Child 44

By Tom Rob Smith

I had my eye on this novel for about a year before I actually read it. I saw it in hardback when it first came out, but I didn't recognize the author and hadn't read any reviews. I did get the paperback at a used bookstore in Montana and was excited! I loved used book stores...I could spend hours and hours looking through the books. I didn't spend too much time in this particular store because my little sister (17 years old) was with me and she wasn't a fan. I ended up enjoying this novel given the sad nature of the story.

The story takes place in post-war Communist Russia. It doesn't exactly give you a date, but from the text I would guess 1960s. They don't mention modern technology and the main character travels by train. They do mention the war and the military has vehicles, but the date is still vague. The main character is law enforcement and stumbles upon a trail of murders that indicate a serial killer is loose in rural Russia. The government, however, refuses to admit that such atrocities are possible in their perfect society and forbids the officer from investigating the cases. The officer risks his job, family, and even his life to investigate and ends up stumbling upon a secret that involves his past. An excellent novel and I will search out more from this author.

CAUTION: Because of the nature of the novel (murder mystery) there are details to murders that might disturb some readers.

Similar Novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Length: 528

Copyright: April 2008