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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | 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 49 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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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.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Did not live up to my expectationsNov 28, 2009
As in Smith's debut novel "Child 44" this sequel is fast paced with a very intricate plot; at times the gripping action is so continuous it's almost non stop. Although "Child 44" lays the ground work and provides important historical facts and information about the characters, "The Secret Speech" can be read on its own. It's interesting to note that the historical basis for "The Secret Speech" is a presentation by Nikita Khrushchev given to congress on February 25, 1956 condemning the policies of Stalin and the people who enforced these policies. It is referred to as Secret because it was never officially made public until 1989 although, consensus has it that it was deliberately leaked. During this period the moral, political and legal rules of society are shifting and the consequences grave. Smith does an amazing job of making the tragedy and brutality of these turbulent times personal. However, the novel is overwhelming at times with some of the sub plots not having any real significance to the overall read; you wonder why they are necessary. The main characters are a carry over from his previous novel, but a few new to the reader are shallow and not believable (or likable). Large portions of the book are exaggerated, unnecessary back to back action scenes; you feel as if the author is writing a movie script and not a book. Overall, although The Secret Speech deals with a noteworthy fascinating time in Russian history it is not as engrossing as its predecessor Child 44. A little too much unnecessary action;a few too many incredulous characters and scenes.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Back in the U.S.S.R.Nov 22, 2009
This follow-up to the grisly but involving Child 44 is considerably less lurid. It has some pulse-pounding set pieces although the plotting is somewhat overwrought and races all over the place. Perhaps because the central action doesn't revolve around the facts of an actual historical crime, as was the case in the earlier book, Smith seems a little less sure of hmself here. Still there are some powerful scenes, especially in the beginning. When the dubiously convincing villain takes center stage, things become a little less believable.
SPOILER: I must say this book cheats on a major plot point. There is a character who is believed to have died, who later reappears. That's fine, but we are told this character was buried which is not cool. The Orwellian tone of the first book is effectively conveyed, but with both tales ending on improbably happy resolutions, the tone may be getting less convincing. Also, as in the earlier book there's no physical description of the characters. For instance, we're told repeatedly how beautiful Ledov's wife is, but not at all what she looks like. A cynic might suggest this makes casting the movie easier, but I don't think that's why this skilled writer did this. But it does leave one a little frustrated.
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