The Russian Key

by Jeri Laber

“An intriguing spy novel written in the form of a memoir . . . Those seeking a fresh take on the genre will be satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly

An exciting debut for fans of The Americans and Red Sparrow.
           
In 1964, at the height of the Cold War, Kate Landau, a young American expert on Russia, joins the CIA. Drawn to danger and adventure, she hopes to be sent to Moscow, but instead finds herself stuck in an office doing boring translations. When her big break comes, she’s recruited to work undercover in New York City, investigating a KGB officer posing as a UN diplomat. Exactly the kind of work she’d hoped for.
 
The KGB officer is not a stranger. She’d met him in Moscow years before when he was a handsome university student named Max and she was a naive American college girl visiting the Soviet Union on a rare friendship tour. Max had been her first lover. She still treasures the little gold key he'd given her one memorable night in a Moscow park.
 
When Kate and Max meet up again in New York and inevitably resume their love affair, it is passionate, but fraught with distrust and secret agendas. A series of dangerous events lead Kate to fear for her life—and to suspect the man who is both her lover and her enemy. Against a background of Soviet brutality and international intrigue, The Russian Key will keep you guessing as it builds to its shocking and unexpected climax. 
 

Genres: Russia

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2021

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most ridiculous books I’ve ever read. The main character Kate is beyond silly.
While on a trip to Russia during the Cold War she meets a Russian student, Max, and they talk for about three minutes, agree to meet later in secret (because, of course it’s not allowed) and have torrid sex in a park whereupon Kate is smitten and in love.
They don’t meet again for many years by which time Kate is working for the CIA and the FBI and Max is working in the Russian Embassy in NYC – possibly KGB and they reconnect and renew their sex/love relationship.
You’d think this makes for a good story, but it doesn’t. It just goes from one ridiculous scenario to another.
The book synopsis is better than the book.
The writing is simplistic making it a quick read.
Waste of time.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
An American woman, Kate Landau, an expert on Russia is working for the CIA and is asked to gather intel on a Soviet KGB officer living in the United States. Things do get complicated as they have a past that includes a passionate night in Moscow. Can emotions be put aside for Kate to do her job?

I think I will start by saying that I am not a prolific reader of espionage thrillers, but I get the feeling that this might have been a little heavy on the romance portion. in fact, when Kate flashes back to her visit with two classmates to Moscow in the 1950s, I found that part of the novel had a juvenile feel to it- complete with mean girls and crushes. Also, the last 15% of the book when something happens to Kate was really unsettling.

Publication Date 18/05/21
Goodreads review 09/06/21

[Vikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

TRIGGERING CONTENT ABOUNDS IN THIS REVIEW!

I could not stand this book. The ending is HORRID. I got this out of the library yesterday and rushed to finish it. Any book with a violent and graphic rape scene is a big NO from me. UNFORTUNATELY I did not read the Trigger warnings when I should have. It goes back to the library TODAY!! I don’t even want it in the house 😭

[Mel Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Great premise, but it didn't deliver for me. Very strange, sudden anticlimatic, terrible ending that ruined everything. The book also has some potential major triggers!

Triggers: Violent rape
The heroine is violently raped by some KGB thugs (not the love interest) around the end of the story. It was so brutal that she needs catheter to pee. She is broken and calls herself a "wounded warrior" and she flinches away when the hero tries to kiss her. It seems like the scene was added for shock factor and to facilitate the sudden ending.

Such a shame because I was looking forward to this book.

EDIT: I originally reviewed the advanced copy, but now the book has been published, I read the published version too. The content was the same as the advanced copy, but there were some enhancements such as corrections of typos. So, my review remains the same.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited when I randomly found out that this book was going to be published this May when I was searching on Goodreads last October. I love Cold War-era spy romance, especially the ones where the heroine is an American or British intelligence officer and the hero is a KGB officer. I find these types of books quite rare, compared to books where the heroine is KGB and the hero is American or British.

I was thrilled to find this on NetGalley because I was really looking forward to reading it. Perhaps I had high expectations but unfortunately, I struggled to finish this book and it took me 2 weeks to finish it, even though I hoped to read it in one day.

Now that I read it, I’m not sure what’s the intended target audience for this book really is. From the book description, I believed it was a Cold War spy romance, in the manner of Evelyn Anthony or Anne Armstrong Thompson in the 70s or 80s. But this book fell short as a romance for me. I also believe it would probably not satisfy romance lovers. I think people should not go in this book expecting romance because there is simply too little reward at the end.

I’m also not convinced it’s also targeted at Cold War espionage fiction lovers because the story would probably not appeal to them. The plot is not really new or intriguing enough and there are too many romantic elements for them (despite the anticlimactic ending). The espionage and international intrigue aspect were simply no John le Carré . The book description says this book is for “fans of The Americans and Red Sparrow,” but I remain unconvinced about that. People should not go in expecting something like Red Sparrow, written by a former CIA officer.

Please note that the review might contain a few spoilers.

The book was slow at the beginning. I particularly did not about the heroine’s past when she was a college student. The book also had young adult fiction vibes at the start (complete with vapid grilfriends) that I did not like. But the story did pick up once she arrived in Moscow on a friendship tour to the USSR. In fact, the parts I liked the most was the part where the heroine traveled around the Soviet Union. It was well-researched and it was very interesting to read about Soviet Moscow and other regions.

I did not like the heroine at all, which made this a frustrating read. The story is written entirely in her first person. I found her annoying, immature, TSTL (too-stupid-to-live), and holier than thou. She kept going on about how the hero, the KGB officer, was a liar even though she’s a liar herself and she’s in the same profession!

There is cheating in this book as the heroine has relations with both her boyfriend and the hero, which I did not like.

Still, I kept reading because I was promised “shocking and unexpected climax” in the description. Well, I still don’t know what that climax was supposed to be. I could see the supposed “twist” about the hero coming.

The book did not work as a romance for me. Despite the book description promised a “passionate love affair”, the love scenes were too mild. I read older books that were more passionate.

Furthermore, the book should have trigger warnings as the heroine is violently raped by KGB thugs. I never want that in my romance books and I would not have read if I had known. I believe readers should know beforehand about this. It just came out of nowhere, seemingly for shock factor. Or was this supposed to be the “shocking and unexpected climax?”

The book is quite depressing. The ending is anticlimactic and there wasn’t really any climax. It did not work as a romance. The heroine and the hero’s professions and allegiances being obstacles to their relationship was promising at first, but ultimately, what was the point of all the angst, distrust and secret agendas if the ending is going to be like that?

Although the relationship might have been doomed at the start, I expected, at least, a more emotional confrontation scene between the two characters. I wound't have minded a sad ending, if it were a meaningful, poignant, bitterweet ending.

The book also seems too focused on how America and the CIA are good guys and how the CIA was so brilliant (at least, before the epilogue). Around the end, the book became too preachy. The epilogue was too much. Then, I looked up the author’s background as the founder of Human Rights Watch, and it made sense. Of course, human rights is an important topic, but I feel that this book was not described appropriately. The only part in the book description that remotely hinted at this was the last sentence, “ Against a background of Soviet brutality and international intrigue”, yet the international intrigue part was not satisfying.

Overall, I was let down by the book and liked it more as a travelogue to the USSR.

I also feel the book description is rather misleading and it should be marketed more appropriately and make it clear that this book is more of a book about human rights, rather than romance or espionage fiction.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued with the synopsis. I have always been fascinated by Russian history and once upon a time in the late 80s contemplated studying Russian to become a diplomat. The Russian Key is about espionage, subterfuge, and lies. Both of the main characters are consummate liars. Kate is CIA and Maksim is KGB. I didn’t particularly care for either one of,them. I thought Kate had ideas that she could just waltz into an operation and presto be an agent. She had as much subtlety as a brick. I’m quite skeptical of Kate being able to visit Hungary as easily as the story alludes in 1965. It was a good story with good ole Cold War friction. Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the early read.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t mind this book at first. In fact, it was a nice escape, and I was intrigued.
The middle of it was a little slow and I planned on giving it three stars because of that.
However, the ending was NOT something I would’ve imagined and not something I thought would have emerged from this book. Like another reviewer said, a trigger warning should have been included.

[Ev · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the record:

-Yes, the plot was suspenseful.
(My curiosity never wavered.)
-Yes, the structure was fitting. (The historical events of the era provide support for key events in the book.)
-Yes, the details were factual.
(The author undoubtedly presents the Soviet backdrop and KGB history accurately and convincingly.)

But:

I would hardly classify this book in the espionage category.

What part of “spying” includes countless sex sessions with the target and little attempt to gain any intel on KGB agents and their activities in the United States? The protagonist is hung up on nothing but physical encounters, and on the rare occasion she does attempt to actually do her assigned tasks as a “spy” (and I use that term loosely) her tactics are hardly stealthy and on par with an amateur espionage thriller enthusiast. Even the CIA training she receives in preparation of her assignment amounts to nothing more than target practice, concealing her weapon in a secret compartment in her purse, and guided in blending in with her surroundings when pursuing her target, which failed miserably when the target turns around and sees her.

Even Nancy Drew has more discretion and rationale in her detective work.

What started out with a promising plot slowly deteriorated into an unconvincing twist where it was revealed that the “target”was actually working as an informant for the main character’s boss. Huh?

For thrilling espionage action, I recommend sticking with the likes of Daniel Silva.

[Lynn B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts out great. Pulls you in. THEN the main character goes of the rails. Does foolish things n when its all said n done he choice of careers left me stymied.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: murder, torture, cheating, rape (on-page).

This book was all over the place in the worst way. The writing was incredibly basic and boring. There is no description, no nuance, no feeling. The story itself was kind of interesting but the ending ruined it for me. I'm sure it's a realistic look into what female secret operatives experienced but I think it could have, and should have, been handled so much better.

This could be considered a spoiler, but it's related to a content warning so I feel the need to say it: the way Katie's rape was handled, even by her own internal monologue, was incredibly dismissive and downright harmful. There were maybe two sentences of her reflecting on her experiences and acknowledging that it was traumatic for her. It felt like gratuitous violence added only for shock value.

I do not recommend this book.

[Sue F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued while reading about author Jeri Laber’s career as a founder of Human Rights Watch, and so I was happy to receive an advance review copy of her new spy novel, The Russian Key. And The Russian Key turned out to be an enjoyable look back to a time when international relations were pretty much all about the Cold War rivalry between the US and the USSR.

In the midst of this rivalry, young Kate Landau manages to finagle a visit to the Soviet Union for herself and two of her college friends. Even more impressively, she manages to briefly break free of the oversight of their tour “guides” long enough to have a couple of brief encounters with Max Rzhevsky – the last of which ends badly for Kate. But it doesn’t end badly enough for her to give up on her fascination with all things Russian, and a decade later, she works for the CIA, Max works for the KGB, and spying on him is her chance to get out of her boring desk job and into the field.

As with many spy novels, there’s a lot of ambiguity and readers will enjoy trying to figure out who is really spying on whom. Kate has been directed to figure out if Max might be a potential defector. Max tries to figure out if Kate is CIA, and spying on him. The Cold War background felt pretty realistic - probably due to Laber’s experience with Human Rights Watch. And there’s a good bit of action, including a memorable (and spooky) ocean scene.

Overall, I liked The Russian Key, and I especially liked the fact that the story is told from a female point of view – sort of rare in the world of spy thrillers. But I did have trouble feeling much empathy with the characters. Both Kate and Max seemed shallow and a little unlikeable, and I just couldn’t bring myself to care much about either one. So although The Russian Key has a nice twisty plot, and I read it in only a couple of sittings because I wanted to know what happened, I ended up giving this four stars instead of five. That’s still a solid “read” recommendation from me, but it could have been higher if I’d been able to connect a bit more with either Kate or Max.

And finally, my thanks to Skyhorse Publishing/Arcade for the review copy!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1953 Kate Landau was a young college student at Smith College. She is passionate about Russia and despite the country being closed to most travelers she is able to arrange for herself and two of her fellow students to travel to Russia. There she meets and falls for a Russian student named Max.

Fast forward 9 years and Kate uses her profuse knowledge of Russia culture and language to begin working for the CIA. Instead of getting a placement in the field, as she hoped, she is placed in a desk job and is tasked with translating documents. Despite her skill and hard work she remains on desk duty. Dismayed by this Kate approaches her supervisor about promotions and is told that within the next year she might be promoted to analysis, which was not the news Kate was looking for. As a last resort before quitting Kate sends a letter directly to the head of covert operations and is surprised when she is called in to begin working in the field to spy on Max who she met and fell for in Russia.

I was pulled in by the characters and instantly liked Kate. She made many mistakes during the book but it was great to see how these missteps led to her growth and how she was able to adapt and move on. In addition to having the action and mystery I would expect from a cold war spy novel this book also had romance and great character growth. I definitely enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read Jeri Laber books.

Thank you Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy

This is a totally absorbing piece of work, beautifully told with background detail on the Cold War and an insight into operations of the CIA and FBI. The characters, an American and a Russian, are well portrayed, feasible and interesting. Jeri Laber’s novel is not only well told based on her own knowledge and experience, but it recreates in part what she personally witnessed from the time that, as one of the first of American graduate students to visit Russia after the death of Stalin in 1954.

Katherine (Kate) Landau, a Smith College student, travels to the USSR with two classmates. She meets a Russian student, they have a brief affair, she takes a photo of him, and she ends up in jail. Ten years later, they meet up again in New York City and pick up the affair. Only now he is a KGB officer, posing as a diplomat, and she, unknown to him, is with the CIA, assigned to find out all about him. That’s just the beginning.

A true gem of a thriller, full of lies, deceit and love between two Individuals from different continents. The script flows easily from one page to the next. An engrossing page turned. I loved it!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fast read - I didn't think I'd finish within a span of a few days! The Russian Key is told from the first person perspective of Kate Landau, an ordinary college student at Smith in the 1950s who gets the opportunity to visit Russia with her friends. She unexpectedly meets Max, a college student in Russia, and falls head over heels for him. As life oftentimes goes, their paths once again cross almost a decade later when Kate works at the CIA and is given the an assignment to spy on Max.

I found that I was instantly drawn into Kate, especially as the story is told from her perspective, and appreciated how well-researched the descriptions of Russia and diplomacy between countries were laid out. The ending was definitely a surprise though, and not one I could have predicted.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, detailed look at Cold War life, and a fun spy novel, it nevertheless felt a bit disjointed to me, with Kate as our narrator thinking and explaining all sorts of memories and information a bit randomly. A quick read, I was left feeling mostly satisfied, although I will never understand the event that happens at the end that should probably have a warning for readers. It also happened within the last chapters of the book, leaving such a traumatic and enduring event no time for resolution within the book itself. The premise is what got me interested, and the book was a quick read, which is why I didn't put it down. But the plot itself was thin and the author, Jeri Laber, has led a much more interesting life, I think, than poor Kate.

[Amanda Callies]

Do you like traveling? Do you like spy novels? Are you a fan of post Cold War era books? If the answer to those questions are yes, you have to pick up The Russian Key by Jeri Laber. This book reminded me of both The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott and Atomic Love in that all of these novels main characters were women who would do anything for the country and for the men they thought they loved.

Katie was my favorite character-I related to her because of her want to belong and be loved to someone and something other than herself.

Learning more about Russia and its history was super interesting to me.

[Imran Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though listed as a 'Cold War thriller' I wasn't sure what to expect given that the author's background is in human rights. I was hoping the novel would not be a vehicle for pontificating about human rights. (A thriller novel should not be an elongated op-ed piece.)

The book didn't disappoint. The plot was crafted well. All the pieces fit in place smoothly even allowing for a few unexpected twists and turns.

Most important, the novel was exciting. It held my interest and became the proverbial page turner. (I finished the novel in two sittings.)

For anyone wishing to read a Cold War novel with a human touch - the book was written in first person too - The Russian Key will not disappoint.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and a page turner. The description of Cold War days had me reliving my youth. However the writing or the voice seemed awfully melodramatic and there was something missing in the romance. And were there answering machines in 1965? Not at my house. Pretty good read but not great.

[Ruth Garcia-Corrales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Russian Key takes you to the era of the Cold War, where espionage was the only way to get information from the other side. The story brings up the hard reality of women in this role with less protection than men and who could easily become victims. The story is written with a strong breath of reality, the description of places become genuine. In my top list for this year.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Intriguing synopsis, but overall quite a letdown. Simplistic writing, stilted dialogue, a protagonist who is a complete moron and a plot that ultimately makes little sense and seems wildly unrealistic. And let's not forget the completely pointless violent rape scene that didn't fulfill any particular function other than adding shock value...

[Sarah F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing & deep, while remaining a page turner throughout! I love how the author clearly pulled from her real world experience working in the Soviet Union to make a thriller that feels real and has lots of great details. Spy novel and romance novel, two of my favorite things together!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting Cold War story of a young girl, her Russian lover, and her role with the CIA in turning him from KGB as a senior agent in the US.
We’ll written with surprising ending.

[Rd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but I thought it was rather superficial. Couldn't really take any of the characters seriously.

[Missi Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay…quick read. Entertaining…

[Christyn Knoop · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! Interesting storyline about a woman’s experience in intelligence work in Cold War America. Not too complicated; just go with it.

[Jesse Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sudden and disappointing ending. Rest of book is phenomenal. Very easy to get sucked into the story; a real page-turner.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite clever. Good story and lots of unearthing of secrets.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read a Cold War book as that’s a genre I am currently interested in. This book was a disappointment. The premjse was good, the execution not so much. I found it to be all over the place and the sudden, violent rape just put it over the edge of terrible for me. I am not sure why the author felt the need to put that particular scene in when it was completely unnecessary to carry the plot. It really felt like it came out of nowhere.