The Kitchen Boy

A Novel of the Last Tsar

By: Robert Alexander

Narrated by: Allen Lewis Rickman

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters)

Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as seen through the eyes of their young kitchen boy, Leonka. Now an ancient Russian immigrant, Leonka claims to be the last living witness to the Romanovs’ brutal murders and sets down the dark secrets of his past with the imperial family. Does he hold the key to the many questions surrounding the family’s murder? Historically vivid and compelling, The Kitchen Boy is also a touching portrait of a loving family that was in many ways similar, yet so different, from any other.

"Ingenious...Keeps readers guessing through the final pages." —USA Today

Critic reviews

"Ingenious...Keeps readers guessing through the final pages." —USA Today

"A gripping and entirely believable description of the last days of the Romanovs...Thoroughly enjoyable, educational, and just a good old-fashioned page-turner." —Margaret George, author of Mary, Called Magdalene

"This is a dream of a book... [Robert Alexander's] tough, stylish prose is the perfect medium for this fast-becoming myth of evil and innocence, of frailty and courage, of betrayal and redemption." —Judith Guest

"Through the power of the author's imagination, we see not only the tragedy of the Emperor, but that of a human being, man, and father." —Ivan Artsyshevsky, The Romanov Family Association

The best Read in years.

Overall excellent the story and performance kept me glued to my IPad for days. In time I will listen again.

really well written!

My great grandfather was a Cossack and I've always been interested in Russian history.
I surely did not expect such a surprise ending!

Excellent!

Well written and narrated and I couldn't stop listening. Finished late at night and I'm getting the next book in the series.

Did someone survive?

Overall I liked the storyline and in the last hours of the book there are some surprising twists! However, the build-up was a bit too slow for my taste, that’s why I gave three stars for the story.
If you like historical fiction, it’s a solid book. Enjoy!

Fascinating

I was sucked into the story and loved it. The narration was well done and kept me engaged.