Book Review / "Baltic Shadows" by Matejs Kalns

Baltic Shadows by Matejs Kalns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The opening scene will lull you into a peaceful account of yet another get-together event of the Latvian diaspora of Toronto. You will try to imagine the tastes and smells of unusual dishes and smile at the piercing sense of nostalgia the author laces through the description of domestic bliss. And then – boom! – the narrative takes a sharp bend, and you find yourself in the tangle of foreign spies, politics, and people thrown in the middle of a game with high stakes.

As much as I love a good spy story, the main charm of “Baltic Shadows” by Matejs Kalns for me was a unique opportunity to get an insider look at the life of the Latvian diaspora in Canada. The author portrays how Latvians in Canada preserve their culture and traditions far away from home in a touching and gentle way. Moreover, the book offers a glimpse at how those who left Latvia at the time of the huge turmoil WWII threw Europe into, see their home country. I love reading memoirs and biographies. Thus, I’ve noticed that many of those who leave their home country, keep its image intact in their memory. Even after decades, they keep their homeland in their hearts exactly the way it was when they still lived there. So, I found “Baltic Shadows” extremely educating since a lot of political leaders in modern Latvia are Canadian and American citizens, members of Latvian communities. Sometimes their decisions seem a little controversial, and now I understand better the basis for choosing certain directions for our country's development.

It’s important to note that even if you aren’t interested in the history and traditions of one small European country, “Baltic Shadows” still has a lot to offer. It is a fast-paced spy thriller with twists and turns that will make you turn the pages. It also has some bright characters whose actions you won’t be able to predict.

Gustavs Ziediņš, a respected member of the Latvian diaspora, born in Canada but brought up to love and respect his ancestors’ traditions and lifestyle, has had his share of grief. Still, his life was calm and safe until a cosy Christmas get-together event is interrupted by a tragic death. It’s a usual practice that the police begin an investigation, but Gustavs feels uncomfortable sensing that their questions go beyond the incident at the party. He meets a woman, the love interest of his youth, and suddenly he finds himself unable to keep staying detached from the political undercurrents in his community. The resistance movement with branches in Canada and across the ocean in Latvia pulls him in. His life is at risk now. He can’t be sure whom he can trust. His task isn’t grading students’ papers anymore. He has agreed to take part in a perilous mission not fully realising what he’s gotten himself into. But he is determined to do what it takes to do everything to succeed in his task. After all, it isn’t only about fighting for the global cause of his home country regaining independence. It is for his friends who have given everything to the cause, even their lives.

“Baltic Shadows” by Matejs Kalns is a story that will leave you musing about the multi-faceted tapestry of history, as well as about the role a person plays in making the global wheels keep moving.



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Baltic Shadows