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Leo Demidov #1-2
Criança 44 / O Discurso Secreto
CHILD 44:
A relentless page-turner.
A terrifying evocation of a paranoid world where no one can be trusted.
A surprising, unexpected story of love and family, of hope and resilience.
CHILD 44 is a thriller unlike any you have ever read.
Stalin's Soviet Union is an official paradise, where citizens live free from crime and fear only one thing: the all-powerful State. Defending this system is idealistic security officer Leo Demidov, a war hero who believes in the iron fist of the law. But when a murderer kills at will and Leo dares to investigate, the State's obedient servant finds himself demoted and exiled. Now, with only his wife at his side, Leo must fight to uncover shocking truths about a killer--and a country where "crime" doesn't exist.
THE SECRET SPEECH:
Soviet Union, 1956. It is a period of wrenching change. Stalin is dead, and a regime once held together by fear is beginning to fracture, creating a lawless society where the police have become the criminals and the criminals take vengeance against them. A series of murders now has all of Moscow on edge, and no one--no matter how powerful or connected--seems safe. With his new and secretive homicide department, Leo Demidov investigates--only to find that he, his wife, and his two adopted daughters may be in grave danger. For Leo is a former state security officer who arrested and condemned many of his fellow citizens, and despite all his efforts to atone for his past, he cannot escape the long shadow of his former career. To save his family, Leo must make a desperate choice and face an impossible journey that may bring his redemption...or shatter their fragile future.
A relentless page-turner.
A terrifying evocation of a paranoid world where no one can be trusted.
A surprising, unexpected story of love and family, of hope and resilience.
CHILD 44 is a thriller unlike any you have ever read.
Stalin's Soviet Union is an official paradise, where citizens live free from crime and fear only one thing: the all-powerful State. Defending this system is idealistic security officer Leo Demidov, a war hero who believes in the iron fist of the law. But when a murderer kills at will and Leo dares to investigate, the State's obedient servant finds himself demoted and exiled. Now, with only his wife at his side, Leo must fight to uncover shocking truths about a killer--and a country where "crime" doesn't exist.
THE SECRET SPEECH:
Soviet Union, 1956. It is a period of wrenching change. Stalin is dead, and a regime once held together by fear is beginning to fracture, creating a lawless society where the police have become the criminals and the criminals take vengeance against them. A series of murders now has all of Moscow on edge, and no one--no matter how powerful or connected--seems safe. With his new and secretive homicide department, Leo Demidov investigates--only to find that he, his wife, and his two adopted daughters may be in grave danger. For Leo is a former state security officer who arrested and condemned many of his fellow citizens, and despite all his efforts to atone for his past, he cannot escape the long shadow of his former career. To save his family, Leo must make a desperate choice and face an impossible journey that may bring his redemption...or shatter their fragile future.
Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 2011
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About the author
Tom Rob Smith
31 books2,176 followersTom Rob Smith (born 1979) is an English writer. The son of a Swedish mother and an English father, Smith was raised in London where he lives today. After graduating from Cambridge University in 2001, he completed his studies in Italy, studying creative writing for a year. After these studies, he worked as a scriptwriter.
His first novel, Child 44, about a series of child murders in Stalinist Russia, appeared in early 2008 and was translated into 17 languages. It was awarded the 2008 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the year by the Crime Writer's Association. It was recently a Barnes & Noble recommended book. On July 29, 2008 the book was named on the long list for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. In November 2008, he was nominated for the 2008 Costa First Novel Award (former Whitbread).
Child 44 followed-up by The Secret Speech (2009)and Agent 6 (2011).
Japanese: トム ロブ スミス
His first novel, Child 44, about a series of child murders in Stalinist Russia, appeared in early 2008 and was translated into 17 languages. It was awarded the 2008 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of the year by the Crime Writer's Association. It was recently a Barnes & Noble recommended book. On July 29, 2008 the book was named on the long list for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. In November 2008, he was nominated for the 2008 Costa First Novel Award (former Whitbread).
Child 44 followed-up by The Secret Speech (2009)and Agent 6 (2011).
Japanese: トム ロブ スミス
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 25, 2013
Child 44: An excellent atmospheric detective-type story. Set in the Soviet Union, post WWII. The Secret Speech takes place in 1956, when Khruschev issued a speech denouncing Stalin's cult of personality. These facts serve as a backdrop to an interesting story in which the main character struggles with his past actions as part of the MVD while trying to save a child by going undercover into a gulag. I highly recommend the audible version of these books -- the reader is a top notch actor with great accents.
February 19, 2015
3.5 stars first two books are just below excellent will read third one but probably not before summer really like smiths writing style. Is he one of my fav authors, candidly no but would say he's in my top 20 for what it's worth lol
October 19, 2025
Gostei muito desse segundo livro da trilogia de Liev Demidov. Aborda o início do período pós-Stalin e a dificuldade do processo de retorno à “ normalidade “, com os oprimidos se virando contra os “ opressores”. Fiquei nervosa e interessada na história durante todo o livro. Pra um livro de meio de trilogia ele mantém o clima de suspense e ação. Agora vou entrar no desfecho da trilogia, “Agente 6”, e espero que enfim o Liev possa ter um descanso. Vale a leitura!
June 2, 2015
A dark story. I almost put it down after reading a little. The soviet era is very depressing. How could those people be so cowed? What a hold Stalin had on them. But it was interesting to see how things became somewhat better after he was gone. Not much, but somewhat. Once I got into the story, it was very fascinating. A real thriller. All the secrets came out and answered a lot of the questions. Very good book
June 20, 2017
I listen to the audiobook edition, not listed under the Goodreads options, which was relized date June 10,2008 and narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris (excellent narrator). This book was on Ricardo's "shelves", I just want to take advantage of having it available to read it, because it would never occurred to me to choose an action (detectives) kind of book. But I like it very much, it really took my attention while listen to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2013
My daughter recommended the first book to me and I would have given it 4 1/2 stars but the second book only continued with convoluted characters and plot twists turning it into a tedious read that I downgraded to three stars. Overall the omnibus really deserves 3 1/2 stars which is not an option on Goodreads.
April 28, 2015
very interesting, historical and descriptive look at a murder in a changing time for the Soviet Union.
these characters are written such multi faceted care you feel as if you are in the story. Leo searches for the truth but loses a bit of what he thought was himself, raisa gained something she never had....i loved their dynamic and the forensic complexity of the case for that time period.
these characters are written such multi faceted care you feel as if you are in the story. Leo searches for the truth but loses a bit of what he thought was himself, raisa gained something she never had....i loved their dynamic and the forensic complexity of the case for that time period.
November 22, 2015
This could have been a great book if it did not depend on completely outlandish plot twists. Stalinist Russia during the purges was insane enough to allow for a great mystery novel based on a secret policeman in the security organs who is carrying out the purges. The baroque plot twists where so over the top as to break the reader out of the novel.
January 9, 2017
It's soft material and very smooth one it needs little more work, some works are juicy but this story some how it wasn't. It was a book which put people in suspense, and even the people in the movie talked like they are drunk... it's horrible the truth, but some how it should make some kind a trick making it interisting!
July 25, 2014
An outstanding book with great descriptive phrases and powerful imagery. The story line twists and turns and leaves nothing to the imagination. It has great surprises and action sequences without being unbelievable. I read it in 4 days as it was hard to put down.
April 18, 2012
TERRIFIC BOOK A MUST READ
November 2, 2012
really enjoyed these two books. Enough suspense to keep me interested, but learning more about the state/the views/living conditions of the Soviet people was worth the reading!
March 30, 2013
Outstanding. I particularly enjoyed Child 44. I can not wait to start the 3 book of the trilogy.
April 1, 2013
Double bok murder mystery. 1st one was better than second one. Interesting time in history - early 1900's Russia.
April 26, 2014
The first book was fantastic, this one seemed to lose a focus that was only reattained in the second part of the third book.
Read
March 9, 2015Wow. Great book with lots of detail in the life and times of living in Stalin Russia. Crosses Citizen Xbox with Gordy Park. Movie coming out this year. Should be good.
March 17, 2015
In a country ruled by fear, no one is innocent..
April 20, 2015
Excellent reads !! Couldn't put the books down !
I also read the 3rd book in the trilogy and will post that separately.
I also read the 3rd book in the trilogy and will post that separately.
June 22, 2015
Kruchev takes over and tries to reform justice in Russia.
February 24, 2016
Intense. Completely wrings out these two stories so that there's nothing left. Very well drawn characters and chilling view of cold war Soviet life.
May 21, 2016
Great book , with strong characters. Strong view of Russia, puts you right in there. Quick pace and nice finish.
November 20, 2018
To clarify: Child 44 is book one in a trilogy, The Secret Speech is book two. This digital edition doesn't include book three.
Child 44 is a much stronger book than the second; even so it has its flaws. What I found most interesting in C44 was the relationship that Leo and Raisa have to rebuild after a series of emotional upheavals in their lives. I also found the setting--1950s Russia--to have a compelling resonance within the story.
The flaws: lots of unnecessary elements clutter up the story, and the characters themselves felt a bit flat at times.
The second book I skimmed quite a bit. Worth it for learning about about Khrushchev's actual secret speech from the book title, but not interesting enough to keep me engaged through to the end.
Child 44 is a much stronger book than the second; even so it has its flaws. What I found most interesting in C44 was the relationship that Leo and Raisa have to rebuild after a series of emotional upheavals in their lives. I also found the setting--1950s Russia--to have a compelling resonance within the story.
The flaws: lots of unnecessary elements clutter up the story, and the characters themselves felt a bit flat at times.
The second book I skimmed quite a bit. Worth it for learning about about Khrushchev's actual secret speech from the book title, but not interesting enough to keep me engaged through to the end.
October 21, 2018
This book, man. It's so good.
A real page turner. Forever thankful that I decided to read this.
To anyone that's interested in historical fiction with thriller, this is it. This book doesn't bore you with excessively long paragraphs about Stalin's life; yet you feel like you're there with the characters - experiencing everything they are.
A real page turner. Forever thankful that I decided to read this.
To anyone that's interested in historical fiction with thriller, this is it. This book doesn't bore you with excessively long paragraphs about Stalin's life; yet you feel like you're there with the characters - experiencing everything they are.
July 15, 2019
This is a very well-written mystery. It is set in that Stalin communist Russia era. It was very well done
November 17, 2019
Definitely liked the first book better. You so need to read the first book to understand this one, though. Can't be read independent of the first.
February 27, 2020
Another Lee Child recommendation!! Wow!! Great trilogy!! Reminds me of Martin Cruz Smith who is also a favourite, and the scope is epic in proportion!!
July 16, 2021
Disappointed
After reading Child 44 I was expecting another thrilling adventure. This book has barely any plot, practically no characterization and careens from one completely implausible situation to another. I suspect it was written with a movie in mind. The character of Leo will need a Bruce Willis sort of actor. He is beaten up, tortured, injured so many times, but gets back up and keeps running, scaling walls, beating bad guys, and performing other strenuous activities. I think Mr. Smith is capable of so much more. Very disappointing.
After reading Child 44 I was expecting another thrilling adventure. This book has barely any plot, practically no characterization and careens from one completely implausible situation to another. I suspect it was written with a movie in mind. The character of Leo will need a Bruce Willis sort of actor. He is beaten up, tortured, injured so many times, but gets back up and keeps running, scaling walls, beating bad guys, and performing other strenuous activities. I think Mr. Smith is capable of so much more. Very disappointing.
June 15, 2015
The story got bogged down in all the details about Stalinist Russia. Yes, it was important to the story, but at the end, there was very little to the plot about solving the crime and much, much more about living day to day under such horrible conditions -- when offending the wrong person could get you and your whole family imprisoned or killed. Not sure how accurate the historical aspects of the book really are, or if this was an extreme (and fictionalized) picture of that era.
June 10, 2012
Not as good as his first book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews