The JFK Conspiracy Audiobook By Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch cover art

The JFK Conspiracy

The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy—and Why It Failed

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The JFK Conspiracy

By: Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

"It's easy to understand why Brad Meltzer and many other authors love to have Scott Brick perform their work. His delivery is impassioned, impossible to ignore...impossible to turn off."—AudioFile

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration.

Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, is often ranked among Americans’ most well-liked presidents. Yet what most Americans don’t know is that JFK’s historic presidency almost ended before it began—at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite.

On December 11, 1960, shortly after Kennedy’s election and before his inauguration, a retired postal worker named Richard Pavlick waited in his car—a parked Buick—on a quiet street in Palm Beach, Florida. Pavlick knew the president-elect’s schedule. He knew when Kennedy would leave his house. He knew where Kennedy was going. From there, Pavlick had a simple plan—one that could’ve changed the course of history.

Written in the gripping style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s bestselling series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life. Meltzer and Mensch are at the top of their game with this brilliant exploration of what could’ve been for one of the most compelling leaders of the 20th century.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2025 Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch (P)2025 Macmillan Audio
Freedom & Security Intelligence & Espionage Media Studies Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State Social Sciences

Critic reviews

“This brisk and vivid history of a 1960 assassination plot has the instincts of a thriller.” —Kirkus Reviews

What listeners say about The JFK Conspiracy

Highly rated for:

Riveting Tale Meticulously Researched History Excellent Narration Little-known Story Detailed Account
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This one deserves more than five stars

I don’t say this lightly: The JFK Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer might just be the best non-fiction book I’ve ever read.

It’s packed with meticulously researched history and stories I hadn’t heard before, all perfectly woven into the bigger narrative of the little-known plot to assassinate Kennedy before his inauguration.

The audiobook narration by Scott Brick was outstanding and kept me totally immersed.

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves American history, the Kennedy family, presidential lore, or simply compelling non-fiction.

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Outstanding

Great book. The reader, Scott Brick makes it outstanding. Really enjoyed it. It listened like a mystery.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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needs a more honest, title or description

The book seems more about Clint Hill than the potential assassin. Actually, it was more about the relationship between Clint Hill and Jackie Kennedy. The subject of the book seemed to play a very minor role in the story.
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Fantastic

Meltzer does it again. A fantastic historical story. Also, narrated perfectly by the great voice of Scott Brit.

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how it held my attention the entire time,and I lived through this time in history

nothing it held attention the entire time. I love the reader he pulls you into the story

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What I didn’t know about history

I loved the story and facts I didn’t know about, one I hadn’t read in HS history books.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent and eye-opening

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch brought to us a detailed account of the Kennedy’s life with insight not previously provided.

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Performance Style

Disliked reader’s rhythm, speed and misplaced emphasis. Gritted my teeth because the story was interesting.

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Impressive writing

I really enjoyed the way the story was told, from the secret service point of view.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but filled with a lot of fluff to fill it out.

Overall the book was decent, gave you a small peak into the post election - inauguration mainly around Jackie. The core of the book surrounds a little known plot to kill Kennedy before he took office. In reality this wasn’t really a conspiracy like the title suggests but really the story of a lone man (possibly mentally ill) who convinces himself he must take action to stop JFK before he takes office. This story really only needed 2-3 chapters of a book, thus the rest of the book is filled with information/stories unrelated to this attempt, including a first person account of Dallas. If the book was longer and featured a much broader retelling of the first lady life of Jackie and her Secret Service agent then it would be a fine book. As it stands it feels like 2 separate stories mixed together to fill pages and not a focused account of either. Good for those who enjoy learning more about the Kennedy Presidency but definitely not something I’d recommend to someone with limited to no knowledge of it beforehand.

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