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Here is the second of what is apparently destined to be a trilogy. CHILD 44 was the first in line and made an indelible impression on this reviewer, for one - and I don’t think I was alone in that respect. Leo Demidov, principal of his own homicide investigation bureau, is, once more, the protagonist in this powerful historical novel about the crumbling of the Stalinist regime after the dictator's death and the installation of Kruschev in the top position. Raisa, Leo's wife, reluctantly fell in love with her husband in the previous book. She is unable to have children of her own, but, thanks to Leo's actions, is now adoptive mother to Zoya and Elena, children of a man for whose death Leo was responsible. Elena is happy with her new family but Zoya, a teenager, hates Leo and is determined not to change her mind about him. A secret speech, denouncing Stalinism and purportedly written by Khruschev, is circulated throughout Moscow all Russia, reaching even to Hungaryand beyond. Those who were complicit in Stalin's crimes are understandably terrified that they will be called to account. Those victimized by the Stalinist regime may come looking for revenge. Seven years ago, a priest was betrayed by a novice, "Maxim," secretly a policeman, and known to us as Leo Demidov. Now, his wife is seeking revenge and kidnaps Zoya in order to force Demidov to rescue her husband from the gulag. She blames Leo and his kind for the death of her child, as well as for the imprisonment of her husband. Leo manages to get himself imprisoned in the gulag, having gone undercover, and it only remains for him to rescue himself and the priest. As was the case with the earlier novel in the series, a considerable amount of violent action ensues. What occurs thereafter is surprising, and culminates with Leo finding himself in Budapest just in time for the Hungarian uprising. This is a truly gripping tale and exceedingly well written.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, April 2009
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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