pickAnother masterwork. A delicate combination of history events and fictional stories. Khrushchev's secret speech, the Hungarian Revolution, and a detailed description of Gulag. Stories about love fear justice freedom and humanity always leave me in tears. With all the things happened around the world, I fear history repeats itself and we're all just in the middle of it. Like William Faulkner once said,"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
pickFinished the second book in the Leo Demidov, Child 44, Trilogy. This was a tricky one to review, definitely wasn‘t as good as the first one, don‘t really think the story telling was as good! Felt quite cluttered and trying to work out what was going on, would most probably have rated it between so-so and good, however will still be moving onto the third book in the trilogy. Always spoilt a bit when you love the first book so much!
Started listening to The Secret Speech, Book 2 in the Child 44 Trilogy. I can only hope it is as good as Child 44 🤞
pickThe follow up to Child 44. This book continues the story of Leo Demidov and his family after the death of Stalin. It is well researched and well paced. Not as good as the first book, it is still a great read that leaves me looking forward to the final book in the series.
pickThis photo shows a spider wrapping up its prey. No escape.
That was the underlying feeling in this book. The author skilfully evokes the fear and claustrophobia of life in the USSR.
This book is a sequel to Child 44, and I enjoyed revisiting the characters and setting. However, I thought the narrative was sometimes rushed and that the author was trying to cram too much into the book.
I look forward to Agent 6, the final part of the trilogy.
“We‘re not protecting these papers; we‘re protecting their right to survive.”
Vancouver skyline, or this narrator sounds a little like Gru from Despicable Me
The Secret Speech | 
so-so
