Black Sun

Alexander Vasin #1

by Owen Matthews

For fans of Red Sparrow and Child 44 comes a chilling and cinematic thriller set in 1961 in one of the most secretive locations in Soviet history. Ten days before the test of largest nuclear device in history, a KGB officer must investigate the murder of one of the architects of the bomb, and unravel a conspiracy that could set the world on fire.

It is the dawn of the 1960s. In order to investigate the gruesome death of a brilliant, young physicist, KGB officer Major Alexander Vasin must leave Moscow for Arzamas-16, a top-secret research city that does not appear on any map.
There he comes up against the brightest, most cut-throat brain-trust in Russia who, on the orders of Nikita Khrushchev himself, are building the largest nuclear bomb ever created. RDS-220 is a project of such vital national importance that, unlike everyone else in the Soviet Union, the scientists of Arzamas-16 are free to think and act, live and love as they wish...as long as they complete the project, and build the most powerful nuclear device ever known.
With intricately plotted machinations, secrets and surveillance, corrupt politicos and puppet masters in the Politburo, and one devastating weapon, Owen Matthews has crafted a timely, terrific, and fast-paced thriller set at the height--and in the heart--of Soviet power.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Russia, Crime, Espionage

398 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2019

About the author

Owen Matthews is a British writer, historian and journalist. His first book, Stalin's Children, was shortlisted for the 2008 Guardian First Books Award, the Orwell Prize for political writing, and France's Prix Medicis Etranger. His books have been translated into 28 languages. He is a former Moscow and Istanbul Bureau Chief for Newsweek Magazine. Matthews has lectured on Russian history and politics at Columbia University's Harriman Centre, St Antony's College Oxford, and the Journalism Faculty of Moscow State University.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on real events, ‘Black Sun’ and its subject matter of the construction of the biggest ever thermonuclear bomb, is both complex and frightening, but Owen Matthews’ debut novel is so beautifully written, that it’s as if his words come sugar frosted, and were lovingly devoured.

The year is 1961, - Arzamas-16 is a secret city in the Middle Volga, within the Soviet Union, where the residents appear to have all the freedoms of the West - well stocked shops, modern comfortable apartments - they’re able to read whatever literature they like, a privilege that would have been forbidden in other parts of Russia, and they can listen to music from all around the world. However, this is still the Cold War period, and beneath that outward display of normality, is the fact that the scientists and engineers in Arzamas are working on a thermonuclear bomb, RDS-220 - the likes of which has never been seen before - the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is nothing compared to this one, and it’s just 9 days to countdown!

Former Criminal Detective, Major Alexander Vasin of the KGB Special Cases Dept, arrives in Arzamas to investigate the death of a young scientist, Fyador Petrov, who’s father is an academician and a man of influence in Moscow. The official line is that Fyador committed suicide by means of Thallium poisoning, but Vasin thinks differently, he suspects that the top brass are trying to hide something, and their resulting interference leaves Vasin thwarted at every turn. He’s not going to give up that easily though, he may be KGB, but he’s an honest and decent man who likes to see justice served. The tension mounts as his investigations lead him ever nearer to the truth about Petrov. In addition, the nerve shredding countdown to the nuclear test begins.

Though fairly slow paced, it was definitely worth sticking with - its portrayal of the arms race in the Soviet Union, and the geopolitical tension between them and the United States, gives the reader a real flavour of just what a drab, dreary and scary place this was, with its secrets, its accusations, the constant surveillance, and a history of wrongful imprisonments, which guaranteed power in controlling and instilling fear in the general population.

Beautifully written, very authentic, with a perfect blend of fact and fiction.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my ARC. I have given an honest

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owen Matthews's debut novel is a historical thriller, a superb blend of fact and fiction, set in 1961 in a secret scientific research town in the Middle Volga, Arzamas-16, where there are no shortages, and where the residents are allowed to think, act, live, love as they want, free to read anything, listen to any music, in a Soviet Union at the height of its power. This is a book I read with increasing horror, it terrified the living daylights out of me, where leading scientists and engineers under the direction of Professor Yury Adamov, are 9 days from the insanity of testing the most powerful thermonuclear bomb in the world in the Arctic, the RDS-220, a vital national project instigated by Khrushchev himself. One of the architects of the bomb, Fyodor Petrov, has died from radioactive thallium poisoning, a death the town authorities have deemed suicide. However, Petrov has an influential father in Moscow, so KGB Major Alexander Vasin from the Special Cases department arrives to investigate.

Vasin is a honest and intelligent man who believes in justice, an anomaly in the most corrupt of systems that thrives on fear, shame, treachery, surveillance, false denunciations, lies, abuse of power, and the everyday acceptance of killings. A system and state that unashamedly preys on an individual's weaknesses and transgressions. Vasin is plagued by his own flaws, he has been sleeping with his boss's wife, which he knows if discovered, will be the end of him, a violation of property, propriety, hierarchy and respect. Vasin is brushed off by everyone, the imperious Adamov is more interested in ensuring the success of the experimental bomb, and General Zaitsev, an old school Soviet butcher, will countenance no investigation of a suicide caused by poisoning and French existentialism. Vasin is forced to pull in the big guns from Moscow, his much feared boss, General Orlov, in an investigation where he is surrounded by a pattern of dangerous conceits, the testing of a bomb with the capacity to annihilate mankind, secrets, intrigue, forbidden love and where dead men tell whatever tales the living place in their lifeless mouths.

Matthews superbly evokes the atmosphere of this specific Russian historical period with skill and expertise, the culture, the machinations, a General Orlov consigning the sins of the ruling classes into his steel lined safe, and the scientists who spent many of their best years in the gulags, building an experimental bomb intended to bring world peace. The author has his own personal links to the story he tells, based on the reality of a bomb designed by the well known Andrei Sakharov. Sakharov, who turned his back on the obscene concept of creating a black sun on earth, campaigning against atmospheric nuclear testing, implacable in his fierce battles against the Soviet authorities, losing almost everything, and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. A superior, brilliant and thrilling magnetic novel that horrifies, educates, informs and entertains whilst taking the reader into the heart of 1960s Russia. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the real story of the building of the powerful nuclear bomb ever in the USSR in 1961, this is a brilliantly immersive and suspenseful thriller.

In a secret town, called Arzamas-16 soviet scientists are building a hydrogen bomb, RDS-220, projected to be at least five thousand times as powerful as the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. The best scientists have been assembled under the leadership of Professor Yury Adamov (based on the famous Andrei Sakharov who lead the real project) and nothing is spared in their quest to complete the project. Unlike the rest of the USSR, there are no food shortages and Western literature, appliances and furniture all make life a little more comfortable for them.

When one of the scientists is found dead of (radioactive) poisoning by the thallium he was working with, the local KGB wants to write it off as a suicide. However, his powerful father insists on a thorough investigation and Major Alexander Vasin from Moscow's KGB Special cases is sent in to investigate.

Matthews has powerfully brought to life this period of post-Stalinist Russia with it's culture of paranoia and distrust. With a Russian mother and having been a journalist as well as bureau chief for Newsweek in Russia for ten years (2006-16), he has a good feel for Russian culture and history and the novel has a feeling of authenticity, particularly in the way that Vasin is treated by the local town KGB and those in charge of the project as they keep information from him and try to feed him misinformation. Many of the older scientists are scarred and hardened by time spent in the gulags or, if they were lucky, in the secret research labs (sharashka) within the gulags, and nothing is going to get in the way of completing and testing the bomb.

Vasin is an interesting character and the most likeable of the cast. An ex-policeman, he is relatively new to the KGB and unusually is more interested in finding out the truth than accepting a convenient explanation for the death. He is smart and intuitive at reading people and clever enough to evade those watching him when required. However, he is flawed and has his own weaknesses that may be the undoing of his career. Matthews has promised us a trilogy so I'm certainly looking forward to meeting Vasin again.

***********************************************
Some facts about RDS-220 provided by the author in his endnote (it's worth reading this to note how well the facts about the final design of the bomb fit with the fictional plot):

On 30 October 1961, 11.30am the bomb was dropped from a specially adapted plane at an altitude of 10,500m over Mityushka Bay in the Novaya Zemlya archipeligo in the Arctic ocean.
The evacuated village of Sverny, 55 km from ground zero was totally destroyed. The heat was strong enough to cause third degree burns 100 km away, the shock wave broke windows in Norway and Finland, 900 km away and registered in America and Japan as 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Estimated at 4000 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb, Andrei Sakharov refused to work on another device and was instrumental in the eventual total ban on atmospheric nuclear testing, with the US and USSR signing the first nuclear test ban in 1963.

Here's a link to a BBC article for more information: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20...

With many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for a copy of the novel to read

[Berengaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

short review for busy readers:
High tension Cold War spy story based on real events and people. Great atmosphere, not only of Cold War paranoia, but also of the Russian winter, towns and history (like the Battle of Leningrad and Stalin's purges).

in detail:
Despite his English sounding name, Owen Matthews is half-Russian and an expert for Eastern European history and politics. He also was the head journalist at a news magazine in Moscow for a decade.

That personal experience lends an air of intense realism to the proceedings in "Black Sun". Everything it touchable. The weather, the landscape, the darkness, the empty railway stations, the sober Soviet apartment blocks, the itchiness of the KGB uniform, the 1950s science labs and the cramped offices of powerful men known for their ruthlessness...and amount of murders they've committed without fear of consequences.

The story itself is about the development of the Soviet nuclear programme and atomic weapons cache. What the Politburo wanted and what scientists were able -- or willing -- to deliver.

One thing that really stands out in this novel vs other Cold War intrigues, is that ALL the characters are deeply flawed. None of them are good people, but they all believe they are doing good for their cause -- be that cause the glory of the USSR, science, world peace or the love of an individual. There are no real heroes here, but they all are in their own minds. That's an interesting set up for conflict! Ideals, not politics.

Two things lessened the otherwise good experience for me.

Matthews spends far too much time getting the reader to understand how difficult these people's lives were. How dangerously nonsensical, hypocritical and false life in Stalin and Khrushchev’s Russia was. He almost begs the reader to not judge the characters or their behaviour, but understand they could hardly have done otherwise given the circumstances.

All fine and good, but he does this at length and at the expense of plot and clear motivation.

And secondly -- speaking of motivation -- is that I could accuse the novel of a well done form of the trope "kill your gays".

The USSR and even Russia today was/is extremely homophobic, so any discovery of homosexuality in 1961 would have painted a target on that person's head. Let's not gloss over that. But when the only two murdered men are the only two gay characters? Seems too much inside that trope

All-in-all, for a series opener, this one does what it does with bells on, but there is still a good amount of room for improvement with the rest of the series.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel is set in the Soviet Union in 1961, during the Cold War. Major Alexander Vasin of the KGB is sent to Arzamas-16, a secret city, to investigate a murder. At the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics, they are building a bomb. Their scientists, their greatest minds, are kept in isolation. They have a comfortable life, by the standards that Vasin experiences in Moscow; from well stocked shops to Motown records, the residents are kept in secluded comfort. However, when a young scientist, Fyodor Petrov, apparently commits suicide by Thallium poisoning, Vasin is sent to discover what happened and placate Petrov’s influential father.

This is an interesting thriller, set in a fascinating era and with an unusual setting. Vasin is a man who believes in justice, but who is not in control of either the situation in Arzamas, or, indeed, in his home life. Vasin fears losing his beloved son, as his marriage falls apart, and struggles to carry out his investigation with the local bigwig, Major General Zaitsev, and his sidekick, Efremov, being less than helpful. Still, Vasin is unconvinced that Petrov killed himself and is sure that a murderer lurks among the scientific community.

With this novel, Matthews realises very well the Soviet era of 1961, and the ghosts of the past that refuse to go away. Denunciations, accusations, secrets, observers, eavesdroppers, whispers and the shadow of the gulag, lie heavily over Arzamas and the characters of this book. I hope this will become a series and look forward to reading the next novel, featuring Vasin.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μια ιστορία για την κατασκευή και τη δοκιμή του ισχυρότερου πυρηνικού όπλου που κατασκευάστηκε ποτέ. Στη βάση της, διακρίνουμε το πού μπορεί να οδηγηθεί η ανθρωπότητα εξαιτίας της μισαλλοδοξίας, της πολιτικής κόντρας, της κόντρας για την ανωτερότητα των φύλων και των φυλών κλπ κλπ.Αναζητήστε τα πραγματικά γεγονότα στο διαδίκτυο, αν δεν τα γνωρίζετε ήδη, και πάρτε μια γεύση για το τέρας που κρύβουμε μέσα μας.
Συγκλονιστικό σαν ιστορ��α, λίγο στο κομμάτι της αφήγησης δεν τα βρήκαμε.
3/5

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always excited to read the work of an author new to me, I reached for this series debut by Owen Matthews. A stunning novel told from the Russian perspective at the height of the Cold War, Matthews depicts the building of a massive nuclear weapon and its testing, a warning to the West that the USSR is ready to play the game. While the Soviets build Arzamas, there is an apparent murder that requires investigation by a keen Major Alexander Vasin. Matthews impresses with this series debut that has me eager to reach for the next novel.

It’s 1961 and Soviet Russia is working on a top secret program in a city that has no official name. It goes by ‘Arzamas-16’ and is filled with scientists who are working on a nuclear bomb that is much more powerful than Hiroshima and will certainly ensure the West knows the USSR is ready to enter the weapons game. The isolation of the locale keeps everything highly secret and provides those who work an uninterrupted chance to make valuable progress.

Mere days before the bomb’s testing, a physicist is found dead. What looks like a possible accident is soon deemed intentional, as the levels of radioactivity are off the charts. While locals hope to chalk it up to suicide, Moscow is not sure and wants a full investigation before any testing moves forward. Nothing can go wrong and no blockades are permitted.

The KGB sends Major Alexander Vasin to investigate. He learns all about Arzamas and its power, which he cannot ignore. While there are certainly issues taking place in this small community, Vasin learns that it is a free-for-all, one that allows most anything so that nothing will stand in the way of this important bomb test, even a murder. What follows is a tense and well-paced investigation that reveals a great deal, while testing the mettle of those involved. Owen Matthews develops an addictive opening novel that begs for more!

While I have read a number of Cold War thrillers, most come from the perspective of the West and its ability to cage the Soviet bear. However, Owen Matthews seeks to differ greatly with this series and this novel paves the way. The narrative delivers a punch and keeps the reader on edge until everything comes together, pushing the limits of what can be predicted and that which actually takes place, all under the Soviet perspective. The characters are well-presented and offer their own non-Western flavouring, which will surely be key to the series’ larger arc. Plot points match history’s documented happenings with some of Matthews’ own ideas. The reader is brought through a great adventure and is teased with some more that awaits them in Owen Matthews’ next novel.

Kudos Mr. Matthews, for a great start to a series that is sure to pack a punch.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[J TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Competente com prosa fluida e cativante.
Uma história alicerçada em factos reais, que o autor soube utilizar de forma credível e bem urdida. A construção da personagem Vasin é que não me parece estar ao nível da trama. De alguma maneira o autor quis construir uma personagem, um herói que não é herói mas também não é anti-herói nem “underdog”, é uma entidade vaga que fica demasiado polida, diria mesmo, sem adjetivos. Nota-se na descrição dos vícios e pecados de Vasin demasiada retração do autor. Conteve-se. Não fora isso e seria um 5⭐️. Espero que as duas sequelas que se lhe seguem, pelo menos, mantenham o nível e que a composição de Vasin fique mais credível. Para já Owen Matthews é um bom historiador mas fica aquém como escritor. Basta ler dele “O Espião Perfeito”. Que grande livro.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cold War historical mystery set in a secret USSR nuclear weapons research center. Very slow-paced, with mediocre character development. Disappointing.

[Rob Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love books like "Gorky Park" by Martin Cruz Smith, then this book is for you. I have read the Arkady Renko novels and this is so reminiscent of one. There is the tension of constantly being watched by your comrades and the Cold War pressure of the Arms Race. Our investigator is Major Alexander Vasin of State Security, Special Cases Branch. Vasin was a former Moscow Police Detective and unlike most of his colleagues, he likes to get to the truth. Some officers in the KGB and Police are only interested in quickly closing cases with the convenient answers. Vasin digs into them for the detailed explanation.

Vasin is sent to Arzamas to investigate the suicide of a prominent Party member's son. Dr. Petrov was working on a new hydrogen bomb that will have a 100 megaton yield. He is suddenly found dead in his apartment from exposure to a radioactive isotope. While this the evidence points to suicide, Vasin is not convinced and has to tread lightly in this highly secretive city. There is delicate balance of things that are tolerated in Arzamas and asking questions during a highly sensitive weapon's test taking place in ten days is not one of them. I won't reveal any more of the plot so as not to spoil the fun. Check it out! It's worth it.

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Distinctly average, in my view; the story itself, which is entirely horrifying, could have done without the derivative, one-dimensional cast of characters and the contrived "action" scenes, in particular the utterly unbelievable tussle on the top of the cinema and the final, Bond-esque shootout within the bowels of the laboratory.

[Anneka Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise of a murder mystery set in Soviet Russia during the Cold War, but was a massive slog with boring characters. Does not pass the Bechdel test. I would rather read non fiction about this subject I think

[Ric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was slow at times, but I still greatly enjoyed it. The fact that it was based on true events made it that much more interesting. It was a crazy mystery on the surface, but had some great commentary on the Cold War and nuclear weaponry. The characters all seemed pretty one dimensional, but I did like the writing style. 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Anima Miejska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, gripping, well-structured plot, and, what I like about books most, peppered with informative details!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by the Soviet Union (I visited it a couple of times and both were extraordinary and fantastic experiences) and I was drawn to this. It's based on a true story, which makes the setting and premise all the more horrifying. I found the prose a little clinical and cold (perhaps not surprising considering it's set in Russia's frozen north) and my attention did stray a little in the second half, but overall this is a clever, thought-provoking and very disturbing Cold War thriller. 3.5 stars rounded up. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[είναι η θεία Κούλα · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ καλό ήταν αυτό ρε! Δεν το περίμενα. Θέλω κι άλλο τέτοιο, ξέρεις κανένα άλλο τέτοιο;
Πολεμικός ανταποκριτής με Ρωσίδα μαμά (ορφανό του β πολέμου) και Άγγλο μπαμπά, ο συγγραφέας πήρε μια αληθινή ιστορία κι έκανε φουλ σασπενσφουλ μυθιστόρημα.
Μπομπα.
Για μπομπα λέει.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthews gives us a well thought out mystery with an interesting local and complex characters . This is the first in what promises to be a very good series .

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ο Βασιν αποστέλλεται σε μια μυστική πόλη στην Ρωσία που κατασκευάζουν μια ισχυρή βόμβα , να διερευνήσει τον θάνατο ενός νεαρού επιστήμονα από δηλητηρίαση από ακτινοβολία.Τι έγινε πραγματικά? Ποιοι ευθύνονται?
Δεν θα σας κρύψω τον ενθουσιασμό μου , μόλις παρέλαβα το βιβλίο αυτό , μια ιστορία βασισμένη σε αληθινά γεγονότα και κάτω από το πέπλο της παλιάς αυστηρής Σοβιετικής Ένωσης . Εάν αναζητείται έναν εξαιρετικό συνδυασμό ιστορίας και μυθοπλασίας είστε στο σωστό μέρος . Πράγματι «Ο Μαύρος Ήλιος» είναι ένα ενδιαφέρον πολιτικό θρίλερ με έξυπνη και ανατρεπτική πλοκή . Από τις πρώτες σελίδες είναι καθηλωτικό .

Μέσα από την θαυμάσια μετάφραση ο συγγραφέας μας κάνει ένα με την ιστορία . Οι παραστατικές περιγραφές μας τοποθετούν αβίαστα στον χρόνο και τόπο του ήρωα , ενώ οι συμπεριφορές και δράσεις των ηρώων μας ολοκληρώνουν την εικόνα της εποχής . Σε όλη την ανάγνωση δεν εφησιχαζομαστε καθόλου καθώς η πολυπλοκότητα της ιστορίας είναι γεμάτη μυστικισμό και σασπένς .

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the secret city of Arzamas-16, the Soviet Union's best and brightest nuclear scientists, technicians and engineers are putting the finishing touches on the most deadly weapon ever devised by humankind. Less than two weeks before the most powerful thermonuclear bomb in history is slated to be tested in October 1961, one of those bright young scientists is found dead, having ingested enough thallium to kill thousands. The local authorities hurry to declare the death a suicide and move on with their work, but KGB Major Alexander Vasin is ordered by his superiors in Moscow to take a closer look. Determined to find the truth despite his the locals attempting to obstruct his investigations and the high stakes project he is warned he might be putting at risk, he continues to dig.

Gripping, brutal and very well plotted - an excellent blend of fact and fiction with truly scary implications.

[Susan Doherty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish it. Got about halfway through and just couldn’t be bothered with it anymore. I guess I just got bored with it. And to be honest, non-fiction about Russia is much more interesting and gripping these days than any fiction written about Russia. The book really had nothing new to say.

[Rita Costa (Lusitania Geek) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books has all the ingredients of a good historical thriller: based on true story, Soviet Russia, KGB, nuclear weapons and it’s very intriguing suspenseful!

Well worth the reading and it was in a good price on Amazon when I bought it, only for 5.00€ ! I truly recommend if you are historical thriller novel, based on true events.

5 ⭐️

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dose of historical realism, warts-and-all, from the era of the early 60s Soviet Cold War. Fascinating, compelling, disgusting, and depressing in equal measures, one truly wonders how generations of people survived in this country across the decades of the 20th century. It's held back from a 5 star rating by having a flabby second act...my editing eye would have removed 20 to 50 extraneous pages.

[Linnea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wish I had dnf’d this book. But I did also use my own money to purchase a physical copy, so I kept on reading.

The main character is a cheating asshole, all the men in the book are assholes pretty much, the women are only there to be sexual objects and the story was boring.

The ending was also boring. I’m bored. If this puts me in a reading slump I’ll be sad.

[Vicky Ziliaskopoulou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Κοίτα τώρα. Σαν θέμα μου άρεσε πολύ, το ίδιο και η χωρική και χρονική τοποθέτηση της ιστορίας. Μου άρεσαν πολύ οι περιγραφές της ζωής στο Αρζαμάς (την κρυφή τοποθεσία όπου οι καλύτεροι μηχανικοί της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης δημιουργούν την ισχυρότερη βόμβα που έχει υπάρξει ποτέ), όπως και όσα ελάχιστα στοιχεία δίνει για τη ζωή εκείνη την εποχή. Από τις ελάχιστες γνώσεις που έχω στην πυρηνική τεχνολογία δεν βρήκα κάποιο λάθος που να βγάζει μάτι στα όσα γράφει για την λειτουργία της βόμβας, και μάλιστα νομίζω ότι τα εξηγεί με πολύ απλό τρόπο- οπότε οι αδαείς σαν εμένα θα μάθετε και πέντε πράγματα.
Το πρόβλημα ήταν στο αστυνομικό κομμάτι της ιστορίας που το βρήκα αρκετά βαρετό. Μάλιστα, ενώ διάβασα το πρώτο μισό (και λίγο παραπάνω) πολύ γρήγορα, το υπόλοιπο μου πήρε πάνω από βδομάδα επειδή δδν είχα καμία περιέργεια να δω τι γίνεται και βαριόμουν να το διαβάσω. Τέλος πάντων, το τελείωσα.

[Fin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. (Updated 9/12/2024).

1961 - A nuclear bomb five thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima is being developed in an unknown city deep in Russia which is not marked on any map. Nothing gets in the way of the project!

Fyodor Petrov is found dead in a suspected suicide - Alexander Vasin is set to investigate.

A very detailed investigation ensures... The long chapters may put some people off due to the linear nature of the writing, but I loved the whole craftsmanship of the book.

I look forward to what Owen Matthews gets Vasin involved in next :).

[Carrie-Anne O'Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did an excellent job of narrating the cold war and the fear it instilled within those in Russia. The clandestine decisions that were common in the era are brought to light in a realistic fashion.


Very well written and easy to follow. Highly recommended.

[Brian Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book that took me a little while to get into but in the end was worth the effort. Vasin is sent to a secret town in Russia that is building a bomb so powerful, it will make the thought of war unpalatable. He works the key players off each other and treads lightly as he works to uncover whether an apparent suicide was instead murder. He uncovers secrets and works to make sure him own secrets and kept hidden. A worthy read for those who like books from the Russian point of view about the start of the arms race.
Thank you Owen Matthews, Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC for my honest review.

[Dustin Lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owen Matthews's Black Sun follows Major Alexander Vasin as he investigates the apparent suicide of a scientist at a secret Soviet nuclear research facility. Throughout his investigation, Vasin questions whether it's possible for men and women to be consistently good in an amoral or immoral society. With well-placed backstory, unexpected friendships and attractions, and the myriad pressures of being a member of a post-Stalinist KGB which nonetheless carries the previous generation's scars, Matthews layers Vasin's conflicts to create an entertaining and compelling historical thriller that does not hide from the contradictions—nor the virtues—inherent in its central characters.

Vasin's internal struggles parallel the concrete need to uncover the circumstances surrounding young Fyodor Petrov's gruesome death-by-radiation-poisoning while evading the official forces trying to place roadblocks in his way. Whether the brute authority of General Zaitsev and his secret police or the contemptuous erudition of Professor Adamov, the forces of the secret facility Arzamas-16 seek to halt Vasin's investigation through the strangling officialdom of Soviet Russia—in which, to their chagrin, Vasin is himself a professional.

Matthews' family relations and his background as a Moscow bureau chief for Newsweek provides an intimate and well-researched setting for Vasin's experience, not only in the meticulous bureaucracy that encourages the maintenance of palatable lies but in the chronic need to keep at least one eye over one's shoulder. Counting day-by-day up to the test of an untried and unprecedented nuclear device, the story's structure leads up to a climax that is worth the steadily building conflicts of the preceding chapters. Whether for the thrill of Vasin's investigation, the historically immersive setting, or the ironic dark humor that provides the only medium for such a subject matter, Matthews' work is an excellent read.

[Mohan Pillay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating whodunnit from deep in Central Russia, set in a city so secret it doesn’t appear on any maps. With the Cold War of the 1960s as a backdrop, Owen Mathews brings an utterly convincing authenticity to Russian bureaucracy and politics born of 10 years in Moscow as Newsweek bureau chief. Inspired by true events involving the Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, Mathews’ tale opens with the painful death of a young scientist working on a secret nuclear device. Suicide as the city authorities insist or a cleverly orchestrated murder? The flawed protagonist KGB Major Vasin is forced to pit his wits against the brilliant, eccentric and untouchable Scientists involved on a project of such great national importance, that nothing must be allowed to interfere with their work - even the KGB struggles to assert its authority in this strange city. Matthews writes with a keen observer’s eye and a gift for some enviable turns of phrases. This is that rare thriller - a good well paced but unhurried mystery, with enough splashes of literary flair to relish not just the intricate plot, but some fine writing.

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb for Matthews Black Sun totally drew me in. It sounded like it would be an action packed thriller.

I was definitely enticed by the blurb I read for Owen Matthews’ Black Sun. It sounded like it was going to be a white knuckle page turner of a thriller. While there were some intense moment, especially at the end, for the most part the story rolled along without much drama. There was a considerable amount of technical information and to Matthews’ credit he had the characters explain a lot of what it meant. I found the information on uranium and its various make up fascinating. The tone of the story, Matthews’ story telling voice, lends itself strongly to the overall idea of what I thought Russia, the USSR, was like growing up—cold, dark, dreary—and that was the people.