Not realizing that this was a series until after I had started - I almost stopped. So glad that I didn't. There is no need to have read the first book. The Secret Speech is a fast paced race from the first to the last page. Hard to say too much without giving anything away. Leo is an ex-Secret Police officer in soviet Russia, trying to make a living for himself and his family after the death of Stalin. When the new regime issues a blanket denunciation of everything he did things start to get a little bad, quickly followed up with much worse. His past comes back to haunt him and he learns more about himself than he ever could have imagined as he races to keep his family safe and together.

A fantastic and exciting read. I'll be adding the first book to my wishlist.