From former Pentagon official and award-winning historical novelist Suzanne Parry comes The Communist’s Secret—a haunting WWII novel of betrayal, bravery, and second chances.
In 1941, Katya Karavayeva, a devoted Communist, has broken the most important rule in Soviet society: Never say anything that can be used against you. Before she comes to terms with the consequences of her actions, Nazi Germany invades and the Soviet Union mobilizes. Katya joins the volunteer militia and is sent toward the onrushing Germans to build defensive earthworks. In a few short weeks, the militia is under attack.
Katya escapes with another volunteer and they spend harrowing weeks on the run. Eventually, she lands in a town under Nazi occupation. There, Katya finds a place and a purpose and learns to fight a different kind of war, repaying German brutality with a harsh justice of her own. By turns desperate, courageous, and conflicted, she battles the Nazis and her inner demons while dreaming of redemption and reunion with her family.
For fans of Kate Quinn and Mark Sullivan, The Communist’s Secret is a sharp, cinematic story of one woman’s wartime journey—a woman who makes mistakes but also seeks to make things right. It is the second book of The Leningrad Trilogy, a saga set in Soviet Russia during World War II and the post-war era.
Industry Reviews
Praise for The Lost Souls of Leningrad
“With the Russian attack on Ukraine fresh in the imagination of readers, the wartime horrors of the siege and the emotional toll on the victims ring true. Parry has transformed her impressive research into a vigorous story of how love vanquishes despair.”—Library Journal
“Set in 1941 Leningrad, this tension-filled, well-crafted WWII historical novel tells the harrowing story of Sofya Karavayeva, a widowed violinist, and Yelena, her spirited, young granddaughter. . . . Through masterfully created characters and vivid dialogue, this powerful, inspiring saga brings to the forefront the overwhelming challenges of the daily life of those ‘lost in Leningrad’ during one of the most treacherous periods in Russian history. . . . Lost Souls of Leningrad is a thought-provoking, disturbing, and compassionate portrayal of war’s impact and how the lives of ordinary people are forever changed.”—Historical Novels Review
“This is historical fiction that feels ripped from today’s headlines . . . an engaging portrayal of love and survival in wartime.”—Debra Dean, best-selling author of New York Times Editor’s Choice The Madonnas of Leningrad
“A thoroughly researched and sensitively written wartime drama. … a compelling story, effectively told …”—Kirkus
“. . . amazing, heart-grabbing, and stunning . . .”—Readers Favorite, 5 STARS
