Child 44

Awesome, thrilling read. This is the type of book that you peek your head in and think “well this is taking a bit to get started,” but then the author suddenly snatches you by the collar, drags you in, and just won't let go. Tom Rob Smith writes his characters, locations, the time period, everything amazingly well. I'd give this more stars if possible.

A story of a man's hunt for a serial killer in the Soviet Union around the time of Stalin's death. Aspects of the plot are somewhat contrived and implausible but not fatally so and the depiction of how Soviet culture impacts the search for the killer is fascinating.