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sim_96's review against another edition
3.0
This book was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages, thinking I know what's going on. However, the story was long and drivelled on at points that could have just gotten straight to the point.
Grace, the main protagonist of the story finds herself in the middle of something that cannot be explained. Everyone she meets she is sceptical of. Including the woman she is investigating.
With killers, secret spies and just enough mystery to keep you going, you won't want to put this down till the very end.
Grace, the main protagonist of the story finds herself in the middle of something that cannot be explained. Everyone she meets she is sceptical of. Including the woman she is investigating.
With killers, secret spies and just enough mystery to keep you going, you won't want to put this down till the very end.
samanthakayla's review against another edition
4.0
Was intriguing and loved the twists and turns as well as the way the author connected all the events as well as the past and present.
hnagle15's review against another edition
2.0
*TW* sexual assault
Despite what the internet says, I think the author chose to remain anonymous due to the terrible writing. The writing felt sloppy and scattered. Grace is truly one of the dumbest characters I have ever read and I felt myself rolling my eyes at her every move.
- Being chased by the Russians because they want to murder her? "Oh just let me call up my ex-husband with his two new little girls and get him to pick me up at the airport!!"
- Finally comes face-to-face with said Russians? "WHY DID YOU KILL MY CAT?!?!?!?!"
- Is given a 3 month severance from her job? "I'm gonna fly first class to NYC, buy expensive food/alcohol and stay in a 5 star hotel, who needs money to last now that I have no income?"
- Man touches her arm? "Wow, I love him??"
Honestly, she truly annoyed me and despite being 41 she acted like a teenager 90% of the time. I also feel like this book is just one giant piece of propaganda. I really could not look past that... Like, the way it was hyped by the publisher - "the author met a Czech businessman who revealed that, near the end of the Cold War, there had been a rumour going around within the intelligence community suggesting the then-Mrs. Trump (Ivana) had been recruited as a young woman to be a KGB sexpionage agent" feels like it is taking advantage of the current headlines. I just don't buy it. I think I may have enjoyed the story more had it not been marketed like this.
I did like the switching in timelines, so that we were given insight into Elena's life as well as what was currently happening. I thought it was a good way to tell the story and allow the reader to have an understanding of the story, Elena's involvement with the Russians, and how they controlled her every move.
A note on the audiobook: The narrator was good, but it felt so choppy? There were so many parts where it sounded like the edited in a different voice to go over something? I know this description isn't making sense, but basically it felt like I was listening to the first draft of an audiobook, which was really distracting.
Despite what the internet says, I think the author chose to remain anonymous due to the terrible writing. The writing felt sloppy and scattered. Grace is truly one of the dumbest characters I have ever read and I felt myself rolling my eyes at her every move.
- Being chased by the Russians because they want to murder her? "Oh just let me call up my ex-husband with his two new little girls and get him to pick me up at the airport!!"
- Finally comes face-to-face with said Russians? "WHY DID YOU KILL MY CAT?!?!?!?!"
- Is given a 3 month severance from her job? "I'm gonna fly first class to NYC, buy expensive food/alcohol and stay in a 5 star hotel, who needs money to last now that I have no income?"
- Man touches her arm? "Wow, I love him??"
Honestly, she truly annoyed me and despite being 41 she acted like a teenager 90% of the time. I also feel like this book is just one giant piece of propaganda. I really could not look past that... Like, the way it was hyped by the publisher - "the author met a Czech businessman who revealed that, near the end of the Cold War, there had been a rumour going around within the intelligence community suggesting the then-Mrs. Trump (Ivana) had been recruited as a young woman to be a KGB sexpionage agent" feels like it is taking advantage of the current headlines. I just don't buy it. I think I may have enjoyed the story more had it not been marketed like this.
I did like the switching in timelines, so that we were given insight into Elena's life as well as what was currently happening. I thought it was a good way to tell the story and allow the reader to have an understanding of the story, Elena's involvement with the Russians, and how they controlled her every move.
A note on the audiobook: The narrator was good, but it felt so choppy? There were so many parts where it sounded like the edited in a different voice to go over something? I know this description isn't making sense, but basically it felt like I was listening to the first draft of an audiobook, which was really distracting.
sealfox's review against another edition
3.0
The idea behind this is sooo basic, the characters were really flat and the constant before-after was really boring at some point. However, the ending was surprisingly good, so solely because of it I'm giving it a three star.
nightresplendent's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted at https://www.instagram.com/p/BpaL8tmnMvk/
4.5 stars
As soon as I saw the author of The Kingfisher Secret listed as "anonymous" I was intrigued. A quick search told me that they have decided to keep their identity secret in order to protect their sources as they are apparently a well respected former journalist.
It's not difficult to work out who the book is supposedly based on; a 2016 presidential candidate who lies as easily as he breathes and his Eastern European, ex-Olympic athlete, ex-wife.
The lines between fact and fiction blur so thoroughly in The Kingfisher Secret that it is almost impossible to put down. Numerous times while reading the book I found myself searching online to try to ascertain which parts are true and which are a figment of the author's imagination.
This alone makes the book a must read, and the fact the plot is actually enjoyable is simply a bonus.
Thank you so much to @penguinukbooks for sending me a free copy of The Kingfisher Secret.
4.5 stars
As soon as I saw the author of The Kingfisher Secret listed as "anonymous" I was intrigued. A quick search told me that they have decided to keep their identity secret in order to protect their sources as they are apparently a well respected former journalist.
It's not difficult to work out who the book is supposedly based on; a 2016 presidential candidate who lies as easily as he breathes and his Eastern European, ex-Olympic athlete, ex-wife.
The lines between fact and fiction blur so thoroughly in The Kingfisher Secret that it is almost impossible to put down. Numerous times while reading the book I found myself searching online to try to ascertain which parts are true and which are a figment of the author's imagination.
This alone makes the book a must read, and the fact the plot is actually enjoyable is simply a bonus.
Thank you so much to @penguinukbooks for sending me a free copy of The Kingfisher Secret.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
4.0
"Ripped from the headlines..." What a cliche -- a lightly-disguised story of a rich New Yorker who has a shaky business, a huge debt and an ego to match...and he's about to be elected president of the US.
His Czech wife...who happens to be a Soviet Swallow. Kingfisher. A woman planted to subvert and seduce a man, an asset, to the Communist cause, and now the cause of the president of Russia....
What if...what if Ivana Trump was a Swallow, and The Donald was carefully wooed and groomed to be elected to high office as the puppet of the Russian powers? What if??
Told as a political thriller, as a chase across the world. One journalist has decided to tell the story, and she is chased, threatened, stalked. Attacked. All on the eve of the 2016 election.
Holy...chit! What if??
Deathless prose? Nah. But a rip-roaring good yarn, with too many parallels to this life we are all living to be comfortable. Written by an anonymous journalist with facts, a great imagination, and strong writing.
Chilling and too close.
His Czech wife...who happens to be a Soviet Swallow. Kingfisher. A woman planted to subvert and seduce a man, an asset, to the Communist cause, and now the cause of the president of Russia....
What if...what if Ivana Trump was a Swallow, and The Donald was carefully wooed and groomed to be elected to high office as the puppet of the Russian powers? What if??
Told as a political thriller, as a chase across the world. One journalist has decided to tell the story, and she is chased, threatened, stalked. Attacked. All on the eve of the 2016 election.
Holy...chit! What if??
Deathless prose? Nah. But a rip-roaring good yarn, with too many parallels to this life we are all living to be comfortable. Written by an anonymous journalist with facts, a great imagination, and strong writing.
Chilling and too close.
lisabreads's review
4.0
I loved how the author incorporates just enough true and current events and rumours to make this book seem very realistic. To the point of I would not be shocked if it was all revealed tomorrow even though it’s a complicated plot through so many years. Very well written, released at the perfect time and connected through current events. Definitely a quick paced and engrossing thriller!
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