Imperfect Burials

by Thomas Henry Pope

U.S. correspondent Finn Waters risks his life in pursuit of a story he dreams will exalt him to the level of his famous journalist father who disappeared during the Hungarian Revolution. But Finn doesn't suspect he'll have to make a devil's bargain. With only three days before secret police will notice his absence at the 1989 Round Table Talks in Warsaw, he slips undercover into Russia to prove, once and for all, who massacred 22,000 Polish officers and members of Poland's professional class during WWII. He knows the truth will cause a global uproar capable of shattering the tottering Soviet Union. And he prays the acclaim will smooth over the problems in his marriage.

Of course, if his wife, Clarissa, or his editor at the New York Times finds out he has teamed up with a triple agent and become an international thief, they will kill him. The Soviets, on the other hand, don't use clichés; they truly want him dead. When without warning, the U.S. denies Finn's existence, it seals his fate as a spy without a country, as a man who will forever be looking for a way home.

Genres: Ebooks

366 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2021

About the author

Thomas Henry Pope is a journalist, actor, songwriter, builder and EMT. His boyhood travels behind the Iron Curtain exposed him to the failings of Materialism and laid the groundwork for IMPERFECT BURIALS. After dropping out of Stanford, he became a Buddhist, living off the grid and growing his own food. Since then, he was worked in Hollywood, written for HuffPost and taught English to foreigners. He lives in Vermont.

Reviews

[Jan Butchart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning book!!!!

This novel is absolutely amazing on many levels. The characters and the eloquence of their relationship had me rereading paragraphs again and again...mostly wondering how someone can have these conversations between 2 people that breathe so much truth about their lives and also all the lies, between themselves and others. Also the main subject of the atrocities delivered by the Soviets on the Polish people in general...while I can never understand why a God in Heaven can let so much...so much hate, horror and greed conduct the world around us on a daily basis, it would be people like Finn that would at least keep trying to unmask it...or die trying. My heart bleeds at the truths in this novel and also feels exalted that a great novelist could extract that. Truly Great Author. Kudos to Thomas Henry Pope!!!!!

[Wayne McKinstry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imperfect Burials is many things. It is a geopolitical thriller, a novel of recent history and a story of two people coming to terms with their past.

A reporter eager to make his mark wants to uncover the truth about a war crime the Soviets committed during WWII. Woven into this is the story of Poland and Solidarity striving to break free from the Soviet Union. This was interesting to me because I remember all this from the news, years ago.

But the actual core story is about a woman whose repressed memories are struggling to emerge and her husband and father whose stories are intertwined in all this. The end of the book wraps it all together, with some surprise twists. I highly recommend this book.

[Sonal Kumbhare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow..what a book..though I chose to read it as it was categorized as thriller but it is about the stories around Soviets and their cruel behaviour with Polish people. So I would categorize it as Historical Non-Fiction cum Mystery/Thriller. Story revolves around a girl Clarissa who struggles with her past, her father, her Husband and the present scenrio where she tries to connect the dots...very nicely narrated by the writer Thomas Henry Pope...one of the best reads from 2021. wuold recommend to all those who like mystery, thriller and historical non-fiction.

[Bern Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an intriguing balance of mystery, history, and storytelling. I especially enjoyed and was surprised by the ending. Having lived through these years, I am impressed that Thomas Pope can bring new life and insight to a story I thought I already knew.

[Edward Kosinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging Story

This story revolves around a journalist investigating the Katyn Massacre at the start of the collapse of the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain. The protagonists and story are engaging. The title refers to the uncovering of details to find the resolution.

[Sally Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical context

I devoured this story. I got my atlas out as I'm not a pro on eastern Europe. It would be helpful if historical fiction authors provided a brief overview of the politics the story is immersed in. Having stated that, I loved the story from beginning to end.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A complex subject but well written in an understandable way. Characters were well developed as was the plot. Will be reading more of his books.

[Alyssa Kindt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great read this was. Very much like historical fiction, the author takes his reader on a journey with some very richly developed characters as they struggle in dealing both with the past and their current lives. Bravo!

[n Dalziel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labyrinthine journey

So many facets to this story reflective of the complex situation at the time of the disintegration of the Soviet empire. Great read!

[Jill Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started very strongly for me - but I’m afraid it slowed down and I began to lose interest somewhere along the way. It took far longer than it should have to finish.

[Max Folsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope has created a magnificent read. His characters, setting, everything is spot on. Not only that but the theme of the book and its historical background is important.

This is a work that you will reread.