Catherine Merridale's Moscow Underground is a masterfully crafted historical thriller that plunges readers into the treacherous world of Stalin's Moscow in 1934. Set against the backdrop of the city's new, gleaming subway construction, the novel follows Anton Belkin, a sensitive investigator caught between his perilous job and a past he's desperate to bury. When a prominent archaeologist is murdered at a subway dig site, Anton is drawn into a case that exposes the fatal grip of history on the new Soviet state.

The narrative shines as it links the physical act of digging tunnels to the political necessity of unearthing secrets and disposing of inconvenient truths. Belkin's investigation, complicated by his former lover Vika, a powerful member of the secret police, uncovers a priceless secret that could upend the fragile power dynamics of the young Soviet regime. The author creates a tense, atmospheric world where trust is a liability and survival is a daily struggle. This is a gripping, passionate, and beautifully written novel that explores the cruelty and fragility of life under tyranny, leaving readers eager to encounter Anton Belkin again.

This is a fantastically compelling dose of historical fiction. Complex and rich with detail around Moscow's fascinating past, this is a recommended read for mystery and history lovers alike.

Moscow, 1934 – a place of poverty, hunger and fear. The regime is ripping down the old and building magnificent new structures to show off their power and status. Part of this is the new Moscow Underground, currently a series of half-excavated tunnels. As they dig, teams of archaeologists are assessing anything they uncover. But when one of these archaeologists is found murdered, Anton Belkin is unofficially tasked with investigating. A boy has been arrested for the murder, but it looks like he's being made a scapegoat. Belkin's investigation will soon bring him into conflict with the feared secret police, the OGPU.

Belkin is reluctantly drawn into the investigation by a woman who was once his lover, during the civil war between the Whites and Reds after the Revolution. While I wouldn’t describe the book as dual timeline, there are chapters that take us back to that time, and Merridale shows the carnage and confusion of the war, especially in what is now Ukraine where Belkin was stationed as a medic. I felt some prior knowledge of this period was needed if the reader wanted to fully understand the historical references, though it’s really Belkin’s personal story that is important in these sections – his awakening to the use of propaganda to hide unpalatable truths, and his realisation that Vika, the woman he has fallen for, seems to be an agent of one of the secret government agencies that were springing up in the aftermath of the Revolution.

Back in the present of the 1930s, we get a picture of how the ideals of the Revolution have already been corrupted. The people are still poor and hungry, and the secret police have their tentacles everywhere, so that any expression of discontent with the regime can be dangerous, if not fatal. The OGPU, a forerunner of the KGB, are officially in charge of the investigation into the archaeologist’s death, and as Belkin’s investigations begin to suggest that corruption and cover-up are part of the story, he knows he risks putting himself in danger. Meantime his father, once a famed revolutionary artist but now disillusioned, is also coming under scrutiny from the regime.

While all of this is interesting, I felt the book was weighted too heavily in favour of the historical setting and detail at the expense of the plot, which frequently gets sidelined for quite lengthy periods. The same is true of the characterisation – the characters don't get the space to fully emerge from the background, especially in the early sections. I found myself wishing Merridale had written either a factual book or a different kind of fiction – perhaps focused on a family or group rather than on a crime. As a thriller, I found it too slow and all the history makes it very hard work to keep track of the plot.

And yet, I don’t want to be unfairly negative. There is much to admire in the book. It's well written, and the historical aspects feel entirely authentic, which is hardly surprising given that Merridale is a historian specialising in this period. I'm sure it will work well for people who are interested in knowing what life was like under Stalin in the 1930s and who don’t mind a slower pace. It's Merridale's debut in fiction and, despite my reservations, is certainly promising enough that I'll look out for more from her in the future, hoping that she finds a better balance next time between historical scene-setting and plot.

This is a title which needs attention; it’s complex, multilayered and filled with facts, intricately woven around a dual timeline. That said, it’s worth the investment if you enjoy a story with substance. Set predominantly in the time of Stalin’s Russia, a new underground system is being built in Moscow. As work is underway, an archaeologist living near the excavation is murdered and there’s an investigation led by a reluctant Anton Belkin. He’s an intriguing character; his girlfriend is in the secret police and his father was one of the avant grade elite…but times have changed under a repressive and brutal regime. Throw into this mix links to old Russia and and the tale becomes truly nuanced. I believe Catherine Merridale is an expert on Soviet history and this makes the blend of fact fascinating. At times, it can be a little overwhelming, but stick with it because it’s a clever and deftly woven story which is ultimately very satisfying. Through Anton’s eyes, the conflicts caused by the repressive regime are apparent and make this a thought provoking read. I loved the cover which reflects a number of the dual themes running through the story and I enjoyed Anton as a character. I hope there’s more.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

A complex and compelling thriller of 1930's Russia.

"Moscow Underground" opens in said city, in 1934 - and as part of the Great Plan a new subway is under construction. The first line will run through the centre of the city, but this involves massive amounts of digging and reconstruction, including the removal of large numbers of buried buildings, and will sit uncomfortably close to the Kremlin. When an archaeologist, working with the builders to ensure nothing of great value is lost, is found dead, Anton Belkin, an investigator at the Procuracy is ordered to quickly close the case, and prevent any interruptions to the forthcoming opening of the line. He is further placed under pressure by former lover VIka, who is also a key member of the secret police.

As he investigates more, Belkin uncovers a web of secrecy, conspiracy, and larceny, with key players in the cut-throat world of Stalin's Russia all fighting for power while doing all they can to thwart his investigation. Unwilling to compromise his need for justice, and drawn to the mystery of what lies beneath the streets of Moscow, his life is in constant danger.

The author of "Moscow Underground" is a renowned writer and historian. Her knowledge of Stalin's Russia is impressive, and this is clear in the first half of the book, which is dense and fact-filled, even presented within the context of the story. This makes is hard going in places, with names, places and events introduced at quite a pace, and it's only around half-way through the book that the story really takes off, as Belkin uncovers the scope and depth of the conspiracy. This expertise however, gives the book a wonderfully-realised picture of 1930's Russia - the relentless push of communism, the hypocrisy of those in power, and the almost Nazi-like push to overthrow the west.

Belkin's' back story is woven throughout the book, his own and that of his father, an artist once the darling of the revolution, but whose loudly-voiced views are now out of place in Stalin's world of rules and tyranny. This, especially, brings in to focus the pressure the people of Russia were under during the Stalin years. Belkin's history with Vika is also a heart-breaking one, again illustrating the ways in which Russia's history pulled people apart.

If you stick with it, this is an immensely satisfying story, hopefully just the first in a series. Belkin in another fractured and conflicted character who we really need to see more of.

Heartily recommended.

An interesting book set mainly in Moscow during the construction of the Moscow Underground. An enjoyable story in places but it was quite confusing at times due to the the mix of political intricacies of the various governmental departments which did detract from the story. There were times when I did not really know what was going on, but I persevered anyway as there were some interesting characters and interesting plot elements.

This is an interesting book set across two time periods - mostly just before the opening of the first Moscow underground line, with flashbacks to the period just after the revolution when the whites were at war with the reds.

The book follows the investigation of an academic who works on saving the history uncovered by the tunneling for the underground. Anton, the person responsible, is attempting to tread the fine line between warring factions in order to solve the case and survive.

It's an interesting book from a historical perspective and a nice thriller too.

Catherine Merridale’s Moscow Underground is a richly layered, ambitious novel that plunges readers into the treacherous underworld of Stalinist Moscow—both literal and political. Set against the backdrop of the 1934 construction of the Moscow Metro, the story weaves together history, intrigue, and personal reckoning with a historian’s depth and a novelist’s flair.

At its heart is Anton Belkin, a reluctant investigator tangled in a murder case that unearths more than just a body—it stirs up secrets from the revolutionary past and sets him on a collision course with forces far more dangerous than he bargained for. Merridale deftly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of a society suffocating under paranoia, while also exploring the human costs of ideological obsession. Anton’s relationship with Vika—a former lover now embedded in the secret police—adds a layer of personal tension that complements the broader political stakes.

The novel jumps between 1920 and 1934, a structure that at first feels disorienting, especially as it threads through the complex, often opaque power struggles within early Soviet security services. But this temporal duality pays off in the end. It’s a challenge, but a rewarding one, especially for readers familiar with or willing to grapple with the murkiness of Soviet history.

The political intricacies—especially the inner workings of the Procuracy, NKVD, and other factions—can be difficult to untangle, and at times slow the narrative’s momentum. Still, the book shines in its atmospheric detail and in the sheer weight of its historical insight. Merridale, as expected, brings a historian’s precision to the era, shedding light on the Red vs White civil war aftermath and the dangerous nostalgia of revolutionary dreams in a Stalinist reality.

The conclusion suggests deeper secrets and unfinished business, and one can only hope this is the beginning of a series. Anton Belkin is a compelling enough figure to merit further exploration, and Merridale has laid the groundwork for a narrative world as vast and treacherous as the Soviet Union itself.

Moscow Underground is brilliant and complex—a dark, cerebral thriller that rewards patience and close attention. While the political detail may challenge some readers, the payoff is more than worth it. Merridale has created a story where the past is never really buried, only waiting to be unearthed.

Don’t be fooled by the title - this isn’t cryptic in the least. It is indeed about the construction of the underground rail system, and the history of ancient buildings, artefacts and treasures. Anton sets out to investigate the connection of a young boy accused of a murder but this leads deeper into the politics of the period. A very confusing story unless one is familiar with Moscow’s past role in history and notable events. I found it too immersed into the history, which doubtless the author thoroughly researched, to make it an enthralling read. Not one for me, sadly.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers 4th Estate William Collins for giving me the opportunity to review.