Child 44

Critics

• CHILD 44

  I heard rumours about this debut novel last year after I attended the London Book Fair as it was subject to a bidding war resulting in the work being sold to 22 countries, as well as film rights being secured by Ridley Scott. Filming has commenced wi ... (read full critics)

  shotsmag published on Wed, 29 Sep 2010

• Secret history

  Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith 480pp, Simon & Schuster, £12.99 First things first: this is a compelling detective story that I read in the proverbial single sitting. The Soviet Union has been fertile ground for thriller writers, from Martin Cruz Smith's G ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

7 Reviews

• 2 people find this helpful

  

  I found it boring at the start, but after the first 50-80 pages the story gained momentum and I wanted to read more and more. Nothing, nobody is what they seem. Tension, terror, censure, torture... a good old iron-curtain story.

  Is this helpful?

  ary29 said on Apr 8, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 2 people find this helpful

  

  Why! Why! Why!?!
  Why there is the new tendency to write a book as it was ALREADY the script for a movie?
  This was such a nice book.
  A nice story.
  A nice style.
  A nice writing.
  And hundred pages before the end... here come the movie!
  I am so disappointed I'm unsure ... (continue)

  Why! Why! Why!?!
  Why there is the new tendency to write a book as it was ALREADY the script for a movie?
  This was such a nice book.
  A nice story.
  A nice style.
  A nice writing.
  And hundred pages before the end... here come the movie!
  I am so disappointed I'm unsure I want to finish it.
  Actually I will finish it because there is one thing good from the beginning to the end in this book, and it's the fact that it's difficult (at least for me) to image how it will end...

  Is this helpful?

  Alice said on Sep 25, 2009 | Add your feedback

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  The paranoid, cold and dark atmosphere of Stalinist Soviet Union is reflected very good in this novel. It is a thrilling read.
  The ending, however, suddenly turns into Hollywoodstyle that does not do the story much good.

  Is this helpful?

  Corstin said on Aug 25, 2009 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Child 44 is a really gripping read. Smith convincingly conjures up the horrors of Stalinist Soviet Union - the fear and the brutality, the lies and the delusions, the mistrust among people (even among family members) - basically all normal and healthy human interactions are twisted beyond re ... (continue)

  Child 44 is a really gripping read. Smith convincingly conjures up the horrors of Stalinist Soviet Union - the fear and the brutality, the lies and the delusions, the mistrust among people (even among family members) - basically all normal and healthy human interactions are twisted beyond recognition in an oppressive regime. No one is ever safe or immune from persecution. One minute you're a war hero, and the next minute you can become a fugitive wanted dead by the whole government. Loyalty to the State can be interpreted as treachery in the blink of an eye. It is against such a background that the story is set, which guarantees it will be a very interesting story.

  And it is indeed a very interesting page-turner. As I read the story, I experienced all kinds of emotions: horror, grief, surprise, etc. The plot is realistic and makes me understand what it must be like to be a citizen in a paranoid regime. It's really eye-opening for me.

  The story is not without flaws: it feels a bit formulaic towards the end. But overall it is still a great story, one that will make you think about these past crimes against humanity. It will also make you want to read the sequel (The Secret Speech) right away - though I heard that it's mediocre in comparison with the debut novel.

  Is this helpful?

  Holmes said on Feb 25, 2012 | Add your feedback

• 

  factual fiction, and a bit of crime

  This book is gripping and well written. An enjoyable book, even if the similarities to Dan Brown style jump to the eye- let's call it factual fiction.
  The serial (child) killer thread (drawn on Chikatilo) and the absurd, terrifying reality of Stalinist Russia work pretty well; the end could have bee ... (continue)

  This book is gripping and well written. An enjoyable book, even if the similarities to Dan Brown style jump to the eye- let's call it factual fiction.
  The serial (child) killer thread (drawn on Chikatilo) and the absurd, terrifying reality of Stalinist Russia work pretty well; the end could have been done better.
  Note: who on earth would edit the dialogues in Italics?? And why is Tolkien's name spelt wrong in the interview at the end? These things remain mysteries to me.

  Is this helpful?

  Viollka said on Jan 15, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

  

  not bad for a debut author. but i find the parts between leo and his wife to be boring and unnecessary. if only the author could have focused more on the mystery itself.

  Is this helpful?

  Vickywt said on Mar 28, 2009 | Add your feedback

See all 7 comments

Book Details

• Rating:
  (66)
  • 5 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 2 stars
  • 1 star
• English Books
• Hardcover 448 Pages
• Edition: 1
• ISBN-10: 0446402389
• ISBN-13: 9780446402385
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Pub date: Apr 29, 2008
• Also available as: Mass Market Paperback, Paperback, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages 繁體書, Livres Français, Deutsche Bücher, Libros en Español, Livros em Português, llibres en català, Libri Italiani, Norske Bøker

Improve data of this book

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN	Edition	List	Sale	Seller
9780446402385	Hardcover	$24.99	$21.36	bn.com
		--	$7.99	ebooks.com
		$24.99	--	The Book Depository
Other editions →
+ 1 copy tradable: →