The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch goes over an elaborate plot that if succeeded, likely would have changed the entire outcome and future of World War II. This is a great read, however, fair warning must be given. For many readers whom are already familiar with the many details surrounding World War II, this book may not offer much in terms of anything new in that area. While this book obviously goes over the Nazi’s plot to assassinate The Big Three, the majority of the chapters I felt really goes over more the plannings of Roosevelt and Churchill in convincing Stalin of having a meeting in the first place along with the usual happenings of the war itself in which many readers may already be familiar with. Therefore, for those who may already be familiar with the Tehran meeting of the Big Three and how it all came together in general, this book may not offer many new details in that area and so if you’re wanting to learn just about the conspiracy plot itself, you’d likely have to wade through information you’ve already learned elsewhere. With that being said, this book is superbly put together and offers someone like myself an awesome refresher course on World War II and of course, the conspiracy itself of which I’ve only learned of based on this book.

It bears repeating that this book and story is well researched and told. Like many other historical non-fictions, one of the best methods for telling the story from the information researched is putting it in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re watching paint dry and the best way to do that is turning the story into a thriller with all the suspense and drama that goes with it. We get that here for sure, and so it’s no surprise I found myself reading just one or two extra chapters past my bedtime.

With only so much public information available regarding the conspiracy plot itself, after having read through this book, I’m in the camp that believes that yes, the Nazi’s did plan and tried to take out the Big Three during their historic meeting in Tehran. It is for no other reason than risk vs. rewards. If the Nazi’s did indeed learn of the meeting’s time and location beforehand, it would be insane for them to not take the risk of planning an assassination, especially with what they had on the ground at the time in Tehran. The payout would have been obviously enormous, to the point that the war would likely have ended there and then with the Nazi’s as the victors. And to achieve this with only a few lives lost on their end? It’s a no-brainer.