The Soviet Union 1956: after Stalin's death, a violent regime is beginning to fracture. It leaves behind a society where the police are the crimina...
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May 05, 2011
Helen
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Is it possible for someone who has committed terrible crimes to achieve redemption? That is the central question posed by Tom Rob Smith's riveting new book, The Secret Speech, sequel to last year's terrific, terrifying, and surprisingly moving, Child 44.
The Secret Speech opens in 1949, with young Leo Demidov's first case as an officer in the MGB, Stalin's secret police. Leo betrays a dissident priest and his wife, sending them both to the Gulag.
Flash forward to 1956; Le More...
The Secret Speech opens in 1949, with young Leo Demidov's first case as an officer in the MGB, Stalin's secret police. Leo betrays a dissident priest and his wife, sending them both to the Gulag.
Flash forward to 1956; Le More...
Feb 18, 2009
Emily
rated it: 
I'm not usually a reader of thrillers/suspense, but I devoured this book. There's no telling who might be stabbed/shot/betrayed/tortured/locked away in a gulag at any moment. The protagonist is a detective, but it's not a crime-solving story. Child 44 (Smith's previous book) was more interesting, but this one would certainly get me through a long plane trip.
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Aug 15, 2010
Ryan
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For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That's a Law. When Kruschev releases a secret speech denouncing the crimes of Stalinism, the reactions of the people who were victimized under his government is just what Sir Isaac Newton would have predicted. However, former secret police officer, Leo Demidov, seeks to lead a good life among the people he has now been identified as persecuting. His journey takes him to distant gulags, sinking prison ships, and revolutionary Hungary. Aft
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Jan 15, 2009
Journeywoman
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This was brilliant.
I loved Child 44. Gave it 4 stars. I didn't believe people when they said that this was better.
It is. I could hardly put this book down, and yet I read it slowly savoring every twist in plot, every nuance of the characters growth.
This is one of THOSE books. One that will stay with you and make you question what you would do in the situation that the characters are in. There are no easy answers and you're swept along as these three More...
I loved Child 44. Gave it 4 stars. I didn't believe people when they said that this was better.
It is. I could hardly put this book down, and yet I read it slowly savoring every twist in plot, every nuance of the characters growth.
This is one of THOSE books. One that will stay with you and make you question what you would do in the situation that the characters are in. There are no easy answers and you're swept along as these three More...
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Mar 02, 2009
Banafsheh
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Former MGB officer Leo Demidov returns in this fast paced action packed novel. Three years after Child 44, the Soviet Union is undergoing dramatic change. Stalin is dead and his successor Khrushchev pledges an end to the violent regime via a secret speech. A speech that once known to the general public, will reveal the extent of the cruelty and torture inflicted on the Soviet people.
In the midst of such potential upheavel, Leo finds himself yet on another impossible mission, fighting More...
In the midst of such potential upheavel, Leo finds himself yet on another impossible mission, fighting More...
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Jan 23, 2012
Peter
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I'm not sure whether it's the brisk pace or the vivid attention to detail that makes me feel like I'm right on the ground in Khrushchev's era -- maybe it's both.
Leo Demidov is still battling the demons from his past that showed up in Smith's first novel, "Child 44." He and his wife, Raisa, have learned to turn a marriage of convenience into one of honesty and love. They have adopted Zoya and Elena, the daughters of a couple that was murdered in the course of an investigatio More...
Leo Demidov is still battling the demons from his past that showed up in Smith's first novel, "Child 44." He and his wife, Raisa, have learned to turn a marriage of convenience into one of honesty and love. They have adopted Zoya and Elena, the daughters of a couple that was murdered in the course of an investigatio More...
Dec 18, 2011
Richard
rated it:
Rating: 3.625* of five
This series of books, the life of Leo and Raisa in a newly post-Stalinist USSR, is cold and damp and gritty and scary. Those are the *good* parts of the life of these two oddly assorted people, who are trying to form a family from some very unlikely and unnatural and uncomfortable pieces. (Sounds like my family!)
This outing centers on events set in motion by the (factual) secret speech of the title: Khrushchev's "private" deunciation of Stalin' More...
This series of books, the life of Leo and Raisa in a newly post-Stalinist USSR, is cold and damp and gritty and scary. Those are the *good* parts of the life of these two oddly assorted people, who are trying to form a family from some very unlikely and unnatural and uncomfortable pieces. (Sounds like my family!)
This outing centers on events set in motion by the (factual) secret speech of the title: Khrushchev's "private" deunciation of Stalin' More...
Dec 15, 2011
Demi
rated it: 
Stumbled across Monsieur Smith on a back of a lazy Sunday which in hindsight should have proven ominous. In the interest of full discretion, it cannot be said that Mr. Smith lacks creative talent. Indeed he writes with considerable nuance and discretion, whilst his ability to elucidate a compelling post-Stalinist zeitgeist reminds me (favourably I must add) to the works of Emile Zola.
Versimilitude however is not enough. As an exercise in action, the plot serves its purpose well enough More...
Versimilitude however is not enough. As an exercise in action, the plot serves its purpose well enough More...
Aug 15, 2010
Everybookhasasoul
rated it:
I have read Child 44 and thought it truly was a great fast paced read. I have been looking forward to reading this book for sometime and finally got round to it. I was slightly disappointed by The Secret Speech due to the fact I didn't think it was as fast paced as the previous book. Perhaps the book has been written to quickly after the previous book. The Secret Speech starts where the Child 44 ended but begins with a tale from Leo's Mgb days
The majority of the novel is historical a More...
The majority of the novel is historical a More...
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Jul 22, 2010
In Child 44 author Tom Rob Smith introduced us to an unimaginably cruel world, that of a Soviet secret policemen, who comes to seek redemption after arresting hundreds of people he knows to be innocent, condemning them to torture, exile, execution. In this sequel Leo Demidov has assembled an ad hoc family, raising two girls who’s parents he’d had executed. His past catches up with him tho, and, rather implausibly, he finds himself a prisoner in the gulag, trying to free one of his previous vic
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Jul 01, 2010
THE SECRET SPEECH is the second book from Tom Rob Smith, following on the stories of many of the characters from CHILD 44. In particular, Leo and Raisa are trying to raise the two young girls they adopted after Leo's part in the brutal killing of their parents, but all is not going well with this instant family. Pressure from within, the eldest girl in particular, is deeply resentful of both her adopted parents and is prepared to show it in quite threatening and frightening ways, whilst they a
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Sep 21, 2009
Kat
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The book's historical premises are v. interesting. One (don't know if true, have not checked): that Khrushchov's speech at the party congress following Stalin's death was a stark indictment of the secret police and the denunciation-based culture of terror which made the Stalinist Soviet society one of the sickest places on earth, which was edited in a later published version in a way that placed all the blame for "mistakes that were made" at Stalin's feet. Another, (again, no idea if t
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Aug 13, 2009
The Secret Speech, by Tom Rob Smith, b-plus, Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris, produced by Hachette Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
We have Leo again, now three years since the solving of the serial murders. He has left the MGB and is directing a homicide unit in Moscow. He is back together with his wife, Raisa, who says that as long as he doesn’t lie to her again, they can have a life. They have two adopted daughters, the children of parents whose deaths he was responsible for, More...
We have Leo again, now three years since the solving of the serial murders. He has left the MGB and is directing a homicide unit in Moscow. He is back together with his wife, Raisa, who says that as long as he doesn’t lie to her again, they can have a life. They have two adopted daughters, the children of parents whose deaths he was responsible for, More...
Jul 14, 2009
karl
rated it:
Smith's 2nd book (May 2009) is a sequel to his award-winning book "Child 44" (2008), which I gave a 4 to. I thought this was a terrific read. Set in Russia and Hungary in 1956, the background is Kruschev's speech admits Stalin's regime was oppressive and bad things happened. The KGB and various officials do not want that speech to get much attention. The main action is about our now-reformed (former KGB agent) hero, Leo, trying to help raise the children of a couple he played role in k
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Feb 02, 2012
Elli
rated it:
this is the second of the Demidov trilogy, and with this, I find I understand the first, Child 44, much better. It starts during the Stalinist heyday of terror and inhuman conditions that many must live under. Stalin was a paranoid dictator. And by the end of his reign, he had given good reason to be. The second, the sequel to this started after his death and Kruschev became the leader. Thru the eyes of the Demidov world, we follow the settings and plots as they happen and key into the happ
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Jun 20, 2011
Stephen
rated it: 
The protagonist of this book is Moscow homicide detective Leo Demidov, who also featured in Tom Rob Smith's earlier book, Child 44. But though there is plenty of homicide in this book, there is little detecting. This is not a whodunit.
The bulk of the book is set in the period of the "Khrushchev thaw" in the Soviet Union, when, in his eponymous secret speech to the 20th Communist Party Congress, Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin's dictatorship, the police state, and the Stal More...
The bulk of the book is set in the period of the "Khrushchev thaw" in the Soviet Union, when, in his eponymous secret speech to the 20th Communist Party Congress, Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin's dictatorship, the police state, and the Stal More...
Jul 30, 2011
Stuart
rated it:
Secret speech: A book of two halves, as they say. The first half, technically about two thirds, was great. The author portrayed well the confusion and chaos wrought on Russian society by Khrushchev’s 1955 secret speech in which he condemned Stalin’s repression and mass executions. The effect on the militias and secret police, especially as ordinary people start to take revenge, is well thought out, interesting and original. Equally, the secondary plot where the hard-liner pro-Stalin group who
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Jan 27, 2011
Jeanette
rated it:
Not as gripping as Child 44. Well written but poorly organized, such that it's difficult to figure out what the real plot was intended to be. It does carry forward the main characters from Child 44, so if you want to stay "in the loop," so to speak, you need to read this one to be ready for the next one. It's not really a series, at least not yet, but the two books definitely follow a linear trajectory, so it may turn into a series of sorts.
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Sep 01, 2011
Alison
rated it:
Another great book from Tom Rob Smith. My only problem was having such high expectations after Child 44. However, I was not disappointed. This had the same mix of pace, intrigue and twists every few chapters.
I love how supposedly innocuous details ened up being pivotal to the unravelling of the plot. This time I was more familiar with his writing style though and I guessed one pretty big twist many many pages before it was revealed. However, then it twisted again and I wasn't ri More...
I love how supposedly innocuous details ened up being pivotal to the unravelling of the plot. This time I was more familiar with his writing style though and I guessed one pretty big twist many many pages before it was revealed. However, then it twisted again and I wasn't ri More...
Feb 11, 2012
Laurie
rated it:
Although not as shocking and chilling as "Child 44," the second novel in the series is still a really great read. It details the damaging effects Leo's previous work as an officer of the state had on individuals and families and having to cope with what he has done. It is also a book about revenge and how that revenge can transform individuals into unrecognizable people fueled by hate. The novel focuses a lot on Zoya, the older daughter adopted by Leo and Raisa, and her unwillingness t
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Aug 07, 2010
Steve
rated it:
"The Secret Speech" is a mostly riveting sequel to "Child 44", about Leo Demidov, a former Soviet secret policeman trying to make amends for his past activities - namely, arresting a lot of innocent people for the "greater good" of the revolution before seeing the light.
The title refers to a speech made by Russian president Nikita Khrushchev three years after the death of Russia's psychotic dictator, Josef Stalin. The speech startled many Russians by de More...
The title refers to a speech made by Russian president Nikita Khrushchev three years after the death of Russia's psychotic dictator, Josef Stalin. The speech startled many Russians by de More...
Dec 25, 2009
Zach
rated it:
I agree with other reviewers that this was not as good as Child 44 (or at least most of Child 44--the ending still bothers me).
In all fairness, Secret Speech is still an entertaining read. It just does not create the overall tension/fear that permeated Child 44 which made it so good. Some of the scenes--mainly the scenes in the gulag are the closest to Child 44 in creating an image of real world horror, however the plot rapidly moves on to Hungary 1956.
The author does More...
In all fairness, Secret Speech is still an entertaining read. It just does not create the overall tension/fear that permeated Child 44 which made it so good. Some of the scenes--mainly the scenes in the gulag are the closest to Child 44 in creating an image of real world horror, however the plot rapidly moves on to Hungary 1956.
The author does More...
Aug 05, 2011
Leo, ancien membre du MGB (le futur KGB), tente de se repentir de ses actes passés en travaillant d'arrache-pied dans la brigade de criminologie qu'il a contribué à créer. Mais le passé le rattrape : Fraera, une de ses anciennes victimes, enlève Zoya, la fille adoptive de Leo, et le contraint à se rendre au goulag de Kolyma pour faire s'évader Lazare, l'époux de Fraera. Leo est conscient que sa fille adoptive le hait, mais il accepte la mission, jusqu'à subir les tortures infligées par les priso
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Nov 01, 2009
Dorie
rated it:
A good, solid follow-up to 'Child 44'. Leo Demidov, former state security officer with the MGB) has used the leverage he gained from solving the child murders in the last book to create a homicide department. But things aren't so easily changed on the home front. Although he's gained the love and forgiveness of his wife Raisa, the two girls they adopted after Leo killed their parents are not so easily won over, especially the eldest Zoya. But when Zoya is kidnapped by a rebel organization det
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Jul 30, 2009
Bookmarks Magazine
rated it:
"Compared to the critical acclaim showered on its predecessor, Child 44, The Secret Speech drew mixed reviews from critics. While the Minneapolis Star Tribune alone proclaimed Smith's sophomore effort equal to his debut, other critics still considered it entertaining and thought-provoking in its questioning of the nature of exoneration and redemption. The power of Smith's writing lies in his ability to ground sensational plot developments in rich historical and cultural detail, gleaned from
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Jul 24, 2009
Corny
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Child 44, the author's first book was a thrilling read if not entirely believable. This sequel is preposterous. Although Smith writes great action scenes, his characters tend to be one dimensional and wooden and the plotlines are so absurd that it is impossible to suspend disbelief.
I gave it three stars because the setting of Russia in the 50s transitioning from Stalin to Krushchev is well drawn, with action in the Gulags, in Budapest and in Moscow. However, the plot itself is so totally m More...
I gave it three stars because the setting of Russia in the 50s transitioning from Stalin to Krushchev is well drawn, with action in the Gulags, in Budapest and in Moscow. However, the plot itself is so totally m More...
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Aug 14, 2011
Suzan
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Author of the incredible Child 44 (optioned by director Ridley Scott) reveals his sophomore effort, The Secret Speech. Set again in 1956, post-Stalin Russia, the book revolves around the premise that a secret speech by Nikita Krushchev admitting that Stalin was a tyrant and a murderer and a time for reformation and change is at hand is released to the media, with terrifying results. Admitting the State was wrong, means that Communism could be wrong and, more importantly, that the millions of peo
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Jan 28, 2009
Anthony
rated it:
WOW!!!!!! I'm not gonna write much since no one else has read this as of this posting, but HOLY CRAP this was an amazing read! So much fun, non stop action and suspense the entire way through!!
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Feb 05, 2012
Kathy
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‘The Secret Speech’ by Tom Rob Smith. This is the second Leo Demidov novel (the first being ‘Child 44’), following Leo’s life in a new department, a homicide department in Moscow, 1949. He is no longer KGB, but he can’t get away from his past. A daughter who hates him, countless of his previous victims seeking revenge and his own demons haunt his every breath. And it gets worst for him. I liked ‘The Secret Speech’, but I didn’t find it as unique or shocking as ‘Child 44’ (which, I would sa
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Aug 21, 2011
Nikki-ann
rated it:
Tom Rob Smith must delight in giving his readers tense and gripping reads. I kept telling myself I’d put the book down at the end of the chapter and go to bed, but found myself reading on through the chapters, needing to find out what happened next.
Once again, the reader gets a real feel for 1950’s Russia and the regime its people lived under. The book had me wincing at some of the treatment the characters sustained. How people could do that to other people is beyond my comprehension, More...
Once again, the reader gets a real feel for 1950’s Russia and the regime its people lived under. The book had me wincing at some of the treatment the characters sustained. How people could do that to other people is beyond my comprehension, More...
