• The Inner Circle

  • By: Brad Meltzer
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (5,782 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Inner Circle  By  cover art

The Inner Circle

By: Brad Meltzer
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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 U.S. 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-year-old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington, hidden underneath a desk chair, Beecher and Clementine find themselves suddenly entangled in a web of deception, conspiracy, and murder.

Soon a man is dead, and Beecher is on the run as he 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 soon discovers, that some believe is worth killing for.

Gripping, fast-paced, and filled with the fascinating historical detail for which he is famous, The Inner Circle is a thrilling novel that once again proves Brad Meltzer as a brilliant author writing at the height of his craft.

©2011 Brad Meltzer (P)2011 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Meltzer has earned the right to belly up to the bar with John Grisham, Scott Turow, and David Baldacci." (People)

What listeners say about The Inner Circle

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,304
  • 4 Stars
    2,024
  • 3 Stars
    959
  • 2 Stars
    296
  • 1 Stars
    199
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,643
  • 4 Stars
    1,407
  • 3 Stars
    507
  • 2 Stars
    127
  • 1 Stars
    98
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,941
  • 4 Stars
    1,593
  • 3 Stars
    788
  • 2 Stars
    286
  • 1 Stars
    158

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW Get this book. Great plus Scott Brick

I have been an Audible customer since 2006. I have never been motivitated to leave even stars for a book. After over 400+ books I am moved to write a review for this book. This book is a real thriller in every way. You never know who the are the good guys or the bad guys. It never had slow periods. I was amazed how it managed to keep my attention througout the entire book. Scott was wonderful as always. The short chapters helped keep place on my player. I have purchased some Melzer before. I will be going back to check for more after this. Thanks Brad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

87 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

This is my first Brad Meltzer book and i am hooked. Often it takes a few chapters to capture me in an audio book, but not this one. This is the first time i listened to a book and was captivated in the first chapter. I thought Scott Brick was amazing narrator. I thought Meltzer's novels would be on the same level as Robert Littel (the company) so i was a bit disappointed. However, it takes several chapters before i am hooked into any of Robert Littell's books.

Overall, Brad Meltzer's writing reminds me of Grisham or Sidney Sheldon. easy reads, good story line, and very entertaining. It's worth the credit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

45 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

What could be better?

I was thrilled to see that one of my favorite authors was paired with one of the best narrators in the business and INNER CIRCLE didn't disappoint. This high quality production was enjoyable, entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're a fan of Brad's new show, DECODED, you'll love listening to this audiobook. More Meltzer, please!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

44 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

VERY WELL DONE

If you could sum up The Inner Circle in three words, what would they be?

DrivenThoughtful Interesting

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

All I buy books based on the reader first and the author second, I know that is strange but I have falling in love with a few more books this way and found authors like Meltzer this way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really moved me but one that stood out was when the Archivist was looking out his window that was interesting kind of an Ahhh moment. Sorry no spoilers….

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading the next installment. Funny I normally pick books based on the reader first and then the story. Scott Brick is one of the best I have heard and really look forward to his reading. Meltzer really loves history and looks at it sideways which is really interesting. It is actually really cool to learn something from a fiction book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

........Slow

+3 hours into this latest book by Brad Meltzer and I can't deal with the slow pace plus the dull main character. I think the story line has potential, I just have a hard time with the pace.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

the Inner Circle

Scott Brick and Brad Meltzer are well paired for this book. The beginning is a slow methodical process of character development. Okay, the archivist is naive, a girl is involved and so is a father figure. Traditional, comfortable and DON'T stop listening. GOOD BOOK!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A plot trying to find a story.

This sorta felt like someone conjured up a librarian and put him in the middle of a Davinci Code- x National Treasure-type tale. Oh. Wait. That's exactly what it was.

Interestingly, the plot has promise, there's lots of dialog--which is great for me since I like a lot of dialog in my novels. There's lots of great character development and lots of time, too, spent on plot development. So, what gives?

Unfortunately, I think Mr. Meltzer couldn't find the story he wanted to tell. I think, maybe he believed that a story was "in there somewhere..." If it would ONLY reveal itself... ("...It's here somewhere. Nope? Not yet. Ahh. No matter. Let's set up another scene and introduce another character. A story will turn up sooner or later... Any moment now...")

It's like that.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Good potential, way to much drama

Unfortunately this could have been a good story, even a great one. THere are some real interesting plots. But they get lost in the drama, over dramatizations. Brad stretches story line out to far and you start skipping chapters. Perhaps the abridged version is the one to read. I purchased the second book but I'm going to return it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Meltzer at his best, but unresolved questions

Brad Meltzer is one of my very favorite authors, especially when centered in and around Washington, and especially when read by Scott Brick. I highly anticipated this novel, as his last novel, an homage to his son, was the only one I was never motivated to read. This did not disappoint, with wonderful character development, intrigue, multiple plot lines, sinister politicos--but when it ended, several of those issues were left unresolved. I checked to make certain I had purchased the unabridged version, concerned too much had been edited out. But, no, it was unabridged. Perhaps he is taking a leaf or page from Steig Larssen's trilogy and intends on continuing the saga begun in this book. However; that is uncharacteristic of his writing so far. This is definitely worth the listen, and Scott Brick does his usual perfect job of characterizing each character just right. Meltzer is definitely at his best with his Washington thrillers. This is no exception.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Even real Records Managers aren't this boring.

This book is one of those books that makes you think you should quit your job and become an author. I work with real life records managers and archivists and they are way more exciting and insightful than this main character. I had to stop listening after 3 hours, and I ALWAYS finish a book. I would have rated it zero stars if I could.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful