The Secret Plot to Save the Tsar: The Truth Behind the Romanov Mystery

by Shay McNeal

The tragic fate of the Romanovs is well on July 17, 1918, the Tsar, his wife, their four daughters and ailing heir were led down to a basement in Ekaterinburg, Russia, and murdered in cold blood by a Bolshevik firing squad. The DNA analysis and identification of the bones were the conclusive proof the world was waiting for, and the case was considered closed. Until now. Shay McNeal's controversial, groundbreaking new account challenges this accepted view. She presents convincing new scientific analysis questioning the authenticity of the "Romanov" bones and uncovers an extraordinary tale of espionage and double dealing that has been kept secret for more than eighty years. Based on extensive study of American, Allied and Bolshevik documents, including recently declassified intelligence files, McNeal reveals the existence of a shadowy group of operatives working at the highest levels of the Allied, Bolshevik and German governments to free the Imperial family and guide them to safety. Most controversially, McNeal believes that one of the plots to rescue the Tsar and his family may, possibly, have succeeded -- and she has compelling evidence to support it. Told with the pace of a thriller, this highly readable and vigorously researched book forces a dramatic reappraisal of one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century.

Genres: History, Russia, Nonfiction, Russian History, Historical, Romanovs, Royalty

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2002

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read and makes you think that some if not all the Romanovs did in face survive. It's a little hard to follow. The flow of the text seems confusing at times. It seems to jump around and I often was lost.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning of this book had a number of chapters with so many names, dates, locations, financial information etc. that I just became confused about what I was reading. It started to come together a little bit more for me when it discussed discrepancies in Yurovsky’s accounts of the events that took place on the night of the 16th and 17th of July. Then I got lost again in names etc., etc., in the last few chapters. Most frustratingly of all is that after slogging my way through it, there seems to be no conclusion as to what happened to the Tsar and his family, just more complicated information about the DNA of the bones that were located and re-buried in 1995.

[Shannon McGee · Rating 2 out of 5]

History of the Romanovs has led to many stories of their death or possible “escape”. This book researches the possibility of certain family or friends that may have planned or just had in their power to try and save the last Tsar of Russia of eminent doom.

I got about halfway through the book and I understood the author was examining plots by many people to save the Tsar. Near the end I was able to follow because some of the story was told as a story. As I discussed the book with my husband he said it sounds like a scholarly book, which I have to agree with.

Most of book is a list of names and people would, or tried to save the Tsar. The first half was more like putting a piece of furniture together. Part A agrees with part B so they try to connect with Part C and it does not come together. The second half of the book the was some familiarity as I read the last days of the Tsar and family then near the end it becomes similar to the beginning as we read about the theories of other books by other authors whether any of the family did survive.

In all the book was too impersonable. I wanted to know more what the author thought in the end. I also wish the beginning had been written in a way that connected the story together and not just a bunch of names of people I did not know, although some I did.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a little more information about the Romanovs themselves and details as to theories that one or more may have survived the assassination attempt. What this book actually consisted of was an account of theories showing that the standard account of the family being executed all at once in a basement room may not be what happened. This was a difficult read because it was so detailed and contained many, many names and dates. Not recommended for light bedtime reading.

[₵oincidental Ðandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Convoluted.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had thought this was to be about some plot or plots to rescue the Romanovs that failed. It took me about 1/3 of the way through to realize that the author was pursuing the thesis that the family was rescued, and that the coverup is what we all "know." A lot of the book is then chasing down various testimonies and pointing to the elements that don't agree, and might be part of the cover stories. I had to stop reading it as casually as I was, and pay closer attention.

By the end, I realized this was an attempt to present evidence, mostly circumstantial, to back up a 1920 book, "Rescuing the Tsar" that was suppressed.

What I did not like at all, was the absence of any analysis of the supposed end result of such a plot. If the Romanovs were rescued, why haven't they surfaced? Over nearly 100 years, not one person blabbed? Not one Romanov blurted out who they were? During the long Cold War, or the period between the wars, no one thought to try to use the Romanovs as an anti-Soviet tool? Once the Cold War was over, not one of their descendants popped up, and asked to come back, with or without royalty? Stalin spent a lot of time and effort to wipe out his enemies at home and abroad, there wasn't a hit against the family in hiding? It stretches my credulity.

[RumBelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, from the beginning had the air of conspiracy theory, which initially made me wary. I kept at it though, and in my humble view, it just got more and more elaborate and unrealistic. The theory put forth was that through the combination of a secret deal with Lenin, a discreetly built safe house, a secret tunnel under the Yekaterinburg house and many more disparate parts, the Romanovs could have been, perhaps even might have been saved. The author also calls into harsh question the bones found in the late 1990's, and the DNA tests surrounding those bones. In the end, it leaves a lot of open ended, unanswered questions and speculation, revolving around far flung theory.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out okay, but the author just did not make a compelling case and seemed as if she were grasping at straws. Plus, she never gave any concrete opinion on what happened to the family afterward, if they had been saved. Did they just quietly disappear into the woodwork? If so, where? I'd like some plausible suppositions to consider.

[Randy Ladenheim-Gil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for the portions of the book I actually read. I'm not usually the one to skip through books, but there was so much here that was tedious and not particularly interesting--and so much that really didn't have anything to do with what happened to the tsar and his family. I spent quite a bit of time wondering why McNeal wrote the book. I didn't have the sense she cared all that much about the family. Today, I discovered she's a retired American politician, and that made things come together for me. So much of what she included had to do with President Wilson and American involvement. Why would the US have cared whether the family lived or died? Or the emperor of Japan? Should I make you spend time trying to make it all the way through the tedium? Ultimate;y, I learned bits and pieces of what McNeal believes: The Romanovs' royal connections really did care about them enough to attempt to save them. It's possible the Romanovs died in 1918, or maybe later, or maybe they lived on in the East because they WERE saved. The world cared about the Romanovs and Russia because they owed them millions from WWI. The body parts that were found and examined for DNA in the last 30 or so years might or might not have belonged to them. A book published in 1920 about the rescue of the tsar might have been based in fact or might not have. Basically, everything I found compelling in this book could have been cut back to 75 pages or less. We still know don't know any more about what really happened to the family than we did 100 years ago, and why on earth would Nicholas or any of the others hidden in Ceylon or wherever after being saved?

[anne xx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The many names have been pretty confusing. I understand the author has a lot to say but I wish the facts can be laid out in a chronological and simpler way. Often I was lost in the tangle of names and places. Therefore I feel like, before approaching this book of ‘alternate history’, it is best for one to
familiarise himself of the ‘official’ version of the truth - names, dates, places - albeit taking them with a pinch of salt. But of course, I appreciate the author’s enormous effort and determination to pursue the truth through digging into archives. This book has succeeded in persuading me to believe to cease believing the official portrayal of the Tsar’s fate given in traditional history, and has cemented in me a ray of believing in a better outcome, despite that the truth would never be revealed.

[Pamela Stadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some points she makes are interesting; however, I feel these points are not validated. It's difficult to accept that evil things do happen: we like the idea that, hopefully, the Romanovs escaped in the night. I think they were indeed murdered that night and that the two accounts, outlined in the book, are accurate.

[Lexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book felt unfinished. I wish the author would have expanded on some points more to build a stronger case. It was super hard to follow along and there wasn’t any strong evidence in the book. I think everyone wants to believe they weren’t all brutally murdered but there’s not enough evidence in this book to suggest otherwise. But some interesting plots.

[Lorraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned at 50%. I just can't force myself to finish the rest. It's as dry as dust and I'm not in the mood for this particular conspiracy theory.

[Jaina Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I have to say that after reading a large number of Romanov books I'm getting kind of tired of seeing the same three pictures on the cover of every single book. I guess there aren't many options, but it's still not exactly scintillating to see the same color-enhanced formal photo over and over again.

As to the book itself, I was initially really excited to read about a new theory revolving around the escape of the Romanovs. After the first few chapters my enthusiasm spiralled downward, however, as I realized that this is just one long (and I mean long description of every single person/spy/coincidence that implied there was a plot masterminded by the king of England to rescue the Romanovs. I very much agree with McNeal that it's extremely likely that this plot really existed, but there's no proof of its success and . . . well, the entire book reads like a conspiracy theory. Because that's what it is. And even if I halfway agree with this particular theory, it still just felt like I was being put through some crazy mental gymnastics. The dreamer in me would like to imagine that the plot was successful, but I doubt that the plot - even though it probably existed - actually succeeded.

[Peter Gramercy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years I have read a number of books about Russian history and particularly on the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Recently I read this book and was impressed by the wealth of information and detail about the end of the Romanovs and about the various efforts to retrieve the family. Incidentally, it covers the events not just in Russia but also the other allies' activities surrounding the last days of the Romanovs. I recommend it for students of Russian history because it contains names and events that they would not necessarily have heard about in the past. If you are new to this story you may have to persevere because it is not a surface account. But it is a fascinating and illuminating book that added a great deal to my knowledge of events in Russia we don't always hear about. I like the fact that she does not conclude that the Imperial Family survived or died. She alllows you to decide based on the additional facts she brought to light.

[Diana K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot, the subject matter, and the context of this book were terrific. I do fairly enjoy reading historical novels and nonfiction ones like this, especially ones with such rich culture and backstory. The only downside of this novel was the author's writing style. Sometimes sentences wouldn't flow as easily as they could have and the writing itself was a bit difficult to follow. I remember starting this book when I was younger and totally invested in the Romanov murder, but because of the complexity of the writing style - I couldn't get through it. Though my comprehension has sky rocketed from then to now, this novel was still a little stiff to read.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shay McNeal provides a convincing argument regarding the execution of the Romanoff family. Evidence is not what it may seem.

My surprise was the apparent or alleged participation from the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada as well as other countries in the world.

Although, I still believe that the family met an untimely and horrible end, I do believe that the original date of their demise may be manufactured by the Russian Government.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less a history book and more a thesis. Shay McNeal is trying to prove her theory that some of the Romanovs did, in fact, survive, and it was in part because of the Secret Plot to Save the Tsar. Interesting, but I don't believe it.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really have enjoyed the synopsis of Ms. Mcneal's wonderful book. I hope soon to actually get my hands on the book. She makes many good points and statements that do suggest that in no way is the story and mystery of the Summer of 1918 finished...

[Leslie Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really a 3.5 it was a great read till the last 3 mini chapters where the author I think got lost in all her revisions.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book along with Nicholas and Alexandra , Reading N AND A. First.

[Grey Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent tour de force