Liberation Square by Gareth Rubin

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Liberation Square by Gareth Rubin! Thanks so much to Jenny for organising the tour and don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops!

The Synopsis

​1952. Soviet troops control British streets. After the disastrous failure of D-Day, Britain is occupied by Nazi Germany, but is eventually liberated by Russian soldiers arriving from the east and Americans from the west. The two superpowers divide the nation between them, a wall running through London like a scar.
When Jane Cawson calls into her husband’s medical practice and detects the perfume worn by his former wife, Lorelei – star of propaganda films for the new Marxist regime – she fears what is between them. But when Jane rushes to confront them, she finds herself instead caught up in the glamorous actress’ death.
Nick is soon arrested for murder. Desperate to clear his name, Jane must risk the attention of the brutal secret police as she follows a trail of corruption right to the highest level of the state.
And she might find she never really knew her husband at all.
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Set within the familiar streets of London, Rubin’s debut dystopian thriller dares to reimagine what 1950s Britain would have become under the iron rule of the Soviet Union.

My Review

​I’ve never read an alternative history book before, so I was very intrigued and excited by the synopsis for Liberation Square and absolutely jumped at the chance to join the blog tour!
This is Rubin’s first novel, but it doesn’t feel like a debut in the slightest and is very deftly written. I felt that the characters came to life on the page and I loved the addition of the real historical characters too.
The plot is so believable that it’s quite frightening to think of what could’ve been. I really enjoyed the way this book expertly combines mystery, history and a good bit of spying to create a novel that can be enjoyed by crime lovers and historical fiction lovers alike.
It’s packed with secrets and lies and there are plenty of twists to keep you on your toes too. The pace and tension really keeps you reading, as does the gripping writing which draws you in and keeps you right to the very end.
Overall, I’m giving Liberation Square 4 out of 5. It’s thrilling, intriguing and full of secrets and lies at every turn. I’m looking forward to more from Rubin! 
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​About the Author

​Gareth Rubin is an author and journalist who has written for many national newspapers. He lives in London; Liberation Square is his first novel.