Glenn Meades’ latest novel, The Romanov Conspiracy hits the
ground running with a gritty and harrowing account of an attempted rescue of
the Tsar and his family during the final days of the Russian revolution.
In the center of the story are Uri Andrev and Leonid
Yakov. Friends since childhood,
they find themselves on opposite sides of the revolution. Bitterness and anger rooted in betrayal
and fueled by events spinning wildly out of control cause both men to seek to
undo the other. But even war can’t
totally unravel the cords of deep friendship Uri and Leonid had woven over a
lifetime.
Paramount to the plot is the Romanov family – the Tsar, his
wife and children – including the willful Anastasia, held captive by Lenin’s
men and soon to be murdered. But
help is coming in the form of a headstrong Irish gunner runner, Lydia Ryan, and
Joe Boyle, a man of mystery who has been on more than one death defying
mission. Together with Uri Andrev
they infiltrate Russia, making their way through the chaotic blood-soaked
countryside, hoping to free the imprisoned Tsar and his family before it’s too
late.
Meades' novel is taut, historically rich, and replete with
complex characters. It will
quickly draw you into the horrifying upheaval that was the Russian Revolution
and leave you breathless.
However, as an author known well to the Christian market,
Meade does promote, albeit subtlety, the worldview that in the midst of
heartache and turmoil it’s okay to “love the one you’re with”. In The Romanov Conspiracy two of the characters find solace in
the arms of someone other than their spouse. The underlying feeling being that God understands. That, for me, made a stellar novel less
great.
A courtesy copy of The Romanov Conspiracy received from Howard Books in exchange for an honest review.
A courtesy copy of The Romanov Conspiracy received from Howard Books in exchange for an honest review.
