There was intrigue, there was action. I enjoyed parts of it. But overall, the book felt too long. Maybe it is because it was a little different from my usual genre. And there was not a lot of mystery going on. But I did end up rooting for Dr. Alex Cousins as well as as Anna Petrovna. The references to the Siberian landscape did have the desired effect of conveying the vastness and the insignificance of the presence of this bunch of people traversing it, some of who have intentions/motivations that would impact the future of countries and humanity as a whole. ( )

Trans-Siberian Express by Warren Adler is a cold war story set on the Siberian Express. The story does not have much action in the story line early in the book. It is more a thinking man's cold war story with a limited number of characters.

The main character is Alex Cousins, a US government trained doctor who is fluent in Russian and an expert in leukemia treatments. His family had fled Russia after the revolution. Part of his family had been political prisoners in Siberia and worked on the construction of the tracks used by the Siberian Express.

The reason he is in Russia, is to assist with the treatment of the Chairman of the Russian Republic. This is being done in secret. The doctor had been sent by the US President to assist with the treatment based on confidential requests from the Russian government. The purpose of the treatment is to keep the Chairman alive until after an upcoming vote within the Russian ministers. The US believes the Chairman's vote and influence will lead to the results in avoiding war.

Alex Cousins is being sent back on the Siberian Express at the direction of the Chairman, supposedly to allow the doctor to visit Siberia where his grandparents had lived. This is a subterfuge to keep him incommunicado during the trip back during this crucial vote.

The cast of characters is difficult to figure out early in the story and how they impact the ending. ( )

I can never say no when I am offered the opportunity to read a story written by Mr. Adler I simply loved the more than 15 books I have read so far having said this I wish to thank the wonderful people at Stonehouse Press as well as Netgalley for providing us with a chance to enjoy some of his creation in exchange for an honest review. Mr. Adler, an author, playwright and poet passed away in 2019.

Set during the height of the cold war Trans-Siberian Express is a tale of love and intrigue set on the Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway.

An American cancer specialist is sent by the president of the United States to Russia to prolong the life of the Secretary General of the Politburo and while there he accidentally discovers a plan to launch a nuclear strike against China and finds himself dispatched aboard the legendary Trans-Siberian Express. As the train lumbers east across snow-cloaked mountains, glimmering past the forest glow, Anna Petrovna Valentinova, Alex’s alluring traveling companion enchants him with love of her homeland, passionate romance and all this under the watchful eyes of the KGB.

Although this is a work of fiction, this story immerses us in the unique and exotic culture of Russia. The plot involves espionage, love and intrigue not forgetting terms such as Gulag, politburo, Taganka and some hard to pronounce even to remember Russian names. In order not to distract us too much from the plot and yet give us most importantly the cultural landscape and the exotic locations such as Lake Baikal and other curiosities one would encounter on the 7000 mile journey, the glossary is limited to just a few.

Like an old fashion train, the story chugs along and stay that way from start to finish. It is said that this latest edition has been enhanced but stayed true to the period; I would believe it to be. Mr. Adler style is skillful and he seemed to have known Russia well. Those who have read him in the past know that he is strong in character development and does not shy from incorporating numerous sex scenes between his main players. The buildout is in flashbacks revealing the psyche and motivations of those travelers in the same car as the protagonist and believe me we do have a large cast to get acquainted with. The train itself is by far the best character....after all passing long hours travelling in the Siberian wilderness is a total different world we find ourselves in.

I am happy to add this book to my library. ( )

Trans-Siberian Express is something of a cross between a Tom Clancy thriller and a Dostoyevsky novel. A bit of a slow start, but once moving, much as the train itself, it fairly roars to a finish. It was hard to put down; it was that good a story that kept me engaged. It has elements of a historical novel, spy thriller, love story, and social commentary all rolled into one. The pace is good, the vignettes compelling. I believe a new print edition is being released in May 2021. I’m glad I read it!

The only- and most appropriate way— to describe this book is: a cross between Murder on the Orient Express and a Tom Clancy Cold War thriller. Dr. Alex Cousins, an American doctor, is sent to the Soviet Union as their president has leukemia. Dr. Cousins has some Russian ancestors so he was the perfect fit. He treats the Soviet president, then goes for a ride on the train across Russia. On board, there is a KGB agent assigned to protect the doctor, and another one who wants him dead to usurp power. ( )