The Secrets We Kept: The sensational Cold War spy thriller

by Lara Prescott

Carlotta Brentan (Narrator), Mozhan Marno (Narrator), David Pittu (Narrator), Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator), James Fouhey (Narrator), Jonathan Davis (Narrator), and Mozhan Marnò (Narrator)

Brought to you by Penguin.

The September pick for Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Book Club
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TWO FEMALE SPIES. A BANNED MASTERPIECE. A BOOK THAT CHANGED HISTORY.

1956. A celebrated Russian author is writing a book, Doctor Zhivago, which could spark dissent in the Soviet Union. The Soviets, afraid of its subversive power, ban it.

But in the rest of the world it’s fast becoming a sensation.

In Washington DC, the CIA is planning to use the book to tip the Cold War in its favour.

Their agents are not the usual spies, however. Two typists – the charming, experienced Sally and the talented novice Irina – are charged with the mission of a lifetime: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago back into Russia by any means necessary.

It will not be easy. There are people prepared to die for this book – and agents willing to kill for it. But they cannot fail – as this book has the power to change history.

Sold in twenty-five countries and poised to become a global literary sensation, Lara Prescott's dazzling first novel is a sweeping page turner and the most hotly anticipated debut of the year.
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‘A riveting story of secrets, forbidden passions and the dark arts of espionage. I couldn’t put it down!’ LISA JEWELL

'Enthralling... This is a rare page-turner with prose that's as wily as its plot.' VOGUE

'A proto-feminist Mad Men transposed to the world of international espionage – mid-century style and intrigue set against real, indelible history.' ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

‘A fascinating story, so cleverly told, of the long chain of people who helped to bring Pasternak’s masterpiece into the world. I gulped it down.’ GILL HORNBY

‘The insight into the workings of the CIA, the portrait of the 1950s and a threatened love affair in the West … make for riveting reading.’ DAILY MAIL

'Triumphant ... This debut shines as spy story, publication thriller and historical romance with a twist.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

• ISBN10: 1473569486
• ISBN13: 9781473569485
• Publish Date: 3 September 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Imprint: Cornerstone Digital
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (WAV)
• Duration: 10 hours and 56 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[brokentune]

DNF @ 20%.

I am not impressed.

The women characters are pretty vapid apart from Olga, Pasternak's muse. However, even she is so far only defined by her relationship with Pasternak.

I don't know why, but I'm really noticing how this book would fail the Bechdel test in every scene so far.

Also, I'm not interested in the writing style. It's aggravatingly a lot like chick-lit and I also have issues with other aspects of the tone.

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

I enjoyed this novel. It focuses more on people and relationships and not so much on the smuggling of Doctor Zhivago out of Russia.

There is a total unique POV type that I had not encountered before.

[Lynn]

The mention of Dr Zhivago was all I needed to persuade me to read The Secrets We Kept even though, like many of the characters within the narrative, I've never read Boris Pasternak's masterpiece, although, I do admit to borrowing a copy from the library back in the 1980s which I returned unread. Therefore I'm happy to say I've devoured this fascinating historical novel from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ms Prescott's début novel covers the intriguing history surrounding the circumstances of how Dr Zhivago was first published in Italy. Also, the covert work done by the CIA during the height of the Cold War to obtain a copy of the untranslated Russian manuscript. The aim to make copies available to Soviet citizens at a time when the unpublished work's deemed as Anti-Soviet by The Kremlin. She also reminds us about a time in history when sexism reigned and intolerance lead to punishment.

Told from mostly female points of view, the narrative unfolds in both the United States and the Soviet Union between 1949 and 1958. It includes the poignant and heartbreaking relationship strife experienced by Olga, Boris Pasternak's mistress as well as Irina Drozdova's time spent working in the Agency typing pool and her part of securing a copy of Pasternak's Russian manuscript after she and Sally are recruited into the world of espionage. Their parts in bringing Dr Zhivago to the world's literary stage is laced with equally captivating inclusions of facts and social trends of the time including references to music, fashion and food. Yet, it's the drawing attention to the use of propaganda which sends a powerful message of equal importance as much today as it did half a century ago.

Within the last two years, my favourite books have mostly been historical novels and this one is a more than worthy addition to my list. With a reminder of Yuri and Lara's love story in my mind, The Secrets We Kept comes highly recommended.

***book bought and paid for by myself**