Reviews

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

buckthorn75's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

5.0

micaiahrhysss's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

voldemin's review against another edition

5.0

Wow, dieser Plottwist! Ich habe dieses Buch schneller verschlungen als ich gedacht hätte. Klasse Geschichte, auch der historische Bezug und die Recherchearbeit sind große klasse. Ich bin sicher, dass ich den nächsten Band auch noch lesen möchte.

reaghan527's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

effiep's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nancyadelman's review against another edition

4.0

This book has been on my to be read pile for some time now, and I had largely forgotten why or when I added it. But now I can say that I have read this and it is a really great thrill ride of a book. It is about a series of child murders that are happening all across Russia. It is very fast-paced and infused with a heavy dose of paranoia common to life in the USSR during the 1950's. The story is told from the POV of Leo Demidov, a Russian officer who first notices that there are similarities between a pair of otherwise unrelated murdered chiidren. It is quite the investigation that will see him demoted, exiled and forced to question everyone and everything, including his own family. There are lots of things in this book that might upset some readers, including, but not limited to: frequent alcohol use, murders and gory descriptions, and some colorful language. I really liked this and may have to read more Russian thrillers.

bgshoes's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

njakubowski5's review against another edition

5.0

Part historical fiction, part mystery. Excellent writing. I couldn't stop listening. Real and sad and hard with a satisfying ending.

kelanth's review against another edition

4.0

Nell'unione sovietica di Stalin, il crimine non può esistere. Dunque non può esserci anche un distretto di polizia che se ne occupa; i delitti semplicemente non avvengono. Ora però dei bambini cominciano a morire. Contro le istituzioni in cui ha sempre creduto e difeso e che lo hanno trasformato come uomo, Leo decide lo stesso di investigare contro tutti, anche con chi gli sta vicino.

Una bellissima sorpresa questo libro di Tom Rob Smith, un grande esordio da cui sarà tratto un film che sperò colga appieno tutte le sfumature di questo romanzo, che non è solo thriller ma anche una ricostruzione storica dettagliata degli avvenimenti e della vita nella Russia degli anni 50 a cavallo della morte di Stalin e dei suoi anni di terrore.

La narrazione è vibrante, veloce, tesa e con vari colpi di scena che accompagnano il lettore per tutta la storia.

Un bellissimo romanzo che mette a nudo le anime degli uomini costretti a "sopravvivere" in determinate situazioni. Rende bene l'asfissia del Pensiero di Stato. Bella la storia, bella l'ambientazione. Personaggi solidi e ben costruiti, risulta particolarmente sorprendente che si tratti di un'opera prima. Colpisce l'ingegnoso colpo di scena finale.

Lo consiglio caldamente a tutti e per quanto mi riguarda non resta che attendere il prossimo.

danpeachey's review

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5