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.
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I was really surprised at how taken in I was by this book from the very first few pages. The story begins in Leningrad where Konstantine Karpenko is murdered by the KBG. His wife Elena and son Alexander want to flee the country. Elena’s brother works on the docks and has arranged for them to stowaway on one of the cargo ships. There are two, one going to America and the other to England. Elena’s brother flips a coin and they begin their journey. The story parallels what would have happened if they had they gone to America versus had they gone to England and spans 30 years. There are lots of twists and turns in this riveting book and it was hard to put down. I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this fascinating book that I won in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast paced, very interesting book.
This is my MUST READ for the year!!!
Being about the same age as the male character, I remember living through that era. And, me, a Cuban refugee in New York, growing up in the big city during a time that was so less troubling than in the present. It may be fiction, but this book packs a lot of history in a very delightful way. Enjoy!
“Heads You Win” by Jeffrey Archer is a story of a mother and son who escape oppression and political conflict in Russia and struggle for success in a new land. It is a universal story with an unexpected twist.
Alexander Karpenko and his mother Elena are escaping Russia by stowing away on one of two ships leaving a Russian port. Where will they end up? They flip a coin, heads; you win and go to… Herein is the twist, what if?
Where did Elena and Alexander (Alex/Sasha) end up? How would life in New York be different from the life in Southampton? Readers follow the mother and son over the years in two parallel scenarios. Alternating chapters (conveniently labeled with location, date, and name) tell the story of Elena and Alex in America, and Elena and Sasha in England. They struggle; they have successes, and they suffer setbacks.
Each storyline is a compelling and wonderful scenario on its own. Readers get vivid picture of the people, the events, the politics, and the balancing act that goes on continually in the life of an immigrant family in both locations. The characters are well developed and multifaceted; readers quickly appreciate the complex circumstances that are certainly different, and yet similar in so many ways.
The characters ask themselves is, “Would things have been different if we had gotten on the other ship?” Readers know, but still an unstated problem hangs over every page, which situation is the accurate representation? The more curious question is will the two storylines intersect? Important details remain for readers to discover, but questions are answered as the story comes to an unexpected but satisfying.
I received a copy of “Heads You Win” from Jeffrey Archer, St Martin’s Press, The Pidgeonhole Book Club, and NetGalley. It is different approach to character’s journey, and I was captivated by both stories. The ending was stunning, explosive, and thought provoking. It is an interesting journey for readers, and I absolutely recommend reading it.
I was excited to receive an ARC from St. Martin’s Press. I loved the Clifton Chronicles. The first 200 pages really worked for me. I liked the dual story of Sasha and Alexander. Then the two stories started to drag. I liked the idea of the ending but I did not think it was executed very well.
Just finished Jeffrey Archer’s latest novel Heads You Win. Clever theme: Does our destiny change if we choose a different path? Archer weaves a tale of a Russian boy escaping KGB tyranny in 1968 on two different paths: one landing in London, the other in New York. Readers experience the character’s development via oscillating chapters while maintaining core personality traits, all in historically and politically accurate settings, over a 30 year period. It’s no wonder Archer states it was one of his most challenging novels to write. The relevant ending truly impacts readers, with many exclaiming, “Wow!”
Read anything he writes
Listened to the audio book. Maybe it would have been easier to understand what was going on in the hard copy? About 20% of the way in, I had to look up what the book was about to understand he was taking the character down the either or road. As typical for Archer books, a well written and interesting story. Sometimes a little confusing to keep the characters straight. Also – if it is an either/or scenario, towards the end comments are made about people thinking they know who he is – alluding to the fact they must think he is the other one. If it was truly an either/or, the other one would not have existed. Just a minor annoyance.
OMG, one of my favorites!! I was literally screaming out loud at the end of this book and immediately texted my son with a recommendation to read it. Jeffrey Archer’s characters are always well done and his stories are unpredictable yet well drawn. But this one??? Yikes. Great book!!
I’m a Jeffery Archer fan, and this was a great suspenseful book. Great read!
Jeffrey Archer is a master storyteller, who has essentially written two novels about one man. Archer seamlessly weaves two stories together to answer that eternal question: “What if.” I couldn’t put “Heads You Win” down.
Loved the ‘Sliding Doors’ type concept that asks the impact of the choices you make. Following a Russian immigrant, escaping the KGB to both London and the States, it contains all the things Archer fans would have come to expect – politics, intrigue, business and art. Entertaining, easy-to-read and intriguing.
There are a few pivotal moments in everyone’s life. Moments where a decision must be made, and the results of that decision will be the springboard towards the good and the bad in the rest of your life. Soviet citizen Alexander Karpenko and his mother are at such a point. It appears that his “friend” Vladmir has betrayed Karpenko’s father and his unionization plans, so the KGB has eliminated the man in a port “accident”. Mother and son MUST flee the Soviet Union, and in the port of Leningrad, they allow a coin flip to determine if they will board a ship bound for London, or one for America. Which way does the coin land?
In “Heads, You Win”, author Jeffrey Archer gives the reader a look at life for Karpenko when “Heads” sends him to New York AND when “Tails” sends him to London. In both lives, we see that Karpenko’s brains, personality, and ambition help him rise in life, albeit through different paths. We see that the lives have many parallels and many differences, but that the driving force towards success is a constant.
The book has a small weakness – Mr. Archer attempts to have the two lives touch, albeit tangentially. However, since the “two men”, now called Alex in America and Sasha in England, are actually the same person in two different “timelines” (as this isn’t a science fiction story, I hesitate to use such a term), the hint that people from Alex’s life might encounter Sasha and potentially confuse the two men – and vice verse – puts a strain on the story that the author is trying to tell, at least for this reviewer.
Then, the last paragraph – indeed, the last sentence – caused me to mutter “Holy !” aloud. I will always award bonus points to an author that can take my breath away at the end of his or her story with an event, scene, development, or revelation.
RATING: Four and 1/2 Stars, rounded up to Five Stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
Good but not Archer’s best.
Still entertaining reading though
I love Jeffrey Archer books — and have devoured each one. However, the ending to this one left me a bit confused.
The story is about Alexander and his mother, Elena, who flee Communist Russia. They flip a coin to determine if they should get on a cargo ship to England or to the US. The story is then told in 2 alternating versions – one if they went to the UK and one if they went to the US.
The story then follows Alexander and Elena’s lives over the next 30+ years. Very entertaining.
My criticisms are that the book got a little long in the last 1/3 of the book going through a lot of government posturing and banking regulations. Some of it reminded me of the Clifton Chronicles, and even had some reference to the Barrington line. I also was confused about the mix-up and recognition of some of the characters late in the book.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the book, and Jeffrey Archer remains one of my very favorite authors.
#HeadsYouWin #JeffreyArcher
Really enjoyed. Kept me engaged
Jeffery Archer is one of my top picks for authors. This book however, just did not have an ending.
Heads you Win by Jeffrey Archer is the first book I have read by this author. I must say when I started reading this book I was very confused but I stuck with it and then I could not put it down. The ending was confusing and I think I missed something leading up to it. As far as the writing the characters are well written and believable. I enjoyed reading this book once I got past the confusing parts.
Even though it was confusing , I really enjoyed this book
Not in the league of the Clifton Chronicles or even Kane and Abel, but a compulsive read for fans nevertheless.