Author: Steve Barry
Reading level: All
Group Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Overall: A-
"Moscow: Present Day. Atlanta lawyer Miles Lord, fluent in Russian and well versed in the country's history, is thrilled to be in Moscow on the eve of such a momentous event. After the fall of Communism and a succession of weak governments, the Russian people have voted to bring back the monarchy. The new tsar will be chosen from the distant relatives of Nicholas II by a specially appointed commission, and Miles' job is to perform a background check on the Tsarist candidate favored by a powerful group of Western businessmen. But research quickly becomes the least of Miles' concerns when he is nearly killed by gunmen on a city plaza. Suddenly Miles is racing across continents, shadowed by nefarious henchmen. At first, his only question is why people are pursuing him. But after a strange conversation with a mysterious Russian, who steers Miles toward the writings of Rasputin, he becomes desperate to know more-most important, what really happened to the family of Russia's last tsar?His only companion is Akilina Petrov, a Russian circus performer sympathetic to his struggle, and his only guide is a cryptic message from Rasputin that implies that the bloody night of so long ago is not the last chapter in the Romanovs' story . . . and that someone might even have survived the massacre. The prophecy's implications are earth-shattering-not only for the future of the tsar and mother Russia, but also for Miles himself."Extremely exciting and suspenseful, Barry takes the reader on a wild ride through post-communist Russia. You feel as if your in the action (almost like watching an action move in surround sound on a big screen in HD) avoiding bullets looking for the long lost tsar. This is a truly tantalizing twist on the classic story of the fall of the Tsar's.
It's fun trying to put the mystery together along with Miles and Akilina. Subtle clues are expertly placed throughout the book to keep the reader constantly guessing, a truly engrossing puzzle. Also the way the book reads is not all action and suspense you begin to feel for these characters. When they hit a dead end (or sometimes just the dead) you want to let them know that they'll make it through, they will find the answers.
The other interesting aspect of the book is that the characters are living out Rasputins' prophecy word for word. For example The Raven (Miles) and the Eagle (Akilina) are the only ones who can find and save Russia. The author does bring it to attention a few times. However; if your a history junkie like myself you'll see the prophecy being played out before its later reiterated for you. I love the real historical events that are twisted through this plot.
I would really recommend this book to my fellow historical-fiction fanatics. I'm actually waiting to receive more of Steve Barrys' collection of historical/mystery novels including two that just came out in stores. Yay, I love when I find a new series or collection I enjoy don't you?
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