Such a disappointment

A clever concept which is well worked in other books, but a huge let down here. Poorly developed, cliched characters; and a disjointed, meandering storyline. The main protagonist is deeply irritating. Nicola Walker did a fine job with what she had.

3 people found this helpful

Well Realised Alternate History Thriller!

Liberation Square transports us to an alternate-history London. Imagine if D-Day had been a disaster and the Russians had swooped to conquer Europe all the way up to about London with the US just about clinging on to the rest of the UK! The Berlin Wall was actually the London Wall. Rubin does this really well presenting a genuine depth to his scenario with lots of neat touches about how it might have turned out for both the ordinary person on the street as well as some of the major political players of the day. These details give a very strong feel for how life might have turned out.

The story itself is a very nicely plotted thriller that weaves in and out of that lovely background in extremely neat ways. So, you aren't going to follow this alternate history towards any kind of conclusion but rather see one drama play out within it. The characters are well-drawn and the paranoia of such times is captured in fine detail.

The narration, Rubin sensibly gave the vast majority of it to the smooth and talented Nicola Walker while he came in occasionally to provide quotes in a Churchillian rumble which worked well.

All in all, this is very enjoyable and I would actually love to see more stories set in this alternate world that Rubin has concocted for us!

6 people found this helpful

A bit of a dog’s dinner

I did want to like this book more. It’s an interesting premise and I love Nicola Walker but it was just messy with so many subplots that I just ran out of willingly-suspended disbelief!
Also, I’m sorry but having the author read the announcements was an indulgence that just felt a bit jarring alongside the professional narration.

3 people found this helpful

murder in the red state

I like alternate history books and the setting of this one really made for an interesting story.
As murder mysteries go it was simple and had a surprising twist at the end

Another great audio performance by Nicola Walker

I had problems with the plot and pacing, but no problems at all with Nicola Walker's narration. The plot premise is a little ambitious which the author hasn't quite pulled off. I will be interested in his future works though.

Great alt-history thriller

Thoroughly enjoyable thriller set against an alternative — but credible — post-WW2 Britain under Soviet occupation.

Well performed by Nicola Walker.

Alernative dystopian scenario of post WWII life

I enjoyed this imaginative story of what life might have been like in the UK at the end of World War !!, if the Nazis had succeeded in invading followed by opposing Soviet forces. A situation leading to a divided country similar to post war Germany with a wall separating the two sectors. It is chilling to imagine Anthony Blunt as the chief in the Soviet sector with Guy Burgess and Kim Philby in key positions. It is a gripping story of an unexplained death and clandestine dealings set in the Soviet sector of the UK and the imagined privations and curbs on freedom that were actually suffered by people behind the real Iron Curtain post WWII.

Nicola Walker's narration is excellent, however the author should stick to writing as his narration style is poor: thankfully his contributions were short and few in number.

Better than expected

So interesting, couldn't stop once I'd started. Always loved the work of Nicola Walker. Not expected ending.

Did not go anywhere

I listened on to the end but, not sure why
Too many stories and plots. could not latch onto any of them or any of the character's.

Very disappointed

I really wanted to like this, but the plot was boring. Was more interested in the background than the thriller part of it