I loved the premise of the book, and I really wanted to enjoy it. It was too slow, hoewver, which turned into a big struggle to finish it. I loved the fact it was focused on the First Lady, rather than the man himself, and it was full of secrets and complexities. It blended the personal and the political very well whils using the fictional country. Marija and Laura’s relationship was full of many layers and was intriguing to read. Overall a nice read just very slow.

I am not the person they say I am.
I am not my husband.
I am innocent.

Do you believe me?

The wife of a toppled dictator stands trial for her husband's crimes. This is an intriguing concept and a possible metaphor for how women often pay the price for the men in their lives.

From the moment I read the blurb I wanted to read this book and I had high hopes for it. Overall I enjoyed the book but it didn't grip me as much as I hoped it would.

Laura and Marija work well together as characters and the evolution of both is fascinating to read. I do wish we would have had more depth and less flashbacks for Laura though. Even the discontent with her parents came across as cold in an odd way and not something I found myself siding with the character on. There was just a lack of context for it all.

There are a lot of threads in this book so be prepared to be taken on a winding and cryptic ride for most of the book whilst you try and work out whether you believe Marija and her belief in her innocence.

Overall a great debut novel and one that I enjoyed reading. Any book that has me making lots of notes on my thoughts, questions and theories is always a good sign.

Like the fictional former Eastern Bloc nation at the heart of this story I was entranced by Maria Popov and her many contradictions from the off. This is a wonderfully morally ambiguous tale of power and what human beings are capable of doing to gain and hold it..
Without issuing spoilers even as the cruelty of the regime she was a part of are unfurled the Dictator's wife remains a compelling figure, equally repugnant and seductive.

The story is lushly written and reminded me at times of the vivid imagery of Laura Purcell' s work, but the writer it most frequently called to mind was Le Carre, although from a much more female perspective, It was perhaps the redolence of betrayal, subterfuge and deep dark secrets. I was hooked until the last page and although Laura the narrator occasionally slipped out of focus as a character the story was strong enough to hold me.
Having said that Olivia Vinall is, as ever superb and her tone and pronunciation are flawless,

Aside of the thriller aspect there is a an important element of recent history remembered here, albeit in a fictional form. The horrors of the 70s and 80s behind the wall are only now far enough away to be pulled into the light and examined and as ever fiction is a fantastic means to probe our deepest wounds and see if, as a human race we are ready to face what we have been.

A wonderful, thriller and an important message from our recent past with a savage bite of cruelty.