GREAT ATMOSPHERE, rather implausible ending

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	• Child 44 Tom Rob Smith Grand Central Publishing, 2008 - 448 pages average customer review:based on 109 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Four stars for atmosphere

The book starts at the height of the famine in Ukraine, and ends with the death of its instigator, the great butcher Stalin.

The plot itself is a bit humdrum, almost a bit unbelievable in the end. What I truly love about this book is the way it describes the totalitarian state. Women marry men, afraid that the alternative is a trip to the basement of the Lubyanka. Everyone's watching everyone else, all the time. Denunciation is the same as guilt, which is the same as death. Reality cannot be admitted when it conflicts with Marxist/Leninist theory. Beyond all that, there's the sheer squalor of life in Russia at the end of Stalin's life.

The plot's not all that much, but the claustrophobic atmosphere is perfeclty well done.

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GREAT ATMOSPHERE, rather implausible ending

I have to agree with some of the previous reviews: I felt that the first three quarters of this book was superb - in fact, I read it in one sitting. The writing was taught and his characters well-formed. Mr. Smith is a master of creating atmosphere, and I believe he gives the reader and accurate depiction of Stalinist Russia. But I have to say that I was disappointed by the very implausible ending. I found the "connection" between Leo and the killer rather convenient - TOO convenient - and I don't feel the author ever explained satisfactorily the motivation for the WAY in which the children were killed. I mean, WHY were the stomachs of the children removed ... and then cooked and fed to the cats?! Surely that requires more of an explanation than, "I wanted to attract your attention"!

I have other problems with the ending (too lengthy to expound on here), and so I give this book 3 (actually 3 1/2) stars: one star for each of the first three quarters of the book.

That being said, this is a writer to watch and I look forward to more books from this author.

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Russia under Stalin

In a totalitarian state, which does not recognise crimes that are not political in nature, how does one track and find a serial killer of children? That is the dilemma facing the protagonist of this extremely well-written and atmospheric novel, and it costs him, his wife and his family dearly. Despite demotion, exile to a remote part of Russia, and constant monitoring from Moscow, our hero must somehow convince others that such a monster exists, and that he needs help in getting to him, and killing him. (There's no sense in trying to "bring him to justice", because the state doesn't recognise him or his crimes). I found the action very fast paced, and the plot (with its twists) was so riveting it kept my attention. In addition to the plot, the book also gives the reader much insight into Stalist Russia, and the actions and attitudes of its people, both high officials and common folk. My one quibble was that the author felt compelled to insert a "feel good" ending into what is essentially a bleak and pessimistic book, but that's his prerogative. It didn't detract from my complete enjoyment of it.

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We will definitely read more from this guy

Imagine living in a place where love of country can easily get you killed by the people that are supposed to keep you well. Paranoia during Stalin's Soviet Union is a good thing, keeping you consistenly aware of your surroundings. Leo Demidov understands this first hand as an MGB officer. His job is to investigate any party that would contradict the State's ideology which declares that in a perfect society noone should assume anything could possibly ever be wrong with anything. Everything is perfect! Say anything to the contrary and you will be held in suspicion of being a spy. Your job is then to prove your innocence which is virtually impossible. You will be killed to protect the State. What is Leo to do when his conscience tells him a serial killer is on the loose and the victims the State says are responsible are simply scapegoats, arrested quickly to clearly illustrate what a great job the State is performing keeping everyone safe.

You must read this thriller. What a great book. 4.5 stars.

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Excellent Debut Novel

Rarely do I pick up a book that I can't put down, but this book was one of them. There were times when the story got so depressing, however, that I wanted to take a breather, but was compelled to read on. A fantastic first novel.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, page 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

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