The Russian Doll

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 *A real page-turner * 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 RuleRussian 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 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 and chaired the Historical Writers’ Association.

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.

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