The Half Life of Valery K

Six years into a decade of hard labour, nuclear scientist Valery is snatched from the Siberian gulag and transported to City 40, a mysterious exclusion zone where he is expected to shed his skin as a prisoner and become Dr Kolkhanov once more. Surrounded by nuclear reactors, a dead lake, and a forest destroyed by radiation, Valery cannot help but grow curious as to the cause, which is kept secret under orders from Moscow, and enforced by the intimidating yet strangely protective KGB agent, Shenkov. But despite Shenkov's care, Valery is still considered a criminal, and as he stumbles closer to the horrific truth, will he escape the looming spies and soldiers of the Soviet Union, determined to see him shot against a wall? Breathlessly, gut-punchingly good, The Half Life of Valery K is one of those very special novels that took me out of time and place and transported me straight into the nuclear forest of the Urals. The novel did an excellent job at demonstrating how far one's principles must twist and bend under immense pressure so as not to completely break and shatter. I was so entrenched in the main character’s life, I didn’t want this book to end. I absolutely LOVED it!!! (Special shout-out to Albert the octopus for bringing me so much joy!)