Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer

Description from Goodreads:

"Leningrad, Russia, 1968. 

From an early age it is clear that Alexander Karpenko is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, Alexander and his mother will have to escape Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they have an irreversible choice: board a container ship bound for America or one bound for Great Britain. Alexander leaves the choice to a toss of a coin . . .

In a single moment, a double twist decides Alexander’s future. During an epic tale, spanning two continents and thirty years, we follow Alexander through triumph and defeat as he sets out on parallel lives, as Alex in New York and Sasha in London. As this unique story unfolds, both come to realize that to find their destiny they must face the past they left behind as Alexander in Russia."

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Heads you win

I haven't picked up a Jeffrey Archer book since reading Kane and Abel years ago. I absolutely loved that one, so I'm not sure why this has been sat on my virtual shelf gathering digital dust since 2018! I'm really glad I finally got around to it though.

The story starts in 1960's Russia with Alexander Karpenko. After a family tragedy, he has to make a split-second decision at the docks: board a ship to America or one to the UK. Archer does something really clever by showing us both lives playing out in alternating chapters. We follow Alex in New York and Sasha in London. It could've been confusing, but it’s handled well enough that I always knew which version of the story I was in.

It’s a proper "what if" tale. Both versions of his life are full of the political and business drama you’d expect from this author. I found myself rooting for both characters, even though they’re technically the same person. It’s a bit of a chunky read, but the pace is good and I zipped through it quickly once I got into the rhythm.

The ending is definitely going to be a talking point. I won’t give anything away, but it’s one of those that makes you want to go back and look for clues you might've missed. While some parts felt a bit far-fetched, it didn't take away from the journey. It reminded me why I liked his writing in the first place - he really knows how to tell a story that keeps you turning pages. 

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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