Moskva: 'The new Le Carre' BBC Radio 2 The Sara Cox Show

A gripping read, hard to put down. I didn't enjoy the descriptions of brutality but they were an important part of the story. Some scenes seemed little far fetched but didn't detract from the overall storyline.

Moskva : Jack Grimwood : Pelican Pageturners

A fast paced and multi layered thriller set in 1980’s Moscow, which follows army intelligence officer Tom Fox, on a hectic life or death chase under the watchful eyes of everyone: from Embassy Staff, the deshurnaya jealously guarding free movement around Moscow, through KGB shadows and Stalinist veterans, to modern day political players fighting to gain the upper hand.
Fox is drawn into a compelling mystery which seems to start in the fragile bubble of the British Embassy with the Ambassador’s step-daughter, but develops into an intricate web of subterfuge and concealment.
The novel provides a fascinating portrayal of the closed society of Russia at this time, as well as exploring the brutality of open conflict in World War 2 Russia and Berlin, and the covert warfare of 1980’s Northern Ireland.
The violence in the novel is raw and uncomfortably graphic. Through the thematic depiction of familial relationships the author explores the extreme actions and sacrifices provoked by these ties, whether to protect self, family or indeed the ‘Motherland’. The parallel depictions of fatherhood are thought provoking and create an extreme spectrum of what it means to be a parent.
The narrative is urgent and the plot is certainly engaging in its twists and turns. Perhaps a weakness of the novel overall lies in the characterisation of Fox: failed priest, husband, father, redeemer and James Bond archetype: his roles are many and credulity is inevitably stretched during the extended action packed escapades.
Overall though, a great choice for our Reading Group. All members read it eagerly and it engendered plenty of discussion and interest about setting, characterisation and plot.