This is an ambitious debut novel. It reads like a homage to the late John le Carré. The great le Carré didn't really hit his stride until 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold', his third novel. His debut was pale and insignificant but Helen Whitten's debut outwrites, outsmarts and outwits.
The background of the plot is the unravelling of the USSR and the chaos that followed in Russia: 'Mother' Russia, so often ruled over by untamed tyrants. The recent tragic death of Alexei Navalny is a stark reminder of just how dangerous it is to oppose the Russian regime and how topical this novel is. A prime example of how realism in fiction is often a reflection of fact.
Kate, Valentin, Anya, Lara and Tom are all pitched against the Russian baddies in a tense and riveting story which totally gripped me from beginning to end.

The story had an interesting concept, but was pretty boring throughout. I found myself having to force myself to finish the book. I felt that the basis of Kate's relationship with Valentin was not well developed- basically they has sex one night and then she was hooked on him. As a woman who is about the same as her in 5he beginning of the story, who has also gone through a divorce, I just can't connect with her. She was utterly stupid, but I suppose that was part of the point. Her being naive enough to get ensnared with Valentin. I wish there was more perspective from his side of the story, more information on the corruption and what he was really trying to expose other than just vague descriptions of how the powerful people he was working against were "bad men."
The dialogue in the story also left something to be desired as it gave no more information than what was already written surrounding the conversations of the characters. It felt redundant.
The only part I really felt connected to was when Harry got cancer because I am a cancer patient myself, and that hits home.

This was a really interesting read and i enjoyed the writing style and the storyline. Quite deep in places but i enjoyed it.

This was a very detailed and deep read that was fascinating in places. I loved the front cover too, it is stunning. I would definitely recommend reading this if you like history that happened not so long ago

As someone who was born in Soviet Union , I found myself deeply immersed in this story. The author masterfully weaves together the political and social upheaval of the Soviet Union's breakup with a heart-wrenching tale of love and sacrifice. Kate's journey, torn between her love for Valentin and her responsibilities as a mother, resonated with me on a personal level. The way the author portrays the complexities of Russian society and the struggles of those who dare to challenge the status quo struck a chord. I appreciated the nuanced exploration of the characters' motivations and the thought-provoking questions raised about the price of truth and the power of love. A gripping and emotionally charged read that left me reflecting on my own connections to Russian culture and the resilience of the human spirit.

A novel about Russia in 1990. Kate travels to Moscow as part of a literary tour where she meets a group of people who have an influence on her.

Quite a deep read in places, but a very good read with really interesting characters.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy

An interesting view on the post Berlin Wall era Russia. As someone who remembers the wall going down on tv I was intrigued by the idea of this novel.
Kate , a Londoner, travels to Moscow for a literary tour in 1990. While on tour, she meets a group of people who will influence the rest of her life, including an investigative journalist that may just end up dragging her into a real life spy novel.

The novel was a quick and easy read. Told from the viewpoints of 3 main characters. The subject matter can be heavy at times but I feel that is part of the setting and time period. All in all I found it to be something I enjoyed. I would say it is more on par as something I read when I want a bit of a sad read.

Thanks to net galley, Matador books, and Helen whitten for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.