I can honestly say this is the best book I’ve read this year. This is a literary thriller in the form of fiction non-fiction. That is, it is a story about true, factually documented events, but with a fictional interpretation as to some details in order to round it out. The book begins at the dawn of the 1950s and takes it in turns, a few chapters at a time, to tell the story from two perspectives: East and West. In the West we have Irina, born in the US to a mother who escaped from Russia. Her Father didn’t make it, which gives Irina a motivation the CIA recognises in her, long before she does: a hatred for the Soviet regime which outweighs patriotism for the USA. Irina is offered a job in a government typing pool, she knows she’s not the fastest typist, but her employers recognise the potential power of some innate qualities she possesses. Over in the East we follow Olga, the muse of Boris Pasternak Russia’s premier writer. Boris spends some time in his Dacha writing and being looked after by his wife. The rest of his time he spends in Moscow with Olga, they often attend gatherings where he reads sections from the magnum opus he is writing entitled Dr Zhivago. The government learns that in depicting the limitations placed upon the characters in his love story, Boris’s writing is subversive. They arrest his muse; when she then fails to reveal details of the book she is sent to a gulag. The story follows the characters over the next decade. This book is very well written; a good pace woven with the right level of detail make for an immersive reading experience. Switching between the spies of the West and the lovers of the East, the plot is in turn thrilling and emotional; I am in awe that this is Lara Prescott’s debut work. This is a great literary thriller, but it is also so much more: an historical snapshot of a world divided by political ideology, an acknowledgement of the influence of art for propaganda, a recognition of the (often unseen) power of women and a tribute to the value of freedom of expression.

The story is told from several points of view, from the 'Typist Girls' in the Agency to Olga, a woman punished for her involvement in Doctor Zhivago. As a result of this, characters and situations are contextually rich and it is incredibly easy to engage and become immersed in the story. Whilst the premise has been reviewed several times already (so it is something I won't repeat) it's really the subtleties of this book that kept me engrossed throughout. Even though the overarching storyline is gripping, at its core it is a story documenting the strength and resilience of women in the face of often awful circumstances. Prescott turns the idea of the 'Government Boys Club' on its head, bringing women out of the shadows and into important roles. Overall it is an incredible story, one which has reignited my love of a good spy thriller. Well worth a read!

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautifully written. Easy to read.

I can not recommend this book highly enough. A super read, full of surprises. Treat yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

The Secrets We Kept is definitely worthy of five stars. It’s one of the most engrossing novels I’ve read for some time. The plot cleverly revolves around two American women working for the male dominated CIA of the 1950’s in Washington DC, Irina Drozdova and Sally (Forelli) Forrester, and Olga Ivinskaya, the inspiration for Lara Antipova in Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago, around the time this novel was considered too controversial for publication by the Soviet authorities. Dr Zhivago has sat on my bookshelf for many years without being read from beginning to end although I have seen the legendary 1965 film version. I had no idea how controversial it was when it was first published until I read The Secrets We Kept. Based on actual events the novel depicts how the manuscript for Dr Zhivago was smuggled out of the Soviet Union and used by the CIA as a form of propaganda. This is a novel about enduring love as well as espionage and the Cold War. The story is told from several characters’ points of view, and their experiences and relationships feel very palpable and compelling. We are given fascinating insights into a bygone era on both sides of the Iron Curtain, including homophobia in the West and censorship in the East. Well written, thought provoking and intriguing.