"Soviet intrigue...."

In this follow-up to "Child 44", which appeared last year, Leo Demidov has moved on from his career as a member of the stare security force where he was involved in numerous arrests and interrogations which he'd like to forget about.

While striving to see justice done on behalf of murder victims, Demidov is attempting to build a new life for his wife and adopted daughters but that's easier said than done.

With the Soviet Union undergoing various changes, a secret manifesto written by Stalin's successor, Khrushchev, adds to the social and political upheaval. Its message: Stalin was a tyrant and a murderer. The missive also promises the country will change and a new order is at hand.

In all the resulting turmoil some of the ghosts of Demidov's past surface. To protect his one of his loved ones (his step daughter) he'll begin an odyssey that will take Demidov from the Siberian Gulags to Budapest. It's a harrowing and dangerous journey that captures all the intrigue of the post-Stalin period and provides an unforgettable reading experience.

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted October 10, 2009