The Communist’s Secret Book Review
“Rage was different than sorrow. Sorrow incapacitated. But the rage she now felt gave her purpose and a strange sense of satisfaction. She was alive and they were dead. To live would be her revenge.”
Synopsis
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.
Driven by a blind devotion to the Communist Party, self-centered Katya Karavayeva has broken the most important rule in Soviet society: Never say anything that can be used against you. On the heels of that betrayal, Nazi Germany invades and the Soviet Union mobilizes. Katya hopes to halt her downward spiral by joining the volunteer militia, but within a few short weeks finds herself under attack.
After escaping with another volunteer, Katya spends weeks on the run before landing in a town under Nazi occupation. There, she 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 own inner demons while dreaming of reunion with her daughter and forgiveness from her husband—the one she betrayed.
For fans of Kate Quinn and Mark Sullivan, The Communist’s Secret is the second book of The Leningrad Trilogy, a saga set in Soviet Russia during World War II and the post-war era.
REVIEW
What a story.
I originally picked this book up because the cover, title, and synopsis intrigued me. It wasn’t until I was already a good ~20% in that I realized it was actually book two of a trilogy. So, naturally, I paused, went back, and read book one first.
Lost Souls of Leningrad (book one) centers on the siege of Leningrad during World War II, told through the eyes of a teenager, Lena, and her grandmother, Sofya. The Communist’s Secret (book two) unfolds at roughly the same time, but follows Katya—Lena’s mother and devoted Communist—as she survives a German assault on the Luga line and becomes involved with the partisans afterward.
Both books are incredibly impactful and raw. The author does a remarkable job balancing intimate, individual stories with the broader historical reality. Here, I especially appreciated Katya’s arc. Her growth—as a person, a mother, and a wife—felt messy, honest, and earned. It’s hard to change your worldview when it’s been the backbone of your whole life, even when that change is for the better, and I found myself genuinely proud of her transformation.
I’m looking forward to the final installment and highly recommend this trilogy to fans of Kate Quinn, Mark Sullivan, or anyone looking for a fresh perspective on World War II.
Thanks to Get Red PR for the gifted copy for review.
Original publication date was 5 August 2025.
Author Profile
Suzanne Parry is a former arms control negotiator turned historical novelist. She studied Russian in Moscow and worked for the US Department of Defense. While at the Pentagon, she helped negotiate the first international security agreement of the Gorbachev era. She has taught university, coached high school cross-country, and raised a large family. A dedicated runner, Suzanne lives on both coasts but calls Portland, Oregon, home.
