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erikstl's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. Very excited to read the second in the series, and if it's as good as this one, I'm hoping Eastland will create even more in the Inspector Pekkala series.
I'm a fan of Russian history, and this historically-based novel takes legends of the assassination of the Romanov family and puts them into an engaging work of fiction based around the character Inspector Pekkala, The Emerald Eye, the most trusted inspector of Tsar Nicholas II.
I'm a fan of Russian history, and this historically-based novel takes legends of the assassination of the Romanov family and puts them into an engaging work of fiction based around the character Inspector Pekkala, The Emerald Eye, the most trusted inspector of Tsar Nicholas II.
p25n's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
em_emily_o's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
lilpeachy87's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
adrianjd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shirlee2024's review against another edition
4.0
A historical thriller with a unique setting. The mystery surrounds the execution of the tsar and his family during the Russian Revolution. The hero is the tsar's former chief inspector who has survived torture and the gulag, only to be recruited by Stalin (no is not an acceptable answer) to investigate the tsar's death. I'm looking forward to the next Inspector Pekkala book.
krobart's review against another edition
1.0
Among other problems I had with this book, I found it completely unbelievable, given the loyalty of the main character to the Romanovs, that he would willingly agree to work for Stalin at the end of the book. I forgive myself for revealing this turn of events, as it is easy to see it coming.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/eye-of-the-red-tsar/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/eye-of-the-red-tsar/
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
Nicholas Romanov, Tsar of Russia was a very powerful man. With wealth and power comes the danger of people always wanting to kill you.
While training in the military, Pekkala met Romanov. They became friends, formed form their admiration for each other. Due to Pekkala amazing ability to remember things, even down to the smallest of things like how many buttons are on someone’s coat; Romanov brought Pekkala into his closest circle. Pekkala became known as “The Red Eye of the Tsar.
In 1917, Romanov and his family were murdered. Pekkala was charged and sent away. He would be forgotten and only known as prisoner 4745-P. Flash forward to the present. Pekkala’s help is needed.
Eye of the Red Tsar is the debut novel by Sam Eastland. This book really surprised me in a good way. I could not tear myself away from this book .Pekkala is the next Jason Bourne. This book started out with a bang and ended on a high note. I found all of the characters intriguing and memorizing. The storyline would flash back and forth between the past and present. It was so effortless. I found that every time the story would go back to the past, it would add that much more depth and intensity to the plot. Pekkala is both a great detective and assassin. I can’t wait to read the next Pekkala novel. Anyone who likes to read a good book needs to check out Eye of the Red Tsar!
While training in the military, Pekkala met Romanov. They became friends, formed form their admiration for each other. Due to Pekkala amazing ability to remember things, even down to the smallest of things like how many buttons are on someone’s coat; Romanov brought Pekkala into his closest circle. Pekkala became known as “The Red Eye of the Tsar.
In 1917, Romanov and his family were murdered. Pekkala was charged and sent away. He would be forgotten and only known as prisoner 4745-P. Flash forward to the present. Pekkala’s help is needed.
Eye of the Red Tsar is the debut novel by Sam Eastland. This book really surprised me in a good way. I could not tear myself away from this book .Pekkala is the next Jason Bourne. This book started out with a bang and ended on a high note. I found all of the characters intriguing and memorizing. The storyline would flash back and forth between the past and present. It was so effortless. I found that every time the story would go back to the past, it would add that much more depth and intensity to the plot. Pekkala is both a great detective and assassin. I can’t wait to read the next Pekkala novel. Anyone who likes to read a good book needs to check out Eye of the Red Tsar!
jwoodsum's review against another edition
5.0
Great book with a fascinating main character. Pekkala was the top cop for the last Russian tsar; spent 9 years in a Soviet gulag; brought out of prison to work for Stalin to find out what really happened to the Romonovs. Wonderful evocation of post-revolution Russia. Looking forward to reading the next in the series
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
Subjects in crime fiction seem to come in waves these days. Russian history seems to be one of those waves, either that or there's some weird synergy going on in my life. EYE OF THE RED TSAR is one of the Russian themed books I've been lucky enough to receive recently. Set against Russia under the rule of Stalin and all the brutality and ruthlessness that regime imposed, this is a book about the life of Pekkala. A favourite of the Tsar, Pekkala was known to be utterly loyal to his master.
Unexpectedly reprieved he is accompanied by the very new Commissar Kirov on his mission. A bitter sweet assignment for Pekkala. On the one hand, possible success and freedom; on the other, the sadness and despair he feels as he traces the last days of the family he knew, and in particular the Tsar he admired.
The fate of the Romanov's, told from the aspect of the Tsar and the entire family, rather than the more common Anastasia speculation is related as a series of current day events interspersed with flashbacks. So much of what Pekkala sees, hears and touches reminds him of the past. It's a very elaborate, textured way of telling a tale, slowly and intricately, weaving Pekkala's past life, his own background, the current investigation, the Tsar's family, Kirov and Pekkala's estranged brother.
Because Pekkala is narrating this tale the constantly outward looking perspective does mean that you feel like you understand the life that has shaped this man, but you may come away from the book not quite sure who the man has become. As this is the first book in a proposed series, that seems somehow fair enough, one would hope that in the future the character himself will step out from behind the events and into the light a little more.
Having said that, this is a gloriously Russian feeling novel. There is a sense of history, of sadness, a little hope, a lot of reflection, glory found, and more than a little glory lost. There is also, given that this is an alternate history, a timeline at the end which explains what really happened to the Romanov's. For which I, for one, was very grateful. There is such a sense of reality to EYE OF THE RED TSAR that it was very easy to get more than a little confused about facts versus fiction.
Unexpectedly reprieved he is accompanied by the very new Commissar Kirov on his mission. A bitter sweet assignment for Pekkala. On the one hand, possible success and freedom; on the other, the sadness and despair he feels as he traces the last days of the family he knew, and in particular the Tsar he admired.
The fate of the Romanov's, told from the aspect of the Tsar and the entire family, rather than the more common Anastasia speculation is related as a series of current day events interspersed with flashbacks. So much of what Pekkala sees, hears and touches reminds him of the past. It's a very elaborate, textured way of telling a tale, slowly and intricately, weaving Pekkala's past life, his own background, the current investigation, the Tsar's family, Kirov and Pekkala's estranged brother.
Because Pekkala is narrating this tale the constantly outward looking perspective does mean that you feel like you understand the life that has shaped this man, but you may come away from the book not quite sure who the man has become. As this is the first book in a proposed series, that seems somehow fair enough, one would hope that in the future the character himself will step out from behind the events and into the light a little more.
Having said that, this is a gloriously Russian feeling novel. There is a sense of history, of sadness, a little hope, a lot of reflection, glory found, and more than a little glory lost. There is also, given that this is an alternate history, a timeline at the end which explains what really happened to the Romanov's. For which I, for one, was very grateful. There is such a sense of reality to EYE OF THE RED TSAR that it was very easy to get more than a little confused about facts versus fiction.