could have imagined.
-
-
3 hours, Still waiting
- By james on 03-10-22
By: Brad Meltzer
-
George Washington's Secret Six
- The Spy Ring That Saved America
- By: Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger
- Narrated by: Brian Kilmeade
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the cohost of Fox & Friends, the true story of the anonymous spies who helped win the Revolutionary War. Among the pantheon of heroes of the American Revolution, six names are missing. First and foremost, Robert Townsend, an unassuming and respected businessman from Long Island, who spearheaded the spy ring that covertly brought down the British
-
-
Pretty good
- By Thomas on 09-24-15
By: Brian Kilmeade, and others
-
History Decoded
- The Ten Greatest Conspiracies of All Time
- By: Keith Ferrell, Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adapted from Decoded, Meltzer's hit show on the History network, History Decoded explores many fascinating and unexplained questions. Is Fort Knox empty? Why was Hitler so intent on capturing the Roman "Spear of Destiny"? What's the government hiding in Area 51? Where did the Confederacy's $19 million in gold and silver go at the end of the Civil War? Did Lee Harvey Oswald really act alone?
-
-
entertaining, but not much substance
- By Andy on 01-25-14
By: Keith Ferrell, and others
-
1776
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
-
-
Front Seat on History
- By Mark on 10-22-05
By: David McCullough
-
Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Patriots
- By: Bill O'Reilly, David Fisher
- Narrated by: Holter Graham, Bill O'Reilly
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The must-have companion to Bill O'Reilly's historical docudrama Legends and Lies: The Patriots, an exciting and eye-opening look at the Revolutionary War through the lives of its leaders. The American Revolution was neither inevitable nor a unanimous cause. It pitted neighbors against each other as loyalists and colonial rebels faced off for their lives and futures. These were the times that tried men's souls: No one was on stable ground, and few could be trusted.
-
-
Great history lesson
- By rick loy on 10-24-17
By: Bill O'Reilly, and others
-
The Lincoln Conspiracy
- The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President - and Why It Failed
- By: Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone knows the story of Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865, but few are aware of the original conspiracy to kill him four years earlier in 1861, literally on his way to Washington, DC, for his first inauguration. The conspirators were part of a pro-Southern secret society that didn't want an antislavery President in the White House. They planned an elaborate scheme to assassinate the brand new President in Baltimore as Lincoln's inauguration train passed through en route to the Capitol.
-
-
A Trip Through History
- By Bridget Preece on 05-05-20
By: Brad Meltzer, and others
-
The Lightning Rod
- A Zig & Nola Novel
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Archie Mint has a secret. He’s led a charmed life - he’s got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career. But when he’s killed while trying to stop a robbery in his own home, his family is shattered - and then shocked when the other shoe drops. Mint’s been hiding criminal secrets none of them could have imagined.
-
-
3 hours, Still waiting
- By james on 03-10-22
By: Brad Meltzer
-
George Washington's Secret Six
- The Spy Ring That Saved America
- By: Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger
- Narrated by: Brian Kilmeade
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the cohost of Fox & Friends, the true story of the anonymous spies who helped win the Revolutionary War. Among the pantheon of heroes of the American Revolution, six names are missing. First and foremost, Robert Townsend, an unassuming and respected businessman from Long Island, who spearheaded the spy ring that covertly brought down the British
-
-
Pretty good
- By Thomas on 09-24-15
By: Brian Kilmeade, and others
-
History Decoded
- The Ten Greatest Conspiracies of All Time
- By: Keith Ferrell, Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adapted from Decoded, Meltzer's hit show on the History network, History Decoded explores many fascinating and unexplained questions. Is Fort Knox empty? Why was Hitler so intent on capturing the Roman "Spear of Destiny"? What's the government hiding in Area 51? Where did the Confederacy's $19 million in gold and silver go at the end of the Civil War? Did Lee Harvey Oswald really act alone?
-
-
entertaining, but not much substance
- By Andy on 01-25-14
By: Keith Ferrell, and others
-
1776
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
-
-
Front Seat on History
- By Mark on 10-22-05
By: David McCullough
-
Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Patriots
- By: Bill O'Reilly, David Fisher
- Narrated by: Holter Graham, Bill O'Reilly
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The must-have companion to Bill O'Reilly's historical docudrama Legends and Lies: The Patriots, an exciting and eye-opening look at the Revolutionary War through the lives of its leaders. The American Revolution was neither inevitable nor a unanimous cause. It pitted neighbors against each other as loyalists and colonial rebels faced off for their lives and futures. These were the times that tried men's souls: No one was on stable ground, and few could be trusted.
-
-
Great history lesson
- By rick loy on 10-24-17
By: Bill O'Reilly, and others
-
Dead Even
- A Novel
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sara Tate, a Manhattan assistant DA, is on the brink of losing her job. But then she takes a case that may be able to secure her future. Trouble is, it’s much more complicated - and deadly - than it initially appears. While forces within her own office plot against her, an outside threat takes things to another level: Win the case or her attorney husband, Jared, will die. But Jared has received threats, too. Forced to defend the opposition, he learns that, if loses the case, Sara will be killed.
-
-
Audibile is re-releasing old Meltzer novels
- By David Acre on 09-02-21
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Book of Fate
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Six minutes from now, one of us would be dead. None of us knew it was coming." So says Wes Holloway, a young presidential aide, about the day he put Ron Boyle, the chief executive's oldest friend, into the president's limousine. By the trip's end, a crazed assassin would permanently disfigure Wes and kill Boyle. Now, eight years later, Boyle has been spotted alive. Trying to figure out what really happened takes Wes back into disturbing secrets buried in Freemason history, a decade-old presidential crossword puzzle, and a 200-year-old code.
-
-
Background noise too annoying
- By FatOldBroad on 12-15-20
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Terminal List
- A Thriller
- By: Jack Carr
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On his last combat deployment, Lt. Cmdr. James Reece's entire team was killed in an ambush that also claimed the lives of the aircrew sent in to rescue them. But when those dearest to him are murdered on the day of his homecoming, Reece discovers that this was not an act of war by a foreign enemy but a conspiracy that runs to the highest levels of government. Now, with no family and free from the military's command structure, Reece applies the lessons that he's learned in over a decade of constant warfare toward revenge.
-
-
the terminal list is terminally bad
- By John Riehl on 06-13-19
By: Jack Carr
-
The President's Shadow
- The Culper Ring Series
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A severed arm, found buried in the White House Rose Garden. A lethal message with terrible consequences for the Presidency. And a hidden secret in one family's past that will have repercussions for the entire nation. There are stories no one knows. Hidden stories. I find those stories for a living. To most, it looks like Beecher White has an ordinary job. A young staffer with the National Archives in Washington, DC, he's responsible for safekeeping the government's most important documents...and, sometimes, its most closely held secrets.
-
-
It started with a mystery and ended with a whimper
- By Amazon Customer on 12-03-15
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Book of Lies
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does Cain, history's greatest villain, have to do with Superman, the world's greatest hero? And what do two murders, committed thousands of years apart, have in common? This is the mystery at the heart of Brad Meltzer's riveting and utterly intriguing new thriller.
-
-
EXCELLENT!!!
- By Don on 10-06-08
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The House of Secrets
- By: Brad Meltzer, Tod Goldberg
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, January LaVoy
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Hazel Nash was six years old, her father taught her: Mysteries need to be solved. He should know. Hazel's father is Jack Nash, the host of America's favorite conspiracy TV show, The House of Secrets. Even as a child, she loved hearing her dad's tall tales, especially the one about a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold that was hidden in a corpse. Now, years later, Hazel wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing, not even her own name. She's told she's been in a car accident that killed her father and injured her brother.
-
-
Nope.
- By Susan on 06-17-16
By: Brad Meltzer, and others
-
The Tenth Justice
- A Novel
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Landing a prestigious position as a Supreme Court clerk fresh out of Yale Law, Ben Addison is on the ultrafast track to success - until he inadvertently shares a classified secret with the wrong listener. And now the anonymous blackmailer who made a killing with Ben’s information is demanding more. Guilty of a criminal act, his golden future suddenly in jeopardy, Ben turns for help to his roommates - three close friends from childhood, each strategically placed near the seats of Washington power - and to his beautiful, whip-smart fellow clerk, Lisa Schulman.
-
-
Re-release
- By Frances on 07-21-21
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Millionaires
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlie and Oliver Caruso are brothers who work at Greene & Greene, a private bank so exclusive you need two million dollars just to be a client. But when the door of success slams in their faces, they're faced with an offer they can't refuse: three million dollars in an abandoned account. No one knows it exists, and even better, it doesn't belong to anyone.
-
-
Possibly the best Meltzer to date
- By Snoodely on 07-27-12
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Zero Game
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are playing a mysterious game. It's a game almost no one knows about: not their friends, not their coworkers, and certainly not their bosses, who are some of the most powerful senators and congressmen on Capitol Hill.
-
-
Great political novel
- By Rodney on 01-20-04
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The First Counsel
- By: Brad Meltzer
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 15 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Michael Garrick, a young White House lawyer, begins dating the irresistible First Daughter, Nora, he's instantly spellbound, just like everyone else in her world. A world where power is an aphrodisiac, your father is the President, your close friends wear earpieces and carry guns, and everyone watches your every move...
-
-
Not even Scott Brick could save it
- By Ms Discus on 01-18-04
By: Brad Meltzer
-
The Spy and the Traitor
- The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
- By: Ben Macintyre
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Unfolding the delicious three-way gamesmanship between America, Britain, and the Soviet Union, and culminating in the gripping cinematic beat-by-beat of Oleg Gordievsky's nail-biting escape from Moscow in 1985, Ben Macintyre's latest may be his best yet. Like the greatest novels of John le Carré, it brings listeners deep into a world of treachery and betrayal, where the lines bleed between the personal and the professional, and one man's hatred of communism had the power to change the future of nations.
-
-
Lost almost a nights sleep to this... and well worth it.
- By George Smith on 10-09-18
By: Ben Macintyre
-
The Deserter
- By: Nelson DeMille, Alex DeMille
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Captain Kyle Mercer of the Army’s elite Delta Force disappeared from his post in Afghanistan, a video released by his Taliban captors made international headlines. But circumstances were murky: Did Mercer desert before he was captured? Then a second video sent to Mercer’s Army commanders leaves no doubt: The trained assassin and keeper of classified Army intelligence has disappeared.
-
-
I thought about returning it, then it took off!
- By Nina on 10-31-19
By: Nelson DeMille, and others
Publisher's Summary
2019 Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year
This program includes a bonus conversation with the authors.
Taking place during the most critical period of our nation’s birth, The First Conspiracy tells a remarkable and previously untold piece of American history that not only reveals George Washington’s character, but also illuminates the origins of America’s counterintelligence movement that led to the modern-day CIA.
In 1776, an elite group of soldiers were handpicked to serve as George Washington’s bodyguards. Washington trusted them; relied on them. But unbeknownst to Washington, some of them were part of a treasonous plan. In the months leading up to the Revolutionary War, these traitorous soldiers, along with the governor of New York, William Tryon, and Mayor David Mathews, launched a deadly plot against the most important member of the military: George Washington himself.
This is the story of the secret plot and how it was revealed. It is a story of leaders, liars, counterfeiters, and jailhouse confessors. It also shows just how hard the battle was for George Washington and how close America was to losing the Revolutionary War.
In this historical masterpiece, New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer teams up with American history writer and documentary television producer Josh Mensch to unravel the shocking true story behind what has previously been a footnote in the pages of history. Drawing on extensive research, Meltzer and Mensch capture in riveting detail how George Washington not only defeated the most powerful military force in the world, but also uncovered the secret plot against him in the tumultuous days leading up to July 4, 1776.
Praise for The First Conspiracy:
"This is American history at its finest, a gripping story of spies, killers, counterfeiters, traitors - and a mysterious prostitute who may or may not have even existed. Anyone with an interest in American history will love this book." (Douglas Preston, number-one best-selling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God)
“A wonderful book about leadership - and it shows why George Washington and his moral lessons are just as vital today. What a book. You’ll love it.” (President George H.W. Bush)
“This is an important book: a fascinating largely unknown chapter of our hazardous beginning, a reminder of why counterintelligence matters, and a great read.” (President Bill Clinton)
Critic Reviews
Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year, 2019

Editor's Pick
Historical events written and performed like a thriller!
"Brad Meltzer read about an actual plot to assassinate George Washington in 1776 and, with Josh Mensch, explored the historic episode with the eye of a thriller writer. And Hall of Fame narrator Scott Brick performs it. But the most exciting piece (for me) was that I got to chat with Brad Meltzer about the project…and he had plenty of detail to share! You can listen to the full interview here." —Christina H., Audible Editor
More from the same
What listeners say about The First Conspiracy
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryan
- 01-24-19
So much forced drama
Well, I made it through with out returning it. Average, average, average. Initially a very interesting topic but repeats itself so much and stretches what should be a great magazine article to am eleven hour audible book. All makes sense when I heard the authors involved a first time author with background in producing History channel programs along with a thriller writer implementing all the tricks of an airport read. Not sure the non fiction genre needed a make over. The narrator reads with such gravitas at all times I felt like I was listening to campfire stories... for eleven straight hours...
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Wayne
- 01-09-19
Brilliantly written and narrated!
There is little new in THE FIRST CONSPIRACY, but this is the first book to provide this level of detail about the 1775 - 1776 secret plot against General George Washington the newly appointed leader of the American forces against British rule of the American colonies. Even in his wonderful 42 hour biography Washington historian Ron Chernow is forced to give short shrift to this conspiracy topic. We owe authors Meltzer and Mensch a debt of gratitude for this work. Since Scott Brick has narrated all of Brad Meltzer's novels it is no surprise that he narrates this non-fiction masterpiece.
THE FIRST CONSPIRACY will appeal to students of US history and it should also appeal to lovers of espionage thrillers.
46 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ali
- 01-14-19
Meltzer clears the Green Monster
I fell in love with Brad via the History channel shows. As a history buff, I love real life mysteries and the process of untangling history to understand them, and Brad does such a fantastic job of bringing them to life on the digital screen. I learned about this book while attending a book signing for the children's series in Houston, TX and was immediately set on fire. It took quite awhile for the AB version to drop but I had it pre-Purchased and waited breathlessly for that message from Audible that it was ready. Coincidentally, it dropped in the middle of a 2 month vacation, so it took jostling of my schedule to work it in but as I lay here in the cold North-English winter, wrapped in a giant comforter, I finished it. Thanks for throwing in the interview at the end!
George Washington is such an intriguing character in general history, and a beacon of American history. Never is it more evident that no matter the mistakes made, the lack of experience, or the humble beginnings, fate touched him, making him the perfect man doing the perfect job at the perfect moment to astound the world with the least predictable military coup in history to that time. America couldn't have been born with out him and this book really puts such a raw but distinct headlight on that.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jean
- 06-12-19
Entertaining for a non-fiction book.
This story takes place in 1776. It is about a secret plot by the British to assassinate George Washington.
The book is well written and extensively researched. The story jumps about following different people, but it all flows together. The author chose to write in the present tense which is unusual for a non-fiction book. The story reads like a novel and at times is suspenseful. I was amazed at the number of Continental Soldiers that were recruited as spies and saboteurs particularly among the Lifeguards (Washington’s bodyguards). The story is entertaining and interesting. It is well worth the read.
The book is eleven hours and eight minutes. Scott Brick does an excellent job narrating the book. Brick is an actor and award-wining audiobook narrator. He has won fifty Earphone Awards and five Audie Award as well as twice being the Publisher Weekly’s Best Narrator Award.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mary R
- 01-08-19
Provisional review
I'm over an hour into the audio book. Excellent narration and a fascinating story. Descriptive, good narrative flow and engaging. Recommended for any interested in this time period.
Today is Jan 8 2019. The audiobook released this morning. I'm comparing and contrasting the descriptions of behavior with those of today's politicians. Very sobering.
Outlander fans will be engaged by the Washington -Tryon story.
46 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nancy
- 02-11-19
In other words....
I love history, especially American history, so I started this book with great excitement. Unfortunately I found the story and information repetitive and boring. There were some facts and historical figures that were interesting and relatively unknown, but the whole story could have presented in a novella and been far more interesting. Obviously, the British would do anything they could to stop the revolution and hinder Washington and the Patriots from achieving their goal, but Scott Brick's overly dramatic reading made it sound like it was all so terrible shocking and new.... And if I hear the phrase"..in other words..." one more time I will throw up.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- dave goddard
- 01-14-19
Excellent book
History books can often be monotonous and boring. Not this one. Loved it. will be listening again for sure.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rodney & Jennifer C
- 01-13-19
absolutely amazing!
i devoured this book! Brad Meltzer needs to do more nonfiction!
The narrator was incredible and the story was riveting.
will be looking for more books from Brad and the narrator!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. Grace
- 01-12-19
Best history I've ever read!
I like history but it's usually quite dry and mostly a string of facts. And I don't really trust historical fiction. This book however brings all the documented facts into a suspenseful unfolding and is read by Brick with a passionate delivery. It is also a tribute and reminder of a truly great and competent leader. Everyone should read this book!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Frank Decker
- 01-30-19
Waste of my time
I usually love Brad Meltzer books. However this one was painful to finish. The storyline was thin, and was many hours longer than it needed to be.
9 people found this helpful