Heart of Lies

Jun 15, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

From My Blog...[return][return][return]Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm is a beautifully crafted historical fiction novel spanning both world wars and several continents bringing the reader an adventure unlike any other. The story begins in Budapest, the year is 1919 during a period of tremendous political turmoil and economical decline where loyalist and proud Hungarian Leo Hoffman must conceal his Jewish identity to survive. Fast-forward to 1925 and Leo, the head concierge at the Hotel Bristol, f...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc, united-states, china, favorites, 20th-c, hungary

I’m going to throw this out there, right off the top, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Prepare for the gushing.

This story is fast-paced, beautifully detailed, and really sets the reader right into the time and place – which could be challenging because there are several very different settings. The story is initially set in a couple of European countries – Hungary, France, and Germany. These are all areas that I am familiar with. Then the story shifts to Shanghai, China – this is where everything was new to m...more I’m going to throw this out there, right off the top, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Prepare for the gushing.

This story is fast-paced, beautifully detailed, and really sets the reader right into the time and place – which could be challenging because there are several very different settings. The story is initially set in a couple of European countries – Hungary, France, and Germany. These are all areas that I am familiar with. Then the story shifts to Shanghai, China – this is where everything was new to me. China, between the two World Wars, was an extremely different place than it had always been and how it would become in the future. Many of the world powers had influence there at the time. I enjoyed learning about the areas where wealthy Europeans and Americans lived and the culture there. Toward the end of the book we move into the United States. Each of these locations were like characters themselves the way they were wrought out by this author.

Right from the very beginning I was invested in Leo’s story. He was a very unique person who was very driven for what he wanted – which happed to be a beautiful woman he meets by chance. His passion was so palpable. Although I can’t imagine myself ever being in some of the situations that he ended up in, it was so believable to the character and the time period that I was instantly absorbed. I think I fell in love with this character!

This is the second book that I have read recently that was set between the World Wars. It was enlightening to see how the impending war affected different places in the world – in this book you can see three very different perspectives. You really get to see how the tensions affect the people who are just trying to live their lives and get out from under World War I, only to be thrown into the impending World War II.

I honestly do not have one single bad thing to say about this book. From the time I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. This is certainly a book you should not miss!

I am now anxiously awaiting the follow-up novel, Heart of Deception: A Novel! It is scheduled to be released in April of 2011 (so very far away) and sounds so exciting.

This book was received for review from the publisher - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.(less)

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Nov 02, 2010 Rachel Carr rated it 4 of 5 stars

To read more reviews check out Reading Rendezvous on MISS at http://www.missomnimedia.com/tag/read...

Imagine being able to speak five languages… Well Leo Hoffman can, as a young Hungarian he has an innate ability to pickup languages. After fighting in World War I Leo returns to Budapest with his and other countries destroyed. In M.L. Malcolm’s Heart of Lies we follow the life of Leo Hoffman as he rebuilds his life following the war and his new endeavors in life.

As his ticket out Leo attempts to...more To read more reviews check out Reading Rendezvous on MISS at http://www.missomnimedia.com/tag/read...

Imagine being able to speak five languages… Well Leo Hoffman can, as a young Hungarian he has an innate ability to pickup languages. After fighting in World War I Leo returns to Budapest with his and other countries destroyed. In M.L. Malcolm’s Heart of Lies we follow the life of Leo Hoffman as he rebuilds his life following the war and his new endeavors in life.

As his ticket out Leo attempts to assist Hungarian nationals in what he believes is an attempt to rebuild. However, all is not what meets the eye; these men are involved in an international counterfeiting scheme in Paris. In an act of salvation in order to escape conviction Leo runs away with a million dollar diamond necklace to Shanghai. Yet prior to this Leo met Martha Levy and fell in love at first site. Yet he must abandon his love in favor of salvation in Shanghai. As we watch Martha deteriorate- Leo is Shanghai accumulating wealth until a more appropriate time when he can send for Martha. The stolen treasure becomes his salvation throughout the novel- yet also his demise. As Leo learns he is a wanted man across multiple countries he becomes indebted to a gang lord. Amidst this blustering new Shanghai City Martha disembarks and the two loners are quickly reunited and married. Yet this all occurs during the 1930”s and happiness in Shanghai cannot be so secure as WWII begins and the Japanese invade and destroy this wondrous city.

As we follow the Hoffman family along an arduous journey to safety in an attempts to avoid gangsters, bombs, and the invasion of the Japanese.

“Leo closed his eyes and held her close. He would get through the next two years alive. He would get back his daughter. And then love would give them a second chance.”
Leo lives a suspenseful life escaping Hungary, communism, murder, Shanghai, gangsters, Black Tuesday, and so much loss. Heart of Lies is truly a harrowing tale of bravery and survival when nothing was secure. The novel is truly historical as well; as Malcolm is able to infuse a great amount of facts and background to educate the reader. This novel is compelling and thought provoking novel entices the reader to engage with each character-including suspense, love, loss, and experience that many readers engage with. This novel leads readers on a harrowing journey across continents.

M.L. Malcolm truly has taken the time to research the history behind this era. Her unique ability to infuse history with enjoyment is amazing- as the reader barely notices the historical facts infused within the novel. This saga is truly inspirational begging readers to wonder what you would sacrifice for the good of yourself, your family, or your country.

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Jul 30, 2010 Wyndy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The historical details are facinating, the settings range from Hungary to Paris to Munich to Shanghai during the time between the two World Wars. The intense love between two strangers so unexpected. Although the book jumps through time the story flows with a continuity that does not distract the reader but rather makes total sense. The manipulation of the main character by those who aren't honest provides excitement and intrigue to the story and a wonder at just how far he...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: formulaic, heroine-unusually-attractive, historicals, not-as-good-as-everyone-said, place-europe, secret-identities, skeletons-in-the-closet, so-bad-it-hurts, place-china, era-wwii

From the other reviews I've seen I know I'm in the minority here, but I disliked this book. And I tried really hard to like it because it is so up my alley (and I'm reviewing the sequel!).

I found myself describing this book to friends as watching a movie with gorgeous scenery and a very exciting plot and two super pretty and super wooden actors in the lead. I found Malcolm's writing to be very telling (rather than showing): I was told the heroine was a 'firebird' but she didn't do anything to w...more From the other reviews I've seen I know I'm in the minority here, but I disliked this book. And I tried really hard to like it because it is so up my alley (and I'm reviewing the sequel!).

I found myself describing this book to friends as watching a movie with gorgeous scenery and a very exciting plot and two super pretty and super wooden actors in the lead. I found Malcolm's writing to be very telling (rather than showing): I was told the heroine was a 'firebird' but she didn't do anything to warrant such an interesting description; I was told the hero was charming but what he did seemed creepy at best and sociopathic at worst.

History provided all the plot and Shanghai in the '20s and '30s was a tumultuous place, but the story just felt boring and busy all at once. Despite the promise of two interesting characters, only Leo got any real face time, which further enhanced my inability to connect with or care about the other characters and his behavior was so repugnant I wasn't that interested in connecting with him.

My next comment might be a spoiler, so skip to the next paragraph if you care. From the moment she walked onto the page, heroine Martha was clearly expendable. She could have been so interesting, but instead, remained flat, merely a foil for Leo, a very pretty bauble to dance out when we needed to be reminded of all that Leo had to lose. Continuing the telling-not-showing vein, we're subjected to lots of scenes of men lusting after her because she's so interesting and vibrant, but in the text, all she actually did was smile prettily and blink back tears most of the time. Her death was clear from the middle of the book and it was just a matter of getting to the page where it happened.

I suppose I should say that another book everyone loves and find so romantic, The Time Traveler's Wife, I found to be creepy and wholly unromantic. Many bloggers who have great tastes love this book, so it may just be that Malcolm's writing and I don't gel(less)

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Feb 26, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, novels

This might be a 2.5 because I did finish it, but Heart of Lies never came together for me. Leo is a WWI soldier who escapes from Hungary to Shanghai after he unwittingly takes part in a jewelry theft. He makes his fortune in interwar China, sends for his German lover and lives in high society among the expats of Shanghai. The stock market crash forces Leo into an unsavory business arrangement and he is unable to extract himself in time to get his wife and daughter out of Shanghai before the Japa...more

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Aug 24, 2010 Marilyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Leo Hoffman was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme. Suddenly Leo is wanted across the European continent for a host of crimes, including murder. Left with no options, he must escape to Shanghai with his lover, carrying with him a stolen treasure that could be his salvation...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Bookclubcheerleader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is your book club looking to go on a grand journey this summer? You need go no further than M.L. Malcolm’s international adventure, Heart of Lies. Fans of Water for Elephants will enjoy the historical aspects of the book. Devotees of Shanghai Girls will love the inside glimpse at the exotic settings—including Shanghai, Budapest, Paris, and Manhattan. Followers of Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer and David Baldacci will love the political intrigue angle. And admirers of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter a...more Is your book club looking to go on a grand journey this summer? You need go no further than M.L. Malcolm’s international adventure, Heart of Lies. Fans of Water for Elephants will enjoy the historical aspects of the book. Devotees of Shanghai Girls will love the inside glimpse at the exotic settings—including Shanghai, Budapest, Paris, and Manhattan. Followers of Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer and David Baldacci will love the political intrigue angle. And admirers of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet will love the fact that Heart of Lies is also an old-fashioned love story.
Born a Hungarian peasant, Leo Hoffman leverages his good looks, wit, and a gift for languages and social mimicry to become a rich and powerful man, only to have circumstances and naive choices from his past threaten everything he holds dear.
Set in Europe, Asia and The New World, Leo’s escapades sweep you across the globe. The tumultuous history of the time period—1920’s and 30’s—helps to drive the plot. I love this period of history between the two World Wars, and Ms. Malcolm sprinkles some wonderful tidbits plucked from history into Leo’s story, such as the Hungarian counterfeiting scandal of 1925, the manipulation of the rubber market in 1926, Chiang Kai-shek’s weakening hold on China, the bombing of Shanghai in 1937, and the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, the rise of Hitler’s power, and the Jews fleeing from Germany and Europe…Whew! OK—maybe she does more than ‘sprinkle’…There’s definitely some meat to the history piece!
Although Malcolm tells a fast-moving adventure story, it is not at the expense of the characters, dialogue or prose. Ms. Malcolm’s vivid descriptions and meticulous research are reflected in the language of Leo’s story. Here’s what she writes as the soldiers returned to Hungary after their defeat in WWI:
“Honor and country had called them to the battlefield of Europe and then abandoned them there, where a weary grayness drifted into their eyes, settled into their hearts, and wrapped around their souls, souls that had been slit open and sucked dry by the beast of the Great War.”
Besides Leo, you will root for the two loves of Leo’s life: his wife, Martha, the great beauty with the lovely voice, and his daughter, Maddy, with her infectious laughter and gift for music. You’ll also meet two characters you will love to hate: Amelia, the scheming temptress, and Lui Tue-Sheng, the powerful head of the Chinese mafia who has a secret hold on Leo’s life. Although Leo denounces his heritage and reinvents himself time after time, he seems to be unable to leave his past behind him—which threatens his future and that of his family.
And though the book is set up for a sequel to follow, I felt the major plot pieces were suitably closed so that the reader feels satisfied, and yet eagerly awaiting that next book for more of Leo and Maddy’s exploits. (Watch for Heart of Deception releasing next year.)
Ms. Malcolm deals with themes that book clubs will want to discuss such as Survival and Perseverance; Deception and Forgiveness; Passion and Love. There are reading group questions and an author’s interview in the back, and the author is available for a visit or phone call to your book club.
Be prepared for your book club to fall in love with Heart of Lies. I sure did.
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Feb 22, 2011 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010_release_read, mainstream, read_2011, t2_recommended_2010

Another book that came out of nowhere and it attracted my attention by its subject; a page turner with a great setup and a main hero who is willing to do what it takes to survive and protect his family in very unsettled circumstances when the availability or lack of a passport could mean the difference between life and death, when being Jewish could be a death sentence...

In the vein of the exile novels of EM Remarque, I loved this book and I am looking forward to its sequel set for this year - o...more

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May 03, 2011 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

“Heart of Lies” by M.L. Malcolm is the fictional tale of a family, inspired by the author’s husband, which takes place after World War I until the early days of World War I.

Leo Hoffman, ex Hungarian solider who fought for the losing side, has an ear for languages and ambition. However, Leo is tangling with the wrong people and is being forced by circumstances to leave Europe for the perceived safety of Shanghai.

Shanghai is good to Leo, he becomes a wealthy man, meets the right type of people and...more “Heart of Lies” by M.L. Malcolm is the fictional tale of a family, inspired by the author’s husband, which takes place after World War I until the early days of World War I.

Leo Hoffman, ex Hungarian solider who fought for the losing side, has an ear for languages and ambition. However, Leo is tangling with the wrong people and is being forced by circumstances to leave Europe for the perceived safety of Shanghai.

Shanghai is good to Leo, he becomes a wealthy man, meets the right type of people and marries Martha, the love of his life. However, the Japanese invasion puts and abrupt end to their fairytale life and Leo is forced to make some excruciating decisions.

“Heart of Lies” by M.L. Malcolm is a well written novel, with interesting characters and a fast read. Ms. Malcolm certainly knows how to write exotic scenery and move a story forward. The international setting is exquisite, taking place mostly in Shanghai, the reader travels to Hungary, France and New York.

While I did enjoy the book I felt that the mystery was one of the weakest points, as it is more a character study of a man trying to run away from his past. World War I and World War II are mentioned only in passing, but that’s understandable as the book starts in the aftermath of the first war and end in the beginning of the second, while mostly taking place in the sanctuary of Shanghai.

The book is supposed to be romantic, but I didn’t find it so. While I did find the characters interesting, I didn’t think they were well developed and fell somewhat flat. I wasn’t sold on Leo and Martha’s relationship – OK, she’s beautiful and he’s handsome – but there is more to a relationship than beauty or a damn good one night stand.

That being said, the story did capture my attention and Ms. Malcolm writes in a style which is both well written and very easy to read. I have to commend Ms. Malcolm for trying to weave several different genres into one book – part historical fiction, part romance, part adventure and business intrigue. Maybe it didn’t work as well as she hoped, but it is a great effort and an interesting read from that standpoint.

My advantage of reading this book is that I already had the second one “Heart of Deception” on my shelf. So instead of reading it as a standalone novel, I knew there was more to come.

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Nov 24, 2010 iubookgirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Though the decisions made in Heart of Lies have far greater consequences, I found some similarity between it and the last book I reviewed, The Privileges. Both are the story of a man doing what he thinks he must in order to protect the people he loves. In Heart of Lies, we follow Leo Hoffman from 1919 shortly after the close of World War I to 1939 and the dawn of World War II. The future Leo expected for himself vanishes following World War I. When an opportunity for advancement comes his way, h...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Laura de Leon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, wwii, review-copy

(I don't think this includes any true spoilers, but it wanders closer to that line than I usually do, since I really want to talk about how the book changes from beginning to end. I don't think that anything I say will change your enjoyment of the book, but as I'm usually very careful not to give away where a book goes, I thought I'd include a warning.)

The book probably deserves higher than the 4 star rating I gave it. I read it in two sittings, and really enjoyed it, but I think I didn't fully...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Marilyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As an avid fan of historical fiction, particularly the period between WWI and WWII, I found "Heart of Lies" to be riveting and highly enjoyable while maintaining scrupulous attention to historical detail. Although the novel is replete with intrigue, white knuckle adventure and spicy romance it does not do this at the expense of historical realism. The description of Europe and Shanghai during this exciting period is as interesting and compelling as the plot and the characters in the novel. This...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Dawn Kunda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A truly intelligent version of Leo's life and encounter with the early twentieth century's cascade of wars.
Leo Hoffman begins with finding the love of his life, Martha, at the same time that his native country, Hungary, sucks him into illegalities. He must leave his love and survive under lies. The same lies that give him a new life bring Martha to him in the city he fled to for safety, Shanghai. Lies and evidence can never be hidden forever. They follow Leo and continually guide his decisions....more

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Sep 23, 2010 rinabeana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

I started reading it a little while ago, but read the bulk of it in one fell swoop. I enjoyed it very much until I got near the end. I felt like the last part was sort of rushed and cobbled together, for the sole purpose of setting up a sequel. I'm the kind of person who almost always wants to read more after finishing a good book, and I would like to know more about what happens to the characters in this novel. However, to stand on its own, I think the ending should have been less pat. The char...more

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May 20, 2011 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

I won the sequel to this book on Firstreads, so I figured I should read this one first. The first 150 pages were rather excruciating. The story line was hard to swallow: I have been called a hopeless romantic, but falling head-over-heels in love after one night together and moving across the world for someone you've only known for a couple of days, was hard for even me to swallow. The dialogue seemed corny and the narrator's description of the couple's love for one another reminded me of a dayti...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Lillie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, paperback, received-for-promotion, review-copy, harpercollins-and-imprints

My Review:
HEART OF LIES by M.L. Malcolm is a sweeping historical novel that travels from eastern Europe, to Asia, and even to America. I was taken on a lovely ride that included danger, lies, misunderstandings, manipulations, the affects of war, but most of all, love.

There's something to be said about a writer that can create a flawed character that can still capture the reader, such as Leo Hoffman. Despite the fact that he seems to act with good intentions in mind, Leo doesn't necessarily opera...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Lila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, own-it

Heart of Lies truly is a page-turner. Which is sometimes difficult to achieve when you write a historical fiction novel. But Ms. Malcolm makes it look easy and natural. I don't mean to take anything from debut authors but a lot of times that very first novel seems like a test ride and they improve as they write more books. Heart of Lies however doesn't read like a debut at all. It reads instead like a book written by a seasoned writer. The pace and action are flawless, everything falls into plac...more Heart of Lies truly is a page-turner. Which is sometimes difficult to achieve when you write a historical fiction novel. But Ms. Malcolm makes it look easy and natural. I don't mean to take anything from debut authors but a lot of times that very first novel seems like a test ride and they improve as they write more books. Heart of Lies however doesn't read like a debut at all. It reads instead like a book written by a seasoned writer. The pace and action are flawless, everything falls into place at the right time and there is enough difficult and sad things happening to make the story of Leo's life believable. Leo Hoffman is a main character and also the most likable in my opinion. Driven by the want of revenge, he gets himself in life-threatening trouble that will shape his whole life. But he also finds love that will be his saving grace and a force to keep going and not giving up. Despite some of his bad choices, I liked him because of his capacity for loving another human being so much. I know that it probably is more a romantic notion than anything else and real life rarely works this way, but it was just pure fun to let myself be immersed in the world of Leo's complicated, yet somehow chivalric feelings.

The action of Heart of Lies takes place between the two World Wars, mainly in Shanghai. This was an interesting aspect of the novel because I don't know much about the political and historical scene in that part of the world, in that period. I enjoyed reading about the decadence, the lavish parties and the life of the rich that in reality turned out to be so fragile in the face of an impending war. All and all, there wasn't much in this intriguing tale of love, adventure and espionage that I didn't enjoy, if anything at all. If you're looking for some fun reading, with a little bit of tears, nail-biting, anticipation of what's coming next and a good look into history, then Ms. Malcom's Heart of Lies is the one book you should try. And the best part is, there is book two, Heart of Deception coming out soon.(less)

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Jul 14, 2010 Jael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Math, science and history were my least favorite subjects throughout elementary school, high school and college. When it comes to my reading choices, I tend to avoid books with those subjects. My brain has some kind of block against them. I'm worried I might have to think too much. I was glad to be wrong after reading Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm.

We meet a young Hungarian, named Leo Hoffman. He's working to rebuild his life in the aftermath of World War I. Leo has carved a career for himself w...more Math, science and history were my least favorite subjects throughout elementary school, high school and college. When it comes to my reading choices, I tend to avoid books with those subjects. My brain has some kind of block against them. I'm worried I might have to think too much. I was glad to be wrong after reading Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm.

We meet a young Hungarian, named Leo Hoffman. He's working to rebuild his life in the aftermath of World War I. Leo has carved a career for himself working at a hotel in Budapest. His career aspirations at the time go no further than upper-level management at the hotel. But a group of influential men want Leo to tap into his hidden talent. His gift to speak several languages. He is reluctant to do so, but the possibility of a financial boon is too much to pass up. The start of the adventure takes Leo to Paris.

While in Paris he falls in love with the beautiful Martha Levy. After just a few days the two are already talking marriage. Their relationship is extremely romantic and beautifully told. Their love scenes are very sensual, but are told very tastefully. From a realistic standpoint, I did find it a little hard to swallow. Perhaps because I'm looking at it from a 2010 perspective and not 1925. I guess relationships just moved a lot faster back then. Their romance is put on hold when Leo gets caught up in a counterfeiting and murder plot. Fleeing to Shanghai, Leo builds a new life. Martha is initially heartbroken, but Leo sends for her. Marriage and a child, Maddy, soon follow. They live in a big house, attend lavish parties, and all the while Martha doesn't ask too many questions. But no matter what Leo cannot escape his past. His marriage and life with Martha is built on lies.

Some writers have a tendency to ramble on and on before they get to the point, but not M.L. Malcolm. The story is very fast-paced. For me, the historical references serve more as backdrop to the overall story. Malcolm's in-laws were part of her inspiration for the novel. It is heartbreaking to read about the bombings in Shanghai. One minute you have your family with you and the next you don't. But in the end it all comes back to Martha and Leo, their relationship is at the heart of book.
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May 20, 2011 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a good read that is historically accuratel, this is the book for you. The novel follows Leo Hoffman, born with a gift for languages, through the years after W.W.I through those of W.W.II. It spans life from Hungary, to Germany, and ultimately Shanghai. Leo's gift rewards him with unbelievable riches, but also unbelievable grief. It is a tale of passion, guilt, and grief. Sit on the beach and enjoy. I think a book group would appreciate this.

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Mar 29, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 stars might be a bit generous but I was at the beach and this seemed to be the perfect book for that.. fast paced, interesting characters and seems historically accurate (keep in mind I am was an accounting major so take that comment with a grain of salt). If I analyze the book too much, I'd probably knock it down to a 3 star as the story is far-fetched and liking the characters requires a leap of faith but overall I'd definitely recommend the book.

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Dec 11, 2010 Lisbeth Eng rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would have giving this 4 1/2 stars if that were available. The story is complex and thrilling and the characters well developed. The protagonist, Leo Hoffman, is someone you will come to care about, though he is not quite heroic. I don't want to give the plot away, but the story is filled with longing, tragedy and complex relationships. I recommend it, but have your Kleenex ready!

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Mar 24, 2011 Susy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The story swept me away at a time when I most wanted to be thinking of somewhere else - another late winter snow storm had set in. While there could be much deeper discussion about the morality of the protagonist, I really liked it for the story. That's it. . .nothing profound. Just a good read.

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Oct 02, 2010 Joann Downie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book, it has everything! Romance, adventure, intrigue. In fact it has been the most intriguing book I have ever read. Its emotionally touching, and you cant help but like the main character, Leo!

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Mar 15, 2011 Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookclub, nook

This was a 3.5 for me, but I bumped it up because I'd like to read the sequel. An interesting tale in a time & place I didn't know much about; Shanghai in the 1930's.

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Mar 07, 2011 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a great read. Interesting characters and plot. Locations from Budapest to Paris to Shanghai in the years between the wars. I recommend it highly!!!

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Mar 30, 2012 Denise Devine rated it 5 of 5 stars

This writer is wonderful. Her words flow like water and her descriptions are so vivid. I loved this book, and it is not the kind I normally read. The main character, Leo, is so intriguing. Love a man who can speak 7 languages and outsmart his enemies. I'm now devouring the sequel.

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Jan 04, 2011 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful find. Intricately interweaves historical facts with believable imaginary characters. Make sure you also read the interview with the author which follows the novel.

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Jul 24, 2011 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed M. L. Malcolm's epic journey through Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s. I'm looking forward to the sequel and hope it's out soon.

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Jun 22, 2010 Laceyhuszcza rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great book! Based in historical context, the characters totally came to life. I was totally sucked in! I can hardly wait fir the sequel. :)

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