Trans-Siberian Express

by Warren Adler

"An epic tale about a land and a people Winston Churchill declared, “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”

American cancer specialist, Dr. Alex Cousins is on a covert mission to the USSR. He is tasked with prolonging the life of Soviet Politburo Chief, Viktor Moiseyevich Dimitrov, who is suffering from advanced stage leukemia. But the tenuous confidence between the unlikely colleagues is shattered one night as Alex accidentally discovers Dimitrov’s diabolical plans for a nuclear strike on China. Alex soon finds himself dispatched, homeward bound, on a six thousand mile journey aboard the Trans-Siberian Express; long enough, Alex realizes, to silence him from alerting the U.S. of the imminent destruction.

Reluctant, at first, to embark upon the journey, Alex is beckoned into the Siberian expanse by memories of his grandfather, Aleksandr Kuznetzov, who wove tales of magic and mystery into this seemingly desolate place. As the train lumbers east across snow-cloaked mountains, glimmering past a forest glow, watchful eyes rest on the American doctor. Surrounding him are people beaten and broken by life, each drawn to this emperor of trains in search of a brighter future. But most curious is Anna Petrovna Valentinova, the hauntingly beautiful history professor and Alex’s alluring travelling companion. As Anna captivates Alex with illusions of her homeland, a passionate romance transcending political barriers unfolds under KGB surveillance.

A train attendant yearns for love, a deformed man seeks revenge on an old enemy, and a persecuted Jewish couple runs to a new home as the Trans-Siberian Express roars onward through a cavern of hopes and memories, coloring its tracks with tales of love, loss and nuclear intrigue from one end of Russia to the other.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Russia, Mystery

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Warren Adler was an American author, playwright and poet. His novel The War of the Roses was turned into a dark comedy starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
Adler was an essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright, whose works have been translated into 25 languages.

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Stonehouse Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
I had never read any of this author's works and so I was extremely impressed with the plot, characters, pacing, etc in this book. We have a train thriller here, espionage, spying, etc. This is a fast paced book that follows the plight of numerous people who are traveling on this train across the barren lands of Russia on its way to the Pacific Coast of the country, over 6,000 miles and the entire trip is done on Moscow time so days and nights are sort of whacky! The Russian leader is dying from leukemia and the US President sends top doctor Alex Cousins to Russia to try and prolong the leaders life because with him sits the only chance of peace. Unbeknownst to the US officials we find out that the Russian leader secretly want to commit a nuclear strike on China, which may decimate the Chinese but also would result in mass portions of Siberia being obliterated. And so the train trip begins with the Soviet leader at his Dacha and Cousins making his way slowly across the country at the leaders behest. Accompanying Cousins is a Russian General who will be in charge of starting the strike. But the train also contains others who are there for different reasons. From the trains head attendant in the "soft-class" section. This lady has a crush on the general. We also have KGB agents galore, one who is to watch Cousins, another who watches the general, and yet a 3rd who is to use her feminine wiles to try and get information from Cousins as to how long the leader has to live. We also are introduces to a Jewish couple who is trying to make their way to a Jewish enclave in eastern Russia, and a crippled man who plots revenge on a station agent who caused his handicap years ago, and a host of others too long to list. Yes, we want to to be sort of like an Agatha Christie novel but it is actually deeper and more complex. Really enjoyable and filled with lots of names and places that kept me busy tracking the route of the train. I had a wonderful time reading this book now have 2 more by the author which I certainly hope will be as good as this one!

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Cold-War thriller made in the mold Jeffrey Archer or Ken Follett. You know what you're getting plot-wise from the synopsis. What you might not expect, le Carré fans, is the lyricism of the detail lavished on the countryside the train passes through.

What does not get lyrically panegyrized is the the "character" (term of art only) of Dr. Alex Cousins, the US oncologist sent quietly to save an important voice of reason in the Politburo. He is a camera, à la Isherwood ("I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking"), and still Anna Valentinova (his Soviet handler) has this wildly sexual relationship with him as they chug across the immensity of the Soviet Union on the titular train. Frankly I wondered why she bothered.

But it was the 1970s, she was probably told to by her Intelligence-service bosses, and according to the text Cousins was a stud in bed. (Told you it was the 1970s. First pubbed in 1977.) Which at least explains why she did it again, though she did monopolize the conversation from then on, thank the goddesses.

There was a lot of description that, while it was happening, gave me the wistfuls. The reason you're not seeing it here is...I don't remember where it was. This was a DRC and the damned thing lost my highlights when I opened the file on a different device! Gone from BOTH devices.

Anyway, it's a period piece, if you like Cold-War thrillers that move at train speeds instead of cruise missile velocities, this one will suit you. I regret nothing about having made the read.

The issue is I remember the same: Nothing.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reissue of a book written during the cold war between the United States and Russia. Overall, the plot is believable as to what could have happened. The author’s writing style is good, but not to the level that this is a book you can not put down. In addition, it was easy to guess how it would end.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read a book for review, I usually don’t read much about the book before beginning to read. I do read the short blurb the publisher gives but nothing more. So, when I opened “Trans-Siberian Express” to find at the very beginning a long list of characters and who they are, my optimism vanished. Whenever I come across a list like this I think “if you have to have a scorecard to keep track of the players, I will never be able to keep up with which character is doing what”! I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case with this story. There are a lot of characters, but it wasn’t difficult to keep up with each one and their particular place in the plot.

The book was fairly well written and I was drawn into the story. I enjoyed trying to figure out what would happen next. However, what I didn’t like was getting well into the story only to have numerous sex scenes between the two main characters. When I find this type of ploy in a book or a movie it makes me believe the writer took the easy way out. It is true that sex is a “grabber” and sells lots of media, but it doesn’t make for a better story. It might have been more challenging for the writer to design his story in such a way that it did not depend upon this crutch. It is the challenge that makes a great book or story. I have read a lot of books in my life and I used to just read over the sex and let it go in favor of the story. However, somewhere along the way I have started to feel a bit insulted by authors who think that if they insert sex into the story they automatically have the reader hooked. I would appreciate much more a story for the sake of the story. If two characters have sex, there are ways to convey that to the reader without a movement by movement description. I am no longer shocked by much, but I am most definitely NOT entertained or mentally challenged either. I would rather have a strong story without the fluff.

I was also dissatisfied with the ending of the story. It is just a personal preference of mine and I won’t give any spoilers so you will just have to read it and draw your own conclusions.

In summary, the book presented a puzzle and I enjoyed trying to figure out the puzzle. Overall, I enjoyed the basic plot of the book, but with the exceptions noted above.

I was provided a free copy of this book for review from Stonehouse Productions. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing Novel

I both read and listened to the audio of this book. It was well-written, with a well-conceived plot that kept my interest. The main characters, a male American oncologist sent by the US State Department to treat a highly placed Russian leader, and Anna Petrovna Valentina, an intelligent and beautiful former KGB spy, meet as passengers on the Trans-Serbian Express train, which turns out to be anything other than an express train. Intrigue, danger from several directions, and the journey itself made a captivating and unpredictable story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good spy novel, especially one set on a Russian train winding its way through Siberia.

[Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Adler Gem

Once again Warren Adler combines an intriguing story with an education of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, including a geography lesson detailing all the cities and towns along the route. Well done!

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never say no when I am offered the opportunity to read a story written by Mr. Adler I simply loved the more than 15 books I have read so far having said this I wish to thank the wonderful people at Stonehouse Press as well as Netgalley for providing us with a chance to enjoy some of his creation in exchange for an honest review. Mr. Adler, an author, playwright and poet passed away in 2019.

Set during the height of the cold war Trans-Siberian Express is a tale of love and intrigue set on the Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway.

An American cancer specialist is sent by the president of the United States to Russia to prolong the life of the Secretary General of the Politburo and while there he accidentally discovers a plan to launch a nuclear strike against China and finds himself dispatched aboard the legendary Trans-Siberian Express. As the train lumbers east across snow-cloaked mountains, glimmering past the forest glow, Anna Petrovna Valentinova, Alex’s alluring traveling companion enchants him with love of her homeland, passionate romance and all this under the watchful eyes of the KGB.

Although this is a work of fiction, this story immerses us in the unique and exotic culture of Russia. The plot involves espionage, love and intrigue not forgetting terms such as Gulag, politburo, Taganka and some hard to pronounce even to remember Russian names. In order not to distract us too much from the plot and yet give us most importantly the cultural landscape and the exotic locations such as Lake Baikal and other curiosities one would encounter on the 7000 mile journey, the glossary is limited to just a few.

Like an old fashion train, the story chugs along and stay that way from start to finish. It is said that this latest edition has been enhanced but stayed true to the period; I would believe it to be. Mr. Adler style is skillful and he seemed to have known Russia well. Those who have read him in the past know that he is strong in character development and does not shy from incorporating numerous sex scenes between his main players. The buildout is in flashbacks revealing the psyche and motivations of those travelers in the same car as the protagonist and believe me we do have a large cast to get acquainted with. The train itself is by far the best character....after all passing long hours travelling in the Siberian wilderness is a total different world we find ourselves in.

I am happy to add this book to my library.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow Cooker, not a Pot Boiler

This book was first published in 1977, during Carter's administration. Russian politics were very different then from today, and this book will make little sense unless that is kept in mind. The missles that Russia was most immediately concerned with at that time were not in the West, but along their Southern border with China. The missles were short-range, but promised to get better.

The main plot involves the American doctor. He's a cancer specialist, and a Soviet Politburo Chief has advanced leukimia. The U.S. sends Doctor Cousins to Russia in hopes that he can keep Dimitrov alive long enough to get the man's help with an important treaty being negotiated. As the story opens, the doctor has had some success, and Dimitrov insists on rearranging Cousins' trip home to include a 4000 mile train ride across Siberia. The doctor's Russian grandfather came from the region, and helped to build the railway. Surely the doctor would like to see his ancestral homeland.

The doc, however, has quite unintentionally learned that Dimitrov plans to launch a nuclear strike against China before he dies, and Cousins is anxious to return to the States and report this. Dimitrov suspects Cousins of knowing too much, and has put KGB agents on the train to make sure the doctor never gets to the end of the line--or so Doctor Cousins suspects.

I started out comparing this in my mind to James Bond's train ride in From Russia with Love, since the book concerns a long train ride with spying, intrigue and danger. I soon found that the intrigue promised in the opening chapter will be kept simmering on a back burner as the author explores the unhappy lives and the dark, passionate moods of its mostly Russian cast who are mostly strangers to eachother, and keep mostly to themselves.

Unfortunately, we readers get to be in on all their brooding thoughts. One chapter looks in on the American Doctor and his newly acquired mistress; the next on the train attendant; the next on a general; then a couple being persecuted and shipped off to Siberia because the husband is Jewish; then we turn to ... well, you get the idea. It skips about between characters.

It sounded exciting at the beginning, but soon the pace slowed down and the main plotline (bombing China) was put on a back burner in favor of concerns found in books like Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, and Doctor Zhivago (Hey, I saw movie versions of all those, so I'm an expert!). Somewhere past the midpoint in the novel, said plotline is picked up again and things get more interesting. Fair warning: most of the characters survive to the end, but none are happy about how it all turned out. Resigned, one and all, but not happy.

The writing is skillful, and the writer seems to know Russia well, both its people and places. I don't necessarily need adventure and action in a book. His character studies could be interesting if I liked the characters. I didn't like anyone in this book. Maybe the doctor, his girlfriend and the attendant Tanya a little bit, but not much. Perhaps these characters and the general mood of the book are just what a wintery Russian setting calls for, and I have foolishly taken what is, for me, a wrong path in literature's woods. Time, then, to turn back and find another.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book highlighted to me the oppression of the Eastern block years. The things the people suffered through and the callousness they were forced to endure was brought into sharp focus. From being sent to a gulag at an early age for standing up to a corrupt official to being brainwashed into spying on the train passengers you are supposed to be assisting and serving to being pressed into service as a seductress to gain information from the American doctor who treat the Secretary General for cancer for your own personal gain. The cruelty and senseless killing was hard to swallow and the end was no end at all.

Bottom line: did the listen keep me listening until the end? Yes. Did I want to know what happened to the characters? Yes. Did I enjoy listening and was the ending satisfying? No. The story itself ended abruptly and there were no storylines tied up so you have a feeling of ending and that the story was over. I never really got the point of what the doctor was doing for the American government. Some of the storylines did not even reflect on the main story. They just seemed to be added so the author could highlight more abuse.

The narration was decent and the voices were done well. I believe Mark Sando's performance was one of the reasons I was able to reach the end of the book.

I received this audiobook free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this in an old box of books and was intrigued by the idea of a story set on a train, so even though I wasn't sure of a Cold War story, I decided to give it a try. I got caught up in the story easily, getting to know the characters and their background stories. A book set on a train in Russia is not your typical story and it was quite fascinating but as others have said, ended abruptly and somewhat unsatisfying. But I am glad that I read it.

[Saltygalreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I have ever read by Warren Adler, quite a prolific writer until his death in 2019. Trans-Siberian Express is a novel with a large cast of characters, the main one being Alex Cousins, an American physician who comes to Moscow to treat Dimitrov, General Secretary of the Communist Party, for cancer. Cousins has a Russian heritage from his grandfather and a successful reputation in his field, thereby being Dimitrov's doctor of choice. In the course of treating Dimitrov, Cousins unexpectedly learns secret and explosive information which lands him in the middle of Soviet double-crossing and intrigue. Cousins then sets out on a journey across Soviet-era Russia on an antiquated train, encountering a variety of colourful characters and trying to navigate the treachery of the KGB.

This novel is an interesting product of its time, capturing all the mystique and machinations of the Soviet Union at the height of its power. A number of themes, including racial discrimination, the treatment of prisoners and nuclear tensions, are still depressingly relevant. However, the characters, including Alex Cousins, are very one-dimensional - often caricatures of the type we would expect from the Soviet Union. At one stage, the novel detours into the realm of soft porn as Cousins and his female romantic intrigue lock themselves into their cabin and fornicate endlessly for days.

Ultimately, the novel ends rather predictably and could have been told in far fewer pages. I can understand that this type of novel might still hold appeal for a certain segment of readership, however I cannot recommend it. Thank you to Net Galley for furnishing me with a copy.

[K Saju · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Alex Cousins a cancer specialist is sent on a secret mission on the request of his US President to take care of an ailing Russian Premier. The US politicians belive that keeping the premier alive is their best chance in avoiding the imminent war threat between China and Russia.
The best part of the book was the description of the train journey itself, the icy snow filled lands, nightly stops, the ever present KGB casting their shadows on the train stops, was wonderfully crafted. A couple of the side characters, the Russian jew , the gulag prisoner they were the redeeming parts in the book, the less said about the main character the best.
Overall I felt this book can be skipped and can be read by those who enjoy reading about the Trans Siberian train journey. My thanks to Netgalley for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

[Jonas Buijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. i was stunned by this book! it had been high on my wishlist for a while now and finally decided to read it and wow is it good. both the dialogue and the atmospheric storytelling are AMAZING. And all the characters! Ochhhh, their all fleshed out, meaningful ánd totally realistic! and the suspense! really for anyone who calls themselves a thriller enjoyer, please read this! my only reason for it being a 4.5 instead of 5 is that in some moments woman just get brutalized and treated like shit, basically throughout the whole book. just objects for men to do with what they want. Not good, but for the time the book is set in i guess its okay? idk about that part, but if you look past those problimatic mistakes, you got an absolute gem on your hands.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read this author before I wasn't sure I would like this book but I really enjoyed it. It is a story about the people who are traveling on a train across Russia. There were many characters; most I liked. They were described in such away that it was easy to keep up with who they were. I didn't find the book to be much of a thriller, more a romance with some spys and intrigue. There were a few slow spots but it held my attention from beginning to end. I liked that there were small stories about different characters mixed throughout the book.

[Alex Flowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overly sexual in certain scenes, probably at least 15-20 Sex scenes are detailed throughout the book, which j felt was excessive and took away from the plot. The book began very well with characters behaving naturally but toward the end it seemed plot points needed tying up and many subplots and the main plot met abrupt endings without answers, and not in a way that enhances the experience, more in a way that leaves a bitter taste. A well concocted thriller for the most part.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth the time

It was a good read. I likedseveral of the characters, including some that were despicable. It kept me interested, and I kept reading to find out what was going to happen next.

[Paul T Koenig Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a thriller

Along train ride, made longer by uninteresting characters and a plot which stretches ones credulity. Some characters are conveniently killed off, but the plot doesn’t thicken.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great suspenseful mystery, I loved the use of the environment and getting to know the characters. It was a well developed story with a great mystery. I loved the use of the time period, I look forward to more from the author.

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always wanted to travel across country by train...at least got to in book!

http://gabixlerreviews-bookreadershea...

[Erica Barkei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story and intrigue in the middle part of the book, but fizzled out at the end

[Gidget Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 not 4 stars. Boring at the start but the second half was much more interesting. The trans-siberian is fascinating.

[Jolene Harwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lot hornier than I expected and the author used the word obsequious a lot! Other than that it was a great story set in train carriages with snowy landscapes.

[Angie Boyter]

I really loved the premise of the book and thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the intrigue s of the Cold War era. I liked the protagonist.
BUT I HAD to quite about 40% of the way through because I was getting SO IRRITATED by the B-movie-type scenes, especially the sex scenes that reminded me of something teenagers would really love. I was not too surprised to read that many of the author's books had bee made into movies.

[Rinku Geeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was intrigue, there was action. I enjoyed parts of it. But overall, the book felt too long. Maybe it is because it was a little different from my usual genre. And there was not a lot of mystery going on. But I did end up rooting for Dr. Alex Cousins as well as as Anna Petrovna. The references to the Siberian landscape did have the desired effect of conveying the vastness and the insignificance of the presence of this bunch of people traversing it, some of who have intentions/motivations that would impact the future of countries and humanity as a whole.

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his novel TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS, Warren Adler has written an intriguing story and wrapped it in the rattling confines of a supposedly first-class Russian train. If you are a train travel fan, you’ll be intrigued with the details of train travel on Russian Railways, the largest in the world. It is a lengthy trip made enjoyable by interesting and devious characters and the details about an infamous train.

Dr. Alex Cousins, a renowned leukemia doctor, is on a covert mission to Russia to attend to its Politburo Chief, Victor Dimitrov, who is suffering from end-stage leukemia. Note: There is a tendency for Russians to use all of their lengthy names as they address each other. In the interest of saving space in this review I will either shorten their names or not name them at all. Check out the author’s very considerate list of characters at the beginning of the book. Then, as soon as possible, revert to last names only. You will soon get the idea and be able to sort them out as you read.

Cousins discovers that Dimitrov has a devilish plan for a nuclear strike on China. Dimitrov is on the short list for staying alive because of his disease and, fearing that Cousins will spill the beans about his plans, puts him on the train to the farthest reaches of Eastern Russia to delay his return to the US until the plans can be completed. Cousins is put on board the Russiya, a venerable old passenger train that, strangely enough, is still in operation today. Modern travelers are not kind in their comments about the service and it sounds like the author got the on-board amenities about right. That is fun to read.

Cousins, as one might expect, is under close surveillance during his trip, including by a statuesque blonde who is assigned the second bunk in his two-person cabin. As would be expected, a tryst takes place, revealing a lack of restraint on the good doctor’s part. He falls heavily in love with the beautiful KGB agent Anna Valentinova, the thrills of the flesh reducing him to a quivering mass of uncertainty and zero reasoning ability. Side stories of revenge, angst, jealousy, betrayal and homicide are included, all well developed. My favorite character is a bratty boy who keeps the passengers and crew agitated with his behavior.

The book is well written and moves the reader along at breakneck speed. There are not many lapses in action. Flashbacks are well handled, explain much of the story, and make it easier to follow the frenetic pace. Long hours of traversing the Siberian wilderness pass quickly under Warren Adler’s guidance, making the trip intriguing. This is a fine reading experience.

[David C. Parlier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put down read. Logical movement forward with individual character flashbacks. A tense, gripping, well-woven story makes the reader feel they are along for the exciting train ride through Russia.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review at: http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=10385

Trans-Siberian Express by War­ren Adler is an early novel of this famous author. Mr. Adler recently released his 33rd book and has writ­ten mul­ti­ple scripts as well.

Vic­tor Dim­itrov, Russ­ian head of state, is suf­fer­ing from leukemia. Not trust­ing the doc­tors in Rus­sia to keep his secret from his polit­i­cal ene­mies, he requests an Amer­i­can doc­tor to treat him. Dr. Alex Cousins is hand picked for the job by the Pres­i­dent, how­ever Dr. Cousins dis­cover that Dim­itrov is plan­ning to go out with a bang and strike China with nuclear weapons before he dies.

Fear­ing that Dr. Cousins will thwart his plan (by reveal­ing it to Amer­ica), Dim­itrov sends him on a long trip to East­ern Rus­sia. The good doc­tor is being watched, but by who and why is the question.

Trans-Siberian Express by War­ren Adler is an intrigu­ing novel tak­ing place on a fancy Russ­ian train. I loved the way Adler described the scenery and train travel on the Russ­ian Rail­way system.

Adler built a whole world, with intrigu­ing char­ac­ters, all of who have an inter­est­ing his­tory behind them, on a Russ­ian train. The author did a great job of cap­tur­ing the Russ­ian mind­set, where every­one (almost) are very proud of what they do to con­tribute to the whole. For exam­ple, one of the train work­ers is proud of her job, the clean­li­ness of the cab­ins, the hall­ways and takes it as a per­sonal affront if the train runs late.

Adler shows his mas­tery in sto­ry­telling by han­dling flash­backs in a way which doesn’t slow the story down and actu­ally moves it for­ward. Each flash­back reveals more about the char­ac­ter, their psy­che, moti­va­tions and train of thought.

The most enter­tain­ing part of the book is the descrip­tions of the Russ­ian ameni­ties, or lack thereof, on the train. From a bit of research I did it seems the author got it right and even if he didn’t, it makes for a great story.

The story also has no vil­lains per say, each indi­vid­ual is totally com­mit­ted to what he or she is doing, believ­ing 110% that they are right. If any­thing I’d say that the pro­tag­o­nist, Dr. Cousins, is the “bad” guy even though he also believes that he is right and stick­ing with his moral convictions.

This is a well writ­ten book which drew me into Rus­sia and onto the train. The nar­ra­tive moves fast, the story is inter­est­ing the descrip­tions of the land­scape are fascinating.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the late 1970s, Mao is dead, and tensions are rising between the USSR and China. The US is set on a policy of detente, and doesn't want war between the two major communist powers--especially not a nuclear exchange. The cloud of radioactive fallout would reach the west coast of the US, with potentially major consequences.

The current Communist Party Chairman, Dimitrov, has convinced the President and the Secretary of State that he agrees with him and is the safeguard against a disastrous war. Unfortunately, he has leukemia, and is dying.

The US secretly agrees to send one of the world's leading leukemia experts, fortunately the son and grandson of Russian immigrants and a speaker of Russian, to treat Dimitrov and hopefully keep him alive long enough to attend an international meeting and sign a treaty.

Dr. Alex Cousins, né Kuznetsov, is off on an adventure he never expected or wanted.

It's not too bad at first, treating Dimitrov successfully and bringing him back to greater health, at least for now. But along the way, he learns a dangerous secret about Dimitrov's real plans for China. When it's time to go home, Alex finds himself being given the "gift" of a trip on the Trans-Siberian Express, through Siberia where both his father and grandfather spent important years of their lives, culminating in theory in a boat ride to Yokohama and a plane trip home.

Alex doesn't believe he'll ever make it, unless he can find a way to get his dangerous message to US authorities before he's stopped.

Along the way, we see both the grimness of the Soviet system, and glimpses of what the Russians, especially the Siberians, love about their country. A beautiful Russian history professor, recruited back into KGB employment she left ten years ago, Dimitrov's hatchet man Zeldovich, assorted other KGB agents, a carload full of KGB soldiers, and even the railroad steward staff are all either really watching Alex, or making him feel that they are. The deeper they get into Siberia, the more events and misunderstandings and all too real conflicts ratchet up the tension and the danger.

This is a very solid political thriller set in a half-forgotten period of our recent history, when the collapse of the Soviet Union was still unthinkable, and Mutual Assured Destruction was what was keeping us all alive.

Recommended.

[M.H. Vesseur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grand train voyage with intrigue and romance — It's the title that drew my attention in the first place. That legendary train moving slowly through that enormous, secret land. That allure, similar to that of the other imagination fuelling train, the Orient Express. If you're as attracted to the title as I was, you'll probably not be disappointed by this novel. Buckle up for a grand train voyage through the immensity of Siberia, with cold war era intrigue and romance on board. Although I'm an avid reader of Warren Adler novels, I must admit I was favorably biased before reading Trans-Siberian Express. I grew up in the Seventies, so in a way the ambiance of the former USSR and the isolation of the protagonist of this novel --en route through that huge landmass-- was in a way a voyage back in time for me. I used to daydream in school after hearing about those mysterious lands behind the Iron Curtain, only a couple of hundred miles from the borders of my country. Further away, beyond Moscow, were the endless icefields, empty but for a disappearing train in the distance. Anyway -- for a summary of the story of Trans-Siberian Express you can check the publisher's information. I'll stick to the reader experience. I enjoyed the characters because Warren Adler sure knows how to bring them to life. They're basically normal people in extraordinary circumstances. They have their own histories and troubles and relatives somewhere else in the world. Adler describes them with skill. There's a great deal of suspense coming from mysterious people on the train. Their reasons for being on the train are entertaining, without being too big a distraction from the main story. All these people interact. That results in sudden plot twists that surprised me many times. As the train moves through the Siberian winter, I was curious to know the destination of the story. Then there's the moodiness of the snowy Russian landscape and it's lonely train stations. There's the Russian bureaucracy. And there's romance... You'll be on that Trans-Siberian train for quite some time and so are your fellow passengers. One of them is even sharing your cabin. Some of us fall in love and some of us ain't supposed to. Fine entertainment. I hope you agree.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Trans-Siberian Express from NetGalley and I think I only clicked on it because it had a train on the cover. I love trains. Turns out I love this book, too!

Trans-Siberian Express is totally not my usual type of book. It's adult instead of YA and it's got spies in Russia. Russian politics and place names and people names can get really confusing, you know? But Warren Adler gave us a character list right in the front of the book for reference! And it's not that long of a list. If it was familiar, American names the author probably wouldn't have even needed to do that.

So, the plot of the book follows Dr. Alex Cousins as he travels by train from Moscow through Siberia to the coast of the Sea of Japan. He is one of the leading cancer experts in America, and has just come from treating a top politician in Russia. As soon as he boards the train, though, he notices the possibility of KGB agents watching him. On the way to the dining car the first evening, he notices that there's an entire car of KGB agents attached to the end of the passenger train. As the journey progresses, the intrigue only grows stronger, as does Dr. Cousins' attraction to one of his fellow passengers, the sultry Anna Petrovna.

Trans-Siberian Express isn't a Jason Bourne novel. It's not all action and go-go-go. It's more of a slow build-up, but the climax is INTENSE when we reach it! I was able to pace myself and enjoy the ride... until about 2/3 of the way through. Then I had to drop everything (including sleep) and keep reading until I reached the end!

Warren Adler does great things with a very limited setting. Instead, he more than fully develops multiple characters. I could really feel like I was there on the train with them. I saw them fully fleshed in my mind; could hear them conversing. I could smell the Russian borscht and hear the muffling of the snowfall. This book made me want to travel to Moscow to take a ride on the Trans-Siberian Express! (Do they even still do that?)

I read a lot of YA, so the few behind-bedroom-doors scenes startled me just a little. Otherwise, I'm considering buying a copy to give to my dad! That's a good endorsement, there.