Book Synopsis:
A highly topical thriller about a Russian plot to cut the undersea communication cables linking the US to the UK. Also, a passionate love story between two people determined to stop this cataclysmic act.
Clive Franklin, a Russian language expert in the Foreign Office, is summoned unexpectedly to Moscow to act as translator for the British Prime Minister. His life is turned on its head when, after more than a decade, he discovers that his former lover, Marina Volina, is now the interpreter to the Russian President. At the embassy, Clive learns of a Russian plot to cut the undersea cables linking the US to the UK which would paralyse communications and collapse the Western economy. Marina stuns Clive with the news that she’s ready to help stop the attack, betraying her country for a new identity and a new life. Clive becomes the go-between, relaying Marina’s intelligence to MI6 back in London. What are the odds that two lovers, running the Moscow marathon with the FSB on their backs, can save Western Europe from economic meltdown?
My Review:
The Translator is a fascinating, gripping spy story from a new author for me.
Firstly I’ve always been a bit intrigued by Russia and it’s history so I really enjoyed the author’s fabulous detail of life there. I loved experiencing the country alongside the characters, enjoying the famous sights and learning a little bit about Russian culture on the way. When I was younger my dad was in the army so we weren’t allowed to travel to Russia (not that we would have then anyway) so Russia has always seemed a fascinating, forbidden place to me.
The characters were fantastic creations that I enjoyed following throughout the book. I was very fond of Marina and Clive and I really wanted them to be successful. I was firmly on their side from the start and was routing for them the whole way. There were also some characters I loved to hate like the horrible General who I was praying wouldn’t win.
I thought the plot was pretty fast paced and very intriguing as there always seemed to be something happening to keep my attention. The intrigue slowly built up until I was thoroughly gripped by the story and unable to put the book down. There was lots of action,some of it a bit unrealistic but still very fun and thrilling to follow. It felt a bit like an action film at times as there was so many dramatic things happening at once. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Harriet Crawley has been a journalist, writer, and art dealer, worked in television and radio, and she stood for the Westminster and European Parliaments. A fluent Russian speaker, Harriet was married to a Russian and sent her son to state school in Moscow, where she worked for almost twenty years in the energy sector. She speaks five languages and The Translator is her fifth book.
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