But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, Alexander and his mother will have to escape Russia if they hope to survive. He was about to turn back and go home when another man appeared out of the shadows, whom he’d never seen at church on Sundays.

At times while reading this novel it had me thinking what if I had made different choices during my life.On the same side, yes,” said his father, “but only because they considered us the lesser of two evils.

Alex’s mother Elena, with an assist from her brother, decide that Alex will only have a future if he escapes from the Soviet Union. But your uncle Kolya has been promised a couple of tickets on the terraces, and as I have no interest in going…” Alexander leaped in the air as his father made his next move, pleased to have distracted his son. What I thought was gonna be mind blowing wasn't explored to completion and what I guess was the big surprise seemed like a non-ending (to me). Thuli Madonsela speaks about the importance of SA's political future in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.On the docks of Leningrad in 1968, Alexander Karpenko lives under the iron fist of the Soviet regime. The only discussion in your case is whether you’ll win the Lenin Scholarship to the foreign language school in Moscow, or be offered a place at the state university to study mathematics. There are a lot of moments in this story where the mystery could have been savored just a tad bit longer, but hey. Instead of two super achieving protagonists whose paths cross (ala Kane and Abel, Sons of Fortune, Clifton Chronicles etc) - we have one character Alexander whose life path, decided by a toss of coin, diverges. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story which mixes history, business and politics and a surprising conclusion.