‘Fast-paced and clever, with a pleasing blend of political intrigue and romantic suspense as well as a whodunnit, this is perfect entertainment for a winter’s evening’ – Guardian
‘Elena is a delicious villainess, and the compelling dynamic between plutocrat and protégée makes this an addictive read’ – The Sunday Times
‘Part thriller, part romance, part social commentary, this is a wildly entertaining novel’ Literary Review
The Firm meets McMafia in Marina Palmer’s thrilling and exciting novel, which opens the door on the Russian high life in London and corruption at the heart of British politics, reaching all the way into the Secret Services.
Packed with twists, intrigue, betrayal, romance and suspense, The Russian Doll constantly wrong-foots the reader and delivers a perfect narrative, right to the last page.
How much did she just say the salary was?
When Ruth Miller returns a dropped scarf to Elena Shilkov, she is whisked from a dreary shared house to a world of unimagined luxury.
The super-rich Russian wants a new personal assistant and won’t take no for an answer.
Ruth gets accommodation, a credit card, and a complete wardrobe makeover.
And she’s good at the job; distributing gifts, attending galas, dealing with the high-society movers and shakers fighting for Elena’s attention.
Then the sinister truth begins to reveal itself, that nothing is quite what it seems in Elena’s dangerous, deceptive world.
Ruth should get away.
But it’s already too late.
‘Best book I’ve read this year’ – Simon Conway, author of The Stranger
‘The Russian Doll gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer’ – Alison Bruce, author of The Moment Before Impact
‘I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day . . . Superb!’ – Mara Timon, author of City of Spies
‘Elena is a delicious villainess, and the compelling dynamic between plutocrat and protégée makes this an addictive read’ – The Sunday Times
‘Part thriller, part romance, part social commentary, this is a wildly entertaining novel’ Literary Review
The Firm meets McMafia in Marina Palmer’s thrilling and exciting novel, which opens the door on the Russian high life in London and corruption at the heart of British politics, reaching all the way into the Secret Services.
Packed with twists, intrigue, betrayal, romance and suspense, The Russian Doll constantly wrong-foots the reader and delivers a perfect narrative, right to the last page.
How much did she just say the salary was?
When Ruth Miller returns a dropped scarf to Elena Shilkov, she is whisked from a dreary shared house to a world of unimagined luxury.
The super-rich Russian wants a new personal assistant and won’t take no for an answer.
Ruth gets accommodation, a credit card, and a complete wardrobe makeover.
And she’s good at the job; distributing gifts, attending galas, dealing with the high-society movers and shakers fighting for Elena’s attention.
Then the sinister truth begins to reveal itself, that nothing is quite what it seems in Elena’s dangerous, deceptive world.
Ruth should get away.
But it’s already too late.
‘Best book I’ve read this year’ – Simon Conway, author of The Stranger
‘The Russian Doll gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer’ – Alison Bruce, author of The Moment Before Impact
‘I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day . . . Superb!’ – Mara Timon, author of City of Spies
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Reviews
What a fantastic book! She has a keen eye for detail and character . . . Best book I've read this year
I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day . . . The novel is perfectly named - each twist removed another layer, laying bare a new threat and leaving me turning the pages even faster . . . Superb!
The Russian Doll gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer
Brilliant and extraordinary. The Russian Doll is a captivating novel that enthrals and surprises throughout. Marina Palmer takes readers into a fascinating world and introduces them to unforgettable, engaging characters. Don't miss this book
A dark, glittering thriller that draws you deep into a shadowy world where no one is who they seem. Intricate, brilliantly written and highly compelling
Elena is a delicious villainess, and the compelling dynamic between plutocrat and protégée makes this an addictive read
A pacy read
Part thriller, part romance, part social commentary, this is a wildly entertaining novel
Fast-paced and clever, with a pleasing blend of political intrigue and romantic suspense as well as a whodunnit, this is perfect entertainment for a winter's evening
A real page-turner
A sharply observed take on the Faustian pact - and contemporary London
A fantastically compelling novel about an ordinary person who is propelled into the seductive world of Russian oligarchs, where nothing and nobody is who they appear to be. Tense, twisty and highly topical, Its skewering of the obscenely rich makes for a sophisticated treat by a dazzling new star of Cold War fiction.
Russian money of questionable provenance is at the heart of Palmer's novel, with a terrorist strike in London transforming the life of her struggling heroine Ruth. Strong on the topical issue of "Londongrad"
[A] sharply drawn and very timely thriller