“Child 44” by Tom Rob Smith – Law and Disorder
Even though Stalin’s Soviet Union may not have lasted a very long time, at least in comparison to other political regimes, it hasn't failed to leave quite a sizable mark on our history, mostly due to the genocide of dozens of millions of people.
Despite the fact that it was a tyrannical reign which broke the lives of countless people, it remains a somewhat fascinating look at what life would really be like should be we be subjected to the iron-fisted and law-driven rule of madman. In Child 44, Tom Rob Smith explores life in this setting through Leo Demidov, a war hero and security officer who strongly believes in the rule of law and in Stalin’s righteousness.
However, as has happened countless times, Leo Demidov finds himself on the short end of the stick when he dares to investigate into a murderer who has acted quite recently. More precisely, he gets rewarded for his service to the country by being stripped of rank, honors and privileges, after which he is of course exiled along with his wife.
However, Leo is not one to give up easily, and so he sets out on a quest, with no one else at his side but his wife, to figure out the truth behind the murders, and more importantly, the terrifying reality he has been blinded from in a country where crime, officially at least, never happens.
First of all, I have to admit that subjects pertaining to the Soviet Union in general have always fascinated me greatly, and I can assure you that this book is full of historically-accurate details and depictions of what life was like for people back then. For those who are unfamiliar with that time, or the Soviet Union in general, may have a very hard to time to believe the events happening in this book.
For instance, doesn't it seem crazy that the authorities would dismiss the deaths of multiple children as coincidences and accidents for the purpose of saving face in front of the rest of the world? Well, trust me when I say that this is exactly what the officials of the time would have acted like.
The mentality was that the government knew everything about this world, and those running it knew what was best for all people. In other words, the government was depicted as scientifically-believable God that was never wrong about anything and that would safeguard the people from all harm.
Apart from the exploration of life in Stalin’s Soviet Union, the story itself is quite captivating, although it isn't so much about the mystery as it is about Leo’s journey to confront his own values and ideals, some of which he bled and killed for.
However, if the murder mystery is what usually gets your attention, rest assured that you won’t be disappointed: the vast, white and at times seemingly uninhabited country makes for an atmospherically-chilling and captivating murder case, capturing that sense of dread, fear and hopelessness the victims feel when confronted by the killer. As you can guess, there is a mystery behind the killer; he isn’t just some random goon used for the advancement of the plot and the development of Leo’s anti-Soviet mindset.
First of all, I have to admit that subjects pertaining to the Soviet Union in general have always fascinated me greatly, and I can assure you that this book is full of historically-accurate details and depictions of what life was like for people back then. For those who are unfamiliar with that time, or the Soviet Union in general, may have a very hard to time to believe the events happening in this book.
For instance, doesn't it seem crazy that the authorities would dismiss the deaths of multiple children as coincidences and accidents for the purpose of saving face in front of the rest of the world? Well, trust me when I say that this is exactly what the officials of the time would have acted like.
The mentality was that the government knew everything about this world, and those running it knew what was best for all people. In other words, the government was depicted as scientifically-believable God that was never wrong about anything and that would safeguard the people from all harm.
Apart from the exploration of life in Stalin’s Soviet Union, the story itself is quite captivating, although it isn't so much about the mystery as it is about Leo’s journey to confront his own values and ideals, some of which he bled and killed for.
However, if the murder mystery is what usually gets your attention, rest assured that you won’t be disappointed: the vast, white and at times seemingly uninhabited country makes for an atmospherically-chilling and captivating murder case, capturing that sense of dread, fear and hopelessness the victims feel when confronted by the killer. As you can guess, there is a mystery behind the killer; he isn’t just some random goon used for the advancement of the plot and the development of Leo’s anti-Soviet mindset.
From a technical perspective, the characters are quite an impressive achievement, and the fact that they aren't exactly numerous gave the author more of a chance to develop them. At first, some of them may seem a bit wooden or lacking in personality, but over time you are led to understand where that stoicism comes from, giving you a whole new perspective on the character’s actions and motivations. All in all, it’s definitely worth a read for those interested in the Soviet Union, as well as those who like murder mysteries.
 | Tom Rob SmithTom Rob Smith is an English writer who graduated in 2001 from St John's College in Cambridge. He then received the Harper Wood Studentship for English Poetry and Literature, and once his studies were completed he became a writer and script editor. In 2008 he published his first novel, Child 44 on the morose subject of the demented Andre Chikatilo, an effort which earned him the 2008 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for best thriller of the year. |
Comments
Post a Comment