The Secret Speech

TomRobSmith-theauthorwhosedebut,Child44,hasbeencalled"brilliant"(ChicagoTribune),"remarkable"(Newsweek)and"sensational"(EntertainmentWeekly)-returnswithanintense,suspensefulnewnovel:astorywherethesinsofthepastthreatentodestroythepresent,wherefamiliesmustovercomeunimaginableobstaclestosavetheirlovedones,andwherehopeforabettertomorrowisfoundinthemostunlikelyofcircumstances...THESECRETSPEECHSovietUnion,1956.Stalinisdead,andaviolentregimeisbeginningtofracture-leavingbehindasocietywherethepolicearethecriminals,andthecriminalsareinnocent.AsecretspeechcomposedbyStalin'ssuccessorKhrushchevisdistributedtotheentirenation.Itsmessage:Stalinwasatyrant.Itspromise:TheSovietUnionwillchange.Facinghisownpersonalturmoil,formerstatesecurityofficerLeoDemidovisalsostrugglingtochange.ThetwoyounggirlsheandhiswifeRaisaadoptedhaveyettoforgivehimforhispartinthedeathoftheirparents.Theyarenotalone.Nowthatthetruthisout,Leo,Raisa,andtheirfamilyareingravedangerfromsomeoneconsumedbythedarklegacyofLeo'spastcareer.Someonetransformedbeyondrecognitionintotheperfectmodelofvengeance.FromthestreetsofMoscowinthethroesofpoliticalupheaval,totheSiberiangulags,andtothecenteroftheHungarianuprisinginBudapest,THESECRETSPEECHisabreathtaking,epicnovelthatconfirmsTomRobSmithasoneofthemostexcitingnewauthorswritingtoday.