The Last Russian Doll

By Kristen Loesch

Book Overview

EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

A haunting, epic novel about betrayal, revenge, and redemption that follows three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the last days of the Soviet Union, and the enduring love story at the center.

In a faraway kingdom, in a long-ago land...

...a young girl lived happily in Moscow with her family: a sister, a father, and an eccentric mother who liked to tell fairy tales and collect porcelain dolls.

One summer night, everything changed, and all that remained of that family were the girl and her mother.

Now, a decade later and studying at Oxford University, Rosie has an English name, a loving fianc , and a promising future, but all she wants is to understand--and bury--the past. After her mother dies, Rosie returns to Russia, armed with little more than her mother's strange folklore--and a single key.

What she uncovers is a devastating family history that spans the 1917 Revolution, the siege of Leningrad, Stalin's purges, and beyond.

At the heart of this saga stands a young noblewoman, Tonya, as pretty as a porcelain doll, whose actions--and love for an idealistic man--will set off a sweeping story that reverberates across the century....

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593547985
• ISBN13: 9780593547984
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

4 stars

THE LAST RUSSIAN DOLL by Kristen Loesch This book has a lot what I love about historical fiction and family sagas. Not only are the characters interesting and unique, it’s obvious the author was meticulous in their research about the time period. Going back and forth from 1920s to 1991, this dual/converging timeline was confusing at first, but soon I was hooked and immersed in Rosie, Tonya and Valentin’s lives. Their complex backstories are full of intrigue, history and drama. Overall, the story kept me guessing and almost all my questions were addressed in the end. Worth the read if you’re interested! Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Historical fiction meets psychological thriller

What a twist and turn off a tale!