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Aug 5, 2025
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Description
From former Pentagon official and award-winning historical novelist Suzanne Parry comes The Communist’s Secret—a haunting WWII novel of betrayal, bravery, and second chances.
Driven by a blind devotion to the Communist Party, self-centered Katya Karavayeva has broken the most important rule in Soviet society: Never say anything that can be used against you. On the heels of that betrayal, Nazi Germany invades and the Soviet Union mobilizes. Katya hopes to halt her downward spiral by joining the volunteer militia, but within a few short weeks finds herself under attack.
After escaping with another volunteer, Katya spends weeks on the run before landing in a town under Nazi occupation. There, she finds a place and a purpose and learns to fight a different kind of war, repaying German brutality with a harsh justice of her own. By turns desperate, courageous, and conflicted, she battles the Nazis and her own inner demons while dreaming of reunion with her daughter and forgiveness from her husband—the one she betrayed.
For fans of Kate Quinn and Mark Sullivan, The Communist’s Secret is the second book of The Leningrad Trilogy, a saga set in Soviet Russia during World War II and the post-war era.
Driven by a blind devotion to the Communist Party, self-centered Katya Karavayeva has broken the most important rule in Soviet society: Never say anything that can be used against you. On the heels of that betrayal, Nazi Germany invades and the Soviet Union mobilizes. Katya hopes to halt her downward spiral by joining the volunteer militia, but within a few short weeks finds herself under attack.
After escaping with another volunteer, Katya spends weeks on the run before landing in a town under Nazi occupation. There, she finds a place and a purpose and learns to fight a different kind of war, repaying German brutality with a harsh justice of her own. By turns desperate, courageous, and conflicted, she battles the Nazis and her own inner demons while dreaming of reunion with her daughter and forgiveness from her husband—the one she betrayed.
For fans of Kate Quinn and Mark Sullivan, The Communist’s Secret is the second book of The Leningrad Trilogy, a saga set in Soviet Russia during World War II and the post-war era.
Product Details
| Publisher | She Writes Press |
| Publish Date | August 05, 2025 |
| Pages | 312 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781647429348 |
| Dimensions | 215.9 X 139.7 X 0.0 mm | 210.0 g |
About the Author
Suzanne Parry is a former arms control negotiator turned historical novelist. She studied Russian in Moscow and worked for the US Department of Defense. While at the Pentagon, she helped negotiate the first international security agreement of the Gorbachev era. She has taught university, coached high school cross-country, and raised a large family. A dedicated runner, Suzanne lives on both coasts but calls Portland, Oregon, home.
Reviews
“An impeccably researched and gripping story of life under occupation, The Communist’s Secret will keep you turning the pages and asking questions about betrayal and forgiveness long after it is finished . . . a great book, poignant and moving.”—Deborah Swift, author of The Lifeline and The Shadow Network
“A vivid, suspenseful historical novel of bravery in the face of war. Suzanne Parry delivers a captivating saga of a woman surviving against all odds.”—Sasha Vasilyuk, journalist and author of Your Presence Is Mandatory
“With rich historical detail and an unflinching eye for the moral dilemmas of war, Suzanne Parry delivers a gripping tale of courage and betrayal. Parry brings the past to life with a rare authenticity, immersing readers in the chaos of a collapsing front line and the harsh choices forced upon those caught between two ruthless powers. The Communist’s Secret is a haunting, fast-paced novel that explores the horrors of war and the weight of ideology, sacrifice, and what it means to fight for a future that may never come.”—Sepehr Haddad, author of A Hundred Sweet Promises and The Harmless Necessary Cat
“At times brutal, in other moments poignant, this historical novel starkly reveals a side of the second World War era that is too often overlooked: Russia, behind the Iron Curtain, and the millions who followed or resisted the regime. A gorgeous denouement.”—Julia Park Tracey, author of Silence and The Bereaved
Praise for The Lost Souls of Leningrad
“With the Russian attack on Ukraine fresh in the imagination of readers, the wartime horrors of the siege and the emotional toll on the victims ring true. Parry has transformed her impressive research into a vigorous story of how love vanquishes despair.”—Library Journal
“Set in 1941 Leningrad, this tension-filled, well-crafted WWII historical novel tells the harrowing story of Sofya Karavayeva, a widowed violinist, and Yelena, her spirited, young granddaughter. . . . Through masterfully created characters and vivid dialogue, this powerful, inspiring saga brings to the forefront the overwhelming challenges of the daily life of those ‘lost in Leningrad’ during one of the most treacherous periods in Russian history. . . . Lost Souls of Leningrad is a thought-provoking, disturbing, and compassionate portrayal of war’s impact and how the lives of ordinary people are forever changed.”—Historical Novels Review
“This is historical fiction that feels ripped from today’s headlines . . . an engaging portrayal of love and survival in wartime.”—Debra Dean, best-selling author of New York Times Editor’s Choice The Madonnas of Leningrad
“A thoroughly researched and sensitively written wartime drama . . . a compelling story, effectively told . . . ”—Kirkus Reviews
“. . . amazing, heart-grabbing, and stunning . . .”—Readers Favorite, 5-star review
“A vivid, suspenseful historical novel of bravery in the face of war. Suzanne Parry delivers a captivating saga of a woman surviving against all odds.”—Sasha Vasilyuk, journalist and author of Your Presence Is Mandatory
“With rich historical detail and an unflinching eye for the moral dilemmas of war, Suzanne Parry delivers a gripping tale of courage and betrayal. Parry brings the past to life with a rare authenticity, immersing readers in the chaos of a collapsing front line and the harsh choices forced upon those caught between two ruthless powers. The Communist’s Secret is a haunting, fast-paced novel that explores the horrors of war and the weight of ideology, sacrifice, and what it means to fight for a future that may never come.”—Sepehr Haddad, author of A Hundred Sweet Promises and The Harmless Necessary Cat
“At times brutal, in other moments poignant, this historical novel starkly reveals a side of the second World War era that is too often overlooked: Russia, behind the Iron Curtain, and the millions who followed or resisted the regime. A gorgeous denouement.”—Julia Park Tracey, author of Silence and The Bereaved
Praise for The Lost Souls of Leningrad
“With the Russian attack on Ukraine fresh in the imagination of readers, the wartime horrors of the siege and the emotional toll on the victims ring true. Parry has transformed her impressive research into a vigorous story of how love vanquishes despair.”—Library Journal
“Set in 1941 Leningrad, this tension-filled, well-crafted WWII historical novel tells the harrowing story of Sofya Karavayeva, a widowed violinist, and Yelena, her spirited, young granddaughter. . . . Through masterfully created characters and vivid dialogue, this powerful, inspiring saga brings to the forefront the overwhelming challenges of the daily life of those ‘lost in Leningrad’ during one of the most treacherous periods in Russian history. . . . Lost Souls of Leningrad is a thought-provoking, disturbing, and compassionate portrayal of war’s impact and how the lives of ordinary people are forever changed.”—Historical Novels Review
“This is historical fiction that feels ripped from today’s headlines . . . an engaging portrayal of love and survival in wartime.”—Debra Dean, best-selling author of New York Times Editor’s Choice The Madonnas of Leningrad
“A thoroughly researched and sensitively written wartime drama . . . a compelling story, effectively told . . . ”—Kirkus Reviews
“. . . amazing, heart-grabbing, and stunning . . .”—Readers Favorite, 5-star review
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