The Russian Doll

'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 protegee 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

“A real page-turner”

What a fantastic book! She has a keen eye for detail and character . . . Best book I've read this year Simon Conway, author of The Stranger
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! Mara Timon, author of City of Spies
The Russian Doll gripped me with layer upon dangerous layer Alison Bruce, author of The Moment Before Impact
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 Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum
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 Erin Young, author of The Fields
Elena is a delicious villainess, and the compelling dynamic between plutocrat and protégée makes this an addictive read The Sunday Times
A pacy read Prima
Part thriller, part romance, part social commentary, this is a wildly entertaining novel Literary Review
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
Sun
A sharply observed take on the Faustian pact - and contemporary London Financial Times
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. -- Amanda Craig, author of The Golden Rule
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" -- Barry Forshaw The i '10 of the best spy novels to read now'
[A] sharply drawn and very timely thriller Financial Times, best books of summer 2022

Marina Palmer is the pseudonym of bestselling British author Imogen Robertson used for her contemporary solo thriller writing.

Imogen was born and brought up in Darlington and read Russian and German at Cambridge. Before becoming a full-time writer, she directed for TV, film, and radio. She is the author several novels, including the Crowther and Westerman series and The Paris Winter, and has co-written novels with former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson (The House), screenwriter Darby Kealey (Liberation as Imogen Kealey) and the legendary Wilbur Smith (King of Kings). Imogen has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger three times and for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award once. She has also written for Hampton Court Palace, chaired the Historical Writers' Association and been mentioned in Private eye twice.

Palmer is Imogen's husband's surname - she is married to the cheesemonger and author Ned Palmer - and she chose Marina as tribute to Russian Silver Age Poet Marina Tsvetaeva. She almost went for Anna, after Anna Akhmatova, but as her mother-in-law's name is Ann, that started getting a bit confusing. She, her husband, and her multiple identities live in south London.

'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 protegee 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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