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Alexander Karpenko is an intelligent and perceptive young man; however, these are not traits that are conducive to living a prosperous life in Leningrad during the height of the Cold War. His father is a World War II hero, and although that provides some measure of physical comfort for his family, the father’s refusal to join the Communist Party creates tension for the entire family. Alex’s mother is determined that her gifted son will have opportunities to reach his full potential and devises a plan with her brother for the two of them to escape the USSR. The final destination (England or America) is determined by the flip of a coin, hence the title.
The reader is then catapulted into a masterful Jeffrey Archer tale that is reminiscent of his finest work from the 1980s. The cornucopia of classic Archer alements is filled to overflowing: rags-to-riches, politics, art, high finance, treachery, and beautiful women. The prose is as smooth as ever, the plot twists are perfectly arranged and executed, and the reader is treated to a literary mechanism never before used by this nearly 80-year-old man. At first, I was very skeptical about how it would work out, but I was quickly converted and experienced one of the most enjoyable stories ever penned by this maestro.
The fictional characters are deftly woven into the fabric of well-known historical events spanning the late 1960s through the 1990s. These details function extremely well as a backdrop and never do any known outcomes depend upon the actions of the Karpenkos, which actually adds to the suspense of many of the subplots. There are plenty of Easter eggs from previous Archer publications scattered throughout the narrative for the longtime fan to enjoy, and, as with history, none of them are affected by the current players.
Over the decades, this author has treated his followers to wildly implausible and imaginative accounts of people that could never exist in the real world, and one of his greatest skills has been tying up loose ends and providing a clean conclusion to his books. This is the lone failure in an otherwise finely crafted chronicle: the ending is completely and totally disappointing. The creative technique that he used for this work practically prevented a satisfying conclusion, but I was expecting something much more inventive than this.
Rated: Moderate. Language includes a single use of strong language and a couple dozen instances of moderate profanity, mostly attributed to the antagonists throughout the book. There are no detailed descriptions of any intimate encounters.
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