Master of Deceit

“A masterpiece of historical narrative, with the momentum of a thrilling novel and the historical detail of the best nonfiction.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In this unsparing exploration of one of the most powerful Americans of the twentieth century, Sibert Medalist Marc Aronson unmasks the man behind the Federal Bureau of Investigation — his tangled family history and personal relationships; his own need for secrecy, deceit, and control; and the broad trends in American society that shaped his world. Hoover may have given America the security it wanted, but the secrets he knew gave him — and the Bureau — all the power he wanted. Using photographs, cartoons, movie posters, and FBI transcripts, Master of Deceit gives readers the necessary evidence to make their own conclusions. Back matter includes an epilogue, an author’s note, source notes, a bibliography, and an index.