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The Child Thief
Luka is a war veteran who now wants only to have a quiet life with his family. His village has, so far, remained hidden from the advancing Soviet brutality. But everything changes the day the stranger arrives, pulling a sled bearing a terrible cargo.When the villagers' fear turns deadly, they think they have saved themselves. But their anger has cursed them: in the chaos, a little girl has vanished. Luka is the only man with the skills to find who could have stolen a child in these frozen lands--and besides, the missing girl is best friend to Luka's daughter, and he swears he will find her.Together with his sons, Luka sets out in pursuit across lands ravaged by war and gripped by treachery.Soon they realize that the man they are tracking is no ordinary criminal, but a skillful hunter with the child as the bait in his twisted game. It will take all of Luka's strength to battle the harshest of conditions, and all of his wit to stay a step ahead of Soviet authorities. And though his toughest enemy is the man he tracks, his strongest bond is a promise to his family back home.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2012
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3276 people want to read
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Dan Smith
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
December 3, 2025
Picture this... A small village in Ukraine is buried in white frost. But there is no Santa Claus. The scenery around Vyriv consists of a white forest, snow-covered meadows, and more of nature. Temperatures are well below zero, and your trousers are probably too wet. Your beard is perhaps flaky with ice, and your face frozen into a semi-permanent scowl. You're likely to catch a cold if you're not accustomed to this biting winter, and I'm sure I would. Suddenly, a lone man dragging a sledge appears against the stretched white backdrop. Some time later, someone is kidnapped, and Luka, a sharpshooter, tries to rescue them. What follows is a duel of sniper shots and a one-on-one match of the best sniper. There are no trophies or medals of bravery, though. The winner gets to live.
The novel is set years before the Second World War, so there's no fear of another world war breaking out, yet. Technology does not influence the journey, as there are no smartphones or GPS. There's just the shadow of communism spreading as the Red Army marches on.
There are elements of PTSD and sharp bursts of action. It was more enjoyable the second time I read this. I read this in 2021 and recall enjoying it. Recently, I came across this book and found it important, so I revisited it.
Not sure if any of you have ever watched Enemy at the Gates, which stars Jude Law. The Child Thief gave me those vibes, and I did imagine a bearded Jude revisiting a sniper rifle on a mission to rescue his niece...
Who is it for? Anyone impressed by movies like Hannah, Kingsman, American Sniper and Shooter should read this book. It's an enjoyable read and the perfect time to pick it up.
I've rated this a five in 2021. Since then, I've read many classical works that, if I had to compare, would stand out better. But I dare say the five should hold up, cause this book reignited that itch to read more books about the Soviet Union. It offers little about the USSR, but whenever it hints at it, it evokes a sense of dread. A very unique thriller...
====== OLD REVIEW======
Stop what you are doing and read this book!
Forgive me for being blunt.
I had so much fun reading this book. There's so much to grasp. So much to appreciate. A mix of revenge, PTSD, sharpshooting and incredible action scenes.
The novel is set years before the Second World War, so there's no fear of another world war breaking out, yet. Technology does not influence the journey, as there are no smartphones or GPS. There's just the shadow of communism spreading as the Red Army marches on.
There are elements of PTSD and sharp bursts of action. It was more enjoyable the second time I read this. I read this in 2021 and recall enjoying it. Recently, I came across this book and found it important, so I revisited it.
Not sure if any of you have ever watched Enemy at the Gates, which stars Jude Law. The Child Thief gave me those vibes, and I did imagine a bearded Jude revisiting a sniper rifle on a mission to rescue his niece...
Who is it for? Anyone impressed by movies like Hannah, Kingsman, American Sniper and Shooter should read this book. It's an enjoyable read and the perfect time to pick it up.
I've rated this a five in 2021. Since then, I've read many classical works that, if I had to compare, would stand out better. But I dare say the five should hold up, cause this book reignited that itch to read more books about the Soviet Union. It offers little about the USSR, but whenever it hints at it, it evokes a sense of dread. A very unique thriller...
====== OLD REVIEW======
Stop what you are doing and read this book!
Forgive me for being blunt.
I had so much fun reading this book. There's so much to grasp. So much to appreciate. A mix of revenge, PTSD, sharpshooting and incredible action scenes.
September 11, 2013
If you are on the hunt for a book that is sure to surprise and engross you, look no further than Dan Smith’s The Child Thief. This enthralling novel truly is breathtaking, and really demonstrates the author’s obvious gift at writing in a remarkable fashion.The Child Thief follows Ukranian Luka, a war veteran, who embarks on a life or death search for his niece, stolen from the tiny village in which their family lives. Luka travels across lands ravaged by the woes and hardships of post-October 1917 Russia, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the deranged and cannibalistic Child Thief, who is far more skilled, savage and twisted than Luka had ever dared believe.
Smith successfully captures the perilous beauty Ukranian landscape with an exceptional writing style. Although the novel’s plot focuses on his attempts to rescue Dariya and track the Child Thief across the wilderness, Smith simultaneously manages to explore various other themes – noticeably those of morals, seen specifically in a harrowing graveyard exchange and in the face of a murderous mob. By creating such an intricate and delicately woven plot, Smith also manages to address the issue of identity within Luka, who is Russian born and once fought for three separate ideologically divided armies; he also struggles to make sense of what is happening under Bolshevik rule. Smith manages to generate a believable and realistic setting by littering the text with very specific references to historical events of 1930 Russia; his stunning attention to detail really manages to transport the reader into the harsh cold with Luka. Readers will find themselves drawn into the tale, turning the pages with bated breath as they attempt to calculate what will happen – however, Smith manages to create enough plot twists to shock even the closest guesser.
The Child Thief is, hands down, a wonderful read. Dan Smith creates real, three dimensional characters with utterly believable and individual personalities. Luka’s relationships with his family are utterly heart-warming, and his tenderness towards his children manages to melt even the coldest Ukranian snow. The intricate plot, combined with the landscape that emerges as its own character is compelling, and readers will struggle to put down the book until they have turned the very last page – and even then, they are likely to find themselves hungry for more.
Smith successfully captures the perilous beauty Ukranian landscape with an exceptional writing style. Although the novel’s plot focuses on his attempts to rescue Dariya and track the Child Thief across the wilderness, Smith simultaneously manages to explore various other themes – noticeably those of morals, seen specifically in a harrowing graveyard exchange and in the face of a murderous mob. By creating such an intricate and delicately woven plot, Smith also manages to address the issue of identity within Luka, who is Russian born and once fought for three separate ideologically divided armies; he also struggles to make sense of what is happening under Bolshevik rule. Smith manages to generate a believable and realistic setting by littering the text with very specific references to historical events of 1930 Russia; his stunning attention to detail really manages to transport the reader into the harsh cold with Luka. Readers will find themselves drawn into the tale, turning the pages with bated breath as they attempt to calculate what will happen – however, Smith manages to create enough plot twists to shock even the closest guesser.
The Child Thief is, hands down, a wonderful read. Dan Smith creates real, three dimensional characters with utterly believable and individual personalities. Luka’s relationships with his family are utterly heart-warming, and his tenderness towards his children manages to melt even the coldest Ukranian snow. The intricate plot, combined with the landscape that emerges as its own character is compelling, and readers will struggle to put down the book until they have turned the very last page – and even then, they are likely to find themselves hungry for more.
January 29, 2015
This is out of my usual genre, I normally don't choose anything that is about war or holocaust. There were parts that surrounded the Russian Purge of the 1930's that were disturbing but only a very short section that helped to set the scene surrounding the story. I connected and cared about the characters from the very beginning, and the hunt for "The Child Thief" was interesting and exciting. The mystery behind the missing child, the tempered bonding between father and sons, and the rigorous tracking, made this listen fascinating and worth the credit. Dan Smith's illustration of the Ukrainian tundra was elegant. The images he brought to mind were beautiful but at the same time harsh and unforgiving.
Bronson Pinchot's narration was genius as usual, each voice was distinct and the characters personalities were brought to the forefront. All in all this was a good listen and memorable in its uniqueness.
Bronson Pinchot's narration was genius as usual, each voice was distinct and the characters personalities were brought to the forefront. All in all this was a good listen and memorable in its uniqueness.
November 16, 2017
I was a couple of pages into this and realised I'd read it before. It's worth more than one read, so I carried on. This is a quite astonishing novel. Although the whole book is about a small band of men chasing another who has taken a child, the act of abduction is only the spark which ignites another story. This is a tale about soldiers and the political systems that fail them. In this book it's Russia in the early 19th century, but it could be any era, any system. Politics fail and men are sent to war, a country relying on men's natural aggression to save them. Then, when the wars end the same men are cast back into societies--unwanted, unrewarded and often broken. This man (we'll call him the father of the child), has spent his life fighting, first for the Tsar, then for the Red Army and so on and so on. Now, on a tiny impoverished farm in the Ukraine, barely able to feed his family, he's about to lose everything he has to yet another failed political system: communism. Before the Russians can arrive to confiscate everything he has and send him and his family to labour camps to be worked to death for the collective good, the girl is stolen. The reason why she's been taken and the discovery of who has taken her unfolds over the course of the hunt.
This novel is taut, thrilling, heartbreaking and totally unputdownable. Highly recommended either to history buffs or those who just love great storytelling.
This novel is taut, thrilling, heartbreaking and totally unputdownable. Highly recommended either to history buffs or those who just love great storytelling.
July 14, 2021
Might be the best book i read this year !
I simply can't emphasize enough what an amazing book this one is!
Brilliant writing, gripping story and characters that gets into your heart and head and does not leave.
I was literally at the edge of my seat for almost the whole read.
It's a thriller but it is also SO SO much more.
Please read it! You'll thank me!
I simply can't emphasize enough what an amazing book this one is!
Brilliant writing, gripping story and characters that gets into your heart and head and does not leave.
I was literally at the edge of my seat for almost the whole read.
It's a thriller but it is also SO SO much more.
Please read it! You'll thank me!
July 9, 2021
I admit to knowing very little about life in the Ukraine in the 1930’s......I knew that there had been oppression and harsh living conditions, but I had no idea of the atrocities inflicted on these people by the cruel and corrupt ruling regime that had the fate of these people in its hands.
As small village after small village falls into the hands of the oppressors, men who have orders to seize everything the villagers own, the people are left to starve.
As they become more and more terrified, they lose the ability to think rationally, and succumb to mob rule, with horrifying results.
In one such village, main character Luka, a veteran soldier, is one of the few to keep their heads.....and when another event shakes the village, he finds himself facing a formidable foe, as he races against time to prevent another tragedy.
This is a bleak story, set in a bleak landscape, peopled by characters who are either desperate and despairing, or cruel and inhuman......it has twists and turns, very good parts, and some parts which aren’t quite as good, and even perhaps a little unbelievable, but it kept me turning the pages to find out the fate of the good guys.
The book sent me looking for the real history of 1930’s Ukraine.....the things I found were truly horrific.......
As small village after small village falls into the hands of the oppressors, men who have orders to seize everything the villagers own, the people are left to starve.
As they become more and more terrified, they lose the ability to think rationally, and succumb to mob rule, with horrifying results.
In one such village, main character Luka, a veteran soldier, is one of the few to keep their heads.....and when another event shakes the village, he finds himself facing a formidable foe, as he races against time to prevent another tragedy.
This is a bleak story, set in a bleak landscape, peopled by characters who are either desperate and despairing, or cruel and inhuman......it has twists and turns, very good parts, and some parts which aren’t quite as good, and even perhaps a little unbelievable, but it kept me turning the pages to find out the fate of the good guys.
The book sent me looking for the real history of 1930’s Ukraine.....the things I found were truly horrific.......
November 23, 2017
Audible
Many episodes reminded me of Enemy at the Gate...
Turbulent times of a fateful and tragic historical events in Western Ukraine at the beginning of the 1930s.
Dan Smith knows exactly how to keep his readers on the edge of their seats.
For sure a thrilling and gripping story, not only for fans of historical fiction. The main figure, Luka, a veteran of the First World War and the Russian Civil War, a former solder and now a farmer, struggles to make ends meet, keep his family alive at threat of impending famine and a forced collectivization by Soviets, has to face a new unexpected danger.
I didn't expect this historical novel to turn into a brilliant thriller with a main focus on two men playing a cat-and-mouse game.
I don't know how healthy such read is for my mental condition. But I swear, I've never wanted to wiped off the face of the earth so many characters at once. (I counted at least 4 ). No, not wiped off. SLAUGHTER. If I only could!..
It is why I stay a bit reserved with my full stars rating. I just didn't buy the transformation of one of those characters at the very end. Not him. Too good to be true. But it would have been nice this way if...
The narrator, Nigel Carrington, did a good job. Highly recommended as an audiobook.
May 15, 2017
Amazing. Some of the best writing I've come across in a long time. Listened to the audiobook with my husband and he loved it as well. Excellent narrator too.
My Rating: 5 stars
His Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
His Rating: 5 stars
February 19, 2012
Reading the book synopsis you may be forgiven for thinking that this is going to be another gloomy story about war torn Russia in the middle of winter. But not so. Yes it’s a tale of an ex-soldier now a farmer, his twin sons and their search for the ‘Child Thief’ who has kidnapped his niece. But it’s heart-warming and also has twists and turns that you don’t always foresee.
Dan Smith builds the story up slowly. Yes it’s winter, it’s cold and the villagers don’t have enough to eat. But they are survivors and don’t moan about their lot. They accept it. He builds your interest in the characters, their lives, hopes and fears. You empathise with them and their way of life.
Then he introduces the Child Thief and his grim cannibalistic tendencies. This may appear gruesome, but leads to a chase across the Steppe meeting new challenges and characters along the way.
At one stage I thought I had misread something, or that Dan Smith had made an error in his story, but in good detective fashion it showed you the truth behind the tale. I don’t want to ruin the story for you though.
You may be disheartened at the start of the book by the bleakness, but by the end your faith in humanity is restored and you will be glad that you did not put it down.
Dan Smith builds the story up slowly. Yes it’s winter, it’s cold and the villagers don’t have enough to eat. But they are survivors and don’t moan about their lot. They accept it. He builds your interest in the characters, their lives, hopes and fears. You empathise with them and their way of life.
Then he introduces the Child Thief and his grim cannibalistic tendencies. This may appear gruesome, but leads to a chase across the Steppe meeting new challenges and characters along the way.
At one stage I thought I had misread something, or that Dan Smith had made an error in his story, but in good detective fashion it showed you the truth behind the tale. I don’t want to ruin the story for you though.
You may be disheartened at the start of the book by the bleakness, but by the end your faith in humanity is restored and you will be glad that you did not put it down.
July 12, 2015
Just a brilliant read. Chilling both in temperature and in subject matter. I loved Dan Smith's debut novel Dry Season and then was somewhat disappointed by his second Dark Horizons, but this is simply top drawer. Set in 1930 Stalinist Ukraine, former soldier Luka is battling not just life and the brutal, unfeeling oppression of the times but also the prejudices of his village when he brings a half dead stranger home with him from a hunting trip. When it is found that one of the two dead children of that stranger has potentially been a victim of a cannibal and Luka's young niece subsequently goes missing, he is thrust into a search and a hunt for the child thief that leads him and his two teenage sons into some of the base depths that humanity is too often capable of. It's a very dark subject but Luka and several of the supporting cast shine bright as Dan Smith pulls skilfully on the cords of tension throughout. Yep.....loved it.
August 22, 2013
Dan Smith's first fictional effort is a first-rate page turner of the highest degree that-oh God, here comes that cliche-you can't put down once you have begun. Dark, intense, poignant, this story of a former Ukranian/Russian soldier is a freaking gem. Inhaled in three days I found myself putting off tasks, skipping favorite tv shows and even laying in my lawn chair turning white fat to brown until the final page. I feel blessed to have read two amazing books by two up and coming writers (Smith and Adam Johnson, author of The Orphan Master's Son)back to back this summer and highly recommend both. I highly anticipate both of these gentlemen's next offering!!!!!
November 7, 2021
When I started this I didn't think much and almost sent it back to the library. But. I. Kept. Reading. The story just starts to grow and expand. I was unable to put it down. I have heard stories of this time and place and wanted to know more. This is a real eye opener and a history no one wants to live or hear about. My breath was taken away.
January 28, 2019
Actually 4.5 stars. What a page turner!! This book is full of surprises and keep you guessing what is going to happen next. You might be thinking that you have got the hang of it and bam.. another twist. Beautifully set and interwoven with the history of the 1930’s Ukraine. Dan Smith paints a soothing, beautiful yet haunting image of the Ukrainian landscape with his words and you feel the cold and the fear seeping in your heart as well as you read.
Brilliantly written thriller, unlike most in the genre.
Brilliantly written thriller, unlike most in the genre.
March 16, 2017
Maybe the best book I've read in 2017. There are so many twists and turns! You'll breathe a sigh of relief, and then...Oh, No...!
February 1, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a good. Certainly a brutal time in history. This fictional story had some very nasty subject matter as well. While reading, two other books came to mind. Child 44 and City of Thieves. I didn't find this story quite as engaging as Child 44 and I didn't get attached to the characters like I did in City of Thieves. Still, the descriptive writing really put you inside this bitter cold and unforgiving landscape. Other readers may not feel as disconnected to the characters because that might not be as important to them. This had a lot of talk of soldiering and war tactics. I wanted a few more feels. It is suspenseful and edge of your seat tense and I didn't see the twist coming. I will look into more by this author.
This was a good. Certainly a brutal time in history. This fictional story had some very nasty subject matter as well. While reading, two other books came to mind. Child 44 and City of Thieves. I didn't find this story quite as engaging as Child 44 and I didn't get attached to the characters like I did in City of Thieves. Still, the descriptive writing really put you inside this bitter cold and unforgiving landscape. Other readers may not feel as disconnected to the characters because that might not be as important to them. This had a lot of talk of soldiering and war tactics. I wanted a few more feels. It is suspenseful and edge of your seat tense and I didn't see the twist coming. I will look into more by this author.
March 28, 2020
I thought The Child Thief was a mystery, but it was more of an action/adventure/thriller. The setting is Ukraine in the early 1900’s – sometime after the first world war. Luka is a farmer with a loving wife, twin sons near adulthood and a young daughter. He spent years as a soldier in Russia serving many different armies. The book begins with Luka and his sons spotting a stranger pulling a sled with 2 dead children. The stranger collapses and Luka takes him home. The villagers, who are already in fear of a communist invasion, end up lynching the man. Afterward a young girl, Luka’s niece, disappears. Luka and his sons head out in the Ukraine winter to try to find her. Luka was a sharpshooter in the war and has extensive experience in survival. Luka not only has to try to outwit this person who has abducted his niece, but he also has to avoid the communist soldiers and instruct and protect his sons as they travel. This was an outstanding thriller and I also learned a lot about life in Ukraine.
September 10, 2017
The Child Thief wasn't a book I had on my TBR, I pretty much picked it at random in the library. Sometimes I'm the type of person who can get too bogged down in what I feel like I should be reading and treating my TBR list as a to-do list. So picking a book without knowing much about it and without having planned to read it for ages is something I don't do a lot. In this case it was a good decision, as The Child Thief gripped me and held my attention in a way not many books do. It's very tense and grim, but not without hope. I really enjoyed the setting and time period even though I didn't actually know a lot about either. That made it hard to follow at times, but not enough to stop me from enjoying the well-constructed plot.
March 23, 2020
4.5 stars
'When people are scared they'll do almost anything to survive'
'And it struck me that in these hard times there were small moments of kindness which lifted us above the filth and the death. With these tiny acts, we were still human, still able to have faith in one another. There was still something good left in the world.'
'There are times when no words can convey feelings. Sometimes a gesture is all that can be made, a gesture that overpowers the weakness of empty words.'
'Grief expands. If allowed, it can push out all other thought, consuming all other emotion until nothing else exists. Uncontrolled, it smothers clear thinking, can take a man close to madness.'
'When people are scared they'll do almost anything to survive'
'And it struck me that in these hard times there were small moments of kindness which lifted us above the filth and the death. With these tiny acts, we were still human, still able to have faith in one another. There was still something good left in the world.'
'There are times when no words can convey feelings. Sometimes a gesture is all that can be made, a gesture that overpowers the weakness of empty words.'
'Grief expands. If allowed, it can push out all other thought, consuming all other emotion until nothing else exists. Uncontrolled, it smothers clear thinking, can take a man close to madness.'
May 23, 2019
This was super painful. Very well written, but god it just killed me. It made me angry and sad and scared. I think this was rougher than Red Winter which is saying something, because that hurt too. I will definitely read more from this author, but I need to recover first.
June 3, 2017
A real page turner. Takes the reader to places he's never been ,with tension and suspense.
May 26, 2018
Excellent book! Kept me wanting to read more! Read it in 3 days! Great suspense and characters!
January 7, 2019
just finished this one the 7th of january 2019 monday morning just before the noon hour good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner.
January 16, 2019
Awesome writer captivating story
August 13, 2019
A novel that starts out as seeming a slow paced story about a small village where somebody finds a man with two bodies of small children. Although time seems to go slow, the chapters are well written and describe the things that happen in such a way that they keep your attention.
The further the story goes, the more special it becomes. The writer excels in something many writers dream to be able to do: discussing heavy topics between the lines of a fictional story. The effects of war on soldiers once they return home, dealing with traumas and the bond with their family. But not only that: the struggle to keep true to yourself, during and afterwards. Are we not all still humans?
The story touched me profoundly, and kept me thinking afterwards..
The further the story goes, the more special it becomes. The writer excels in something many writers dream to be able to do: discussing heavy topics between the lines of a fictional story. The effects of war on soldiers once they return home, dealing with traumas and the bond with their family. But not only that: the struggle to keep true to yourself, during and afterwards. Are we not all still humans?
The story touched me profoundly, and kept me thinking afterwards..
August 8, 2022
Une histoire construite, poignante avec beaucoup d’humanité autour de l’Ukraine de 1930
November 3, 2014
As big as my TBR is, you have to know that I'm adding to it all the time. New books are hitting shelves every week and I read your reviews. In June, Stacy (the Bookbitch), reviewed Dan Smith's The Child Thief, saying it was "Sure to appeal to fans of David Benioff and Tom Rob Smith." So of course I had to add it to my must read list!
The Child Thief was released in hardcover on June 1 from Pegasus and in e format from Open Road Media just a few days later. My recent lack of sleep offered up the perfect opportunity to jump into the e edition and so I joined Luka and his family in the Ukraine in the wee hours of the morning, instantly finding myself drawn into their story.
It is 1930 and the remote village of Vyriv waits in tense fear for the arrival of the Red Army. But it isn't one of Stalin's soldiers who breaks apart their town. It's a sick and dying man trudging through the snow. Luka and his son find the man, barely able to stand, dragging a leaden down sled. Upon examination, Luka discovers the man has been dragging the bodies of two children, one of which shows signs of unthinkable mutilation. The man is in such bad shape that there's no way for him to tell his own tale or come to his own defense so Luka, a parent and a former soldier, sets aside his suspicions for the meantime and takes the man into his own home to recover. The people of the village are not so willing to wait. When they get word of the man and the dead children, they demand immediate justice. In the wake of their actions it is discovered that one of their own has disappeared. For Luka and the people of Vyriv, the nightmare has just begun.
There's a lot going on in The Child Thief. First and foremost is the cat and mouse game between the child thief and Luka. Then you have the town's fear of the Red Army who have been seeking out small villages like theirs and enacting punishment - whether deserved or not - for crimes against the country (crimes like providing food and shelter for your family before the collective). The setting is harsh both in terms of time and locale, which adds immensely to the tension of The Child Thief.
If you enjoy fast-paced and well-plotted thrillers (historical or not), I highly recommend adding Dan Smith to your to try lists. Benioff is in my TBR as we speak, but I can confirm that comparisons to Tom Rob Smith are definitely appropriate!
The Child Thief was released in hardcover on June 1 from Pegasus and in e format from Open Road Media just a few days later. My recent lack of sleep offered up the perfect opportunity to jump into the e edition and so I joined Luka and his family in the Ukraine in the wee hours of the morning, instantly finding myself drawn into their story.
It is 1930 and the remote village of Vyriv waits in tense fear for the arrival of the Red Army. But it isn't one of Stalin's soldiers who breaks apart their town. It's a sick and dying man trudging through the snow. Luka and his son find the man, barely able to stand, dragging a leaden down sled. Upon examination, Luka discovers the man has been dragging the bodies of two children, one of which shows signs of unthinkable mutilation. The man is in such bad shape that there's no way for him to tell his own tale or come to his own defense so Luka, a parent and a former soldier, sets aside his suspicions for the meantime and takes the man into his own home to recover. The people of the village are not so willing to wait. When they get word of the man and the dead children, they demand immediate justice. In the wake of their actions it is discovered that one of their own has disappeared. For Luka and the people of Vyriv, the nightmare has just begun.
There's a lot going on in The Child Thief. First and foremost is the cat and mouse game between the child thief and Luka. Then you have the town's fear of the Red Army who have been seeking out small villages like theirs and enacting punishment - whether deserved or not - for crimes against the country (crimes like providing food and shelter for your family before the collective). The setting is harsh both in terms of time and locale, which adds immensely to the tension of The Child Thief.
If you enjoy fast-paced and well-plotted thrillers (historical or not), I highly recommend adding Dan Smith to your to try lists. Benioff is in my TBR as we speak, but I can confirm that comparisons to Tom Rob Smith are definitely appropriate!
April 13, 2022
It is winter in 1930 in Western Ukraine, and the village of Vyriv is huddled down in the cold and neverending snow, hoping that the forest and snow around them will keep them unnoticed by the Bolshevik government soldiers who are roaming the countryside seizing land and food and animals and sending the "enemies of the people" to gulags even more bleak and frozen.
Luka, a Russian veteran of three different armies from WWI and the Revolution, leaves behind his Ukrainean native wife and young daughter to take his twin sons Viktor and Petro hunting for game. What they find instead, a lone man dragging a sled behind him across the frozen ice, will bring something forbidding to the little village.
Luka and his sons bring the man home to try to help him, and shortly after a violent incident that makes Luka question himself and his fellow villagers, a young girl is taken. Luka and his sons set off into the frozen wilderness to find her and her abductor, and in this journey Viktor meets his match and also battles his own conscience.
This is one of those books that can be read just for the straightforward action and survival in a freezing wilderness, or for the more subtle layering beneath. The vulnerability and helplessness of the girl and at times her would-be rescuers mirrors the situation of Vyriv in the dangerous times of 1930 Soviet Russia. Viktor's responses and his challenger ask questions about the lingering effects of violence on soldiers who have lived through the adrenaline and excitement and terror of fighting and war and death, and what that can do years later to them. It asks what individuals can do in the face of powerful threat, and what their place is in a collective society. What do we owe others, and what do we owe to our loved ones vs helpless victims of violence? Luka's twins mirror the conflicting but also complementary characteristics of expansive compassion vs clear eyed survival and courage. Luka follows his own integrity and there is some hope at the end for us all.
Recommend for anyone who might like this contemplative novel or just enjoy the pitting of goodness vs power, man against unrelenting nature. A look into the history of Ukraine and Russia that seems very relevant today. It's a book I'm glad I read.
Luka, a Russian veteran of three different armies from WWI and the Revolution, leaves behind his Ukrainean native wife and young daughter to take his twin sons Viktor and Petro hunting for game. What they find instead, a lone man dragging a sled behind him across the frozen ice, will bring something forbidding to the little village.
Luka and his sons bring the man home to try to help him, and shortly after a violent incident that makes Luka question himself and his fellow villagers, a young girl is taken. Luka and his sons set off into the frozen wilderness to find her and her abductor, and in this journey Viktor meets his match and also battles his own conscience.
This is one of those books that can be read just for the straightforward action and survival in a freezing wilderness, or for the more subtle layering beneath. The vulnerability and helplessness of the girl and at times her would-be rescuers mirrors the situation of Vyriv in the dangerous times of 1930 Soviet Russia. Viktor's responses and his challenger ask questions about the lingering effects of violence on soldiers who have lived through the adrenaline and excitement and terror of fighting and war and death, and what that can do years later to them. It asks what individuals can do in the face of powerful threat, and what their place is in a collective society. What do we owe others, and what do we owe to our loved ones vs helpless victims of violence? Luka's twins mirror the conflicting but also complementary characteristics of expansive compassion vs clear eyed survival and courage. Luka follows his own integrity and there is some hope at the end for us all.
Recommend for anyone who might like this contemplative novel or just enjoy the pitting of goodness vs power, man against unrelenting nature. A look into the history of Ukraine and Russia that seems very relevant today. It's a book I'm glad I read.
May 28, 2012
This, Dan Smith's third novel, is a departure from him previous two books. Usually set in hot, jungle climes, 'The Child Thief' is a historical thriller set in the Ukraine in the middle of a punishing winter.
This novel follows Luca - a war veteran - who sets out to save his niece from whoever has stolen her from their small village. Combining his determination to return his niece to her home with his skills as a sharp shooter, Luca doesn't anticipate much of a battle. However, the child thief has other plans. Set to a backdrop of political suspicion and paranoia, 'The Child Thief' is a remarkable achievement: a cross between George Orwell and 'The Road'.
The description of the landscape is beautifully detailed without being unnecessary. Smith's exposition regarding the political situation is informative without being boring. This lesser-known historical conflict has some light shed on it whilst still maintaining the pace of the primary story.
Luca's story is a demonstration of how the political and the personal merge. He is determined to bring his niece back to the village but all the while he must remain aware of the possibility that, while he is away, his village may be overrun by Soviet troops, making it impossible for any of them to return home.
'The Child Thief' is a study of guilt, family, what it is to be a hero and the psychology - and after-effects - of war.
This novel is atmospheric and taut, many scenes had me holding my breath with nerves while willing the protagonist to stay alive. This is an absolutely thrilling, heart-stopping read.
This novel follows Luca - a war veteran - who sets out to save his niece from whoever has stolen her from their small village. Combining his determination to return his niece to her home with his skills as a sharp shooter, Luca doesn't anticipate much of a battle. However, the child thief has other plans. Set to a backdrop of political suspicion and paranoia, 'The Child Thief' is a remarkable achievement: a cross between George Orwell and 'The Road'.
The description of the landscape is beautifully detailed without being unnecessary. Smith's exposition regarding the political situation is informative without being boring. This lesser-known historical conflict has some light shed on it whilst still maintaining the pace of the primary story.
Luca's story is a demonstration of how the political and the personal merge. He is determined to bring his niece back to the village but all the while he must remain aware of the possibility that, while he is away, his village may be overrun by Soviet troops, making it impossible for any of them to return home.
'The Child Thief' is a study of guilt, family, what it is to be a hero and the psychology - and after-effects - of war.
This novel is atmospheric and taut, many scenes had me holding my breath with nerves while willing the protagonist to stay alive. This is an absolutely thrilling, heart-stopping read.
November 26, 2016
Dear America,
With all your faults and idiosyncrasies, you are still the best, and I am proud to be an American. So many people do not have the freedoms we have, in spite of recent declines here at home. At least we are still entitled to a fair trial. I know I know. Sometimes they aren't fair, but usually they are and for that I am grateful. Yes, I know we are the "me" generation, but there are still so many who would give you the proverbial shirt off their backs if they saw your need. We still have a military who lays its collective life on the line for my freedom on a daily basis, even in a meaningless war. Yes you aren't perfect, but thank you for being as good as you are. Thank you for not being like so many countries in this world that deprive their citizens of even their very self worth, and require them to live in constant fear. Yes, the rumor is true, America. I love you,
A (Mostly) Free Citizen
With all your faults and idiosyncrasies, you are still the best, and I am proud to be an American. So many people do not have the freedoms we have, in spite of recent declines here at home. At least we are still entitled to a fair trial. I know I know. Sometimes they aren't fair, but usually they are and for that I am grateful. Yes, I know we are the "me" generation, but there are still so many who would give you the proverbial shirt off their backs if they saw your need. We still have a military who lays its collective life on the line for my freedom on a daily basis, even in a meaningless war. Yes you aren't perfect, but thank you for being as good as you are. Thank you for not being like so many countries in this world that deprive their citizens of even their very self worth, and require them to live in constant fear. Yes, the rumor is true, America. I love you,
A (Mostly) Free Citizen
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