Amazon Product Description:

In Stalin's Soviet Union, crime does not exist. But still millions live in fear. The mere suspicion of disloyalty to the State, the wrong word at the wrong time, can send an innocent person to his execution. Officer Leo Demidov, an idealistic war hero, believes he's building a perfect society. But after witnessing the interrogation of an innocent man, his loyalty begins to waver, and when ordered to investigate his own wife, Raisa, Leo is forced to choose where his heart truly lies. Then the impossible happens. A murderer is on the loose, killing at will, and every belief Leo has ever held is shattered. Denounced by his enemies and exiled from home, with only Raisa by his side, he must risk everything to find a criminal that the State won't admit even exists. On the run, Leo soon discovers the danger isn't from the killer he is trying to catch, but from the country he is trying to protect.

About the Author:

Tom Rob Smith was born in l979 to a Swedish mother and an English father and was brought up in London where he still lives. He graduated from Cambridge in 2001 and spent a year in Italy on a creative writing scholarship. Tom has worked as a screenwriter for the past five years, including a six-month stint in Phnom Penh storylining Cambodia's first ever soap. CHILD 44 is his first novel.

What a fantastic read!! Absolutely gripping.

The setting based in Stalin's Soviet Union is a fascinating and suitably horrific backdrop for this crime thriller. The horrendous conditions and mental anguish that the general public are forced to go through on a daily basis somewhat lends itself to house the depicted brutal murders that have spanned decades. The book just got better and better as I read and I must admit I didn't guess the massive twist in the tale as my other half realised when I made gasping noises over my pint whilst reading it in the pub last night!!

A top read, highly recommended.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Hoping that Giz-Angel is at today's meet had have been reserving it for her for a very long time! It's a great book & hope she enjoys it!

Ok, so I've still had it for all this time & forgot to journal it, oops! Am really hoping to pass onto Giz-Angel at the Uncon as I know she wants to read it (if not read already) and have been waiting to give this to her for ages. x

And then it takes me a whole week to JE it - SO rubbish ;) thanks xxx

I really enjoyed this - wasn't sure at first I was going to but it's fascinating. I guessed fairly early on what the twist was but still extremely satisfying.

Going to pass this to lovepurple1 now to see what she thinks...