I am not really a non-fiction reader, but I do love the Romanov's, so I took a chance. I would say that it was very good for a non-fiction book.

I would imagine that a book of this sort would appeal to a very small crowd, but fortunately, I am one of them. I have been interested in the Romanovs for a long time, but I never found anything that told me the story that this one does. Wonderful book

“Uncovering bones was one thing; uncovering buried resentments was quite another.” (page 136) While the bones of the Romanovs were buried over a hundred years ago, their story continues to fascinate readers and armchair historians worldwide. Sarandinaki comes to the story from a different angle than most, having a personal connection to the secret investigations of the assassinations and then later participating in the inquiries. Sarandinaki’s ties give us the first part of his book, which focuses on his grandmother Anna and her life as nobility in Russia as the country turned towards revolution and later communism. Through his grandmother and great-grandfather, he manages to bring the reader into the atmosphere of 1918’s Russia and the following years of political terror and tension.

Sarandinaki effortlessly balances his discussions of the mystery's details, providing enough details to satisfy the more knowledgeable true crime readers while supplying sufficient context and explanation for those unfamiliar with forensic techniques. He manages to do the same in his discussions of Imperial Russian culture. Though he clearly remembers the homeland his grandmother described fondly, he certainly does not hesitate to criticize Russia, especially as the book continues and he steps into the role of mediator and liaison between American and Russian scientists.

While he may have only set out to fulfill his great grandfather’s wish to solve the mystery of the Romanovs’ deaths, Sarandinaki accomplishes much more. He gives his readers insights into the last years of imperial Russia and life afterward. He showcases the White Russians emigrating to escape communism and finding themselves both as a community and at odds with one another.

In the end, Sarandinaki fulfills his great-grandfather’s wish to find the truth of the Romanov’s murders. However, he is still working to achieve his own goal— to provide all the assassinated Romanovs with a proper burial according to their religion and sainthood.

This was a great book. The subject could have easily become a little dry and boring, but the interspersing of the historical events, the years of searching, and the author's personal family stories worked together very well. Though I knew a decent amount about the search's discoveries going in, I didn't realize there were still things up in the air, and I do wish that maybe it was being published a few years from now instead, after these final questions are resolved.

5 stars

This wonderful book is the comprehensive story of the search for the assassinated family of Tsar Nicholas II and his entire family in 1918 Russia.

The sad story begins with the horrible killings of the royal family as well as some of their loyal servants. When the killers went to destroy the bodies, they ran into all kinds of problems. Thankfully, they did a sloppy job.

Several interested and devoted persons went in search of the bodies. There is where it all began.

The book outlines the multitude of problems they ran into along the way. At first the USSR resisted. Then arguments between various scientists, governments and church authorities. There were arguments between the Romanov survivors and descendants. The search for the truth was slowed to a crawl.

It was a very time consuming and frustrating search. If only the different parties would have cooperated, think what could have been accomplished!

The book is well written and researched. It reads smoothly and fairly quickly. It covers all aspects of the search for the truth as well as the Anastasia mystery. The book is not at all dry. It is more like telling a story - a true story. There is a short bibliography at the end for those who would like to further explore the deaths and subsequent consequences.

I want to thank NetGalley and the University of Nebraska Press/Potomac Books for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Highly enjoyable and remarkably informative, this book seamlessly intertwines with the curriculum of a Russian History class. Its engaging narrative and rich content make it an ideal resource for students and educators alike. The detailed exploration of key historical events and figures provides valuable insights into Russia's complex past, making it easy for readers to grasp and appreciate the intricacies of Russian history.

Thank you to netgalley for the DRC.
The hunt for the lost princess Anastasia and the rest of her family was elusive.could she have escaped, or was this nothing more than historical fiction….
I was skeptical when I began reading, but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance. What I thought was going to be full of conspiracy, was informative and enlightening and based on scientific reasoning.
Throughout the book, the author mentions his late grandmother and how she helped uncover the mystery with a well guarded family secret,

Regardless of my personal feelings about the Romanov's, I admire all the research that went into finding their remains and at last be laid to rest properly.

I really enjoyed reading this summary of all the investigations to try to find the Romanov family remains. It's a detailed review of all the different finds, medical investigations and politics but it's through the lens of the author's family history, which is a different perspective. I really enjoyed the history/family lore he shared of his grandmother (and extended family) and her experiences as well as getting a few more glimpses into some of the conflict/disagreements in the scientific community around the remains/investigations.

I received an advance readers copy from the publisher and net galley to review.

Nonfiction books can be hard to suggest to people, you hear nonfiction and immediately think of boring books. However I’m so glad that books like In Search of the Romanovs exist, to show that nonfiction can be fascinating, educational, and eye opening.

If you like CSI, historical fiction novels, true crime, or the legend of Anastasia I think you will definitely enjoy this book.

The story of the Romanov family has fascinated people on an international scale for over a century. The author approaches this famed story with a personal connection, and his passion for this subject is evident on every page.

This nonfiction story is told in 2 parts. The first part through the memory of the author’s grandmother, Anna. Detailing her family’s perilous journey as they fought for their lives, and eventually fled their homeland of Russia when the Bolsehviks rose to power and slaughtered the Imperial family.

The second part is told through the author’s own perspective. Explaining how he ended up being a champion for the discovery of the Romanov family. Helping to uncover the truth of what happened to them, and provide a proper burial to honor their memories.

The first part of this book read more like a historical fiction novel, it was a heartbreaking journey that Anna and her family had to endure. The sheer strength they showed during the destruction that surrounded them was astonishing.
The second part is written more like a true crime story. It can get pretty technical with all the forensic details, but the author did such a great job at explaining the process of forensic sciences. I’m not the most scientific minded person, if I could understand it you can too! Part 2 also shows the political loopholes that had to be found in order for the research teams to get around Russian bureaucracy.
I learned so much from this book, and highly recommend it. It was heartbreaking, educational, and full of hope. This was a fantastic way for the author to honor his grandmother and those like her that faced a dangerous adversary and chose to stand up to it.

“In that way, what Anna began, a century ago, will move forward, generation by generation, and perhaps we’ll care more about justice, more about our history, and more about the kind of place the world needs to be.”
My rating is 4.5/5

I have been interested in the Romanovs since seeing a movie about them in middle school. Then came the Anastasia movie, which continues to be one of my favorite animated films. Then later I wrote a report on the use of mitochondrial DNA to identify the Romanov remains. Needless, to say, I continue to be fascinated by this story and now I can add Peter Sarandinaki’s account to my knowledge. I enjoyed how the story unfolded as if Peter himself was telling you his experience over dinner which helped prevent the story from being the dull recounting that some non-fiction can be. He also manages to make the reader feel invested the whole way through, to the point that I now find myself wondering when, if ever, the Russian Orthodox church will accept the buried remains as actually being the Romanovs.

History is one of my loves and I have always been enamored with the assassination of Czar Nicholas II and his entire family by the Bolsheviks during the revolution.

This account reads like a crime novel told from the point of view of a family that had ties to the Romanovs and stories passed down through generations about the murders. The author, the recipient of those stories, takes on the task of discovering the bodies buried unceremoniously by their killers and identifying them so there would be no doubt to their identity. Along his journey he will dispel the rumors of a surviving daughter and bring to rest what really happened.

Science is the winner here, where strides in DNA research has made it possible to identify remains from so long ago. An interesting read.

What a gift this book is to those interested in the Romanovs. Author Peter Sarandinaki's ability to intertwine his family's history that is related to the Romanovs with that of his search for their remains leads the reader on a truly gripping journey. The exhaustive research presented grounds the reader in an understanding of the key players and all of the moving parts (and obstacles overcome) in order to allow for a proper burial of the family. Absolutely fascinating and a book that will stay with me!

I had huge hopes for this book. Perhaps the description is what set my expectations askew. After going through a full history of the narrators connections with a relative we find their connection with the Romanoffs. This part was intriguing but read very text book and dry. That's okay though as I saw this as a lead up. I was woefully disappointed to real the approximation of 3rd party accounts. I was hopeful when the author became involved. Then disappointed. I understand the authors want, even need to write this book, but the story left a lot to be desired.

Wow, this is packed with information and so much detail! I am not extremely knowledgeable on this subject but have always been interested. The writing can feel a little choppy and doesn’t have that overall polish of a mass marketed book. But I quickly became absorbed in the story and actually ended up feeling this added to the charm! It’s incredibly touching what great lengths the author went to, in order to tell his grandmother’s story and not have it lost. The history can be complicated but feels accessible and is balanced with emotion and personal impressions. It does get bogged down in parts but overall I learned a lot and enjoyed this exclusive perspective.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the author and publisher for making this book freely available via NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion.

I chose In Search of the Romanovs because the topic of the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution interested me since reading/watching books and movies that were directly based on those topics. I tend to prefer nonfiction told in a more narrative style, so the start of this book was satisfying. However, the chapters that detailed the background (lead up to the revolution) were dryer and more like a history text book. As the investigation began, it became more narrative, but also repetitive. It did present a lot of information in a prose that was relatively easy to follow except for some of the detailed scientific explanations.

Overall, it was informative but I think I was looking for a book that went into more detail about the revolution itself. Still, it would probably be of interest to someone specifically interested in The Romanovs and forensic investigations. If I could use half stars, I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This was really fascinating, particularly the sections on White Russians migration post-Revolution. I think I had expected this to be a bit more straight history as opposed to familial memoir which was my own failing. I also really liked the insight on the search for the bodies of Grand Duke Michael and his secretary as that is a portion of the story that often gets glossed over. As ever though, the tragedy of this story really gets to me.

Lots of information and lots of details. Clear, concise and easy to read. My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

As a true crime fan I can't believe I hadn't heard about this before. I am amazed at how horrific people can be in today's society.

I absolutely could not put this book down. I know next to nothing about Russian history so I find this book fascinating. I do not know about the last Russian royal family Czar Nicolas II and his wife and daughters who were brutally murdered by Bolsheviks under Lenin’s direction. Communism was in the rise and society was in shambles at the time and the monarchy was a target that the peasants were angry at, which made them the perfect target for Communism to attack and gain power. How they were able to keep their burials hidden for so long is amazing. Most people would not have been able to stay silent, but to seems that the Communist leaders were very powerful at the time and to speak out would have been too dangerous. Even 80 years later, when most of the excavating was done, many people still didn’t find themselves able to believe that this was truly the royal family. There was much arguing amongst Russian and Russian-American groups b/c of long-held beliefs and bitter rivalries. The author had grown up hearing about this his story through his grandmother, who had escaped not long before the fall of the monarchy and had helped guard a small box containing evidence of the crime. This led him on a lifelong journey for the truth. This noon read like fiction at times, it was so fascinating and so fantastical. It’s also quite sad to think about the tragic and brutal end that so many people came to during this time. There was much trouble and turmoil in the country in the early 20th century and you really come to feel sympathy for those who struggled through those terrifying times. Very well written and a fascinating read.

The mystery of the Romanov family has captivated the world for over a century. For Sarandinaki the fate of the Romanov family was personal - he grew up hearing his grandmother's harrowing escape from the Bolshevik Revolution and guarding the evidence from the original investigation into the family's disappearance. Sarandinaki does a masterful job weaving his family's life story with the history of Russia and what happened to the Romanovs. The book was slow to start - the story lacked cohesion at the beginning - the recollection of his grandmother Anna's time escaping with Anna's father (a general in the Russian military fighting for the tsarists) but once the family settled in France, it was less convoluted. Overall this is a very fascinating story - one that many are familiar with, but from a different aspect than previously explored. This was a behind-the-scenes look at the discovery of the Romanov burial site (the initial and then Alexei and Maria), the DNA confirmation, and the reasons confirmation took so long - and why some still dispute the scientific findings. While Romanov mystery was solved, Sarandinaki still hopes to find the remains of Tsar Nicholas II's brother Michael Alexandrovich and his secretary Nicholas Johnson. whose deaths predated Nicholas II, his family and their servants. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Russian history or the Romanovs.

A famed general’s young daughter, Anna, crosses the globe to escape the Russian Revolution and carries a box with her. The box held evidence of what became of the Romanovs’, the Russian Royal Family. Anna’s grandson, Peter Sarandinaki, set out to find the truth. He has the help of an international team of searchers and scientists.

While I say the only royal family that intrigues me is the Romanovs, I had no idea that 18 family members were killed, including the Tzar’s brother..whose body is still missing. Nor did I recognize how controversial in Russia, the church, and immigrant communities, identifying the bodies was (still is).

Thank you NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press | Potomac Books. I always enjoy learning!

I really enjoyed the first half of the book and wish that historical content about the Romanovs and Russia featured more thoroughly in the second half. The first half was well-written and engaging, while the second half I admittedly just flipped through vast sections due to the dry writing.

Mystery, history, revalations--what happened to the last Russian tsar and his family?? Fascinating discussion of the search to discover what happened to the last of the Russian , and where they are finally buried.

I would say I'm a casual reader of Russian history, as it's not my particular field of study or deep zone of interest. This book was interesting in how it relayed the fall of the Romanovs and the scattering of the White Russians, but there was something about it that just couldn't engage me entirely. The forensic aspects of the narrative were interesting, but I think I just wasn't as invested in the personal family history. All in all, it was a new way to approach the subject, so I do appreciate that.

My husband and I lived in Finland from 2010-2012 on a job assignment and were fortunate to travel to St. Petersburg while it was still relatively easy to do so. I have long been fascinated by the history of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and after them, the Romanovs. This book adds to our understanding of the terrible fates of the Romanovs, and the author’s due diligence in adding to the knowledge of the era and his family’s legacy. This is a well-researched and interesting book, although the reader should probably have an interest in Russian history to fully appreciate it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Potomac Books for the ARC to review this interesting book,

In Search Of The Romanoffs, A families quest to solve one of history‘s most brutal crimes by Peter Sarandinaki is a great book that turns from a mystery to an autobiography to a biography to an investigation that all makes for one great read. When Zar Nikolai Alexander and his family were murdered they were all buried together but when the bodies were found two were missing his only son Alexi and one of his daughters either opal or Anastasia but what I didn’t know is there were also two other bodies missing, that of the grand Duke Mikal Alexander in his secretary and Long time friend an English man named Nikolai Johnson. The author is a relative of the family and when he talks about his grandmother Anna’s remembrances of Russia it shows you a whole new landscape besides the communist rigid unforgiving country most Americans have come to know. Instead we are treated to the beautiful landscape the museums the quaint little villages of her childhood and so much more, including her and her mother‘s bravery in there final escape from the country they love. We also get to learn things about the victims and we get to hear from the Murderers and last but not least Mr. Sarendiniki’s and many others long time quest to find the lost bodies. Since the day the victims were murdered people have been trying to make money off of their brutal murders in Mr. Sarendiniki spent almost as much trying to set things right. This is a great book and one I definitely recommend to any history fan it was so good I absolutely loved it and totally totally recommend it. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.#UniversityOfNebraskaPress, #NetGalley, #PeterSarandinaki, #InSearchOfTheRomanovs

Thank you Netgalley & Potomac Books Publishing for an eARC ♥️

I've always been fascinated by the Romanovs, and this book totally drew me in. Born in the Soviet Union, I'm super familiar with Russian history, and I've watched tons of documentaries about the Romanovs dynasty. But this book still managed to surprise me with its unique perspective and personal touch.

Peter Sarandinaki’’s family connection to the Romanovs makes the story feel personal and real
. I loved how he wove together history and mystery to create a narrative that's both informative and engaging. The author's got some valuable insights into Russia's complex past, and their passion for the subject shines through on every page.

Even with my background knowledge, I found myself learning new things and seeing the Romanovs in a new light. This book's a must-read if you're into the Romanovs, Russian history, or just a good story. It's a personal and powerful look at a pivotal moment in history that resonates deeply with me.♥️

In Search of the Romanovs is a biographical memoir of one families pursuit to find the truth of what happened to the famed Romanov family.

The story follows Anna from Childhood to adulthood, as she leaves behind her home to flee from the Russian Revolution.

In a unique way of combining historical events with forensics, diaries, and recollections of his family’s history, Peter Sarandinaki uncovers this incredible mystery.

I will admit, while I’ve always been intrigued in the Romanov family and the mystery behind their story, I was not super knowledgeable about the factual history.

This was a fascinating tale about one family’s legacy to find out the truth.
The beginning, where we are learning about Anna, her history, and the connection to how her family would help solve the case was a little hard to follow. However, I do not think that was any fault of the author. I believe it was from my own lack of understanding on the matter.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Potomac publishing, and Peter Sarandinaki for the arc!

DNF. This read more like biography than true crime to me. Maybe that changes as the book goes on, but I wasn’t interested in reading about the Russian revolution from the perspective of a little girl.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

It's a beautiful story about a personal connection to the uncovering of the Romanovs' bodies that spans the ages, and the journey to confirm those bodies. As someone fascinated by the Russian revolution, and the downfall of the Russian monarchy, I find this book riveting and hard to put down because it pieced together the parts that other stories didn't really express or touch upon, so I learned more from reading this book than any other Romanov book before. 5/5, highly recommend.

This book gave a unique look into one of the greatest mysteries of Russian history, because the author is a Russian himself, whose relatives were closely acquainted with the Romanovs. The story explores not only the immediate family of Tsar Nicholas II, but also gives Russian history extending back to the late 15o0s. Details of the Romanovs' imprisonment and murder are given, as well as the abdication and murder of Nicholas' younger brother, Mikhail Romanov. I learned about the difference between Bolsheviks and those loyal to the tsar(the White and Red Armies). The author is a reader, and references several books about the Romanovs for further study.
The only thing I didn't love about the book was one sentence in which the author makes a reference to his sub conscience. This seemed like an anti Christian phycological statement, but again, this was my only complaint.
Very informative account of the search for the Romanov corpses that started in the 1920s and ended in the early 2000s. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Net Galley for giving me this book in advance.

Absolutely loved this. A deep dive into what happened to the Romanvos before during and after their assassination told by an author with ties to the event. This one is compelling and ultimately sad - one wishes the outcome in history was different

I’ve always found the story of the Romanov family intriguing, so I was immediately all in on IN SEARCH OF THE ROMANOVS by Peter Sarandinaki. As a fan of historical true crime explorations, this was right up my alley, and did not disappoint.

The historical aspects of the book are enriched by Sarandinaki’s connection to it through his grandmother, Anna. I was drawn in by her childhood memories of fleeing her home (and eventually Russia) with her family, and the extreme danger they faced.

It’s easy to understand why the author felt compelled to pursue the search for the Romanovs and discover what really happened to the family. Weaving together the historical details and modern forensic science, Sarandinaki details the work that has gone into solving the mystery of what happened to the Romanovs, and brings their story closer to resolution in an engaging way. I look forward to reading more when the final pieces of the puzzle come together.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a very in-depth and researched book about what happened to the Romanovs. It also intertwined the author’s family history as well. The mystery of what happened to the Romanovs has finally been solved.

Thanks to NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 7/1/2024. Practically everyone has heard the tragic story of Russia's final Imperial family, the Romanovs. The lies and the mangled murders and the slapdash burials and the decades-long cover-ups and rumors. That is only half of this book and, while it is a very impressive half, the half that lands best is actually the first part - the story of author Peter Sarandinaki's family and their connection to the murders, culminating in his deep desire to find the truth. You see, in one of those twists of real life being stranger than fiction, his grandmother Anna's grew up as one of the favored landed gentry, daughter to a great military officer who rose to the fight as part of the White Army during the revolution. More to the point, he was close friends with Nikolai Sokolov, the first formal investigator into the deaths of the Imperial family. Sarandinaki grew up listening to stories from his grandmother about her family's fight and flight in those turbulent years. He was especially taken with the stories about the box which Sokolov kept beneath Anna's bunk on the ship which brought them all to the Western hemisphere at last. The box containing precious documents and a scrap of graffitied wallpaper and some buttons and hooks and a finger - evidence of the violent murders at Ipatiev House.

So the book is a clear two parter with the first part being the very personal family history and reasoning behind Sarandinaki's connection to the Romanov murders and the second part being the long, winding road to the historical facts of the revolution, the murders, and the discoveries of the bodies. While quite a bit of the second half was well-known to me (true crime buff and Dr Maples' book is one of my favorite non-fiction reads), there were additional details and a sort of deep passion behind the story that is lacking in a lot of Romanov books. Sarandinaki cares and cares deeply. One could say he is even obsessed with the topic and, at times, I winced in sympathy for his wife as he devoted endless hours and energy toward making the right contacts, pushing the right buttons, going on the trips. But shouldn't we all care about truth? More to the point, you never felt like he was doing this for fame and glory. He honestly seems upset and worried over the idea of the family members never having a sanctified burial and recognition. There is an underlying fear, too, of how we can quickly mess things up if we don't trust science and follow due diligence, how lives can be ruined. The finding of the final two children was utterly new information to me and I found it just as affecting as he did. Just as I found myself sharing his outrage at loud dissenting skeptics denying all of the proof just to be contrary. I hope he continues to push. I also hope that he or another team can finally find two other victims of the revolution, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich (the man who never wanted to be an aristocrat!) and his secretary Nicholas Johnson.

Overall, it is a very thickly packed read between dates and names and places but it was a refreshing take with a more personal look at the Romanovs and how truth was pursued over the years. Thank heavens for hard work and dedicated people and scientific diligence.

This was a truly fascinating book. I have, over the years, read quite a bit about the family and had a fairly good frame of reference for the back story prior to reading . . . but this book had tons of valuable information, quite a bit of it information I had never seen. A compelling and tragic story, a page turner that was also very informative (and, in my opinion, important, as well). I was quite impressed and look forward to Mr. Sarandinaki's future work. 5 Stars !!

I didn't know much about the Romanovs, I will admit; however, after reading this book I feel like not only did I go into a really well crafted story, but also learned a lot about such a prominent family. This book was a captivating and meticulously crafted historical detective story that blends personal family history with the broader narrative of one of the most tragic and enigmatic episodes in Russian history—the murder of the Romanov family.

Sarandinaki's writing is both engaging and informative, as he skillfully weaves together the disparate threads of historical records, forensic science, and family diaries. The book is particularly compelling in its exploration of how modern science, particularly DNA analysis, has helped to finally piece together the puzzle of what happened to the Romanovs.

"In Search of the Romanovs" is a must-read for anyone interested in Russian history, the Romanov family, or historical mysteries in general.

Thank you to NetGalley and Potomac Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Search of the Romanovs is a compelling nonfiction exploration of one of history’s most enduring mysteries—the fate of Russia’s last royal family. Combining historical analysis with cutting-edge forensic science, Sarandinaki embarks on a personal journey to uncover the truth behind the murder of Tsar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, and their children.

Sarandinaki skillfully weaves together historical records, scientific investigation, and his own family’s involvement in the search for the Romanovs’ remains. The book’s detailed account of the use of DNA technology to identify the remains offers new insights into a century-old mystery.

In Search of the Romanovs is a must-read for anyone interested in Russian history, royal intrigue, and the intersection of personal and historical quests. Sarandinaki’s dedication to uncovering the truth makes this book a standout in historical nonfiction.

An interesting book- part history, part family memoir- about one man and his family's connection to the last imperial family of Russia. I especially liked the story of his family's escape from Russia. Books about the Revolution typically focus on the Romanovs, but we see a family with no royal blood, in fear of their lives, attempting to flee. Will be interesting to anyone who is interested in the Russian Revolution, without needing much background or context.

I've always been faistnicated by the Romanovs thinks in part to the movie Anastasia. Imagine my surprise when I learned that that's not what happened. But this book tells the story of two families the Romanovs and the family that tried first to same them and then were determined to find out what become of them.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.

So informative! I never knew this stuff.