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The Murder of the Romanovs
Based on exclusive access to newly discovered Russian documents, the last word on the fate of the Romanov family. The overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Imperial family is a cause celebre of twentieth-century history. Andrew Cook's re-investigation of the story finally solves one of the greatest mysteries of world history. The author draws upon new forensic evidence and newly discovered British and Russian Secret Service records reveal the truth about the family's murder, the proposed British rescue of the Imperial family led by Major Stephen Alley, and the Secret Service mission inside Russia after the family's reported deaths to discover the truth about their fate.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2025
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For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the story of the Romanov's. The Tsar and Tsarina that lost it all, the little girl who many have professed to be - Anastasia - to the influence and enigma that was Rasputin.
This book is beautifully written! It goes very deep into Russian History a lot of which can be hard to follow - but it is not less enjoyable because of it.
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For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the story of the Romanov's. The Tsar and Tsarina that lost it all, the little girl who many have professed to be - Anastasia - to the influence and enigma that was Rasputin.
This book is beautifully written! It goes very deep into Russian History a lot of which can be hard to follow - but it is not less enjoyable because of it.
P.S. Love bookmarks? Want to print them out and use them as often as you like? Love ephemera and junk journal’s and prints too? Try out my new website The Witchery Woo
February 13, 2018
Ripped through this in a couple of days, and I’m a slow reader. It was not overly-detailed and gave a good account of the causes of, events and fallout of the murders.
A criticism would be the introduction of too many historical characters without sufficient explanation of who they are and why they are important.
A criticism would be the introduction of too many historical characters without sufficient explanation of who they are and why they are important.
October 13, 2012
At just the right length and amount of detail, this is a very good account of the end of the Romanovs. It is complete with up-to-date research findings.
May 5, 2024
[25 Oct 2018] Having read the emerging story of the Romanovs in the 1980s/1990s, I was really keen to read this up-to-date and authoritative account of the evidence as it is now established, including the eventual finding and identification of the Royal family bodies. In that respect, I was not disappointed. It is relatively well written, easy-reading and well structured. It does take you through some of the build up, the political changes, the great war and the Russian revolution. Then it draws on the newly available evidence from the Russian Secret Service and the British Foreign Office to describe the Tsars transportation to the infamous 'house of special purpose'. How they met their end and what happened to them there is all described clearly.
However I must confess there are several things about this book that I did not enjoy. The first real 'clanger' was the repetitive use of the term 'King of England' to describe George V. Now I understand the book was also intended for the American market, but this level of inaccuracy at the start dents the credibility of the author and causes offence to those Britons whose King was George V and who are not English. Sorry to go on about it - but how hard is it to described George as the King of the United Kingdom?
I really struggled with the myriad groups of Russians fighting each other - the trotskyists, the marxists, the bolsheviks, the white Russians, I wasn't clear what any of them stood for, what they thought they were doing or what any of them wanted. The next was the rather one-dimensional characterisations of the Tsar and his family. There seems few descriptions of them as human-beings with feelings and emotions. I also would have liked more on the events after the discovery of the bodies and what happened, where they are now buried and what the Russians think about this period of their history now, although I accept this didn't happen until after the book was published, but it still made the book feel incomplete. The final thing was the inclusion of the accounts of Yurovsky, Thompson, McCullagh as appendices - they felt tacked on as if the author had run out of steam.
Generally an interesting book, but I think it could have been much better.
However I must confess there are several things about this book that I did not enjoy. The first real 'clanger' was the repetitive use of the term 'King of England' to describe George V. Now I understand the book was also intended for the American market, but this level of inaccuracy at the start dents the credibility of the author and causes offence to those Britons whose King was George V and who are not English. Sorry to go on about it - but how hard is it to described George as the King of the United Kingdom?
I really struggled with the myriad groups of Russians fighting each other - the trotskyists, the marxists, the bolsheviks, the white Russians, I wasn't clear what any of them stood for, what they thought they were doing or what any of them wanted. The next was the rather one-dimensional characterisations of the Tsar and his family. There seems few descriptions of them as human-beings with feelings and emotions. I also would have liked more on the events after the discovery of the bodies and what happened, where they are now buried and what the Russians think about this period of their history now, although I accept this didn't happen until after the book was published, but it still made the book feel incomplete. The final thing was the inclusion of the accounts of Yurovsky, Thompson, McCullagh as appendices - they felt tacked on as if the author had run out of steam.
Generally an interesting book, but I think it could have been much better.
April 22, 2019
A history book that uses recently released sources to lay conspiracy theories about the survival of the Romanov family to rest. This is obviously well researched with a full bibliography of sources at the back, and is filled with a surprising number of illustrations for a short book. Cook goes into a great deal of detail about the last few months of the family.
However, I did have reservations about the book. Whilst there is a bibliography of sources divided into themes, I found it strange that there were no proper footnotes or endnotes. Whilst I don't always read all the footnotes, I suppose I find it reassuring to know exactly where the historian has found their information and to tell what angle they are taking with it. Also, I thought this lacked analysis. Most of the book was taken up with the description of what had happened, a small chapter at the end described what was in the newly released documents, then the rest was taken up with the original sources. I felt like I might as well just read the sources direct. The lack of analysis made the history somewhat dry and overall I found this quite an odd book.
However, I did have reservations about the book. Whilst there is a bibliography of sources divided into themes, I found it strange that there were no proper footnotes or endnotes. Whilst I don't always read all the footnotes, I suppose I find it reassuring to know exactly where the historian has found their information and to tell what angle they are taking with it. Also, I thought this lacked analysis. Most of the book was taken up with the description of what had happened, a small chapter at the end described what was in the newly released documents, then the rest was taken up with the original sources. I felt like I might as well just read the sources direct. The lack of analysis made the history somewhat dry and overall I found this quite an odd book.
August 31, 2018
Love a good conspiracy theory and Andrew Cook's 'The Murder of the Romanovs' documents quite a few that I was previously unaware of. Interesting details of Germany's plot to insert Lenin and Trotsky into Russia as well as the strong indications of British intelligence involvement in the murder of Rasputin. Equally intriguing is the mission of agent Major Stephen Alley to execute a last minute rescue of the Imperial family at Ekaterinburg.
On top of all the historical scheming surrounding the eventual execution of Tsar Nicolas and his family, this book provides both Russian and British secret records to provide detail of the events. Add to that the fake Anastasia claimants and this is a thorough and commendable investigative account of this case.
On top of all the historical scheming surrounding the eventual execution of Tsar Nicolas and his family, this book provides both Russian and British secret records to provide detail of the events. Add to that the fake Anastasia claimants and this is a thorough and commendable investigative account of this case.
April 16, 2021
Written in very accurate detail, making you feel as though you were taken back in time and there with the family in their very sad final days, incredibly gritty and brutal. A great book if studying or interested in Russian history or the Romanov family
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2017
Not well written and full of historical mistakes (that could be easily corrected with the use of Google), the book only deserves two stars for publishing official press conference of scientists who did DNA testing on the newly discovered remains of the Romanov children.
October 26, 2014
I enjoyed this, partly because I knew very little already about the Russian Revolution or the Romanov family. I watched a BBC documentary about the four Grand Duchesses and wanted to read more so chose this particular book. It has made me want to read more about the politics of the Revolution.
The book seems well-balanced and I think well-written. My only complaint, but I think it is of the source material, is that it switches suddenly from the family's perspective to the guards' perspective on the night of the shooting. I would have liked to read more contemporary views of the Romanovs from outsiders before the Revolution (we got a flavour but not as much direct evidence as about the burial) and more from royalist/sympathisers afterwards.
Personally I felt there was too much about WWI tactics which wasn't as clear as the rest of the book - although I understand the constant changes in leadership and the political landscape is a key part of the story.
I also found it a little strange that the book is framed as being based on new evidence when the majority of it doesn't discuss the graves/DNA evidence. Yes it's a key part, but if it was to be the selling point it should have been examined in more detail, and far more of the pretenders who claimed to be escaped Romanovs should have been written about - not just one.
Overall a good read.
The book seems well-balanced and I think well-written. My only complaint, but I think it is of the source material, is that it switches suddenly from the family's perspective to the guards' perspective on the night of the shooting. I would have liked to read more contemporary views of the Romanovs from outsiders before the Revolution (we got a flavour but not as much direct evidence as about the burial) and more from royalist/sympathisers afterwards.
Personally I felt there was too much about WWI tactics which wasn't as clear as the rest of the book - although I understand the constant changes in leadership and the political landscape is a key part of the story.
I also found it a little strange that the book is framed as being based on new evidence when the majority of it doesn't discuss the graves/DNA evidence. Yes it's a key part, but if it was to be the selling point it should have been examined in more detail, and far more of the pretenders who claimed to be escaped Romanovs should have been written about - not just one.
Overall a good read.
August 5, 2015
I loved this book! I'm already pretty obsessed with the Romanovs and Russian history in general but I still wasn't too sure of this book. It was really very eye opening to read about what a shambles the execution and disposal of the bodies of the imperial family was. I really enjoyed reading the accounts from several different people who were involved or met those involved after. I barely managed to put this one down and finished it in just over a week!
May 24, 2014
It is an OK book. A lot of information, just not any NEW information
November 30, 2015
I was really interested in the history, but the writing was pretty awful.
December 28, 2015
A very detailed and therefore somewhat dry report on the murder of the Romanovs. I was fascinated by the background info about the lead up to WWI and the Russian revolution.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews