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gadicohen93's review against another edition
4.0
I read this one on a summer 2009 road trip to Canada, finished it in around a week I think (and that's a travel week, meaning barely any time to read, except probably some kinda-long car rides.) I remember I loved it--love meaning couldn't strip my eyes away from the pages.
But I remember only a few scenes, namely:
-A little boy in famined Ukraine, a cat someone ate, a kidnapped brother, eaten.
-Train tracks.
-Some really nasty murder stories.
-Something about a prison, or about torture, and about Leo not seeing his wife for a long long time.
That's it.
So, not very memorable, and I guess I also remember the ending was a little too... well-rehearsed? I don't know. It's a perfect example of a 3.5 star book, one that feeds your need for speed, that immerses you in things that make you passionate, in history... but a book you're not going to even remember that you read until you read something about a Russian serial killer and then you're like, "Woah what!? I think I read something about a Russian serial killer. Woah."
So yeah.
But I remember only a few scenes, namely:
-A little boy in famined Ukraine, a cat someone ate, a kidnapped brother, eaten.
-Train tracks.
-Some really nasty murder stories.
-Something about a prison, or about torture, and about Leo not seeing his wife for a long long time.
That's it.
So, not very memorable, and I guess I also remember the ending was a little too... well-rehearsed? I don't know. It's a perfect example of a 3.5 star book, one that feeds your need for speed, that immerses you in things that make you passionate, in history... but a book you're not going to even remember that you read until you read something about a Russian serial killer and then you're like, "Woah what!? I think I read something about a Russian serial killer. Woah."
So yeah.
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
4.0
I knew nothing about [a:Tom Rob Smith|981834|Tom Rob Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1254868572p2/981834.jpg] or [b:Child 44|2161733|Child 44|Tom Rob Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255690645s/2161733.jpg|2167258] when I saw it in my library, but from the description on the back it sounded interesting so I picked it up. As it turns out, that description was not terribly accurate, but I liked the book even more than I expected. The era of Soviet history in which it is set is one that I want to learn more about and the story of Andrei Chikatilo, on which the novel is loosely based, is one that has long horrified and fascinated me. Overall, this is an excellent, chilling story. I not only intend to read the next books in the trilogy, I added eight books to my to read list based on his descriptions of what they were and how they figured into his research.
emsavors's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is absolutely incredible! I’m not entirely sure that I find the ending believable, but given how good the rest of the book is - I don’t even care!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Confinement, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Violence, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Body horror, Blood, Classism, Infertility, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Animal death, Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
smusie's review against another edition
4.0
Starvation. Despair. Permafrost. Stalin. Mistrust. Denunciation. Exile. Everything a good book should have--but wait, there's more! A serial killer round things out. A bit too uplifting at the end for my taste, but a good read nonetheless.
cottsy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rebeccajc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jackie_fitzgetald's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sinimini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jgraydee's review against another edition
5.0
Set in Russia in 1953, the story focuses on main character Leo Demidov who discovers and subsequently searches for a violent serial killer. Leo's investigation is aggravated by high ranking State officials who oppose him for their own self-preservation and by the State's insistence that crime cannot -- would not -- exist in its utopian midst. This is Stalin's Russia, and every decision is calculated. Every action is suspect. The book is well paced throughout, but it finds its own when Leo and his wife Raisa are exiled from Moscow. At this point, they agree they have nothing to lose, and they turn all their efforts toward finding and killing the serial killer.
Note: Child 44 is the first book of a trilogy by Tom Rob Smith; Child 44 is based on the crimes of a Ukrainian serial killer, known as the Rostov Ripper, who was convicted of and executed for 52 murders in the Soviet Union.
Note: Child 44 is the first book of a trilogy by Tom Rob Smith; Child 44 is based on the crimes of a Ukrainian serial killer, known as the Rostov Ripper, who was convicted of and executed for 52 murders in the Soviet Union.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Really liked this. Clever, shocking, good twist I didn't see coming. Full of information about Communist Russia. Thought all the way through how good a film it would make - one is in production! Glad Bale isn't it in anymore though, too similar a character to Equilibrium. Very much enjoyed the book and writing. Refreshing take on the serial killer genre.