Heads You Win is international #1 bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s most ambitious and creative work since Kane and Abel, with a final twist that will shock even his most ardent of fans. 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 … 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.
more
Another multi decade saga by Mr. Archer
One of my favorite authors! Amazing characters….always a great story. I think I have read every book he wrote.
This is what it’s all about…story. A magnificent achievement in storytelling and writing.
Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully executed, “Heads You Win” is an epic tale of destiny and success spanning 30 years. It’s about the path we chose.
A novel of literary fiction that reads as a thriller. There’s shocks, surprises, love, family, betrayals, and dangers. Rich in history and peppered with historical figures, everything is real and you become absorbed in the story. The elegant writing carries you away.
Here’s the set-up:
Leningrad, 1968 – Young Alexander Karpenko’s, a gifted student and born leader, father has been killed by the KGB for trying to start a dockworkers’ union.
Now in fear, Alexander and his mother, Elena have no choice but to flee Russia.
With the help of Elena’s brother, also a dockworker, they will escape by stowing on a cargo ship.
Once they get to the pier mother and son must decide which crate to get in. One bound for New York or one bound for England.
They flip a coin…
From here the tale splits into two and tells parallel stories of what would happen in both choices.
Each follows Alexander’s journey through life and with fate and fortune until 30 years later, his meeting with destiny. And a final twist that you’ll NEVER see coming!
Ingenious and fantastic!
Exelent reading
Has the question ever entered your mind “I wonder what would have happened if I had made a different choice or decision?” I have wondered that question a time or two. This is the basis of this novel. A Russian boy, Alexander/Sasha, shows promise for a future in leadership in his country but his father is killed by the KGB for trying to establish a labor party. His uncle fears for the life of the boy and his mother so helps them escape the country. This is where the story becomes the flip side of a coin. Sasha/Alexander flip a coin to decide which crate to escape in…one is to the United States, the other to England. The story tells the tale of each choice and how the decision determines how his life unfolds. It’s a tale of each one told in parallel form. It was an interesting aspect and point of view in what opportunities and how people make an impact on the choices that were made.
The book had me turning the pages to follow each storyline and how it would lead to the destiny of the characters. I didn’t expect the ending at all….I’m not one to jump to the back of the book…so I was totally caught off guard.
This passage is the essence of the book for me…”All of us can point to a moment in our lives when something happens that causes us to go in a totally different direction.”
Most of us will never know for sure about “what if I had made a different choice” and what would have happened. This book was fascinating in taking me on the possibility of knowing what would happen in either choice.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the print copy of this book. I also thank them for the “Heads You Win” coin that I received to go along with the book. I love that marketing uniqueness of this novel.
Leningrad, Russia, 1968.
Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and from an early age, it is clear he is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, he and his mother will have to escape from Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they are confronted with an irreversible choice: should they board a container ship bound for America, or Great Britain? Alexander leaves that choice to the toss of a coin. In a single moment, a double twist decides Alexander’s future.
Another engrossing read from the author. I’ve read all of the author’s books & he’s definitely one of my must read authors. There are twists & turns along the way in this novel that spans three decades, this isn’t my favourite book & for me it stalled a little in the middle but still well worth the read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Alexander Karpenko and his mother must escape Russia and the KGB after his father is assassinated. Faced with the choice of where to go, London or New York, Alexander leaves the decision to chance with the flip of a coin. From there the story diverges to follow Alexander’s life in each location. The reader follows him through 30 years of academia, first loves, failures, and successes until he returns to his homeland to follow his destiny.
Jeffrey Archer’s HEADS YOU WIN is captivating from word one. With a surprising twist at the end, this book is perfect for all readers who have ever wondered, “What if….”.