The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington

The First Conspiracy reveals an unknown chapter of American history - a plot against George Washington during the early days of the Revolutionary War. Set in 1776 New York City, the book follows the actions of a group of conspirators who worked to undermine the Continental Army and its commander. The story tracks Washington's creation of an intelligence network to combat British spies and sympathizers, showing how this marked the beginning of American counterintelligence. Through multiple perspectives, including Washington's own writings, the narrative reconstructs the investigation into suspicious activities within the Continental Army's ranks. Drawing from historical documents and records, Meltzer lays out the complex web of Colonial-era espionage, loyalty, and betrayal against the backdrop of the American Revolution. The book details the specific security challenges faced by Washington and his inner circle during this pivotal period. The account demonstrates how the foundations of American democracy were tested before the nation even existed, highlighting themes of leadership, vigilance, and the fragility of newly-formed institutions. These elements continue to resonate with modern questions about internal threats and national security.

Readers describe this as a detailed but slow-paced historical account that reads more like a textbook than a thriller. Many note the book provides context about Colonial-era New York and Revolutionary War intelligence operations. Liked: - Well-researched with extensive source citations - Information about lesser-known historical figures - Clear explanations of 18th century American politics - Insights into Washington's character and leadership Disliked: - Repetitive content and writing style - Long setup before reaching main plot - Marketing suggests more action/drama than delivered - Too much background detail unrelated to core conspiracy "The actual conspiracy gets lost in endless scene-setting" notes one Amazon reviewer. "Expected thrilling revelations but got a history lesson instead." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (3,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) The audiobook narration by Scott Brick receives consistent praise for engagement and clarity.

1776 by David McCullough This historical narrative tracks Washington's leadership during the Revolutionary War's pivotal year through military documents and personal correspondence.

Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose The book reveals the intelligence network Washington established to gather information from British-occupied New York during the Revolutionary War.

The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki This account follows the true story of Peggy Shippen Arnold, who with her husband Benedict Arnold orchestrated one of the Revolutionary War's most infamous acts of treason.

Revolutionary: George Washington at War by Robert L. O'Connell The book examines Washington's transformation from colonial militia officer to Commander-in-Chief through military records and battlefield accounts.

George Washington's Secret Six by Don Yaeger The narrative uncovers the operations of the Culper Spy Ring, a group of civilians who gathered intelligence for Washington during the Revolutionary War.

🔷 Before becoming the Commander in Chief, George Washington created America's first spy ring while in New York City - one that would help uncover this assassination plot against him. 🔷 The conspiracy involved William Demont, Washington's own personal security guard, who secretly worked as a British informant and planned to help kidnap or kill the future president. 🔷 Thomas Hickey, another guard involved in the plot, became the first person executed for treason against what would become the United States of America. 🔷 Brad Meltzer discovered this historical event while conducting research for his thriller novels and spent over five years researching and writing this non-fiction account. 🔷 The investigation of this conspiracy led to the creation of the Committee on Conspiracies, a predecessor to modern American counterintelligence operations.