Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey
Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the book about?: When Our Woman in Moscow opens in August 1952, Ruth Macallister is on a plane somewhere above Northern Europe, at the height of the Cold War, on her way to the Soviet Union to visit her twin sister Iris. Iris has been living in Moscow for a number of years with her children and husband – a former US government employee with communist leanings who fled to the Soviet Union with his family some years before. Although the twin sisters have not spoken or seen each other in twelve years, Iris has reached out to her twin sister with an urgent request to come as soon as possible to be with Iris as she delivers her fourth child. Because Iris’ previous deliveries have been quite difficult, Ruth feels compelled to obey the urgent summons. Little does Ruth know that she is about to enter a terrifying, life-threatening, cat-and-mouse situation.
My Review: With its Cold War spies and lies and subterfuge, this suspenseful tale might well have been taken from the pages of history. Author Beatriz Williams, whose work frequently appears on bestseller lists, quickly draws the reader in with this page-turning plot that smoothly transitions from the present day Cold War into the characters’ past. Williams deftly builds the characters’ back stories so the reader understands exactly what circumstances and character flaws have led these naïve, brave and sometimes hapless people into the dangerous situations they all face. I couldn’t wait to read what happened to these people and was only sorry when the book ended because I wanted the adventures to continue!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Suspenseful, Intriguing, Intense
Give This a Try if You Like… Spy thrillers such as The Courier (film), The Secrets We Kept by Laura Prescott, Transcription by Kate Atkinson, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)
Rating: 5/5
