In case you're looking for that perfect book . . .

Over at the Trib, I get a lot of press releases/product promotions/invitations from Russian dating sites--most of which I delete w/o even reading.  But I don't know.  The word "sordid" apparently caught my eye in this one.  My favorite sentence is the one in bold at the end.

-- A Sordid Tale of Danger and Revenge Set Against Organized Crime and Flesh-Trafficking in the Now-Defunct Soviet Union

Dear Ms. Cannon,

In his spellbinding new thriller, Birth of an Assassin - the first in a new series - British author Rik Stone introduces his readers to Jez Kornfeld, and his transformation from wide-eyed recruit into an elite soldier and outlaw.  Through a searing narrative, Stone pulls his readers into the gritty and dark underworld of human trafficking, prostitution, and organized corruption in Russia.

When Jez is given orders to arrest a crowd of Jewish demonstrators in Red Square, he breaks up the rally but finds his sisters as part of the demonstration.  He quickly hides the girls from the secret police by placing them in downtown Moscow.  However, he knows they will not be safe in Russia for long and that his own security has been compromised.  He plans to move his sisters out of Moscow - but unbeknownst to him, his every move is being observed.  Ultimately, Jez's plan is compromised, and he enters a desperate and constant battle just to stay alive.

A visceral saga filled with complex characters and shocking and unpredictable twists, Stone flawlessly weaves historical events with fiction as he takes his readers on a chilling journey through one of history’s most memorable and darkest times.  Birth of an Assassin ultimately combines the elements of deceit, lies, violence, and murder into one fascinating narrative, which will be sure to leave readers clamoring for more.

This intense, dark, and page-turning mystery also touches on the following themes:

·      Anti-Semitism and Jewish experience in post-war Russia

·      The brutal life as a new recruit in the Red Army after World War II

·       Physical and emotional torture endured by human trafficking and prostitution victims

·      Governmental and military corruption in Russia after the war

·      And so much more!

            “My wife’s family descended from Russian Jews. The family fled the pogroms there in the late 19^th century and settled in England,” said Stone. “Their background piqued my interest - I thought I could bring drama to a period when Jewish unrest was bubbling up once more.”

Would you be interested in receiving a review copy of Birth of an Assassin and possibly adding it to your holiday gift guide?  Stone is also available for interviews. 

Looking forward to hearing from you. 

Best, 

Kristin Marquet

Smith Publicity