Child 44 Trilogy The Secret Speech, Book 2, (Paperback)

from johnthefireman

Not a pleasant book to read, but a very interesting one nonetheless. It explores the Soviet Union during the post-Stalin era and delves deeply into violence, political intrigue and manipulation, with foray into Hungary's uprising.

from caseylondon

In Smith's second novel, Khrushchev is in power and he has criticized Stalin for going too far in his purges and treatment of the citizens - hence the "Secret Speech," title. Dimidov's past work continues to haunt him and the life he has made with a wife and adopted children. This book follows a ...

from mikedraper

When Stalin died, the Soviet Union relaxed some of their iron fisted procedures. Stalin's successor, Khrushecev, distributes a secret speech saying that Stalin was a tyrant and that Russia was going to change. Before the change took place, Leo Demidov, was undercover, posing as a follower of a ma...

from DCarlin

A reasonable sequel to Child 44, although I would have liked to re-write the ending. After recently speaking to a colleague whose heritage belongs in the Ukraine, this trilogy is becoming more interesting. Fact and fiction appear to be not that far apart.

from Michael_Drysdale

This book is nowhere near the standard of his first book, Child 44. To make sense of The Secret Speech you need to read Child 44 first. But doing so will raise your expectations only for them to be dashed later. The first part of The Secret Speech describes well the confusion in the Soviet Union ...