Moscow, 1965. Former Secret Service agent Leo Demidov is forbidden to travel with his wife and daughters to New York as part of a 'Peace Tour', meant to foster better relations between the two Cold War enemies. Leo's natural paranoia reaches its peak: Why have his family been selected? What is being planned? When Leo's worst fears are realised and a tragic murder destroys everything he loves, he demands only one thing: that he is allowed to investigate and find the killer who has struck at the heart of his family. Crippled by grief, his request denied, Leo sees no other option than to take matters into his own hands, thousands of miles from the crime scene. In a surprising, thrilling story that spans decades and continents - from the backstreets of 1960s New York to the mountains of Afghanistan in the 1980s - Leo will stop at nothing as he hunts the one person who knows the truth: Agent 6.
Agent 6
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Amazon Review
Tom Rob Smith’s debut novel, Child 44, was a considerable success (the youthful Smith began to collect book award nominations by the bushel, before finally bagging the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for 2008). That book’s successor, The Secret Speech, featured the second appearance of the beleaguered former MGB officer Leo Dormidov. Hopes were high for the final volume in the trilogy – and here is Agent 6, the final outing for Leo. So does it satisfactorily conclude the sequence?
In the last book, the time was 1956; Stalin had died, and it was the time of Nikita Khrushchev’s revisionist pronouncements (such as the ‘secret speech’ of the title, in which the Stalinist regime was – for the first time – roundly denounced). Leo Dormidov, his wife Raisa and their daughters are in mortal danger again, because of the new public view of the police as criminals; Leo’s efforts to save his family plunged him into situations of fear and tension. Both books were novel of striking authority (despite the controversial stylistic notion of putting all speech in italics, so that everything appeared over-emphasised). Agent 6, the third and final outing for the conflicted former MGB officer, brings the trilogy of novels to a resounding climax. Leo’s new civilian life with his wife Raisa and his family has acquired equilibrium, but the USSR and the US are still bitter enemies. A visit to the states by Leo on a diplomatic mission has a tragic outcome, and Leo loses everything. Only the grim plains of Afghanistan offer him a way back – or death. Tom Rob Smith has utilised cinematic technique here (not to mention upping the number of suspenseful set pieces), and some will prefer the more complex character building of the first book (still the finest in the sequence), but for most readers this final Leo Dormidov novel will push all the requisite buttons. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
`In this final part of the trilogy (equally good as a stand-alone book), which began with much acclaimed Child 44, author Tom Rob Smith shows he has lost none of his talent for producing a perfectly paced thriller' --Books of the Year, Country & Town House
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Bixtalp
Format:Hardcover
This book contained by far the biggest number of printing mistakes and omissions of words in mid-sentences than any other I've ever read! Did no-one else notice this?!? Sometimes there were several on the same page! I don't mean to be unnecessarily pedantic but I just found this extremely surprising. Decent story though, but as most other reviewers seem to be saying, it's certainly no 'Child 44', which was amazing.
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By Clive A. H. Still
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
This book, third in a trilogy featuring Leo Demidov, a former KGB agent, is divided into distinct portions. First we are given a flashback to his time as an agent, particularly working as part of a group looking after the black American singer,Jesse Austin, a prominent supporter of communism.
The action then moves to New York where Leo's much loved wife Raisa and two adopted children are travelling to attend a combined youth concert with an orchestra in Washington. It is at this point we are made aware that there are as many lies, evasions and manipulations happening on the US side of the fence as in the USSR.
A devastating incident occurs in Washington that leads about seven years later to Leo working in Afghanistan, deadening his personal tragedy with copious amounts of opium but still showing signs of the moral integrity which makes him such a sympathetic character.
It is difficult to review Agent 6 without giving away the plot. Perhaps it is enough to say that there is an interesting plot and a feeling that, while love may not conquer all, it can give meaning to a life and influence the way we live it.
This book is for people who want more than frenetic paced action and easy plot solutions.
The action then moves to New York where Leo's much loved wife Raisa and two adopted children are travelling to attend a combined youth concert with an orchestra in Washington. It is at this point we are made aware that there are as many lies, evasions and manipulations happening on the US side of the fence as in the USSR.
A devastating incident occurs in Washington that leads about seven years later to Leo working in Afghanistan, deadening his personal tragedy with copious amounts of opium but still showing signs of the moral integrity which makes him such a sympathetic character.
It is difficult to review Agent 6 without giving away the plot. Perhaps it is enough to say that there is an interesting plot and a feeling that, while love may not conquer all, it can give meaning to a life and influence the way we live it.
This book is for people who want more than frenetic paced action and easy plot solutions.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Shazjera
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
I don't get to read this genre very often as it is not one I would usually buy for myself so when a proof copy arrived in the post from Simon & Schuster (via BookDagger) to review I started reading with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. Trepidation because I am not a political person at all and wondered if this would affect my perception of the story and excitement at reading a different genre.
Although this is the third book involving agent Leo Demidov it was very obvious from the beginning that I didn't have to have any previous knowledge. Leo's character is very understandable from his actions - but there is also an inference that although he is following Communist doctrine, there are underlying doubts.
At the beginning of the story the foundations are laid for how life is in the Soviet Union. We meet American singer Jesse Austin who is a Communist and is a key figure to the plot.
Fifteen years later we join Leo, his wife Raisa and their two adopted daughters on the eve before Raisa and their two daughters are leaving for America. Raisa is leading a diplomatic mission using singing as a bridge between the two countries.
On American soil we are introduced to FBI agent Jim Yates who is another central figure to the plot.
The change of events is sudden and dramatic and what follows is Leo's journey to reach America to avenge the tragedy. Along the way we spend time in Afghanistan until events conspire to get him back on track.
There are politics in the story but for me they were far outweighed by the psychological profiles of the characters we meet and the change in them as they examine their beliefs and become more humane.... Read more ›
Although this is the third book involving agent Leo Demidov it was very obvious from the beginning that I didn't have to have any previous knowledge. Leo's character is very understandable from his actions - but there is also an inference that although he is following Communist doctrine, there are underlying doubts.
At the beginning of the story the foundations are laid for how life is in the Soviet Union. We meet American singer Jesse Austin who is a Communist and is a key figure to the plot.
Fifteen years later we join Leo, his wife Raisa and their two adopted daughters on the eve before Raisa and their two daughters are leaving for America. Raisa is leading a diplomatic mission using singing as a bridge between the two countries.
On American soil we are introduced to FBI agent Jim Yates who is another central figure to the plot.
The change of events is sudden and dramatic and what follows is Leo's journey to reach America to avenge the tragedy. Along the way we spend time in Afghanistan until events conspire to get him back on track.
There are politics in the story but for me they were far outweighed by the psychological profiles of the characters we meet and the change in them as they examine their beliefs and become more humane.... Read more ›
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
'Child 44' was good and 'The Secret Speech' quite good. This, however, has the feel of an idea that has run out of steam with constant repetition of our hero's strengths and weaknesses and the failures in his relationships both past and present. It is neither exciting or intriguing and is overlong by about 200 pages. Time for Tom Rob Smith to say goodbye to Leo and find a new character to write about.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By P. Evans
Format:Kindle Edition
I loved Child 44 and Secret Speech but Agent 6 was very disappointing I found myself wondering what was going on and when Agent 6 was going to be mentioned it was all a bit dragged out and the conclusion rushed without knowing very much at all about agent six.Let's hope that Tom has another great character for us.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a let down. I was really excited to read this book after having read "Child 44" but where that was a novel, "Agent 6" is more a history book thinly disguised as a novel. Leo Demidov and his family tragedy are used merely as a vehicle for showing how much the author has learned about life in the Soviet Union and its involvement in Afghanistan and they could easily have taken 300 pages in the middle of the book and whitled them down to about 30. Also, the poor typesetting of this book (many grammatical errors, missing words and weirdly structured sentences) makes it actually annoying to read in some places. Overall it's quite sad that a character like Leo Demidov, who started out so vivid in "Child 44", is being used as such a 2-dimensional prop in this book. And without giving anything away, the text on the back of the book "Three decades, two murders, one conspiracy, who is agent 6?" is one of the most ill-fitting back cover texts ever - only the flimsiest framework of this story is actually about this. Tom Rob Smith has definite talent and writing skills - it's just a shame that he didn't want to a be novelist with this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agent 6
Excellent final book in trilogy.As with other two quite dark but appears very knowledgeable about Russia from 1940 to present day.Would highly recommend
Published 20 days ago by Jude 101
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you want to read a really good thriller, which is different!
I have read all of Tom Rob Smith's books and thoroughly enjoyed every one. I think he is an excellent writer, who has chosen a thriller, with all the right ingredients, to write. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Mrs. C. A. Atkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent ending
This the third in series ,it's not as good as first one but better than the second.i did feel that the central character during the central part of the novel was too far removed... Read more
Published 1 month ago by byron davies
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another high-class thriller
In this final part of the trilogy - which is equally good as a stand-alone book - Tom Rob Smith continues his for gift for writing, producing another gripping thriller. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrew Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb Book
As good as Child 44 in my opinion. The Afghanistan section was particularly interesting and emotive. Conspiratorial and tight Cold War story.
Published 2 months ago by Tim Chaney
1.0 out of 5 stars
Garbage!
I constantly read on holiday. I got to about 6% of the book after skipping some pages and gave up. I thought it was boring drivel and had it been meat from my butcher I would have... Read more
Published 2 months ago by iain mclellan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Agent 6 - Tom Rob Smith
Agent 6 is the final part of Tom Rob Smith's trilogy which began with the Booker nominated Child 44. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Daniel Day
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 stars Agent 6
The final book in Tom Rob Smith amazing trilogy about Soviet Russia pulls you into a world of espionage, hardship & fear. Read more
Published 4 months ago by LesW
5.0 out of 5 stars
great price, great read
Arrived quickly. Very good condition for a used paperback and a good price too. Third novel of the trilogy and a great read although the first book "Child44" remains the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by JANE58
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
A great story, as good as the previous two, if not better. Would have given 5 stars had it not been for numerous typos.
Published 4 months ago by Mr A T Solman
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