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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Kindle | Home » » The Secret Speech | | | | | | | Description: | | Tom Rob Smith-the author whose debut, Child 44, has been called "brilliant" (Chicago Tribune), "remarkable" (Newsweek) and "sensational" (Entertainment Weekly)-returns with an intense, suspenseful new novel: a story where the sins of the past threaten to destroy the present, where families must overcome unimaginable obstacles to save their loved ones, and where hope for a better tomorrow is found in the most unlikely of circumstances . . .
THE SECRET SPEECH
Soviet Union, 1956. Stalin is dead, and a violent regime is beginning to fracture-leaving behind a society where the police are the criminals, and the criminals are innocent. A secret speech composed by Stalin's successor Khrushchev is distributed to the entire nation. Its message: Stalin was a tyrant. Its promise: The Soviet Union will change.
Facing his own personal turmoil, former state security officer Leo Demidov is also struggling to change. The two young girls he and his wife Raisa adopted have yet to forgive him for his part in the death of their parents. They are not alone. Now that the truth is out, Leo, Raisa, and their family are in grave danger from someone consumed by the dark legacy of Leo's past career. Someone transformed beyond recognition into the perfect model of vengeance.
From the streets of Moscow in the throes of political upheaval, to the Siberian gulags, and to the center of the Hungarian uprising in Budapest, THE SECRET SPEECH is a breathtaking, epic novel that confirms Tom Rob Smith as one of the most exciting new authors writing today.
| | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780446402408
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Tom Rob Smith | | Hardcover:
| 416 pages | | Publisher:
| Grand Central Publishing | | Publication Date:
| May 19, 2009 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0446402400 | | Product Length:
| 9.4 inches | | Product Width:
| 6.4 inches | | Product Height:
| 1.4 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.38 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.5 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.4 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 51 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 A Terrible Letdown...Mar 13, 2010
Having very much enjoyed "Child 44", Tom Rob Smith's first novel, I very much looked forward to reading his follow-up, "The Secret Speech".
To call it disappointing would be a gross understatement. As others have said in earlier reviews, these characters bear little resemblance to those in "Child 44". Wooden and without substance they brought nothing to the table. To compound matters, not only did we have characters we couldn't empathize with but a plot (wholly beyond one's ability to buy into) which seemed as if it was written for fourth graders. (No insult intended toward elementary school attendees.)
I forced myself to read half the book but couldn't bear to turn another page.
Read at your own risk. If you cared for "Child 44" as I did, it's best to let the saga end there.
 child 44 part 2Feb 27, 2010
I loved this follow up to child 44. Great novel and great author. Can't wait for another novel from this guy.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Forget the factsFeb 03, 2010
Child 44 was "nice" in the sense of novelty. Although I had the feeling the Author have no real clue about the realities of USSR, but with this book I was certain he did not even took the time to look up basic facts. For me (as beeing a Hungarian, Budapest resident, interested in 20th century history) it was really disturbing to experience "Operehaz" written constantly instead of the proper form: "Operaház" - yes Hungarian is a language with accents if you don't use accents why try to imitate? Another sad thing was to find some names of places translated (like "Republic Square") instead using the proper form "Köztársaság tér". Except these I think the whole inclusion of the Hungarian Revolution and freedom fight was an unclear thread in the novel, I think there was no use of that at all, especially that the Author did not took the time to do proper reserach, the whole last part of the novel was based on 4-5 very popular press photos of the 1956 events (I remember at least 3 of them in my average history textbook).
The description of the events in Kolyma - that was really bad, completely in contradiction with experiences written by victims, witnesses. That part is almost science fiction of the worst kind. Sorry. A historical novel should be based on historical possibilities and facts. The events in the book is more like "Superhero enters, conquers and magically returns".
Except from the above, the book was worth of the 14 USD for the Kindle Edition, but I would not by the paperback form - that would be a serious crime against trees ...
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 weakJan 28, 2010
Child 44 was an excellent debut novel. The secret speech is a novel that started strong and morphed into a ridiculous, far-fetched mess. The characters were laughable, leaving the reader incapable of caring about the outcome. I think the author has potential based on the 1st novel, but this one is a big disappointment.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Immature workJan 08, 2010
I enjoyed reading Child 44, the author's first novel and had high expectations for this book. It was a complete disappointment. The second part of
the book that takes place in Budapest during the Soviet take-over is naive and unnecessary. I would definately not recommend this book.
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