They Knew

"[They Knew] is good medicine. Sarah Kendzior is not looking to entertain anyone here — the stakes are too high. And no spoonful of sugar to help it all go down—straight no chaser, blunt, to the point, looking straight at it."—John Cusack

“I am hurtling through They Knew with a wonderful mix of admiration, writerly envy, and the deep satisfaction that comes with realizing that there are good, brilliant people out there still fighting the good fight . . . It's such a relief to hear someone point out the obvious in such a clear, confident, unarguable way.”—Sebastian Junger, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Storm

“They Knew is a must read. Sarah Kendzior is like the Joan Didion of Missouri.”—Rachel Dodes, coauthor of The Memo

"An extraordinarily insightful explanation of what history will remember as our era of insanity. In a year of a lot of great books this one is outstanding. She is a brilliant writer. It’s both catharsis and vicarious vent! Essential."—Stevie Van Zandt

“From Norman Baker to Jeffrey Epstein, Iran-Contra to January 6, Sarah Kendzior’s forthcoming book, They Knew, deftly separates fact from fiction in a conspiracy-addled nation.”—Vanity Fair

“The pathos of truth-seeking left me thinking of Herman Melville. I can't remember the last time I read a book where every sentence delivered."—Timothy Snyder

"The book convenes a crucial conversation about the distinction between conspiracies and conspiracy theories—and how each term plays out in our common life . . . If "They Knew" was a concept album, it would unite multiple musical genres."—Chicago Tribune

"An eye-opening look at the forces behind those attempting to undermine democracy, create political division and protect the criminal and political elite from prosecution and responsibility. You will walk away with a greater understanding of how D.C. really works, and along with informing you, it may also scare you a little."—Town & Style

"Her writing raises points worth discussing and dissecting, in ways that can make readers stop and think and come up with conclusions that may make sense—but aren’t always easy to accept."—St-Louis Post Dispatch

"Kendzior chooses her examples of embedded crime with the skill of a brain surgeon—attempting a reverse lobotomy on a mostly comatose nation."—Wall Street on Parade

“A detailed look into both the appeal of conspiracy theories and the effects that they can have on society writ large.”—InsideHook

"Enormously powerful, clear-headed and convincing."—The Straight Dope

"A sharp dissection of a culture of lies, secrets, and conspiracies—including 'the original conspiracy theory: American exceptionalism' . . . A provocative, pointed challenge to all Americans to dig harder for the truth."—Kirkus Reviews

"Deftly dissects the tangled truths behind the conspiracies that intertwine American and international politics, business, and criminality with a style reminiscent of Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill or Bob Woodward’s recent books . . . Kendzior's compelling and urgent prose will speak to readers who are working to make sense of the current political and social landscapes."—Booklist

"Eye-opening . . . Kendzior’s deep dives into recent scandals are illuminating"—Publishers Weekly