The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch was a big hit with our First Impressions readers, earning an overall average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Meltzer, a bestselling author of thrillers, previously worked with Mensch, an acclaimed writer and television producer, on two other books about historical schemes: The First Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy.

What the book is about:

The story centers around a possible Nazi attempt to kill Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA), Winston Churchill (UK) and Joseph Stalin (USSR) while they met at the secret summit of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, in 1943, while World War II was raging. The book details the history of these three different men, how their countries were plunged into the war, the decisions they made to work together to strategically end WWII, and the pressure this war put upon them mentally, emotionally and physically (Anke V). Eminently readable, The Nazi Conspiracy uses the German efforts to assassinate the three Allied leaders as a framework to recount personal, political and military events — for both the Allies and Axis nations — as well as the geopolitical importance of Iran to both sides of the war, a subject that doesn't seem to be addressed in many books about WWII (Carol C).

Readers were repeatedly impressed with the The Nazi Conspiracy's ability to engage and tell a good story.

I found myself talking about the book with family throughout the reading of it. To me, that eagerness to discuss is a sign of such a smooth engrossing style of writing that is much different than the history book lessons we learned as kids (Melissa S). The authors kept me on the edge of my seat… This book is the best thriller I read in 2022 (Janis H). Unlike many nonfiction books, this one is well-paced, and moves along at a good clip. Much like a spy novel, the story details intrigue and subplots at a crucial time of WWII (Daniel H). The authors have put together a story that includes much of what the war was about, but also how far Adolf Hitler was willing to go to win. The meeting at Tehran was crucial for the Allies but more crucial was Hitler's plan to kill all three leaders. The book tells this so well and without a single boring war story. It is an amazing tale (Peggy K).

Many reviewers also remarked that the work contained information they had never encountered before.

School history classes give WWII short shrift, and much of this was very new to me. I plan to reread it soon and maybe pick up some other books about the era. A winner! (Barbara C). I wasn't even aware that Iran played a role in WWII. I've read a good number of books about this war yet had never heard about this particular conspiracy (Ruth O). Even though I have good knowledge of the people and events of WWII, this book taught me much I didn't know (Janet H).

Some mentioned that the book is broader than its framing might suggest, giving a fresh perspective on the World War II era and even current affairs.

I think the title does not do the work justice. Both sides of the inner workings of leadership of the war are represented as well as the multitude of actions that took place before the Big Three meeting (Melissa S). This book not only allows for an understanding of the current Ukraine issue but of issues that were imposed on various countries in the past (Babe H). While about the conspiracy, the story also tells of the culture and politics of the time (Patricia W). The authors quite thoroughly document the roles of each of the three leaders... It is one of the most readable histories of the forces driving the war effort and result (Henry W).

Ultimately, readers thought The Nazi Conspiracy should appeal both to history enthusiasts and those who don't usually read historical nonfiction.

Highly recommended to anyone who is already a fan of WWII history and wants to explore a different perspective or those who want to expand their knowledge of iconic events and leaders of the 20th century (Florrie C). Would provide plenty of fuel for book club discussions. And you don't have to be a WWII fan to enjoy this book (Vicky S).

Reviewed by BookBrowse First Impression Reviewers

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Rated of 5 by Lloyde Newman
History Uncovered......What Might Have Been
I totally enjoyed reading Brad Meltzer's latest book "The Nazi Conspiracy". There is much to the ending of World War II that is just now becoming known. The writing is fast paced and crisp, yet able to clearly draw a picture in the reader's eye what was going on and the pace of life on Oahu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese chiseled plans to bring the United States to her knees.

The sections about the Concentration Camps was especially hard for me to read because Meltzer writes with such clarity what life was like during the gruesome period of darkness for the world. The descriptions of the people digging trenches then later being shot a few days later was just gut wrenching for me.

I had 3 family members who served honorably in World War II, a bridge engineer who saved his platoon be refusing to blow up a bridge that would have led to certain ambush, a young 20 year old uncle who made every single parachute jump in Europe, to have a jeep overturn and take his life once he returned to the states, and lastly my father because of his height signed up for the Air Corp (then a division of the Army) and put his life and heart on the line to serve his country. All heroes, each in their own different way.

I have greatly enjoyed Brad Meltzer's writing and have read 3 books completely, and started about 5. His take and foresight of history is stellar. He has earned his place in the genre of excellent history writers. Now on to his next book....(thank you Mr. Meltzer)

Rated of 5 by BeckyH
Scary, and real
The plot to kill the three leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union at the Tehran Conference (World War II) was led by an untrained, unskilled and abandoned “spy” who had been sent to Tehran very early in the war. His only orders were to gather information and set up a “team” of Nazi sympathizers who might be called upon later. Then Russia entered the war on the Allied side and Franz Mayr was simply abandoned by his Nazi controllers until late in the war when Mayr was able to reestablish contact with the Nazi regime.

The Nazi Conspiracy was part history and part spy thriller. I discovered that Roosevelt and Stalin tried to cut Churchill out of one conference and Churchill and Roosevelt tried to keep Stalin out of another! Churchill was not enthusiastic about D-Day and Stalin wanted it to happen much earlier in the war. Meltzer was able to convey the differing personalities and needs of the three world leaders and a spy story along with a vast trove of back story in an entertaining and truthful way.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The NAZI CONSPIRACY. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history or a thrilling spy story. Although Meltzer conveyed a vast amount of information, the book never lost my interest and seemed to follow a clear path to its conclusion.

Rated of 5 by BuffaloGirlKS
As Fast Paced as Any Espionage Thriller
Although Nonfiction History, The Nazi Conspiracy is as fast paced as any espionage thriller. About the Nazi plot to assassinate the three supreme WWII Allied leaders; Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin; during the Teheran Conference in the Fall of 1943, it delivers the planning and events leading up to the conference from the perspectives of each of the participating countries and Nazi Germany. I was particularly taken by the book’s identification and crediting of the individuals behind the scenes who put their lives on the line to protect the Allies' leaders. The book outlines in the first few chapters how Hitler and the Nazis took control of Germany in a few short years which should US citizens pause given the current political situation in our country.

Rated of 5 by Charles Francis
CF Review of The Nazi Conspiracy, The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
This review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, their publishing company or anyone connected with the book or author.
The setting is 1943 and the Second World War is raging across the globe. The Allied powers are fighting on their respective fronts and cooperating where and when needed, trying to show a united front, but behind the scenes this is far from the truth. Whether he wanted to or not, President Franklin D. Roosevelt has found himself in the unenviable position of having to corral his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill and get them to see they all have a common purpose, the defeat of Nazi Germany and its Axis allies. To do this he must arrange a face-to-face meeting with the three of them.

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch present this true story of what could have been the most devastating blow to the war, the assassination of Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. In painstakingly detail they describe the assassination plot, but before getting into how the plot came about, the authors provide the backdrop. They describe how Roosevelt worked all the levers to arrange the meeting, the setting to be Tehran, Iran. How he had to coddle Churchill and deal with his at times petulance, work through the intransigence of Stalin, all while leading the American war effort. Like most secrets, it’s not a secret if two or more people know about it and once the Nazis got a whiff of Roosevelt’s planned meeting, the assassination plot was put in motion.

The book reads like a spy novel, full of political intrigue, spies, double and triple spies, backbiting, double-cross, action, body doubles, daring escapes and rescues, paranoia, egos, and more. While the book may have all the trappings of a spy novel, these are real world events and the authors pull no punches in describing the horrors of war, the inhumanity of it and how all would have been lost had the Nazis succeeded in their plan. Their investigative detail transports you to the Nazi concentration camps, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, imprisonment and rescue of Mussolini. They take you inside the minds of the major and some minor characters of the war, tell the stories of unknown heroes on both sides of the conflict, take you to front line battles, and provide a view of the war from a macro and micro level. This is a mini history lesson.

I listened to the audio book read by Scott Brick. Scott brings a level of passion to his narration that pulls you in and never lets you go. He doesn’t miss a beat when describing the changing landscapes of the war, the characters, the plot. His narration brings the words of the authors front and center, captivating you from the first word spoken until the end.

Pick up this book if you want to know about the little known plot to turn the tide of the war by assassinating the three most powerful Allied leaders.

Rated of 5 by Katherine Pond
Well-researched and Interesting Story of The Big Three
One of the most engrossing, interesting and stirring books I've ever read about the Second World War. Having been born in Washington DC in 1942 this is a particular chapter in American history that has fascinated me very much. There is no flamboyant language or overly dramatic flourishes to the writing and yet it is a fast and moving read. It is not a dry rendition of facts but rather a flowing narrative that is, at times, blood curdling in its bare and succinct description of genocide carried out coldly and in numbers beyond comprehension. At other times, it is an espionage saga with spies at every turn. And, at still other places, it is a political tale of three men---all intelligent, all powerful, all intent on controlling the Allied response to an enemy as intelligent and powerful as they. They are patriots to their countries but also defenders of freedom and though, not truly friends, they are determined to defeat without compromise or conditions the movement they see threatening to take over the entire world--Nazism. br /Never, however, have a read a book that gives as much insight into the man and his officers who are in charge of the danger. Their backgrounds and personalities are fascinating and their unstinting belief in a Master race and the threat of the Jews of the world is almost difficult to truly comprehend. Yet, at the same time, my mind kept seeing seeds of the same type of belief in today's world. Chilling and frightening to think that might be true.

Rated of 5 by BarbaraP
Observing History As A Fly On The Wall
I had looked forward to this book since first seeing it in an ad for books to be published in 2023. As an avid reader of Historic Fiction revolving around WWII, and occasionally delving into the world of non-fiction of the same time period, this was a book that made my "must read" list with no hesitation - and I was not disappointed. The authors took us on a journey though the war with specific attention paid to the Allied leaders and their personal relationships. In my arrogance, I did not expect to be surprised with facts surrounding the attitude of the nation and original tolerance toward Naziism, when, who and how war was declared, the multiple layers of international agencies working independently but toward the same goal, and so much more. We are taken into meetings of planning and layers of deception among friends and allies that made perfect sense and left me hopeful and cautious toward our international future. There is so much more here than just an assassination plot or just another WWII story. I wish all of history could be presented and reviewed in the way this book is constructed - then we might not be so certain to repeat mistakes of the past.

Rated of 5 by Jill M.
The Nazi Conspiracy
This book had me hooked with the very first sentence: “The President is hiding.” This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the relationship between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin and how the three finally worked together to bring the war to its conclusion. The authors did a nice job highlighting the rise of Hitler’s power, how Japan and Italy entered the war while also explaining Roosevelt’s reluctance to involve the U.S. All of this is done in a way that sets the stage for understanding the intricacies of the secret plot to kill the three leaders.

Rated of 5 by Melissa S. (Rowland, NC)
The Untold History Lessons
Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch's account of the possible conspiracy to assassinate the leaders of the three largest WWII allied countries is a historical work that reads, in most places, like a true crime fiction novel. I found myself engrossed throughout most of the book and eager to turn the page. I do however, think the title does not give the work justice. Both sides of the inner workings of leadership of the war are represented and the multitude of actions that took place before the big three meeting. There's so much history woven into a book that is written in a such a way that the reader eagerly absorbs the lessons presented.

Having little knowledge (ok, maybe next to none) of the Soviet's plight during WWII, I found myself talking about the book with family throughout the reading of it. To me, that eagerness to discuss is a sign of such a smooth engrossing style of writing that is much different than the history book lessons we learned as kids. The "human" element of the three allied leaders' personalities that Meltzer brings to life makes the book very interesting. Even the intimate representation of the axis leaders and spies' personalities add a rich level to the book.

My only issue with the work is I found myself a little bogged down towards the middle (before the "big three summit") and I found the sole focus on the leaders and the logistics of the war a little cold. The atrocities to the Jewish, and many other, populations were only mentioned briefly and practically none, other than the actual numbers, on the Soviet side. However, I do understand this particular account is meant to focus on the leaders and the inner workings of the war, not so much the human suffering and casualties. I can appreciate that direction.

I definitely recommend this work not just to history buffs, but to all readers. My interest has been sparked and I have lots of questions to research on aspects of the war touched on in "The Nazi Conspiracy".

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