The Faberge Secret

January 1, 2021
Despite being friends with with Czar Nicholas II, the emperor of Russia, Prince Dimitri Markhov finds both his life in the Imperial Court montonous and his marriage to the vindictive Princess Lara less than satisfying, compelling him to take solace in his love of architecture. When he meets Katya Golitsyn, a passionate Jewish doctor, the affair that blooms between them opens Dmitri's eyes to the heinous violence perpetrated on the Jewish people by the czar's regime. Once seen, it cannot be unseen, and Dmitri is forced to choose between his dearest friend and the lives of millions of innocent people. Belfoure's dialogue sometimes reads like fictional name dropping, which jars the flow of the story, but the novel offers a unique take on the historically popular Romanov family. The discussion of Russian architecture, the music of Tchaikovsky, and the famous imperial Faberg� eggs combine to create a striking picture of Russian arts and culture in the early 1900s, nicely balanced against the disturbing plight of Russian Jews. Readers who enjoy Martha Hall Kelly and J'nell Ciesielski will want to give this one a try.

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