CHILD 44 is the debut novel from Robert Harris; a stunning, gripping evocation of a society where individuals struggle against a system that doesn't allow them to trust anyone. Superior to the decadent West, Stalin's Soviet Union strives to be a paradise for its workers, providing for all of their needs: education, health care, and security. All that is required is their hard work, and their loyalty and faith to the Soviet State. Leo Demidov, a prominent officer in the State Security Force knows this better than most. His only ambition is to serve his country.
And then the impossible happens. A criminal; a murderer is on the loose, killing at will. At the same time, Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies. The only way to save his life is to find and stop a criminal that the State won't admit even exists.
