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The Russian Doll

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About this listen

The Firm meets McMafia in Marina Palmer's thrilling and exciting novel, which opens the door on the Russian high life in London and corruption at the heart of British politics, reaching all the way into the Secret Services.

Packed with twists, intrigue, betrayal, romance and suspense, The Russian Doll constantly wrong-foots the listeners and delivers a perfect narrative, right to the last word.

How much did she just say the salary was?

When Ruth Miller returns a dropped scarf to Elena Shilkov, she is whisked from a dreary shared house to a world of unimagined luxury.

The super-rich Russian wants a new personal assistant and won't take no for an answer.

Ruth gets accommodation, a credit card and a complete wardrobe makeover.

And she's good at the job; distributing gifts, attending galas, dealing with the high-society movers and shakers fighting for Elena's attention.

Then the sinister truth begins to reveal itself, that nothing is quite what it seems in Elena's dangerous, deceptive world.

Ruth should get away.

But it's already too late.

©2021 Marina Palmer (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Domestic Thrillers Espionage Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Russia Exciting Fiction Thriller

Critic reviews

"Best book I've read this year." (Simon Conway, author of The Stranger)

"The Russian Doll gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer." (Alison Bruce, author of The Moment Before Impact)

"I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day.... Superb!" (Mara Timon, author of City of Spies)
All stars
Most relevant
All of it - incredible highly recommend. Love the characters, full of twists, great ending too.

Gripping, amazing, possibly my new favourite book

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I bought this after reading a rave newspaper review and glad I did. An usual tale, with even more unusual characters (Russian billions & a streetwise main Brit), but it totally works. Intrigue is the main theme… what’s going on? Who can you trust? Why, why, why? Yet, not overly scary or dark… plus, a bit of humour and a cracking pace. Highly recommend!!

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery!!

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I thoroughly enjoyed the story with its twists and turns. The clear sharp voice of the narrator made it easy to follow and difficult to put down.

Total enjoyment

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If the author had just concentrated on the storyline this may have been a good listen. Sadly she chose an endless self indulgent rant about any aspect of British society she has a grudge against. To say this was tedious in the extreme is an understatement according to her the whole state machine is corrupt except for six foot male Adonis’s clearly they are the exception. Of course everyone other than her who went to Cambridge is monied “coke head”:given jobs in the city in fact the city is largely run by East End Barrow Boys and now girls. What it did do was improve my scores on my exercise bike since I pedalled harder with every next puerile rant!!

Conspiracy

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