MURDER OF THE ROMANOVS, THE [Hardcover]

Andrew Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2010

Based on exclusive access to MI5 documents and newly discovered Russian papers, the true fate of the Romonovs - the entire family was executed.

Finally discredits the long-held claim that Princess Anastasia and her brother Alexei survived the massacre with the aid of the recently conducted DNA forensic tests on bone fragments discovered in July 2007.

Brand new research including recently conducted ballistic tests designed to verify the claims made in the secret accounts left by the executioners of the Romanov family.

Draws on the written recollections and reports of MI5 agent Captain Francis McCullagh, who posing as an insurance rep, tracked down Yakov Yurovsky (the KGB officer who supervised the execution and burning of the bodies) and interviewed him.

The overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Imperial family is a cause ce'le'bre of 20th century history. Andrew Cook's reinvestigation of the story finally solves one of the greatest mysteries of world history. The author draws upon new forensic evidence and newly discovered British and Russian Secret Service records reveal the truth about the family's murder, the proposed British rescue of the Imperial family led by Major Stephen Alley, and the Secret Service mission inside Russia after the family's reported deaths to discover the truth about their fate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Andrew Cook is a brilliant investigative historian' ANDREW ROBERTS Finally discredits the long-held claim that Princess Anastasia and her brother Alexei survived the massacre with the aid of the recently conducted DNA forensic tests on bone fragments discovered in July 2007. Brand new research including recently conducted ballistic tests designed to verify the claims made in the secret accounts left by the executioners of the Romanov family. Draws on the written recollections and reports of MI5 agent Captain Francis McCullagh, who posing as an insurance rep, tracked down Yakov Yurovsky (the KGB officer who supervised the execution and burning of the bodies) and interviewed him.

About the Author

Andrew Cook is a critically acclaimed historian, author and TV presenter. He has also been presenter and historical consultant on a number of hugely successful Channel 4 documentaries including The Riddle of the Romanovs, Prince Eddy: The King We Never Had, Three Kings at War and Who Killed Rasputin? in the BBC Timewatch strand. His other books include Ace of Spies ('A myth-shattering tour de force' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE; 'Makes poor 007 look like a bit of a wuss' THE MAIL ON SUNDAY), M: MI5's First Spymaster ('A brilliantly researched biography' STELLA RIMINGTON; 'Serious spook-history' ANDREW ROBERTS) and To Kill Rasputin ('If you thought you knew how Rasputin met his end and who was responsible, think again' ANDREW ROBERTS). He lives in Bedfordshire.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Amberley (March 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1848681038
• ISBN-13: 978-1848681033
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good read, May 8, 2010

By 

N. Wills "netascha" (sydney NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MURDER OF THE ROMANOVS, THE (Hardcover)

I sat down and read this book in one night. I had bought this book as a I thought it was going to contain a breakthrough in the Romanov story (the topic of my Honours thesis) I was however sadly disappointed. While it was good to read it was altogether too short, it lacked depth and detail. Cook glossed over various details of the execution and bungled disposal of the bodies present in the works of other Romanov historians like Edvard Radzinsky or Helen Rappaport. Further the main attraction of the book - the MI5 aspect and the tracking down of Yurovsky was more than disappointing, the interview with the head executioner was only briefly mentioned and when it appeared in the appendix it was easy to see why, yes the interviewer had met him but had not actually even talked to him about the execution - so I am not quite sure how it was supposed to further our knowledge about the execution. One good aspect of the book though is that it is one, if not the only book published about the Romanovs since the discovery of Alexi and Anastasia (or Marie) in 2007, and as such it features the DNA proof that the remains were the Romanovs. Plese find this is also not a well edited book with several punctuation mistakes and spelling errors (including names inconsistently spelt) and the Journal articles in the bibliography are missing issue numbers

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, June 17, 2010

By 

Bill Durning (Bothell, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MURDER OF THE ROMANOVS, THE (Hardcover)

No really new information here and several mistakes that make me wonder about how well researched and editied this book was. Author claims Anna Anderson said she was in Berlin looking for Nicholas's sister Irinia. Nicholas did not have a sister Irinia and it was actually Alexandra's sister Princess Irene of Prussia that Anna Anderson claimed to be looking for in Berlin. Author also claims Nicholas was a second son. He was first born son but had a younger brother, Alexander, die at less than a year old. Author refers to Prince Ioann as a Grand Duke - kind of a big deal since Ioann was first Romanov effected by Alexander III's decree that only sons & grandsons were entiltied to Grand Duke title. Also incorrect date for a well know picture of Nicholas, Alexandra and their daughters - Anastasia is a baby and Alexandra is dressed in mourning for Queen Victoria. I have read almost every Romanov book available and I found this one disappointing

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Their Majesties deserve better than this, August 23, 2010

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Paul Chapman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: MURDER OF THE ROMANOVS, THE (Hardcover)

I couldn't bring myself to finish this book. In the first few chapters, I found a number of glaring mistakes - Nicholas, as has been noted by another reviewer, did not have a sister named Irina; Khodynka Field disaster took place after the Coronation in 1896, not after the wedding in 1894, and other mistakes earlier reviews have already remarked. I'm not sure why the book starts by discussing Anna Anderson, already an acknowledged hoax. Cook wrote that Alexei, because of his haemophilia, was not allowed to swim or play in the water, but in the photo section, there is a picture of Alexei doing exactly that. I also noted an error in the photo section - Cook identified Alexei as one of the grand duchesses, while dressed in his uniform with medals, and very short hair. By the middle of chapter three, I didn't think it was worth going further. Even if there is 'new information' that is accurate, how could the reader tell? There are so many errors. There is no bibliography, so no way to verify anything. I am also curious to know why this book is coming out NOW, so long after the bodies of the Romanovs have been found and identified.

I think the Romanovs deserve better than this.