The Biblio Blogazine

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Thriller, 436 pages
Grand Central Publishing

FTC Disclaimer: Purchased with my own money.

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When I think of the thriller genre, this book will become an example I point to as good one.

This author keeps it simple, and I like it. There is no extraneous writing. The pace is brisk, the story enthralling, and several of the sub-plots are just as good as the main one.

Initially, when I think “thriller”, I think of action, but what Smith offers is much more. Child 44 brings forth the trials and tribulations of relationships. It’s tough enough working through these interactions normally, but when set against a society caught up in tremendous upheaval, they stand out more as the forces working against them from the outside are just as powerful as the ones coming from within.

In the pursuit of a killer, one hundred and fifty men would lose their lives, if not literally, then on every other level – they’d lose their families, their homes. And she realized, seeing her husband’s hunched shoulders and drawn face, that he never did anything without believing in it. There was nothing cynical or calculating abut him. If this was true then he must also have believed in their marriage: he must have believed it was built on love. Steadily all the fantasies he’d created – about the State, about their relationship – had been shattered . . . She stepped forward, sitting beside him on the bed. Tentatively, she took his hand. Surprised, he looked at her but said nothing, accepting the gesture. And together they watched as the snow began to melt.

There are twists and turns in this novel, as there should be. Some are predictable. However the way they’re presented, and timed, you forgive the writer. I wasn’t kidding about my reading this quickly. I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to get to the end as soon as I could. My advice? Don’t start this book before you go to bed.

His follow-up, The Secret Speech is just as good, and I hear there is a third book coming. I don’t pre-order many books, but I will for A New World.

A definite recommendation!

The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith
ISBN13: 9780446402415
Fiction/Thriller, 440 pages
Grand Central Publishing
an imprint of Hachette Book Group

FTC Disclaimer: Book courtesy of the publisher

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Book summary from publisher’s website:

Soviet Union, 1956. Stalin is dead, and a violent regime is beginning to fracture-leaving behind a society where the police are the criminals, and the criminals are innocent. A secret speech composed by Stalin’s successor Khrushchev is distributed to the entire nation. Its message: Stalin was a tyrant. Its promise: The Soviet Union will change.

Facing his own personal turmoil, former state security officer Leo Demidov is also struggling to change. The two young girls he and his wife Raisa adopted have yet to forgive him for his part in the death of their parents. They are not alone. Now that the truth is out, Leo, Raisa, and their family are in grave danger from someone consumed by the dark legacy of Leo’s past career. Someone transformed beyond recognition into the perfect model of vengeance.

I had Child 44 on my wish list for a long time. I knew it must be a good book, because until recently, I’d never come across it at the library bookstore.

Lo and behold, during the last library sale, I found a copy. Hardcover too.

I was beyond excited and did a fairly good job of scaring a few of the other customers who were standing a little too close when I grabbed said book off the shelf and began jumping up and down exclaiming, “Yes!”

Why the strong reaction?

Besides it being on my list forever and a day, I had just finished reading Child 44’s follow up, The Secret Speech.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a sequel as much as it is another part of Leo’s life, and past, that the author is sharing. You don’t need to read Child 44 to understand Secret Speech. I love it when an author does such a good job on the new plot, that each book in a series can easily stand on their own – and Smith earned my adoration for doing just that.

There were times when his introduction of newer characters, especially minor ones,  could be construed as a merely the insertion of a character study, they were so descriptive, offering everything about them all at once.

But it worked. Each was readable and interesting and fit within the story.

To say this is a page turner doesn’t seem to be enough. Let’s put it this way, the first break I took from reading had me at about 100 pages. It didn’t feel like I’d read that much. And I couldn’t wait to get back to it.

The pace was one where I felt pulled along by the events happening, wanting to know how it all turned out. It was intense. There were a few times I had to re-read sections because I caught myself reading too quickly through a passage. I just couldn’t stop myself.

The theme of this book, to me, was that nothing is at it seems. Even ourselves. Time changes memories and people. Sometimes they come full circle, sometimes one-hundred eighty degrees.

What was bad is now good. What was good is now evil. And many times, some feel caught in the middle, travelling between both, doing what they can to survive.

How do you live with yourself? How do you justify what you have done, and what you will do given the chance to change?

Can you change? Or are you condemned to remain as you are because no one will allow you redemption or forgive you? Even if they forgive you, can you forgive yourself?

Yes, that is a lot of questions.

But if I answer them, or explain them, I will give away too much.

Plus, these are what came to me while reading. How you perceive and judge Smith’s theme and plot should be based on your own opinion.

In offering mine, all I can tell you is that I highly recommend this book. In fact I have. To anyone who I know is a reader, loves thrillers, and doesn’t mind my gushing about how much I enjoyed this novel.

Before the third one comes out (titled A New World), I do need to read the first.

And I will. I just need to find the right weekend as I have a feeling once I pick it up and start reading, not much will get in the way of me stopping until I’ve read it all.

Tom Rob Smith has earned a spot on my favorite authors list. Not an easy feat. Well done!

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The author can be found on his website at www.TomRobSmith.com and as @tomrobsmith on Twitter.
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