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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.  EssexLibrary | Oct 27, 2009 |  Children are being murdered in Stalinist Russia. Officials don't want publicity and cover the murders up or disguise them as individual crimes. Officer Leo Demidov of the Ministry of State Security is a man with a conscience. One of the men in his unit tells him that the man's son has been murdered and found naked by the railroad tracks. Leo begins to investigate but is ordered to stop. Vasili Nikiyin is Leo's conneiving assistant. He'll do whatever he can to get ahead and is jealous of Leo. He manages to get Leo and his wife, Raisa, transferred to Voualsk a small town outside of Moscow. In his new location, Leo must prove himeslf and is still under skrutiny. Two children are murdered. Leo goes to his superior, Maj Kuzmin and confronts him. In Russia at this time, authorities didn't open an investigation without already having a suspect. Kuzman tells Leo he can continue to investigate but he's on his own. Between Kuzman's unofficial investigation and Leo, they find 44 children have been murdered. All of them within vicinity of the railroad tracks. Leo is making headway when he's denounced. How will Leo succeed? Will he overcome Vasili's compulsive hatred? Tom Rob Smith has written a classic, wonderful novel. Leo is one of the most sympathetic, likable characters that I've read. The critics agree. The list of awards and nominations is almost unprecedented. "Los Angeles Times" Book Award Booker Prize - Longlist "The Strand" Critics Award Anthony Award Nominee Barry Award Nominee Dilys Award Nominee Thriller Award, best 1st Novel. Run out and get a copy. You will have an unforgetable reading experience. (  ) mikedraper | Oct 7, 2009 | loved it, gripping, a genuine unputdownable, reminded me sometimes of 1984, but also lots of reflection on real historical totalitarianism ( ) twowheelsgood | Oct 6, 2009 | The synopsis of this book leads one to think it is the story of the hunt for a serial killer in Russia. It turns out that the serial killer story is of less importance than the politics and way of life in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was interesting and very depressing. It is hard to imagine living with "big brother" watching every move, every thought. Every neighbor or friend could turn on you to improve their life, even if just by getting a little more food. Even a married couple couldn't find faith or trust in each other. (  ) busyreadin | Oct 6, 2009 | A stunning book. The description of life under in Stalin's Russia is heart wrenching. The central story of the child murders is gripping, amd the plot twists in many directions. Then ending left you breathless and doesn't disappoint. (  ) PIER50 | Sep 25, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com (ISBN 0446402389, Hardcover)If all that Tom Rob Smith had done was to re-create Stalinist Russia, with all its double-speak hypocrisy, he would have written a worthwhile novel. He did so much more than that in Child 44, a frightening, chilling, almost unbelievable horror story about the very worst that Stalin's henchmen could manage. In this worker's paradise, superior in every way to the decadent West, the citizen's needs are met: health care, food, shelter, security. All one must offer in exchange are work and loyalty to the State. Leo Demidov is a believer, a former war hero who loves his country and wants only to serve it well. He puts contradictions out of his mind and carries on. Until something happens that he cannot ignore. A serial killer of children is on the loose, and the State cannot admit it.To admit that such a murderer is committing these crimes is itself a crime against the State. Instead of coming to terms with it, the State's official position is that it is merely coincidental that children have been found dead, perhaps from accidents near the railroad tracks, perhaps from a person deemed insane, or, worse still, homosexual. But why does each victim have his or her stomach excised, a string around the ankle, and a mouth full of dirt? Coincidence? Leo, in disgrace and exiled to a country village, doesn't think so. How can he prove it when he is being pursued like a common criminal himself? He and his wife, Raisa, set out to find the killer. The revelations that follow are jaw-dropping and the suspense doesn't let up. This is a debut novel worth reading. --Valerie Ryan (retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:54 -0400) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
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Leo Stepanovich Demidov is a War Hero. He is an MGB officer proud to serve Stalin and protect the State. He finds traitors and brings them to justice by any means necessary. He doesn't question his orders, he's a brave soldier, a loyal Russian, he serves the "greater good" - that of the State. But what if the State is lying? What if the State isn't protecting its people but just its power? Leo is going to find out the truth, about himself, and the State.
This novel is a nail biter! Love suspense, action, danger? Want to be dropped into the middle of a nightmare? This is the book for you, as long as you aren't squeamish. Read it and see what happens when power goes unchecked, or in Leo's case totally unrecognized. (