Brad Meltzer

Master storyteller Brad Meltzer counts down and decodes the world’s top 10 most intriguing conspiracies stories. Wanted: the truth. In a riveting collection, Brad Meltzer guides us through the 10 greatest conspiracies of all time, from Leonardo da Vinci’s stolen prophecy to the Kennedy assassination. This richly illustrated book serves up those fascinating, unexplained questions that nag at history buffs and conspiracy lovers: Why was Hitler so intent on capturing the Roman “Spear of Destiny?” Where did all the Confederacy’s gold go? What is the government hiding in Area 51? And did Lee Harvey Oswald really act alone? Meltzer sifts through the evidence, weighs competing theories, separates what we know to be true and what’s still––and perhaps forever––unproved or unprovable, and in the end, decodes the mystery and arrives at the most likely explanation.

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 page-turner, New York Times bestselling 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, #1 bestselling 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." --former president George H. W. Bush

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 page-turner, New York Times bestselling 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.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer unravels the truth behind the secret assassination attempt on George Washington and how the plot helped create the CIA and the FBI in this young reader's adaptation for younger audiences. 1776. The early days of the Revolutionary War. It supposedly began with Thomas Hickey, a private in the Continental Army, and New York governor William Tryon. In an astonishing power grab, they plotted to kill Hickey's boss: a man by the name of George Washington. In the end, Hickey was caught, brought to trial, and found guilty. It would seem he became the first person in the new nation to be executed for treason. But to this day, nobody knows for sure if this story is true. In The First Conspiracy, Brad Meltzer sheds light on the close-kept secrets and compelling details surrounding this story and exposes the history of how the assassination plot catalyzed the creation of the CIA and FBI. This page-turning investigation offers young readers an in-depth look at the facts and remaining questions that surround this contested historical event.

In this companion to his acclaimed and inspirational bestseller, Heroes for My Son, national bestselling novelist Brad Meltzer brings together the stories of fifty-five remarkable individuals, from intellectual explorers such as Marie Curie, Sally Ride, and Jane Goodall to cultural champions like Billie Jean King; from implacable public figures such as Rosa Parks and Winston Churchill to artistic icons such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Stevie Wonder; and beyond. Heroes for My Daughter is Meltzer's collection of inspirational, real-life figures for his daughter, and yours, to learn how to lead a powerful, motivated, fulfilling life.

The darkest secret of the U. S. Presidency is about to be revealed. Beecher White, a young archivist for the US government, has always been the keeper of other people's stories, never a part of the story himself . . . Until now. While Beecher is showing Clementine Kaye, his first childhood crush, around the National Archives, they accidentally uncover a priceless artefact - a two-hundred-year-old dictionary once belonging to George Washington. Suddenly Beecher and Clementine are entangled in a web of conspiracy and murder. Beecher's race to learn the truth behind this mysterious treasure will lead to a code that conceals a disturbing secret from the nation's founding. A secret that some believe is worth killing for.

When Brad Meltzer, "New York" Times bestselling author of "The Book of Fate" and "The Tenth Justice", welcomed his first child into the world, he started keeping a list of heroes whose virtues and talents he wanted his son to share when he grew up. "Heroes for My Son" is a collection of 54 extraordinary men and women, some celebrated across the globe and some lesser-known, but each in their own right a hero. Packaged in a charming gift format, the book will include short vignettes, quotations, and black and white photos of each hero. In the style of "Life's Little Instruction Book", "Heroes for My Son" highlights a diverse set of role models for many coming generations to learn from and admire. Among the heroes include: The Wright Brothers, Team Hoyt, Mr. Rogers, Miep Gies, Roberto Clemente, Amelia Earhart, Harry Houdini, Jackie Robinson, Albert Einstein, Dr. Seuss, George H. W. Bush, Charlie Chaplin, Pele, Muhammad Ali, Barack Obama, Harper Lee, Rosa Parks, Lou Gehrig, Ben Rubin (Brad Meltzer's Grandfather), and many more.

Washington D. C. Eight years ago, a crazed assassin killed the President's oldest friend and left aide Wes Holloway permanently disfigured. Now an impossible sighting of the dead man forces Wes to confront the truth of what really happened on that terrible day. A code invented by Thomas Jefferson and mysterious clues hidden by the Masons two hundred years ago may hold the answer. But not everyone wants their secrets uncovered. Who are The Three? How much of Washington do they control? Wes is running out of time, and the assassin is closing in once more . . .

Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are best friends who have plum jobs as senior staffers to well-respected congressmen. But after a decade in Washington, idealism has faded to disillusionment, and they're bored. Then one of them finds out about the clandestine Zero Game. It starts out as good fun - a simple wager between friends. But when someone close to them ends up dead, Harris and Matthew realise the game is far more sinister than they ever imagined - and that they're about to be the game's next victims. On the run, they turn to the only person they can trust: a sixteen-year-old Senate page who can move around the Capitol undetected. As a ruthless killer creeps closer, this idealistic page no only holds the key to saving their lives, but is also determined to redeem them in the process. Come play the Zero Game - you can bet your life on it...

Two brothers, one an executive at a bank and the other in an entry-level position, hatch a plot to steal three million dollars. Using a sophisticated computer program, they plan to transfer the money into an account only they can access. But after the transaction has been completed, they quickly realize that rather than three million dollars, they stole three hundred million. The secret service are called in to investigate and Charlie and Oliver soon find themselves on the run not only from the law, but from the people they stole the money from. Using technology to alter their identity and conceal their personal records, the people hunting them down use the same technology to track their whereabouts. It's a high-speed game of cat and mouse, filled with twists and turns that are sure to have readers racing to the last page.

JFK Jr. was Lark. Amy Carter was Dynamo. Chelsea Clinton was Energy. Meet Shadow." Shadow" is the Secret Service codename for the First Daughter, Nora Hartson. And when she starts dating young White House lawyer Michael Garrick, he starts feeling like the First Counsel. That's what happens to everyone who lives in her world. It's a world all of us have heard about, but none of us truly know - a world where your dad's the President, your close friends wear earpieces and carry guns and a world where everyone is watching. On a date, Nora and Michael see something they shouldn't. To protect her, he admits to something he shouldn't. And when the problem snowballs out of control, she may have to do something she shouldn't. The First Counsel. The President's Daughter. You've never dated anyone like this.

Sara Tate is a prosecuting attorney with the Manhattan DA's office; her husband, Jared Lynch, a rising star in a Wall Street Law firm. They have a wonderful, happy, high-spirited, non-competitive marriage - until they accidentally find themselves on opposite sides of the courtroom, and their relationship starts to fall apart. Worse, they are threatened by interested parties on each side of the case. The result is obvious: one of them will lose. The other one will die.

A Washington-based thriller about four ambitious twentysomething housemates, fresh out of college, eager to make their mark in their chosen careers. When one of them, Ben Addison, is tricked into leaking a Supreme Court decision on an important corporate merger in advance, he lands them all in big trouble. They resolve to get even with the man who set Ben up. But is there a traitor in the camp?

Dive deeper into the Ghost Machine world with the official guidebook! How old is the immortal Redcoat? What’s the Trillion Dollar Kid’s true worth? What Wardens are about to debut on Exodus? What’s the Scorekeeper of Hyde Street really keeping count of? In this expanded edition, get all the info on Ghost Machine’s iconic characters and creations as well as all-new, updated entries from the worlds of GEIGER, REDCOAT, ROOK: EXODUS, THE ROCKETFELLERS, HORNSBY & HALO and HYDE STREET. Including over a dozen new entries for characters you’ll be collecting for years to come.

Beloved for her compassion and grace, Princess Diana joins the other heroes in this New York Times bestselling Ordinary People Change the World picture book biography series, for ages 5 to 9. Diana Spencer's life seemed like a fairy tale, especially when she married the future king of England and became an actual princess. But in reality, things were difficult from a very young age. What kept Diana strong were her love for her sons and her belief in kindness and giving. Her hard work on behalf of so many suffering people around the world will be forever remembered. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are: A timeline of key events in the hero's history Photos that bring the story more fully to life Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorableChildhood moments that influenced the heroes Facts that make great conversation-starters A virtue these heroes embody: This book highlights Diana's empathy and her generosity toward strangers. You'll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series

New York Times bestselling authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch adapt their instant bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, for young readers to bring them the heart-pounding story of the assassination plot that nearly changed the course of history. It's 1943. Nazi Germany and its Axis power allies are ravaging Europe and the Pacific with a terrible war. At this juncture, President Franklin Roosevelt has one critical goal: a face-to-face meeting with his allies, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The first ever meeting of the "Big Three" is set to take place in Tehran, Iran, where the leaders of the three great superpowers will discuss and decide on some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. But when the Nazis learn about the meeting, they form their own secret, deadly plan: an assassination plot that would forever change history...if they're successful. This riveting true story, filled with daring rescues and high stakes intrigue, explains how this pivotal meeting in Tehran changed the course of World War II, and how the Nazi conspiracy to assassinate the Allied leaders nearly led to world-shattering disaster. Renowned authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch bring their New York Times bestseller, The Nazi Conspiracy, to young readers for the first time with this action-packed page-turner that offers an informative overview of World War II and details the heart-pounding true story of the Nazi plot to assassinate Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill at the height of World War II. Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills, so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.