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The Soviet Sisters
From the bestselling author of The German Heiress, Anika Scott, comes a gripping new historical novel filled with secrets, lies, and betrayals, following two spy sisters in the years after WWII, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff.
Sisters Vera and Marya were brought up as good Soviets: obedient despite hardships of poverty and tragedy, committed to communist ideals, and loyal to Stalin. Several years after fighting on the Eastern front, both women find themselves deep in the mire of conflicts shaping a new world order in 1947 Berlin. When Marya, an interpreter, gets entangled in Vera’s cryptic web of deceit and betrayal, she must make desperate choices to survive—and protect those she loves.
Nine years later, Marya is a prisoner in a Siberian work camp when Vera, a doyenne of the KGB, has cause to reopen her case file and investigate the facts behind her sister's conviction all those years ago in Berlin. As Vera retraces the steps that brought them both to that pivotal moment in 1947, she unravels unexpected truths and discoveries that call into question the very history the Soviets were working hard to cover up.
Epic and intimate, layered and complex, The Soviet Sisters is a gripping story of spies, blackmail, and double, triple bluff. With her dexterous plotting and talent for teasing out moral ambiguity, Anika Scott expertly portrays a story about love, conflicting world views, and loyalty and betrayal between sisters.
Sisters Vera and Marya were brought up as good Soviets: obedient despite hardships of poverty and tragedy, committed to communist ideals, and loyal to Stalin. Several years after fighting on the Eastern front, both women find themselves deep in the mire of conflicts shaping a new world order in 1947 Berlin. When Marya, an interpreter, gets entangled in Vera’s cryptic web of deceit and betrayal, she must make desperate choices to survive—and protect those she loves.
Nine years later, Marya is a prisoner in a Siberian work camp when Vera, a doyenne of the KGB, has cause to reopen her case file and investigate the facts behind her sister's conviction all those years ago in Berlin. As Vera retraces the steps that brought them both to that pivotal moment in 1947, she unravels unexpected truths and discoveries that call into question the very history the Soviets were working hard to cover up.
Epic and intimate, layered and complex, The Soviet Sisters is a gripping story of spies, blackmail, and double, triple bluff. With her dexterous plotting and talent for teasing out moral ambiguity, Anika Scott expertly portrays a story about love, conflicting world views, and loyalty and betrayal between sisters.
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
236 people are currently reading
11698 people want to read
About the author
Anika Scott
5 books350 followersGrew up in the Detroit area, Spartan undergrad (international politics), Columbia U grad (journalism). Print journalist in Philly and Chicago, moved to Germany, been there ever since writing, traveling, sampling beer and chocolates, raising a family, staying sane. More about me at www.anikascott.com. Also on Insta - mostly vacation pics! -- as @anikawritesbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
July 12, 2022
Crackling with tension and rife with traitors, one thing is clear in post-WWII Berlin: trust no one. With expertise, Anika Scott delves into the complex labyrinth of women and men attempting to break free from the shackles of ideology and rise from the embers of war to build a better future for themselves and the world. THE SOVIET SISTERS is espionage fiction at its finest.
July 16, 2022
The Soviet Sisters by Anika Scott is an excellent WWII/post WWII era historical fiction that has it all: history, suspense, mystery, intrigue, twists and turns, amd surprises that helped keep me interested from beginning to end. I loved it!
I really enjoyed Ms. Scott’s previous book, The German Heiress, so i was keen on reading this book as well. And what a gem!
Alternating between two different timelines, two different sisters, really kept my mind turning and whirling trying to figure out what details were actually correct, and which details were part of the “shaded” truth. Entering into the minds of each sister, Vera and Marya, purposely kept some of the truths and plot points vague so as to not reveal too much at one time. It really gave me a better understanding of the confusion, political intrigue, double crossings, and the high stakes that were present in the post-war/Cold War atmosphere. The questions that were carried through on what really did happen, and where did loyalty really fall, were finally revealed at the end, and made for a very gripping and addictive narrative.
It was very unique and I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fan.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Duckworth Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/14/22.
I really enjoyed Ms. Scott’s previous book, The German Heiress, so i was keen on reading this book as well. And what a gem!
Alternating between two different timelines, two different sisters, really kept my mind turning and whirling trying to figure out what details were actually correct, and which details were part of the “shaded” truth. Entering into the minds of each sister, Vera and Marya, purposely kept some of the truths and plot points vague so as to not reveal too much at one time. It really gave me a better understanding of the confusion, political intrigue, double crossings, and the high stakes that were present in the post-war/Cold War atmosphere. The questions that were carried through on what really did happen, and where did loyalty really fall, were finally revealed at the end, and made for a very gripping and addictive narrative.
It was very unique and I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fan.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Duckworth Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/14/22.
January 26, 2022
I really enjoyed exploring this odd relationship between sisters, and I was thoroughly intrigued to learn what had really happened in Berlin. However, despite the chapters being dated, I had a hard time keeping track of the timeline in order because certain assertions by characters seemed to contradict the timeline. Perhaps I’m too trusting to read spy novels, but frankly, I had a hard time with the layers of deceit. Since both sisters told their stories in the first person, I never knew who to trust, who was telling the truth, which just compounded my confusion when their stories contradicted each other. It was certainly an interesting story told in a compelling way, but even now, I’m not sure that I fully understand it.
July 20, 2022
2.5/5
This really read like the author wrote the first few chapters and submitted them, got an acceptance, and proceeded to rush the rest of the book. It had such a strong start it was really disappointing for how the entirety collapsed on itself.
The writing jumps back and forth between two sisters of are on different sides of Soviet Union fanatic thinking and ultimately plays with the idea of unreliable narrators. However, the author shoots down the originally complex storyline by undermining itself constantly. Half the times you’re told “so and so is stringing you along/ must be a spy” and shockingly, so and so is in fact doing exactly what the book tells you early on- reducing any shock value.
The ending felt flat, the characters never truly clarified themselves, and the reasoning for the one sister in Siberia feels less incredible by the time the book is over.
This really read like the author wrote the first few chapters and submitted them, got an acceptance, and proceeded to rush the rest of the book. It had such a strong start it was really disappointing for how the entirety collapsed on itself.
The writing jumps back and forth between two sisters of are on different sides of Soviet Union fanatic thinking and ultimately plays with the idea of unreliable narrators. However, the author shoots down the originally complex storyline by undermining itself constantly. Half the times you’re told “so and so is stringing you along/ must be a spy” and shockingly, so and so is in fact doing exactly what the book tells you early on- reducing any shock value.
The ending felt flat, the characters never truly clarified themselves, and the reasoning for the one sister in Siberia feels less incredible by the time the book is over.
March 24, 2022
I gobbled up this book in just a few sittings, and found it thoroughly immersive and compelling! This is a masterful novel, brilliantly plotted and I was gripped from the first pages, never knowing which of the sisters’ first person narratives to trust, or what would happen next. Cleverly playing on concepts of truth, ideology and loyalty, the characters are put to ultimate tests of morality. Immaculately researched, eloquently written, the reader gains a very clear sense of the tension and political complexity of the time in which the characters had to navigate their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
January 4, 2022
The Soviet Sisters takes you on a journey of twisting espionage, unexpected betrayal, and the internal war between sisterhood and patriotism. Anika Scott has a gift for weaving incredibly researched historical detail into an emotionally powerful story that left me with tears in my eyes. Historical fiction fans will love this book!
September 5, 2022
This is the book of 2 sisters with a lot of mystery and intrigue. Marya is an ex-Soviet soldier who is now working in Berlin in 1947. She is having an affair with a British soldier with is against Soviet law. Her sister Vera is a high ranking member of the KGB. She arrives in Berlin and finds out what her sister is up to.
9 years later we know that Marya was arrested and sent to a gulog. Vera is trying to have her case reopened and find out if she was actually innocent after distancing herself to save the rest of her family.
The story switches between both timelines and is fascinating. I don't know much about Soviet history but it just seems like such a bizarre and scary time to live.
9 years later we know that Marya was arrested and sent to a gulog. Vera is trying to have her case reopened and find out if she was actually innocent after distancing herself to save the rest of her family.
The story switches between both timelines and is fascinating. I don't know much about Soviet history but it just seems like such a bizarre and scary time to live.
June 20, 2022
Initially, I gave the novel 5 stars, but it is merely because I absolutely loved the second half of the book; when I was completely immersed in the story and kept on reading because I wanted to know the ending. I found the beginning and the midsection a bit boring, far-fetched and contrived, like a pick-the-traitor game.
Part of the story is a prelude to the Berlin crisis of 1958-1959 (which eventually would escalate in the erection of the most iconic image of the Cold War: the Wall; the other timeline are transcribed accounts, to prove the innocence of USSR citizen Marya, who was arrested for high treason in Berlin and sentenced to serve 15 years in a gulag, and going back to the events leading up to her arrest.
The protagonists are more or less representative of the forces that determined the course of events.: the USSR sisters vs the Allied Powers, with Germany/Marlow right in center of this playing field.
The author opted for a character-driven story about love, and betrayal, however, I feel there was more to be had.
The author barely addresses major events, and I think she could have given a little more background information on a divided Berlin. I know the city well, but why use Friedrichstraße, when the whole world knows this as Checkpoint Charlie?
I feel that a map of Berlin would have been useful, - Treptow (park), Tiergarten, Tegel, et&t - that means nothing to people who don't know Berlin.
I found the ending disappointing, it left too many unanswered for. How can one be so forgiving? Sadly, and imho, Mayra's betrayal is more severe than that of her sister, and I am baffled Henry would take her back…
The aspect with the fairy tale book made me feel uneasy: I wonder if readers are aware that 'fairytale books' (most likely Grimm's Kinder-und Hausmärchen) were mandatory items for any German family in Nazi Germany, as part of Nazi propaganda; putting Marlow's downfall in a whole new and more powerful light....
Albeit, since the author mentions these issues only in passing, the book loses power and depth, and remains a bit superficial and romanticized.
If you read this as is, it's a quick, immersive and emotional read, for me it was a good read, yet I feel there was more to be had.
Recommended, 4 stars.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
Part of the story is a prelude to the Berlin crisis of 1958-1959 (which eventually would escalate in the erection of the most iconic image of the Cold War: the Wall; the other timeline are transcribed accounts, to prove the innocence of USSR citizen Marya, who was arrested for high treason in Berlin and sentenced to serve 15 years in a gulag, and going back to the events leading up to her arrest.
The protagonists are more or less representative of the forces that determined the course of events.: the USSR sisters vs the Allied Powers, with Germany/Marlow right in center of this playing field.
The author opted for a character-driven story about love, and betrayal, however, I feel there was more to be had.
The author barely addresses major events, and I think she could have given a little more background information on a divided Berlin. I know the city well, but why use Friedrichstraße, when the whole world knows this as Checkpoint Charlie?
I feel that a map of Berlin would have been useful, - Treptow (park), Tiergarten, Tegel, et&t - that means nothing to people who don't know Berlin.
I found the ending disappointing, it left too many unanswered for. How can one be so forgiving? Sadly, and imho, Mayra's betrayal is more severe than that of her sister, and I am baffled Henry would take her back…
The aspect with the fairy tale book made me feel uneasy: I wonder if readers are aware that 'fairytale books' (most likely Grimm's Kinder-und Hausmärchen) were mandatory items for any German family in Nazi Germany, as part of Nazi propaganda; putting Marlow's downfall in a whole new and more powerful light....
Albeit, since the author mentions these issues only in passing, the book loses power and depth, and remains a bit superficial and romanticized.
If you read this as is, it's a quick, immersive and emotional read, for me it was a good read, yet I feel there was more to be had.
Recommended, 4 stars.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
April 30, 2022
The Soviet Sisters by Anika Scott is an excellent WWII/post WWII era historical fiction that has it all: history, suspense, mystery, intrigue, twists and turns, amd surprises that helped keep me interested from beginning to end. I loved it!
I really enjoyed Ms. Scott’s previous book, The German Heiress, so i was keen on reading this book as well. And what a gem!
Alternating between two different timelines, two different sisters, really kept my mind turning and whirling trying to figure out what details were actually correct, and which details were part of the “shaded” truth. Entering into the minds of each sister, Vera and Marya, purposely kept some of the truths and plot points vague so as to not reveal too much at one time. It really gave me a better understanding of the confusion, political intrigue, double crossings, and the high stakes that were present in the post-war/Cold War atmosphere. The questions that were carried through on what really did happen, and where did loyalty really fall, were finally revealed at the end, and made for a very gripping and addictive narrative.
It was very unique and I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fan.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Duckworth Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/14/22.
I really enjoyed Ms. Scott’s previous book, The German Heiress, so i was keen on reading this book as well. And what a gem!
Alternating between two different timelines, two different sisters, really kept my mind turning and whirling trying to figure out what details were actually correct, and which details were part of the “shaded” truth. Entering into the minds of each sister, Vera and Marya, purposely kept some of the truths and plot points vague so as to not reveal too much at one time. It really gave me a better understanding of the confusion, political intrigue, double crossings, and the high stakes that were present in the post-war/Cold War atmosphere. The questions that were carried through on what really did happen, and where did loyalty really fall, were finally revealed at the end, and made for a very gripping and addictive narrative.
It was very unique and I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fan.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Duckworth Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/14/22.
August 8, 2022
This was a wonderful – and slightly different – Cold War novel. It is set primarily in Berlin in 1947 and in Moscow in 1956. Instead of the usual male agents, the two main characters are two Russian sisters, both of whom work in military intelligence. One is an obsessive follower of the communist regime, while the other listens more to her heart – which includes falling in love with a British officer while stationed in Berlin. There is also a well done German character. The characters are extremely human – they do despicable things (to serve their ideology) and stupid things (out of fear of the ideology) – they love and hate and deceive. I think the sign of a good novel is that the reader can’t (or at least I couldn’t!) tell for a long time, if ever, exactly who was “working” for whom. But this is more than a spy novel – it is a story that pits love and family against ideology – and the characters, being human, get tangled up in their own webs. There are also a lot of interesting views into Soviet life, both right after WWII and in the 1950’s. I recommend this if you enjoy books about Soviet times and/or life in Berlin following WWII.
April 25, 2024
1947.
In post WWII Berlin, sisters Marya and Vera both find themselves still serving the Soviet Union. Marya works as an interpreter and Vera as a loyal agent of Stalin.
1956.
Accused of being a spy, Mayra has spent the last nine years in a Siberian work camp. Vera, now with the KGB, decides to reopen the case against Marya to determine if she was falsely accused.
An interesting and well researched account of the beginning of the Cold War. While I enjoyed the story, it was hard to connect with or like either of the sisters, especially Vera, therefore the 3.5 star rating.
In post WWII Berlin, sisters Marya and Vera both find themselves still serving the Soviet Union. Marya works as an interpreter and Vera as a loyal agent of Stalin.
1956.
Accused of being a spy, Mayra has spent the last nine years in a Siberian work camp. Vera, now with the KGB, decides to reopen the case against Marya to determine if she was falsely accused.
An interesting and well researched account of the beginning of the Cold War. While I enjoyed the story, it was hard to connect with or like either of the sisters, especially Vera, therefore the 3.5 star rating.
September 12, 2023
I really enjoyed reading about this period in world history from a Soviet perspective. The book grabbed and held my attention and I had to stay up late to finish it. That’s the ultimate marker of literary awesomeness!
October 4, 2022
This story had the potential to be so good, but had way too much sympathy for Germans in WW2. And If my sister had me sent to Siberia to save her own skin, I would never have forgiven her.
January 5, 2022
I should have loved this book. I really enjoy fiction about the USSR. As I started reading, I enjoyed the 2 timeline format. In one timeline Marya is with her British boyfriend in Berlin. Is she the spy or is he or both of them? This is the mystery. In the second timeline, Vera is testifying about her sister's actions in an effort to uncover the truth about whether or not Marya is a traitor to the USSR. BTW, Marya is rotting in Siberia for crimes she may or may not have committed.
About 25-30% into the book, the story really slowed down. I got bored. The story was apparently supposed to be somewhat confusing as nobody really knew who was spying on whom and who was guilty of what. I felt the confusion was overdone. At about 60% I considered skipping to the last couple of chapters to find out what happened. Instead, I decided to skim.
At 80%, the book became engrossing. The mystery unraveled, and it was very interesting. Plenty double and triple crosses to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I wish the rest of the book could have been so fascinating. If you get bored and want to give up, skip ahead and read the last 20%. It's really worth it. Maybe readers who enjoy a slower burn will like the bulk of this story more than I did.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
About 25-30% into the book, the story really slowed down. I got bored. The story was apparently supposed to be somewhat confusing as nobody really knew who was spying on whom and who was guilty of what. I felt the confusion was overdone. At about 60% I considered skipping to the last couple of chapters to find out what happened. Instead, I decided to skim.
At 80%, the book became engrossing. The mystery unraveled, and it was very interesting. Plenty double and triple crosses to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I wish the rest of the book could have been so fascinating. If you get bored and want to give up, skip ahead and read the last 20%. It's really worth it. Maybe readers who enjoy a slower burn will like the bulk of this story more than I did.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2022
Deceit and loyalty - strange bedfellows in this fascinating story of the role of two sisters in the Soviet district of Berlin during world war 2.
Marya and Vera are so different as sisters and I must admit it was difficult at times to work out who was telling the truth - whose story was more credible?
This is certainly a page turner - I was gripped trying to work out what Marya had done and who had betrayed her. Her relationship with Vera was so complex and some of the decisions both of the sisters took were difficult to rationalise. The double and sometime triple bluffing in the world of espionage needed some concentration and I felt for Marya completely as she was caught in the web of deceit from all sides.
Marya and Vera are so different as sisters and I must admit it was difficult at times to work out who was telling the truth - whose story was more credible?
This is certainly a page turner - I was gripped trying to work out what Marya had done and who had betrayed her. Her relationship with Vera was so complex and some of the decisions both of the sisters took were difficult to rationalise. The double and sometime triple bluffing in the world of espionage needed some concentration and I felt for Marya completely as she was caught in the web of deceit from all sides.
June 14, 2022
Vera is a senior official in the KGB. Her sister Marya is imprisoned in a Siberian gulag. In THE SOVIET SISTERS, the two recount the events of 1947 Berlin that forced them down such disparate paths. Part spy story, part mystery, this is a story of love and betrayal, loyalty and ideology. I was immediately immersed in this meticulously researched saga and thoroughly enjoyed it. Readers of historical fiction should leap to put this on their TBR list.
June 26, 2022
I read a lot of WWII fiction about female contributions to the war effort, but they are normally from a Western view. This was the first time I’ve found a truly engaging story from the Soviet perspective, and also one set during the time after the treaty was signed in Berlin. I did not realize how much I was learning from the fresh perspective as I went through these post-war experiences with the two sisters. Definitely recommended!
August 26, 2022
The pieces of this story felt disconnected. Vera acts like she is investigating her sisters arrest like she wasn't there. Its like her memory was wiped MIB style. Very strange. The pieces of this didn't come together for me.
October 20, 2022
This was an amazing lesson on the complicated history between Germany and Russia. Fascinating how living your beliefs can manifest in such different ways. Please please let’s discuss this one at book club!
July 11, 2022
What a fast paced and enjoyable historical fiction! I really enjoyed this one and really loved Maryas character and her story with Henry. Vera however... I'm not convinced on.
Defo recommend!
Defo recommend!
May 10, 2024
Audiobook and ebook combo.
I got annoyed about discrepancies in the two sisters stories until I realized that context matters - WHO they were talking to mattered as much as WHAT they were saying. That definitely made me feel more of an appreciation for this book.
I got annoyed about discrepancies in the two sisters stories until I realized that context matters - WHO they were talking to mattered as much as WHAT they were saying. That definitely made me feel more of an appreciation for this book.
October 18, 2022
This novel is the compelling tale of two sisters - Marya and Vera - in post-WWII Germany and the Soviet Union. Raised in the USSR, they both serve their country, but in different ways: Marya is an interpreter working with the Soviet military and Vera works for the secret police. When Marya starts a romantic relationship with a British officer, Vera warns her that what she's doing is dangerous, with consequences that will haunt the sisters for years to come. Overall, this novel was very compelling and kept me guessing throughout, as at least one sister is a somewhat unreliable narrator. Highly recommended for anyone interested in fiction set in the Soviet era.
October 31, 2024
This is the latest read for my family book club, a backlist historical fiction about two Russian sisters after WWII. The story flashes between their two perspectives, and between two timelines, immediately following the war, and in the 1950s.
I enjoyed the setting and context of this story, as it felt different from a lot of other WWII books, since it was set adjacent to that time period, not during. I’m always super interested in Russian history, the idea of spies, that kind of thing. So overall those were all really positive elements but the writing here frustrated me a bit. There’s such a big inconsistency throughout that kept me scratching my head, literally saying to myself, what am I reading??? How did this get past an editor? In the end it was all explained and this thing that was bugging me was intentional, but I just didn’t like it! I think my book club members (my aunties) are going to be so perplexed! It will be a good discussion.
I enjoyed the setting and context of this story, as it felt different from a lot of other WWII books, since it was set adjacent to that time period, not during. I’m always super interested in Russian history, the idea of spies, that kind of thing. So overall those were all really positive elements but the writing here frustrated me a bit. There’s such a big inconsistency throughout that kept me scratching my head, literally saying to myself, what am I reading??? How did this get past an editor? In the end it was all explained and this thing that was bugging me was intentional, but I just didn’t like it! I think my book club members (my aunties) are going to be so perplexed! It will be a good discussion.
January 8, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot. I really liked the interwoven stories of the sisters. It’s not fully clear what the true story is at the end but in a good way. I wish there had been more about what was happening in the Soviet Union during the Revolution. This story mostly takes place in postwar Germany which I wasn’t expecting. Other than that, good historical fiction.
October 22, 2025
This was an overall interesting and enjoyable book. The ending was good. I find the Cold War and the Soviet Union to be a fascinating topic and this one was a neat take. That said, it was confusingly written. The contradictions between stories was very hard to reconcile and made it hard to follow the plot.
July 16, 2022
Intense and complicated. I struggled a bit to stay on course with all the cross, double cross, triple cross intrigue but found it was a satisfying historical novel of a time period I didn't know much about.
August 31, 2022
Another great read by Anika Scott!
September 27, 2022
Interesting look at how your upbringing affects your prejudices and how just one encounter can turn your opinions on their head. Both sisters think they are doing the right thing
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August 20, 2024Interesting. I'd didn't like some aspects of character development.
June 1, 2025
The title was maybe the best part of this book! I was a little lost in the question of who was saying what to whom and when. But a solid Cold War story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews