It’s not every day that Maggie and John like the same book. They were both sending me their postings on Troy Matthew Carnes’ first novel, Rasputin’s Legacy, at the same time so I decided I would post them together.

Maggie’s take:

I take Rasputin’s Legacy home one night. I do my normal routine…read the synopsis, read the reviews and read the author bio and acknowledgments, turn to page one and get started.  The next thing I know it is two hours later and I am about 100 pages in!  What does this mean?  I think…could I actually like a book that John suggested?  Well I finished it yesterday and let me tell you something…I really liked this book.

Giorgi, unbeknownst to him, is a direct descendant of Rasputin and has the power to see into the future.  He is now being sought out by two very powerful men, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, both of whom want to use his power to help them win the bloodiest battles in WWII.  They both send their most able spies and assassins after the boy either to capture him and claim his power or kill him so he cannot be used against them.  Along the way, Giorgi captures the hearts of a highly decorated German war hero, a witch working for the Nazis and a Ukrainian woman who will not rest until she knows that Giorgi is in safe hands.  The question is though, with whom is he safe or does Giorgi know all along?

Well not only did I really like this book, but I was able to go to John and talk to him about a book that he suggested I read and I actually liked it.  I’m not even sure that Giorgi would have been able to predict this one!!

John’s take:

. . . Within this historical perspective Troy Carnes wrote his very fine first thriller. With compassion in the mist of horror, with virtue amongst the dishonorable, this well crafted stage of intrigue is cast underneath the development of the German invasion of Russia.

Carnes’ Rasputin is well paced and a pleasure to read. His first novel skills express character depth, plot complexity without confusing traps, with the steady pace of a well experienced author.

Over the years I’ve burned out on reading this enjoyable type of novel. However, I’m very pleased to read this new author and enjoyed the tale he spun–it’s a good one.

If you are a fan of Greg Iles’ first two novels and are looking for a historical thriller, you’ve found it. Be one of the first to get on Carnes’ bandwagon. Once on board, I believe you will enjoy the ride.

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