Child 44

Title: Child 44

Author: Tom Rob Smith

Genre: Thriller Mystery Historical

Series: The Child 44 Trilogy

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published Date: 2008

Book Length: 470

Format Read: Paperback

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: MOSCOW, 1953.Under Stalin’s terrifying regime, families live in fear. When the all-powerful State claims there is no such thing as crime, who dares disagree? An ambitious secret police officer, Leo Demidov believes he’s helping to build the perfect society. But when he uncovers evidence of a killer at large – a threat the state won’t admit exists – Demidov must risk everything, including the lives of those he loves, in order to expose the truth. But what if the danger isn’t from the killer he is trying to catch, but from the country he is fighting to protect?

My Thoughts: Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is a historical crime mystery thriller set in the 1950s, during Stalin’s reign—a period defined by fear, mistrust, and paranoia.

The novel is fast-paced, like a machine gun firing relentlessly, packed with constant action that highlights the fragility of life. Smith’s descriptions of the era are eerie and deeply unsettling, immersing the reader in a world of suspense and danger. While the plot starts off at a slower pace, it effectively sets the scene, building a haunting yet believable atmosphere.

With its many twists and turns, Child 44 keeps adrenaline levels high, and the rising tension never lets up. It is a powerful and shocking read—one that lingers in the mind long after the final page.