The Secrets We Kept

The sensational Cold War spy thriller

By: Lara Prescott

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan, Mozhan Marnò, David Pittu, Saskia Maarleveld, James Fouhey, Jonathan Davis

Brought to you by Penguin.

The September pick for Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Book Club
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TWO FEMALE SPIES. A BANNED MASTERPIECE. A BOOK THAT CHANGED HISTORY.

1956. A celebrated Russian author is writing a book, Doctor Zhivago, which could spark dissent in the Soviet Union. The Soviets, afraid of its subversive power, ban it.

But in the rest of the world it’s fast becoming a sensation.

In Washington DC, the CIA is planning to use the book to tip the Cold War in its favour.

Their agents are not the usual spies, however. Two typists – the charming, experienced Sally and the talented novice Irina – are charged with the mission of a lifetime: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago back into Russia by any means necessary.

It will not be easy. There are people prepared to die for this book – and agents willing to kill for it. But they cannot fail – as this book has the power to change history.

Sold in twenty-five countries and poised to become a global literary sensation, Lara Prescott's dazzling first novel is a sweeping page turner and the most hotly anticipated debut of the year.
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‘A riveting story of secrets, forbidden passions and the dark arts of espionage. I couldn’t put it down!’ LISA JEWELL

'Enthralling... This is a rare page-turner with prose that's as wily as its plot.' VOGUE

'A proto-feminist Mad Men transposed to the world of international espionage – mid-century style and intrigue set against real, indelible history.' ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

‘A fascinating story, so cleverly told, of the long chain of people who helped to bring Pasternak’s masterpiece into the world. I gulped it down.’ GILL HORNBY

‘The insight into the workings of the CIA, the portrait of the 1950s and a threatened love affair in the West … make for riveting reading.’ DAILY MAIL

'Triumphant ... This debut shines as spy story, publication thriller and historical romance with a twist.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Critic reviews

What a fantastic novel The Secrets We Kept is. Thrilling, seductive and thoroughly compelling - Lara has created something really special. And it’s made me want to re-read Doctor Zhivago! I absolutely loved it! (SARAH WINMAN)

An unusual, stimulating variant on the standard spy thriller.

A publishing phenomenon; but more importantly, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Enthralling... This is a rare page-turner with prose that's as wily as its plot.

A riveting story of secrets, forbidden passions and the dark arts of espionage. I couldn’t put it down. (LISA JEWELL)

A fascinating true-life tale has been embroidered into a thrilling story that has it all - turbulent historical events, romantic love (some thwarted, some forbidden) and very cool spycraft. This captivating novel is so assured that it's hard to believe it's a debut - and very easy to see why there's huge buzz around it.

This addictive debut uses the true story behind the publication of Dr Zhivago to spin a tale of spies, love and betrayal.

A page-turner combining elements of spy, literary, thriller, historic, romantic and gay fiction ... This is escapist fiction rooted in an at times harrowing historical reality... An unusual and stimulating Cold War spy thriller.

There’s something of Mad Men about this book and you can’t get higher praise than that… Proving that fact can be stranger than fiction, this is the perfect book for some much-needed escapism. Cut yourself off and drink it all in.

Irresistibly charged and vividly imagined, it's told with a breezy confidence that sets the pages flying.

Excellent and very tragic

Not sure who said that Russian stories have to be tragic. This is one of the books this year that caused many very diverse emotions and did contribute a piece of history knowledge I did go and fact check :-) One of my favorite this year.