I think everyone has times in their lives that they look back on and wonder if they made the right choice. What would life have been like if a different choice had been made? In this book, Archer shows two parallel lives - showing what would happen to the character in both choices. It was a little confusing at first following the same person but with a different name and surroundings but once I started thinking of them as two completely different characters, it was like reading two books at once. I've been a Jeffrey Archer fan for years - since 'Kane and Abel' - and I always enjoy his writing. This was an interesting experiment having two plots and two such different lives for the characters.

The book kept me captivated and not wanting to put it down - always a good sign for a book. All the way through, I considered this a 5-star book. It was only the ending that made me drop it to 4 stars. I'm not sure how the story could have ended differently, but I was disappointed. Nevertheless, it's an excellent and entertaining book and I recommend it.

“Heads You Win” by Jeffrey Archer is a story of a mother and son who escape oppression and political conflict in Russia and struggle for success in a new land. It is a universal story with an unexpected twist.
Alexander Karpenko and his mother Elena are escaping Russia by stowing away on one of two ships leaving a Russian port. Where will they end up? They flip a coin, heads; you win and go to… Herein is the twist, what if?
Where did Elena and Alexander (Alex/Sasha) end up? How would life in New York be different from the life in Southampton? Readers follow the mother and son over the years in two parallel scenarios. Alternating chapters (conveniently labeled with location, date, and name) tell the story of Elena and Alex in America, and Elena and Sasha in England. They struggle; they have successes, and they suffer setbacks.
Each storyline is a compelling and wonderful scenario on its own. Readers get vivid picture of the people, the events, the politics, and the balancing act that goes on continually in the life of an immigrant family in both locations. The characters are well developed and multifaceted; readers quickly appreciate the complex circumstances that are certainly different, and yet similar in so many ways.
The characters ask themselves is, “Would things have been different if we had gotten on the other ship?” Readers know, but still an unstated problem hangs over every page, which situation is the accurate representation? The more curious question is will the two storylines intersect? Important details remain for readers to discover, but questions are answered as the story comes to an unexpected but satisfying.
I received a copy of “Heads You Win” from Jeffrey Archer, St Martin’s Press, The Pidgeonhole Book Club, and NetGalley. It is different approach to character’s journey, and I was captivated by both stories. The ending was stunning, explosive, and thought provoking. It is an interesting journey for readers, and I absolutely recommend reading it.

Archer never disappoints! A fantastic read and keeps the reader wondering...will this be another series of books about Alexander Karpenko!

I'm having a problem trying to decide whether this book was brilliant, or a waste of my time. But since I have been pondering that thought for over 24 hours, I might need to lead toward brilliant. however, I am going to stick with a three star.
I loved the characters. My biggest complaint is the resolution. But I need to talk to someone who has read it. So maybe that is another sign of a good book.
I have been reading Jeffrey Archer since 1986. Anxiously awaiting each new novel and then devouring them, loving them and encouraging others to read him.
But this one has left me puzzled, and not feeling much love.

My first impression of this book: typical Jeffrey Archer - a rambling story with lots of characters (think Clifton Chronicles - and I loved the references to the Barringtons and the Clifton novels) and lots of references to real people in history. But is also quite different. Beginning in 1968, the book opens in Leningrad. Alexander Karpenko lives with his mother and father, Elena and Konstantin, both of whom work at the Leningrad docks. Konstantin is not a member of the party but is surrounded by members who will do anything to gain favor. When Alexander’s best friend, Vladimir, overhears a conversation, he goes to the KGB and the tip results in an “accident” that kills Konstantin. Alexander and Elena are then assisted in escaping on a cargo ship that drops its cargo and leaves empty. There are two ships at the dock, one heading to England and the other to America. Which one should they get on? They decide to flip a coin. And then two stories ensue - one from each viewpoint in alternating chapters for the most part. The ship to the US is told from the eyes of Alexander while the ship to England is told from the standpoint of Sasha (Alexander’s nickname). Both are quite successful, one as a businessman and one as a member of government. And, while I had guessed the ending before finishing the book, it was an interesting way to end the story. Is this world class literature - no. Is it fun to read - absolutely. Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Jeffrey Archer is at his usual storytelling best. It begins when Alexander’s father is assassinated by the KGB for trying to start a trade union. Alexander’s uncle feels that he and his mother Elena must leave Russia before they too come to some harm. The uncle who works at the docks, arranges to meet there. That’s when they must make a life changing choice - the container ship to New York or the one to London. Alexander tosses a coin..... This is where the book gets interesting. It’s like reading two books. We get to know what would have happened either way. We have Sasha in London and Alex in New York and we follow their lives. As is usual with Jeffrey Archer the book is well researched, the plot is well thought out and the characters are fully developed.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Jeffrey Archer became a favorite of mine in 1979 when I read Kane and Abel. Tastes change, and over time I’ve found that admired authors have fallen to the wayside for various reasons: King scared the dookie out of me late one night, good-bye Steven; Patterson began co-writing and I felt that was a cop-out, ta-ta James; and so on. Not so with Jeffrey Archer. I loved his earlier books, I have reread his short stories several times each (still haven’t figured out one or two of the red herrings!), and I felt a real bond with the Barrington’s in the Clifton Chronicles. Another commendation to Lord Archer, he knew when to fold ‘em on that dynasty. Now almost 40 years later, Archer proves that he still has what it takes to write a compelling, complex and highly entertaining novel with enough twists to keep you turning pages relentlessly.
Archer employs a parallel universe or sliding door theme in this book. Alexander Karpenko and his mother escape the docks of Leningrad after his father is murdered for political reasons. They have the choice to stow away on a ship going to either Great Britain or New York. The toss of a coin decides which direction they will go; thus Heads You Win. Archer employs the “what If” narrative to spin the two tales of Alexander and Elena—one in America, one in Britain.
It is 1968, Alexander is young, smart, and driven to succeed. In both universes he overcomes obstacles, works hard and prospers. Archer takes the reader through the docks of Leningrad to the halls of Parliament, from the boardroom of a Boston Brahmin bank to the kitchen of a successful pizza chain, from the modern art world of Rothko and Warhol to the landscapes scenes of Canaletto and Turner, all with an aplomb that indicates that he knows his subjects well. He incorporates political intrigue from three powerhouses of the Cold War—Russia, Great Britain and America. And he ends this marvelous book with a gobsmack—how did I miss that! Don’t worry Jeffrey, your secret is safe with me. I’ll never tell the last sentence of this book (and fellow reader—don’t you dare go to the back before you get there.)
My special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jeffrey Archer for an advanced readers copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Super entertaining read from Jeffrey Archer in the style of the movie, Sliding Doors. In this instance, rather than the parallel lives being based on whether or not or hero catches the subway, our hero flips a coin to decide whether or not he escapes Leningrad in a shipping crate bound for America or for England. The book alternates chapters between our Alex in his life in America and Sasha (a nickname for Alex, which makes it much easier to follow) in his life in England. It was a fun and quick story to read, but every good story has to have a resolution. The last few chapters bring everything to a head and resolve the story in a very fascinating and surprising matter. I will say, even I was surprised by the final line of the book. I also enjoyed how various characters and aspects from the Clifton Chronicles were sprinkled into the story. This isn't a sit on the edge of your seat read, but it was entertaining nevertheless. I always enjoy an Archer novel as they definitely keep you hooked.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I've been a fan of Jeffrey Archer's novels for decades, so I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of his latest, Heads You Win. Archer made it easy to follow what was happening with the story alternating between two scenarios. As always, it was an exciting read. He did a great job bringing the characters to life and combining fictional characters with real life people and events. This book had many elements- humor, romance, politics, business, family intrigue and much more. I highly recommend this entertaining book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have been a fan of Jeffrey Archer's since I found Kane and Abel in the clearance bin at my local used book store. I was urged by my insanely smart brother to pick a book by its cover and so... that's what I chose. Suffice it to say, I was hooked to Archer's uncomplicated style of writing. His delivery can be described as hearing a story from that human fixture in your local bar or fellow commuter. He writes as if he's telling a story that might be a tad predictable at times, but is entertaining all the time.

Heads You Win is no exception. We have the story of a Russian family that needs to escape from the communist regime in the late sixties after the death of their patriarch who stood in opposition to the KGB. Early on, we're introduced to Alexander Karpenko who's brilliant. After his father's assassination, his hopes of excelling in Russia come to an abrupt halt. He and his mother are forced to flee Russia. But to where? The flip of a coin determines whether they will journey to England or New York.

And that's all I have to say about that (insert Forrest Gump voice here- fittingly he was the type of storyteller I profess Archer of being).

Now, let's be clear, Jeffrey Archer, and his sagas, are pure fun. When I requested this book from Netgalley it was because I knew that I was in for a good time. I'm closing in on my final months in school and the last thing I wanted was to be weighed down with some heavy, philosophical read. I wanted what Archer delivers. He delivers a good, exceptional guy, up against a seemingly endless supply of people trying to take him down. Although he triumphs (usually), it doesn't make the ride any less interesting. Archer proves time and time again with his works that good will always win.

Sure his villains are a little one-dimensional, mainly motivated by greed, but I don't care. Show me a villain who isn't. And greed comes in many forms. There are people in here that would go penniless just to see someone else's demise. And yes! There are a lot of moments in this story where the mystery could have been savored just a tad bit longer, but hey... Archer understands we have things to do and lives to get on with.

I can go on about the gripes book snobs might find but what's the point? Heads You Win is a great addition to the Archer profile and his loyal fans will enjoy it all the same. If you feel that I've been a little too vague with this review, it's for good reason. There is a dual story that's happening here that deserves to be unfolded by each reader as I had the privilege of doing.

So... in conclusion... Jeffrey Archer's Heads You Win is definitely a worthwhile read... and possibly the beginning of something else... Anyway... I enjoyed reading Heads You Win and look forward to whats next from this author (or this series).

Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley

Doesn't Live Up To The Expectations I Had For It!

While I wasn't a big fan of Archer's The Clifton Chronicles, I did enjoy most of his previous books and considered him to be one of my favorite authors. As such, based on my enjoyable history with Archer's books and the plot concept for his latest book, I had high expectations for Heads You Win.

Without getting into the plot's details, I was intrigued by the plot's concept -- in which Archer has teenage hero and his mother in 1968 having to decide whether to escape their oppressive lives in Russia by taking refuge in a shipping container bound for either America or to England. The plot then divides into two stories by describing what his character's life becomes over the next thirty years -- is an American and as an Englishman.

Unfortunately, the execution of this plot left a lot to be desired for me. The primary reason for this is that I found the regularly jumping back and forth between the main character's life in America and in England to be interruptive, somewhat annoying, and too often repetitive and/or predictable. Ultimately this resulted in my slowly but steadily losing interest in the book's outcome. On the plus side, I should point that Archer concludes the book with a surprise. However, for me, this was too little, too late.

Bottom line: Just a fair read.

#Heads You Win, #NetGalley

Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer tells the story of Alexander and Sasha along with their mothers Elena who escape from Russia. Alexander goes to the United States and Sasha goes to Great Britain. Their stories are described separately but they have parallel experiences adjusting to life outside of Russia. Both are successful and ambitious. Their mothers, Elena,, are wonderful cooks and they open several restaurants.
I would have prefered two separate stories concentrating on each immigrants adventures settling in a new country..

Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer

In a different approach, Mr Archer takes us on a tale of the lives of Sasha and Alexander who escape from Russian tyranny. A crate, several bottles of vodka and the toss of a coin take our protagonist(s) to America and England to make new lives for themselves and their mothers. Hard work, ingenuity and lots of luck lead them back to Russia, with an unexpected twist at the end.

A little long to get to the climax, the reader must determine if it’s Sasha’s life that’s the real one, or is it Alexander’s as we follow them both through their transformations? Do not peek or you will ruin the story for yourself.

"All of us can point to a moment in our lives when something happens that causes us to go in a totally different direction."
Mr. Archer does not disappoint in his latest novel, and reaffirms his status as an accomplished storyteller. Not since "Kane and Abel" has a Jeffrey Archer plot line gripped my imagination so convincingly. The 2 options available at a fork in the road create separate storylines, which are developed independently. The "sliding doors" stories worked well once there was adequate separation between Sasha and Alex, and the way these characters deviate and intersect is thoughtfully orchestrated by the author. I am reluctant to elaborate further at the risk of revealing spoilers, but will say that the ending in particular, was a delight for this reader.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Archer is a master storyteller, and I have been a fan for years. With that said, his foray into “Choose Your Own Adventure” may have been a mistake. The epic nature/feel of his novels gets truncated as he tells of how life would have been if the other choice were made.

A solid read from Archer. Highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of his already. Four stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book which shows the author’s skill for great story telling. I found the structure of the book a little confusing at first. I have never been able to fathom the British Parliamentary system and I tried not to zone out during those sections. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the changes in Russia (and lack of them) over the years and the excursions into the art world. There were times while I was reading that I was contemplating a 3 star review but upped it to 4 stars for the clever, surprising ending which I should have anticipated. All the clues were there and the author played fair but it still came as shock to me.

The plot centres around a young boy barely in his teens, Alexander Kapenko, and his mother. As a boy Alexander shows high intelligence, good scholarship and leadership abilities. He has a boyhood acquaintance who has no ambition for higher education, but has a goal to become a member of the KGB through duplicity or any means necessary.

Alexander’s father works at the docks in Leningrad and is ass assassinated by the KGB for starting a trade union amongst the dockworkers.Alexander’s father had always encouraged him to put his skills to the benefit of the fatherland when he grows up. After the death of the father Alexander and his mother must flee Russia in fear of their lives. They are helped by an uncle who works at the shipyard.

Two shipping containers rest on the dock, one bound for England and one bound for America. They must choose their destination and do so by the toss of a coin. When two paths in life diverge one wonders what would happen if one chose differently. They hide inside one of the containers.

The story now splits into two separate parts. Some chapters show what life would be like for Alexander growing up and as a man in New York. We also follow him, called Sasha in London. In both settings the stories show burning ambition and paths to success in adulthood, but with roadblocks, obstructions, treachery and jealousy from others along the way. Luckily in both stories there are strong friendships formed. There was a lot of suspense in the story wondering how the many setbacks could be overcome and what the outcome would be for the adult.. There was little humor in the book except during Alexander’s first trip back to Russia which I found very funny, but doubt Alexander did.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story which mixes history, business and politics and a surprising conclusion.

Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer is absolutely on par with his other books I’ve read. He is a master story teller and this book proves it by the way he weaves the stories of one man into two very different lives. I usually don’t like politics and wouldn’t pick political books as my top choice to read, however, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. The research done is impressive (as usual) and the story kept my interest from start to finish. This is a tale of choices and without giving away spoilers, both choices are intriguing and lead to many twists and turns, ending in a way that really took me by surprise. I definitely recommend this book!

Jeffrey Archer always writes involving sagas.Books full of drama multi layers his books always catch my attention draw me in.Thanks#netgalley #headsyouwin #st.martins books.

I read Archer's best known work, the novel Kane and Abel, a couple years ago. It tells the story of two men born on the same date in 1906. One, an immigrant in abject poverty, and the other, a member of the Boston elite. Their lives become intertwined with American history in the 20th century. It is a book filled with, for the most part, realistic power plays and family narratives. I really enjoyed it and felt the connections to the wars and economic fluctuations of the times worked. It is a piece of historical fiction I regularly recommend, along with The Century series by Follett.

Archer's new novel Heads You Win is similar in that it poses two stories side-by-side. Young Alexander's father is killed on the docks of Leningrad by the KGB in the early 60s after trying to organize a labor union. He and his mother are forced to flee in the hull of a ship. His uncle flips a coin to determine the ship and their destination. This is where the character and the story splits: One Alexander travels to London and one to New York City. Both Sasha and Alex (the names they adopt in their new countries), maintain their personalities and interests... but (and you knew this was coming) their ascension is so easy and their conflicts are resolved without much trouble. Sasha metriculates to Oxford and Alex to NYU. One goes into politics and the other business. Both have an interest in art... eh Eh EH.

I was disappointed that the character of Alexander's mother didn't have a larger role in each of the threads. I was disappointed that each story became a predictable routine of problem/ solution. The initial exploration of a split narrative is a fun one, but the result and the trite ending just wasn't for me.

Archer has other works that are definitely worth a read if you enjoy this genre, but Heads You Win is not one I would recommend.