Really fun book to read. I love this author. The build up and way that he writes is very fun, for some light, thriller, soviet themed novels.

The plot is interesting, after all, the story is about the kidnapping of one of the Soviet Leader on the Trans-Siberian express. Character development is interesting too until it isn't. A lot of importance is given to the character's past. Victor Pavlov is half-Jewish, half-Russian. Russian Jews want to go back to their motherland - Israel but they are denied visas by the Soviet. With an increase in crime and rigorous punishment by the Government, Jews are desperate to return to their motherland. Victor Pavlov decides to fight for their rights. He plans to kidnap Yermakov, and for Yermakov's safe return, Pavlov demands include the safe passage for all Jews to Israel.

After a lot of stories and memories of the past, finally, you get to the climax - the moment when the actual kidnapping happens. After that, there is nothing much left to read. The story ends abruptly. Pavlov has his doubts. He wonders if kidnapping Yermakov was the right thing to do! (Sorry if this sounded like a spoiler!) The hero is not brave while the villain is courageous! I would have liked the story even more if it ended on a good note. It doesn't matter if the hero or the villain claims victory. 'Villians always perish' happens only in Fairy Tales. But, as a kidnapper who has been planning this for quite a while, Pavlov shouldn't have regretted his decisions later.

Harry Bridges is an American journalist who also happens to be on the Trans-Siberian Express. He wants the world to know about the kidnapping of Yermakov. Libby Chandler is also on the Trans-Siberian express for the all wrong reasons. She is asked to smuggle an anti-Soviet tape and this is her first time as a 'smuggler'. There are a lot many characters in the book; plenty in fact. Each plays a small part in the story, with Pavlov being given the maximum importance.

This is the third Derek Lambert book that I read and I did not like it. Too many characters, too much of description, very less climax and abrupt ending. The ending could have been a bit better, I really do not mind lengthy descriptions or an interesting climax, as long as the ending is interesting. On the brighter side, you get to know about the history of Trans-Siberian Express. And it goes without saying that, back in those days, the KGB was known to spy on every foreigner. With microphones in hotel rooms to shadowing, there was a lot of snooping around. If you love to read spy stories and you do not mind a not-very-interesting ending, go ahead and read the book.

In this Cold War thriller a group of Russian-born radical Zionists plot to kidnap the Russian Premier and ransom him in exchange for exit visas for ten Jewish scientists.

Lambert style is crisp and direct, and he builds tension with both the constant presence of the KGB and the reminders that the train route takes them through the land of the gulag. He also does an excellent job at showing his characters as human beings with complex motivations.