I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A mission to heal a family rift turns into a fight for his life for one man in author Marc S. Perlman’s “The Riddle of the Trees.”
The Synopsis
“Marc Perlman has a distinctive voice, and its value shows.” -Lawrence Cunningham, author of the no. 1 international bestseller The Essays of Warren Buffett
At the same time that a physicist is murdered in a Belarusian forest by a KGB agent, American Jack Miller boards a flight to Eastern Europe, where he hopes to learn what caused an enduring rift between his Holocaust-surviving father and grandfather. All the while, he is unaware that his life will soon be entwined with that of the dead man.
In Minsk, Jack quickly falls for Anna, his beautiful Belarusian guide, and learns the gnawing fear of living in a police state. Spurred by revelations about his family, Jack follows Anna on a reckless mission into the Belavezskaya Forest, where they witness events that could change the course of history.
With the KGB nipping at his heels and summoning courage he never knew he had, Jack agrees to smuggle the newfound information across the border. But, on the sand dunes of the Curonian Spit, he must make a choice: save the woman he loves or save the world from disaster . . .
The Review
This was such a compelling and engaging narrative. The balance the author found between action-packed spy thrillers and espionage narratives with deeper, more personal and emotional character depth was top-notch, allowing the reader to feel perfectly immersed in this international setting. The rich history woven into the story and the adrenaline-fueled survival scenes the protagonist faced as the novel progressed kept the reader emotionally and mentally enthralled.
The heart of this story was in the humanity it explored. The concepts of identity and how memory is tied to it, as well as a deeper look at how history and politics have evolved over time in Eastern Europe, especially after WWII and during the Cold War, kept readers engaged. Yet it was Jack Miller’s role as the protagonist that kept readers invested, as not only did he contend with his family’s history and the rift that formed between his father and grandfather after the Holocaust, but the growing feelings he has for Anna and the depths he has to pull from to save themselves lead to a defining moment in his life that readers won’t be able to stop reading over and over again.
The Verdict
Memorable, entertaining, and thrilling, author Marc S. Perlman’s “The Riddle of the Trees” is a must-read spy thriller and genre fiction novel with a romantic twist. The rich depth of character dynamics and world-building the novel delves into, the inclusion of fascinating and emotional history, and the twists and turns this story takes on will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the book’s final moments. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Marc S. Perlman lives in New York City with his wife and son. He works as a lawyer and does the bulk of his writing after his son agrees to go to bed. A graduate of Bowdoin College and Cardozo Law School, Marc has had a lifelong interest in history and has traveled extensively in Eastern Europe. He conceived of The Riddle of the Trees several years ago while biking through the Belavezskaya Forest from Poland to Belarus. It’s his first novel.
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