Audiobooks by Thomas Maier

When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys

When Lions Roar begins in the mid-1930s at Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s country estate, with new revelations surrounding a secret business deal orchestrated by Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of future American president John F. Kennedy. From London to America, these two powerful families shared an ever-widening circle of friends, lovers, and political associates—soon shattered by World War II, spying, sexual infidelity, and the tragic deaths of JFK’s sister Kathleen and his older brother Joe Jr. By the 1960s and JFK’s presidency, the Churchills and the Kennedys had overcome their bitter differences and helped to define the greatness in each other. Acclaimed biographer Thomas Maier tells this dynastic saga through fathers and their sons—and the remarkable women in their lives—providing keen insight into the Churchill and Kennedy families and the profound forces of duty, loyalty, courage, and ambition that shaped them. He explores the seismic impact of Winston Churchill on JFK and American policy, wrestling anew with the legacy of two titans of the twentieth century. Maier also delves deeply into the conflicted bond between Winston and his son Randolph and the contrasting example of patriarch Joe Kennedy, a failed politician who successfully channeled his personal ambitions to his children. By approaching these iconic figures from a new perspective, Maier not only illuminates the intricacies of this all-important cross-Atlantic allegiance but also enriches our understanding of the tumultuous time in which they lived and the world events they so greatly influenced. With deeply human portraits of these flawed but larger-than-life figures, When Lions Roar explores the special relationship between the Churchills and Kennedys, between Great Britain and the United States, highlighting all of its emotional complexity and historic significance. “Journalist Maier pieces together a multigenerational saga of two renowned families…Perhaps most pleasing is Maier’s skill at locating information about less famous individuals who played key roles in the ways the two families connected and disconnected…His research carries the book along as interesting anecdotes continue to emerge.”—Kirkus Reviews

Thomas Maier (Author), Malcolm Hillgartner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mafia Spies: The Inside Story of the CIA, Gangsters, JFK, and Castro

From the Bestselling Author and Television Producer of Masters of Sex, a True Story of Espionage and Mobsters, Based on the Never-Before-Released JFK Files, and Optioned by Warner Bros. Mafia Spies is the definitive account of America’s most remarkable espionage plots ever—with CIA agents, mob hitmen, “kompromat” sex, presidential indiscretion, and James Bond-like killing devices together in a top-secret mystery full of surprise twists and deadly intrigue. In the early 1960s, two top gangsters, Johnny Roselli and Sam Giancana, were hired by the CIA to kill Cuba’s Communist leader, Fidel Castro, only to wind up murdered themselves amidst Congressional hearings and a national debate about the JFK assassination. Mafia Spies revolves around the outlaw friendship of these two mob buddies and their fascinating world of CIA spies, fellow Mafioso in Chicago, Cuban exile commandos in Miami, beautiful Hollywood women, famous entertainers like Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack in Las Vegas, Castro’s own spies in Havana and his double agents hidden in Florida, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI snooping, and the Kennedy administration’s “Get Castro” obsession in Washington. Thomas Maier is among the first to take full advantage of the National Archives’ 2017–18 release of the long-suppressed JFK files, many of which deal with the CIA’s top secret anti-Castro operation in Florida and Cuba. With several new investigative findings, Mafia Spies is a spy exposé, murder mystery, and shocking true story that recounts America’s first foray into the assassination business, a tale with profound impact for today’s Trump era. Who killed Johnny and Sam—and why wasn’t Castro assassinated despite the CIA’s many clandestine efforts?

Thomas Maier (Author), Fred Stella (Narrator)

Audiobook

All That Glitters: Anna Wintour, Tina Brown, and the Rivalry Inside America's Richest Media Empire

The riveting account of the 1980s rivalry between superstars Anna Wintour of Vogue and Tina Brown of Vanity Fair Inside the Condé Nast magazine world, Anna Wintour and Tina Brown were bold and talented British women who fought their way to the top of a male-dominated American industry. Wintour became an icon of fashion and New York's high society, while Brown helped define the intersection between literary culture and Hollywood celebrity. They jockeyed for power in the hyper-competitive 'off with their heads' atmosphere set up by S.I Newhouse Jr. and Alex Liberman, the two men who controlled the glossy magazines that dictated how women should look, dress, and feel. Wintour and Brown challenged the old rules and made billionaire Newhouse's company internationally famous. Ultimately, one of them won in their fascinating struggle for fame and fortune during the height of New York's gilded age of print. At its heart, ALL THAT GLITTERS is a parable about the changes in America's media where corruption is sprinkled with glitter, power and glory. Originally titled Newhouse, this re-issued version will feature a brand-new introduction and afterword.

Thomas Maier (Author), Linda Henning (Narrator)

Audiobook