Learn more
These promotions will be applied to this item:
Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.
Audiobook Price: $17.05$17.05
Save: $4.06$4.06 (24%)
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Inner Circle (The Culper Ring Series, 1) Kindle Edition with Audio/Video
“The most engaging protagonist in years” from a #1 New York Times bestseller who “expertly develops the story . . . [a] surprising and satisfying” thriller (Booklist).
There are stories no one knows. Hidden stories. I love those stories. And since I work in the National Archives, I find those stories for a living.
Beecher White, a young archivist, spends his days working with the most important documents of the US government. He has always been the keeper of other people's stories, never a part of the story himself . . . Until now.
When Clementine Kaye, Beecher's first childhood crush, shows up at the National Archives asking for his help tracking down her long-lost father, Beecher tries to impress her by showing her the secret vault where the President of the United States privately reviews classified documents. After they accidentally happen upon a priceless artifact—a 200 hundred-year-old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington—Beecher and Clementine are suddenly entangled in a web of deception, conspiracy, and murder.
Soon a man is dead, and Beecher races to learn the truth behind this mysterious national treasure. His search will lead him to discover a coded and ingenious puzzle that conceals a disturbing secret from the founding of our nation. It is a secret, Beecher discovers, that some believe is worth killing for.
Gripping and filled with fascinating historical detail, The Inner Circle is a thrilling novel that once again proves Brad Meltzer as a brilliant author writing at the height of his craft.
"Meltzer has earned the right to belly up to the bar with John Grisham, Scott Turow, and David Baldacci." —People
"Meltzer is so good." —Entertainment Weekly
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGrand Central Publishing
- Publication dateMarch 12, 2013
- File size65.6 MB
- Due to large size of this book, please connect your device to WiFi to download.
- Audio/Video content is available on Fire tablets (except Kindle Fire 1st Generation) and iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$23.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Review
"Meltzer is so good." (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY )
"Meet the next John Grisham." (MIAMI HERALD )
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B004GUT1LO
- Publisher : Grand Central Publishing (March 12, 2013)
- Publication date : March 12, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 65.6 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 465 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0446577898
- Best Sellers Rank: #235,016 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #777 in Political Thrillers & Suspense
- #1,337 in Conspiracy Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #2,911 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and nine other bestselling thrillers including The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, and The President’s Shadow. His most recent book, The Escape Artist, debuted at #1 on the bestseller list. His non-fiction book, The First Conspiracy, is about a real life secret plot to kill George Washington and is out now. And his upcoming book is The Lincoln Conspiracy, about a FIRST secret plot to kill Abraham Lincoln.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History on H2 and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.
Brad is also responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Using his TV show, Brad Meltzer's Lost History, he told the story of the missing flag and asked Americans for their help in returning it. Four days later, a former Marine walked into a fire station in Everett, Washington, said he saw Meltzer's TV show, and now wanted to return the flag. Meltzer recently unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here.
For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.
His newest thriller, The Escape Artist, introduces Nola and Zig, brand new characters in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: Nola is dead. Everyone says she's dead. But Jim "Zig" Zigarowski just found out the truth: Nola is alive. And on the run. Together, Nola and Zig will reveal a centuries old secret that traces back the greatest escape artist of all: Harry Houdini. The Escape Artist arrives in March 2018.
His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. The next in the series will be I am Leonardo da Vinci (April). A TV show based on the series just debuted on PBS: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.
His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.
He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all eight of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who steal money and go on the run. The Zero Game is about two Congressional staffers who are – literally – gambling on Congress. The Book of Fate, is about a young presidential aide, a crazed assassin, and the 200 year-old code created by Thomas Jefferson that ties them together. For authenticity, The Book of Fate, was researched with the help of former Presidents Clinton and Bush. The Book of Lies, is about the missing murder weapon that Cain used to kill Abel, as well as the unsolved murder of Superman creator Jerry Siegel’s father. Brad is one of the only people to interview Jerry Siegel’s family about the murder and, with his charitable site www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, has been the driving force behind the movement to repair the house where Superman was created.
His book The Inner Circle (and its sequels, The Fifth Assassin and The President’s Shadow) is based the idea that George Washington’s personal spy ring still exists today. A young archivist in the National Archives finds out the spy ring is still around. He doesn’t know who they work for — but the greatest secret of the Presidency is about to be revealed. While researching the book, former President George HW Bush also gave Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk. Oh, and yes, Brad was recruited by the Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that terrorists might attack the US.
His books have spent over a year on the bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages, from Hebrew to Bulgarian. In The Tenth Justice, the opening lines are: “Ben Addison was sweating. Like a pig.” In the Hebrew translation, it became: “Ben Addison was sweating. Like a horse.” We’re not sure if it’s a kosher thing or what!
Brad has played himself as an extra in Woody Allen’s Celebrity, co-wrote the swearing in oath for AmeriCorps, the national service program, and earned credit from Columbia Law School for writing his first book, which became The Tenth Justice. Before all of that, he got 24 rejection letters for his true first novel, which still sits on his shelf, published by Kinko’s.
Brad currently lives in Florida with his wife, who’s also an attorney.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging, with a well-paced plot that keeps twisting until the final page, and they appreciate its meticulous research and informative content. Moreover, the book holds readers' interest from beginning to end, and they consider it a great series with entertainment value. However, opinions are mixed regarding character development and pacing - while some find the characters compelling, others say they're not well developed, and while some describe it as a quick read, others find it slow.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great and fun read that doesn't disappoint.
"...A very interesting read." Read more
"...The Inner Circle is an incredibly fun, roller-coaster ride of an introduction to Meltzer's work, and I look forward to exploring his backlist --..." Read more
"...As an author, he's smart-talking heroes are fun to read, and his research is outstanding...." Read more
"...I really enjoyed it, but at times I was "bothered" by the in between text, I just wanted to get to the next twist...." Read more
Customers enjoy the plot of the book, which is well-paced and full of twists and turns that keep readers engaged until the final page.
"...If you're looking for a summer read blending history and cutthroat political intrigue, look no further...the only problem you may run into is..." Read more
"The story is great, the characters too, twists are unexpected...." Read more
"Great plot and character development. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next one. Meltzer keeps you guessing!" Read more
"...I enjoyed reading it I felt that it was kind of dry in the department of reality and suspense...." Read more
Customers find the book highly engaging, with many noting it held their interest from beginning to end and kept them reading on and on.
"...This was a reading gamble that paid off...." Read more
"...So, I found it worth the money and time and would do it again. You just have to pay ATTENTION to this one." Read more
"...Overall, the novel started out very humdrum...." Read more
"...-paced plot full of twists and turns, this book really grabs you until the very last sentence...." Read more
Customers find the book informative and meticulously researched, with plenty of details throughout.
"...an author, he's smart-talking heroes are fun to read, and his research is outstanding...." Read more
"...a ring of security around the Presidency that gives all past and present Presidents information that they need to help them make decisions, material..." Read more
"...favorite things about Meltzer's books is that they are always meticulously researched, whether looking at an insider's view of the Supreme Court in..." Read more
"...The story in this book moved with great speed. It was a real "page turner." The writing style improved over the first book, but still is..." Read more
Customers love this series and the author's show, with one customer noting it serves as a great base for the second book.
"...Read this book to find out. While it's part of a series, it is a stand alone book. You won't be disappointed." Read more
"...This is one of his best books to date...." Read more
"...and all the twists and turns built up the adrenaline, the author delivered the goods and neatly set the reader up for the continuation of this series..." Read more
"...The premise of Archivist as Hero is intriguing. This is the first book in a series, and it is always interesting to me to see how a character starts..." Read more
Customers find the book entertaining and exciting, with one mentioning it's fun to read about the underground caves.
"...This is entertaining, escapist fiction that should drive anyone who finds themselves intrigued by what they find within its pages to their history..." Read more
"...Sure, it's fiction. But it's still fun to read about the underground caves in Pennsylvania where archival documents are stored, and how the..." Read more
"I read Brad's Escape Artist which was intriguing and exciting. A very fun read. Fabulous...." Read more
"...I cannot disagree more. It's fast moving and exciting. Give it a try, you'll have fun." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them compelling and easy to follow, while others note they are not well developed and difficult to follow.
"The story is great, the characters too, twists are unexpected...." Read more
"...The characters needed more development at times and we didn't get that...." Read more
"Great plot and character development. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next one. Meltzer keeps you guessing!" Read more
"Beecher character gave me anxiety, his train of thought was chaotic, I am not sure I can say I enjoyed the character." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it a quick and fast read, while others note that the story starts off too slow.
"...I gave the story a four star rating but really it’s a weak 3.5 but gave the author credit for putting out a solid effort...." Read more
"...It wasn't. It picked up speed and delivered a rather unexpected ending. The plot keeps the reader guessing and it certainly did...." Read more
"...But this story was slow in building up the action and thrills, which didn’t really kick in until the last quarter of the book...." Read more
"I liked this book because it kept a good pace and I loved the "inside information" feel of the story...." Read more
Reviews with images

A real storyteller
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025Just when you think you have figured out where the story is headed it takes a sharp turn and you are scratching your head. A very interesting read.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2015Working in the National Archives, surrounded by documents both anecdotal and critical to to the history of the United States, Beecher White was content to revel in his role as a guardian of history -- never a player. The past possesses a comforting finite quality, one Beecher has found himself increasingly retreating towards since the dissolution of his engagement and the future he'd thought was within his reach. Until one day, Clementine Kaye, the childhood crush he'd never been able to forget, comes whirling back into his life with the force of a hurricane. Eager to impress her and prove that he's more akin to the adventurous side of Indiana Jones than that famous fictional archaeologist's bookish and professorial "day job," he agrees to help her find her long-lost father. But a simple records request turns complicated when, on impulse, he agrees to let her in one of the top-secret vaults where high-profile guests -- in this case, the President -- can request and review documents.
But Beecher's rule-breaking impulse backfires when an accident in the vault uncovers something they were never meant to find -- a centuries-old, gutted dictionary that may have once belonged to George Washington. Washington, the founder of the legendary spy network the Culper Ring, known for hiding messages in plain sight, under the most innocuous of pretexts. But if the dictionary is a message, it raises the question of who would be trying to reach the president in one of his most secure, private locations...or, who could the president be trying to reach outside normal channels, and why? When the security guard who let him into the vault turns up dead, Beecher finds himself thrust into the fight of his life to discover the meaning behind the dictionary, uncovering a web of conspiracies and cover-ups reaching the highest levels of government. When everyone has something to lose, who can he trust...for one thing Beecher is sure of, no one can take on a sitting president and emerge unscathed...
Those who have been reading my reviews for a while may note that The Inner Circle is somewhat out of my reading norm. But having heard Brad Meltzer on the radio last week promoting the third installment of his Culper Ring series, I knew I had to check these books out. The concept sounded too irresistibly akin to the National Treasure movies, which I loved. This was a reading gamble that paid off. I cannot remember the last time I read a novel so quickly -- over the course of four days I could barely bring myself to put this book down.
The Inner Circle is a highly readable, thoroughly entertaining blend of history, mystery, and suspense. Sure, it's arguably unrealistic and convoluted, but I found myself enthralled by every twist and turn. (Though, seriously, a chapter is not two pages long. And most of these "chapters" are. But it does give you the sense that you're reading the book faster, I suppose...) If more political thrillers of this ilk were made into television shows or films I would be so there.
This is entertaining, escapist fiction that should drive anyone who finds themselves intrigued by what they find within its pages to their history books. And the best part, for me at any rate, is the sense one gets of excavating history's secrets right alongside Beecher in his adrenaline-fueled quest for the truth. Comparing this series to an Indiana Jones film feels on target, but rather than physical exploits in far-flung lands, Meltzer gives us a thirty-something, bookish hero whose most remarkable quality is arguably that he is so average. Beecher, for all his mistakes, embodies the idea that given the chance the most ordinary individual is capable of being a world-changer.
If this book has a fault, it's that it perhaps tries too hard to be clever. The puzzle Meltzer sets forth within these pages contains enough twists, turns, and red herrings to give one whiplash, and occasionally the ultra-short chapters -- including viewpoint changes and flashbacks -- make the narrative feel choppy and disconnected. That said, I still devoured every word...and any book that I literally can't put down deserves all credit for not just holding my attention but captivating it.
The Inner Circle is an incredibly fun, roller-coaster ride of an introduction to Meltzer's work, and I look forward to exploring his backlist -- especially catching up with Beecher's second and third adventures. Meltzer writes with a cinematic flair, the result a blend of NCIS-style suspense and The West Wing's political intrigue. If you're looking for a summer read blending history and cutthroat political intrigue, look no further...the only problem you may run into is finding time to sleep. :)
- Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2018I always enjoy Brad Meltzer. As an author, he's smart-talking heroes are fun to read, and his research is outstanding. In this, the beginning of a 3 book series, we're introduced to Beecher, a young man who works for the National Archives in Washington DC, and suffers from the heartache of being dumped just before his wedding. The 'wounded hero' writ large.
Beecher is thrown into the hunt for a secret group of civilians that work for the president so throughout the book, we are introduced to character after character, where we're left to guess if they are on the side of 'good' or if they are on the side of 'evil'. In this respect, the book kept me on my toes trying to figure out who to trust, on the other hand, it did get confusing trying to think back on what I knew about the characters in order to keep things straight.
While this book asked a lot of questions, it didn't answer many--it was more of a set-up for the rest of the series, which I don't mind because it was clear from the start that this book is part of a something larger.
I enjoyed it thoroughly, and bought book 2 of the series the moment I finished this one.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2011The novel revolves around a young Archivist who works at the National Archives in Washington D.C. His name is Beecher. One of his main tasks is to help people with their requests to find ancient materials that will answer questions they have about history and our government.
A further task is at times the manning of a room that the President of the United States uses for reading and studying documents that he finds interesting. The current President comes often to the National Archives, something his predecessors did not do.
One day a friend from Beecher's high school days, Clementine comes to visit him at the archives, this is after she has found him on Facebook and started a relationship back up with him. Her task is to find out who her real father is.
While they are in the stacks in the back they pass the room where the President normally works. Beecher in wanting to show off asks a friend (who is a guard) if they can open the room and show it to Clementine.
While in the room they accidentally knock over the chair that the President uses and a book falls out from a hidden compartment in the bottom of the chair. What is the book? Why is it there? What could it mean? To make matters worse, the President is on his way into the building and they need to get out of the room.
Thus starts the adventure. The book turns out to be a dictionary from George Washington's day. Someone has been tearing pages out of it. Why?
Through a strange set of circumstances it turns out that the book is part of a group called the Culper Ring. This group provides a ring of security around the Presidency that gives all past and present Presidents information that they need to help them make decisions, material that isn't filtered through the many departments of the U.S. Government. It is run by a small group of men.
But even more important this President has formed another inner ring, an inner Circle of friends who are protecting this President from people who are trying to blackmail him with information from his past.
All of this adventure is further enhanced by the fact that the Culper Ring was really started as a group of Spy's by George Washington to help win the Revolutionary War.
While there are some good points to this book and I enjoyed reading it I felt that it was kind of dry in the department of reality and suspense. The characters needed more development at times and we didn't get that. We are expected to just believe they are different and special because the author tells us so. I would have liked a bit more development of them.
I would also have liked a bit more adventure. Unfortunately it is thought that Historian's and Archivists are boring people. Frankly, I was left with the feeling that they are still boring people.
I did enjoy the story, but it didn't grab and hold my attention as other works have done.
For those nervous about the Kindle price of this book, please note that they give you a bonus, there is a second book attached. So, you are getting two for the price of the one.
Enjoy!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025The story is great, the characters too, twists are unexpected. I really enjoyed it, but at times I was "bothered" by the in between text, I just wanted to get to the next twist. But I can't wait to read the next one!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2025Excellent
- Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2025Beecher character gave me anxiety, his train of thought was chaotic, I am not sure I can say I enjoyed the character.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025Great plot and character development. I enjoyed this one and look forward to the next one. Meltzer keeps you guessing!
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on January 8, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful read
The story keeps you guessing and the characters are like people you would want to know. I can’t wait to read the next book.
- Tom Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
Great book, really clever twist and turns, thoroughly enjoyed reading this and have gone on the read the next two which are also excellent.
- Gary AndersonReviewed in Spain on July 11, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Part one of a trilogy - I can't wait for the rest
The book arrived on time and in perfect condition. I will do business with this vendor again in the future.
- Devil OnlineReviewed in India on November 1, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, and hungry for more
Book Review
The Inner Circle (Book 1: The Culper Ring Trilogy)
Author: Brad Meltzer
I became a fan of Brad Meltzer back in 2009 and had been since. Being a political thriller novelist, it's a tough game with millions of writer in this genre. Meltzer has proved himself time and again why he is the best. This time with The Culper Ring series he has strike gold once again. The premise of the books is based on a 200 year old secret organisation founded by George Washington. The developments and the narration is extremely entertaining and one sits by the edge as the adrenaline rush the pages has to offer. The modern day literature has been a boon to political writers and Meltzer has totally exploited it. The historical details and the mystery behind little things is intriguing.
This was a very intriguing plot and along the way, Mr. Meltzer discloses some very interesting historical factoids which the reader might find fascinating --- even if arcane facts is low on the reader's list of priorities. In fact, in one of Mr. Meltzer's earlier novels, he timed exactly how long it would take to run down the looong staircase at the Washington Memorial and exit through the back door. No lie, it HAD a secret back door; however, I am almost sure it no longer exists because of the security concerns and of the crack that the recent earthquake produced. Mr. Meltzer disclosed to me at the time several decades ago that he didn't want that to be public knowledge.
Overall, the novel started out very humdrum. I was thinking that this is going to be one very boring, ho hum, type of novel but I was very pleasantly surprised. It wasn't. It picked up speed and delivered a rather unexpected ending. The plot keeps the reader guessing and it certainly did. The characterization was well crafted and I could visualize each individual character as I read.
Good read. When you begin to read the novel, just have a bit of patience. Yes, there is a lull of sorts after the first character meets his demise but hang on, you are right where the author has you!!!
Devil OnlineExcellent, and hungry for more
Reviewed in India on November 1, 2018
The Inner Circle (Book 1: The Culper Ring Trilogy)
Author: Brad Meltzer
I became a fan of Brad Meltzer back in 2009 and had been since. Being a political thriller novelist, it's a tough game with millions of writer in this genre. Meltzer has proved himself time and again why he is the best. This time with The Culper Ring series he has strike gold once again. The premise of the books is based on a 200 year old secret organisation founded by George Washington. The developments and the narration is extremely entertaining and one sits by the edge as the adrenaline rush the pages has to offer. The modern day literature has been a boon to political writers and Meltzer has totally exploited it. The historical details and the mystery behind little things is intriguing.
This was a very intriguing plot and along the way, Mr. Meltzer discloses some very interesting historical factoids which the reader might find fascinating --- even if arcane facts is low on the reader's list of priorities. In fact, in one of Mr. Meltzer's earlier novels, he timed exactly how long it would take to run down the looong staircase at the Washington Memorial and exit through the back door. No lie, it HAD a secret back door; however, I am almost sure it no longer exists because of the security concerns and of the crack that the recent earthquake produced. Mr. Meltzer disclosed to me at the time several decades ago that he didn't want that to be public knowledge.
Overall, the novel started out very humdrum. I was thinking that this is going to be one very boring, ho hum, type of novel but I was very pleasantly surprised. It wasn't. It picked up speed and delivered a rather unexpected ending. The plot keeps the reader guessing and it certainly did. The characterization was well crafted and I could visualize each individual character as I read.
Good read. When you begin to read the novel, just have a bit of patience. Yes, there is a lull of sorts after the first character meets his demise but hang on, you are right where the author has you!!!
Images in this review
- RaRReviewed in Canada on October 10, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying Read
Started off slow and a bit frustratingly (annoying main character at first) but settled down nicely with subsequent good character development and a well developed plot with the requisite twists and turns. Recommended!