Customer Reviews

The Secret Speech

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Let me start off by saying that The Secret Speech is not quite as good as Child 44 -- BUT it is a very good historical thriller and definitely well worth reading. Tom Rob Smith's second novel takes places in 1956, post-Stalin Soviet Union. During this time a violent regime is beginning to come apart, resulting in a society where the police are the criminals and the criminals are the innocent. The "firecracker" during this period is when a secret document based on a speech by Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, is distributed throughout the nation. The basic theme of Khrushchev's message is that Stalin was a murderer and a tyrant, and that life in the Soviet Union will improve. The plot of The Secret Speech moves from the streets of Moscow during its political upheaval, to the Siberian gulags and to the heart of the Hungarian uprising in Budapest. Central to the plot is former state security officer, Leo Demidov, the hero of Smith's Child 44. Demidov is now the head of Moscow's homicide department, and while striving to see justice done, his life is in turmoil due to trying to build a life with his wife, Raisa, and their adopted daughters who have yet to forgive him for his role in the death of their parents. On top of this personal turmoil, Demidov and his family are in serious danger from someone with a grudge against him. The Secret Speech is an exciting, visceral, well-written page-turner from beginning to end that paints a vivid picture of the post-Stalinist Soviet Union at its onset. Further, as was also true in Child 44, Smith's characters are richly developed and are ones that this reader felt he got to know well. I should point out that The Secret Speech isn't flawless, although none of these flaws are major. Perhaps, the biggest of these minor flaws is that some of the plot developments are somewhat too coincidental and a bit far-fetched. But this book is fiction, after all, and these minor flaws do help to contribute to the book's excitement. In addition, I should point out that potential readers of The Secret Speech would highly benefit from reading Child 44 first. Enjoy!

Tom Rob Smith's second novel, "The Secret Speech", is an action-packed thriller set in the Soviet Bloc at the start of its post-Stalinist era. Rather than provide a run-of-the-mill East-versus-West spy story, however, Smith has chosen to use the de-Stalinisation programme of the early Khrushchev years and the events of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 as a setting for an exciting and engaging action drama. The main protagonist, Leo Demidov, is a former MGB (secret police) agent who, while attempting to atone for his earlier life and his role in the Stalinist purges, and also to provide a normal family home for his wife and two adopted daughters -- children orphaned as a result of his own earlier denunciation of their parents -- suddenly finds himself at the centre of a brutal and far-reaching back-lash against former Stalinist supporters.

The action flows across the pages in a fast and furious fashion with never a dull moment, as Leo battles against both the odds and the system -- reminiscent sometimes of a Russian Jack Bauer -- to preserve the State and to protect both himself and his family from the villains of the piece. As a lively and engaging read, Smith cannot really be faulted, unless it is perhaps that he packs in rather too much action and adversity for the hero to face, with there being altogether too many close calls than are necessary to make a good story. After a while, the rhythm of crisis/progress/setback/success becomes so endlessly sustained as to become somewhat predictable, with many a cliché along the way. Hollywood will love it.

For me, the book's biggest failings are Smith's complete inability to present a credible picture of the austerity of Soviet life of those times, or to evoke any of the atmosphere of fear and paranoia which permeated all lives behind the Iron Curtain throughout the Cold War -- factors which would have rendered both the premise and the details of this story entirely implausible. Smith's USSR bears more resemblance to a Soviet Union under Gorbachev's Perestroika than that under Khrushchev. Try Gillian Slovo's "Ice Road" if you want to see how much better this could have been handled.

In addition, Smith's plot line is often unnecessarily wayward and feels to be unnaturally contorted by a design intended to string together certain set dramatic scenes, more than to serve any greater over-riding story arc, coupled with a lack of focus as to where the human drama really lies. The closing chapters depicting events in Budapest in October and November 1956, for instance, read like dramatised re-tellings of old newsreel footage; as if such were the inspiration for the story as a whole, with the back-story being bolted on simply to get us to this concluding set of scenes.

For those who care not one jot about the historical accuracy of their novels and who like the action to be thick and furious, this book is sufficiently well written to keep one entertained over a long-haul flight, or engrossed through several long evenings with nothing better to do. Lots of the book is somewhat silly, but no more so than, say, "The Da Vinci Code". The author does need a lesson or two about the physics of aircraft and flying, though, and could really do to learn to rein back his need for a new crisis every ten minutes but apart from these lapses, he sure can write a good read!

With Stalin's death in the mid '50s, the iron fisted regime in the Soviet Union was beginning to breakup. The ruthless KGB were now thought to be extremists and criminals while former criminals were currently considered oppressed and innocent. During this time, Stalin's successor, Khrushchev, distributes a secret speech claiming that Stalin was a tryant and Russia was going to change.

Before that change took place, Leo Demidov, pretended to be a follower of a man named Lazar and was also the lover of Lazar's wife, Anisya. When the time came, Leo betrayed Lazar and Anisya, forcing them to inform on many of their followers. Lazar and Anisya were sent to prison.

With the lessening of the harsh treatment of dissidents, Anisya is released. She has become a hardened criminal and takes on the gang name, Fraera. Her one mission in life is to gain revenge on Leo not only for his betrayal of her husband but for his dishonesty about loving her. Her gang kidnaps Leo's adopted daughter and she tells Leo that unless he can free her husband, she will kill Leo's daughter, Zoya.

The story moves to the Gulag where prisoners are still treated harshly and we read of Leo's plan to free Lazar. The description of how this is carried out is a scene that will remain in the reader's mind.

With an excellent sense of history and drama, the story unfolds, providing the reader with an enlightened view of the intrigue and deception in Russia and in Hungary in the mid 1950's.

Although, not quite up to the excellence of the author's first novel, "Child 44," this is still an excellent historical mystery. Leo Demidov is a well portrayed character who wins the reader's heart with his love of family and sense of justice.

"Child 44" was a very good novel, dealing with the dogged pursuit of a serial killer by investigator Leo Demidov in a 50s-era Soviet Union in which the very existence of such a thing as a serial killer could not be officially admitted, as it betrayed potential weakness in the "worker's Paradise".

Unfortunately, this sequel has nowhere near the entertainment value of the original.

First of all, there's absolutely no mystery in this book at all; no crime to be solved; nothing intriguing. At the end of "Child 44" Demidov and his wife Raisa had adopted two children, Elena and her older sister Zoya. This entire book revolves around Zoya acting badly!

She's a despicable, self-involved, self-indulgent, revolting brat who despises Leo for his involvement in the deaths of her parents. Leo and Raisa are the pitiful fools who persist in trying to win her love. She's kidnapped. They're desperate to get her back. Leo keeps making stupid decisions; so does Raisa. So does Zoya.

I wanted to smack all three of them upside the head. They're all irritating beyond words.

I found "Child 44" to be engaging because Leo had to buck the vast bureaucracy of the USSR to doggedly pursue an insane killer, and he managed to do so in spite of all the obstacles he was forced to overcome. Gone is the intrepid and capable Leo, replaced by this idiot who can't seem to get anything right.

This mess was basically an elaborate family squabble; a soap opera written against the backdrop of the time. I was bored to tears when I wasn't annoyed out of my mind with these stupid people.

I loved Child 44. A brilliant thriller. I bought Secret Speech with high expectations and they were met.... for the first half of the book. At this stage I have to assume the author either got fed up writing or handed over to some junior ghost writer. We are whisked off to Budapest and forced to endure for about 150 pages poorly written nonsense about the Hungarian Revolution which mostly entails chasing tanks up and down streets. A rubbish finish to what should have been another great book from this author.

I don't understand the reviewers who think Smith's second book is subpar. On the contrary, The Secret Speech is just as riveting as Child 44. There is just as much action in this sophmore effort, just as much in-depth character study, and as much well-researched historical detail and perspective as his debut novel. Smith has a winning formula and will hopefully stick with his main characters for his next book. I find Leo to be a superb action hero. He has a core of moral goodness and never-ending supply of stamina to endure the physical discomfort and pain to which he is regularly subjected. I loved it. It's like watching a Bourne movie but with the added depth of historical setting. I found Leo's superhuman capacity to endure injury wonderfully exciting and heart-poundingly fun. Raisa is also perfectly drawn: a woman who is slowly learning to trust, a quiet but strong heroine whose love is starting to solidify and grow for Leo. That relationship is also intriguing. Smith leaves us not quite satisfied, wanting more, eager for another story about these two well-drawn characters (as well as their "daughters") and their existence in this harrowing time in history. I'll buy any book he writes from now on. I've become a huge fan.

Tom Rob Smith's The Secret Speech is the sequel to his Child 44, in which Leo Demidov is a state security officer with the MGB (later called the KGB) in Stalin's Soviet Union. Leo gets to the bottom of a series of crimes, serial murders of children, at a time when murders were not talked about and denied because of the claim that there was less crime under Communism.

The Secret Speech is three years after the end of Child 44 with Leo, his wife, and their two adopted daughters. It is 1956, Stalin is gone, and Khrushchev has replaced him. Khrushchev is more liberal and criticizes Stalin's rule and tactics. And now the people who were persecuted, jailed, and tortured under Stalin are looking for revenge.

Although I wouldn't praise The Secret Speech as highly as I did Child 44, The Secret Speech is still fine historical fiction. It's a not-put-downable novel that is so well researched you might find it difficult to distinguish some fiction from fact.

I advise that you read Child 44 before you read The Secret Speech. You'll appreciate more the feelings of Leo's wife and daughters, which are key to understanding The Secret Speech.

Stuart Kaminsky's Porfiry Rostnikov series seems to have been retired, and Martin Cruz Smith isn't very prolific, so I'm always on the lookout for another Russian mystery series that lives up to the other two. CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith certainly fit the bill. THE SECRET SPEECH is Tom Rob Smith's second effort starring former secret police operative and homicide cop Leo Demidov.

THE SECRET SPEECH gets its name from a speech that Khrushchev circulated after the death of Stalin, denouncing his inhumane treatment of Russian citizens. Someone else is murdering former MGB operatives and Leo Demidov sets out to find out who's behind it. Meanwhile his adopted daughter, Zoya, is kidnapped. Zoya still blames Leo for the death of her parents and that becomes a plot line as Leo strives to earn her love. The plot takes us from Moscow, to the gulags in the Kolyma and from there to the 1956 uprising in Budapest.

THE SECRET SPEECH is not as good as CHILD 44; I imagine because Smith had so much to work with in the previous novel, based on a real-life Russian serial killer who targeted children. Smith also puts the reader through some annoying twists and gyrations. Somebody dies only to come back to life a few pages later. There's also a scene toward the end regarding a musician that I could not figure out without rereading the book. A little hint would've helped.

There does seem to be a very apt theme running through the book, however. Reform can often lead to unintended complications. Baby steps is sometimes a better option.

THE SECRET SPEECH is okay as an alternative to Cruz Smith or Kaminsky, but CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff might be a better option. It's almost as good as GORKY PARK.

Smith again gives us another great book that seems to fizzle out at the end. I appreciate Smith's desire to put the reader into the middle of these historical events, but taking us to the Hungarian Revolution seemed awkward and out of place. It wasn't an awful conclusion, just somewhat of a disappointment because this book deserved a great ending.

Do not let that dissuade you from reading this book though. The first 3/4's of the book are so good they make up for any shortcomings the end may have. It was non-stop can't put the book down action which I would even put above Child 44.

The Secret Speech does not throw in as many coincidences and chance happenings as Child 44. Yet it still maintains the surprising twists and turns. The character development and back stories leading up to the eventual climax of the book were perfect. His research and presentation of historical life during Soviet era were once again flawless and one of the major reasons his works are so good.

Smith is still one of my favorite new authors, and I'll look forward to his next book. I just hope he can work in a better conclusion to otherwise great books.

An interesting thing about this novel is that two reviewers whose judgment I have come to respect had two very different opinions of it; one giving it a scathing review and a single star and the other giving it high praise and 4.5 stars. Interestingly, now that I've read it, I can't say I fully agree (or disagree) with either.

The Secret Speech gets off to a good start but quickly lost my interest. In the end, it was a disappointment (like most people, I had high expectations after Child 44). Even so, I still found it reasonably entertaining.

Perhaps it's not fair to compare the two novels but I'm going to anyway. Child 44 was a remarkable novel that still resonates with me. I finished the Secret Speech about a week or so ago, and frankly, it's already fading from memory. Child 44 effectively conveyed the cruel and suffocating nature of Stalin's totalitarian regime. It was a bleak and harrowing novel about one man's quest to find a serial killer in a country where murder was blamed on vagrants or Western spies, claimed to be accidents, or otherwise covered up because murder was contrary to the concept of a utopian state. The Secret Speech on the other hand has none of the complexity of the first novel, degenerating quickly into a 'big action' novel.

My one complaint about Child 44 was the ending which I thought was too sappy. I was pleased to see in The Secret Speech that the adoption of the two orphaned girls has not gone smoothly. The older of the two girls harbors hatred for Leo and acts out accordingly. The challenges of this relationship and a series of deaths related to the release of the Secret Speech had me thinking that The Secret Speech could rival Child 44 and maybe even remedy my only complaint about that novel.

Unfortunately, before long The Secret Speech becomes a run-of-the-mill action novel with Leo going undercover aboard a prison ship and then a gulag before racing off to Budapest for some action in the streets during the Hungarian uprising. Some people like this kind of mindless action and superhuman behavior (much of Leo's intelligence seems to have disappeared between novels as well) but it doesn't appeal much to me.

In the end, The Secret Speech isn't terrible. but it is a disappointing follow up. If you are looking for a novel of the caliber of Child 44, I'm sorry to say you won't find it here.