Title: Literate thriller that probes contemporary Russia
Product review: I confess that I know very little about what actually is going on in Russia today, so I cannot assess whether or not Robert Harris' appraisal of conditions there is accurate. However, his fictional depiction of the enduring appeal of Stalinism as a possible threat to the (so-called) democratic reforms in Russian society is certainly provocative, and his insights into the internal workings of Stalin's mind and the terrors of his regime make for fascinating reading.There are some sections of the book that drag a bit, but overall, Harris succeeds in creating a slow buildup of tension that keeps the reader turning the pages right up until the final sentence. His depiction of his characters and of geographical locations is skillful and convincing, and overall, the book is impressively well-written. For people interested in historical fiction related to Soviet and Russian history, this book definitely makes for a fine "summer read."
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