An interesting read, though I felt the author padded a bit to get those 400 pages. A fair amount of primary sources, but often it is only one mention in a diary, letter or newspaper that supports some inkling of info on the conspiracy. Gives a real sense of what it must have been like to be living in America, with your Governor on a warship in the harbor and your army in charge.Washington, as always, comes across as a magnificent individual, though his insecurities are truthfully depicted ( )

(2019) I don't know why I do this. Metzler has proven he is great at producing pot-boilers and that he is not a very good writer. This purported history of a conspiracy to assassinate George Washington is based on pretty thin research and a lot of speculation. Even having endotes, index and bibliography does not make this a scholarly tome. Rather it fits into his genre of asking bizarre questions and filling in the blanks. Also his habit of VERY short chapters feeds his fans' short attention span. OK book but just fluff when you get right down to it. He even admits in the end that the plot was really to kidnap Washington at best and turn him over to the British. Ho-hum. I do not agree with the Kirkus review: KIRKUS REVIEWAn atmosphere of distrust and subterfuge pervaded the Colonies on the eve of war.In brisk, tense chapters, Meltzer (The Escape Artist, 2018, etc.) and documentary TV producer Mensch relate a tale of spies and treason, conspiracy and counterintelligence at the start of the colonists' war against Britain. Using present tense, the authors create a sense of immediacy and peril: Patriots are being hastily formed into a ragtag, rowdy army; the British, with its incomparable navy, are mounting a well-orchestrated campaign, sending hundreds of ships to assail Manhattan; and the clock, as clocks do in such thrillers, is ticking. Central to the convoluted plot is the fate of George Washington, portrayed by the authors as a paragon of leadership and perfection: ?perfect poise, perfect manners, perfect horsemanship, perfect appearance.? He faces a population of ?divided loyalties and shifting allegiances�ripe for treachery, spying, and double-crossing.? Farmers and townsfolk are lured into fighting for the king and conveying secret information. New York Gov. William Tryon and the city's mayor, David Mathews, are conspirators, Tryon masterminding treachery from aboard a British ship docked in New York's harbor. Shocked by rumors, Washington decides to assemble an elite band of soldiers enjoined to protect him. Their nickname was the Life Guards. In addition, he convenes ?a dedicated team who can uncover the enemies' secret activities,? learn their plans, and thwart them. The secret Committee of Intestine Enemies, the authors assert, will become, two centuries later, the CIA: ?the domain of dedicated agencies with well-trained experts and sophisticated technologies.? As rudimentary as it was, however, Washington's clandestine committee ferreted out important information: Among turncoats were members of Washington's Life Guards and, astonishingly, his housekeeper. The authors acknowledge that some elements of the plot remain mysterious: Washington's housekeeper, for example, left his employ suddenly, but no records point to her involvement. Nevertheless, the conspiracy is foiled, and in July 1776, Washington's public reading of the Declaration of Independence finally energizes his soldiers.A lively political thriller.Pub Date: Jan. 8th, 2019ISBN: 978-1-250-13033-4Page count: 384ppPublisher: Flatiron BooksReview Posted Online: Oct. 2nd, 2018Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15th, 2018

Well written. The book pivots from location, time, and the key characters in the story. The book appears to be well researched and the author does a good job of sifting through the facts and fiction. Due to the nature of the underlying story, the author was required at times to use opinions based on the available evidence to help fill in the gaps that are lost to history. However, when done so, the author makes the reader aware up front and explains the reasoning. ( )

Brad Meltzer tells a very compelling story. I liked the detailed explanations of political relationships and the chronological revelation of the story. It does almost read like a novel. But it's also very interesting history for a reader that is not well-read on the era.

I do agree with other reviewers that the narrative is very repetitive and overblown - very much like the author's breathless television shows, including frequent [chapter] breaks [for commercials].

A pretty solid 4-star book, with a half star off for being a pot boiler, and a half star back on for keeping me reading to the very end. ( )

A well written narrative of a little known British/loyalist conspiracy involving General George Washington in the early period of the Revolutionary War (just prior to the New York campaign).

As a fan of this period of American history I am quite well informed and have read many books on the various personalities and events. Nonetheless, this particular conspiracy was mentioned, if at all, only in passing. This book explores in depth the inner workings and personalities involved. It also provides a nice introduction and context so the reader has a good understanding of the trials and tribulations that General Washington and his army were facing at the time.

The book is generally narrow in its focus, yet it’s easy reading style should appeal to both introductory and more well read fans of the period. ( )