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The Kitchen Boy  By  cover art

The Kitchen Boy

By: Robert Alexander
Narrated by: Allen Lewis Rickman
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Publisher's summary

Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as seen through the eyes of their young kitchen boy, Leonka. Now an ancient Russian immigrant, Leonka claims to be the last living witness to the Romanovs' brutal murders and sets down the dark secrets of his past with the imperial family. Does he hold the key to the many questions surrounding the family's murder?

Historically vivid and compelling, The Kitchen Boy is also a touching portrait of a loving family that was in many ways similar to yet so different from any other.

©2003 Robert Alexander (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Ingenious.... Keeps readers guessing through the final pages." (USA Today)

"A gripping and entirely believable description of the last days of the Romanovs.... Thoroughly enjoyable, educational, and just a good old-fashioned page-turner." (Margaret George, author of Mary, Called Magdalene)

"Through the power of the author's imagination, we see not only the tragedy of the Emperor, but that of a human being, man, and father." (Ivan Artsyshevsky, The Romanov Family Association)

What listeners say about The Kitchen Boy

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The best Read in years.

Overall excellent the story and performance kept me glued to my IPad for days. In time I will listen again.

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really well written!

My great grandfather was a Cossack and I've always been interested in Russian history.
I surely did not expect such a surprise ending!

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  • 12-16-21

Excellent!

Well written and narrated and I couldn't stop listening. Finished late at night and I'm getting the next book in the series.

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Fascinating

I was sucked into the story and loved it. The narration was well done and kept me engaged.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Did someone survive?

Overall I liked the storyline and in the last hours of the book there are some surprising twists! However, the build-up was a bit too slow for my taste, that’s why I gave three stars for the story.
If you like historical fiction, it’s a solid book. Enjoy!

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Incredible

What an incredible story. Once I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the events surrounding the executions. Outstanding.

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Good read

The narrator was excellent The story was excellent. I specifically love the the twist at the end. Even though a novel historical facts were also included. would recommend

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great book

We read this in our senior English class. It was a great historical fiction book.

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Such a wonderful and unexpected surprise

This book was recommended by my wife, I thought it was going to be a slow love story. I was completely wrong, this is a well thought out and completely riveting story. Without hesitation 5 stars

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Wow, what a story!!

I've been fascinated with the Romanov family for years, after reading Robert Massie's biography of Nicholas and Alexandria. When I saw this novel was based on the end of the Romanov dynasty, I knew I'd be interested. I was not disappointed!
I was fascinated! The narration is perfect, the speaker uses a Russian accent which adds an extra layer of texture to the story. The tale weaves known facts with historical fiction together to create a story with surprising twists that pulls the reader deeper into the past.
If you enjoy historical fiction, you will absolutely enjoy this book!

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