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Murder in the Gulag
- The Life and Death of Alexei Navalny
- Narrated by: John Sweeney
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
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Murder in the Gulag
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Summary
The gripping sequel to the bestselling Killer in the Kremlin
2:19pm, Moscow time, 16 February 2024. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District announces that Alexei Navalny is dead. The news sends shockwaves around the world.
In Murder in the Gulag, award-winning journalist John Sweeney goes behind the headlines to reveal what really happened to the Russian opposition leader in the freezing Polar Wolf penal colony in a remote part of Siberia. The book is less a whodunnit - Russian President Vladimir Putin's machinery of repression killed Navalny - than a howdunnit.
The narrative relates Navalny's extraordinary life story in technicolour detail, from his childhood summers spent with his grandparents in the shadow of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine to his untimely death at the age of 47, cut down in his prime.
This is a warts-and-all portrayal of a highly charismatic but controversial figure who flirted with far-right Russian nationalists before course-correcting, told by an intrepid journalist, based in London and Kyiv, who knew Navalny personally.
Murder in the Gulag contains a warning. Navalny made a fatal misjudgement in returning to Russia after his poisoning by Novichok in 2020, betting that Vladimir Putin wouldn't kill him. But as Putin has gained in strength, with the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and the fortunes of war slowly turning in Russia's favour, Navalny lost that bet. Sweeney argues that if the West fails to stand up more forcefully to Putin, we are in danger not just of betraying Ukraine but our own security too.
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What listeners say about Murder in the Gulag
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- anna blacker
- 30-10-24
Informative and beautifully narrated.
I listened straight through as it had me hooked. A sad story but wonderfully narrated with a thorough, detailed history that is difficult to put down once started. Would definitely recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Agvas
- 20-09-24
Couldn’t put this down
Stunning work from John Sweeney, as always. I adore that I get to not only read his writing, but listen to the words via John’s own narration.
The topic matter is as ever well researched, facts presented in an engaging via John’s well articulated performance.
Amazing book, a must read for anyone interested in the dark world and times we live in.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous
- 06-09-24
The pain and honesty
A powerful account which covers not only Navalny’s life but the interactions with a variety of wonderful and terrible and terrifying others.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Stef
- 19-10-24
Eye opening
I couldn’t stop reading sorry, listening to another amazing well written account of Russia it’s politics it’s people and the lengths it takes … brilliant John Sweeney
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- (elizabeth)ann donnelly
- 30-10-24
Insightful and interesting
I first read Patriot and followed it with this book. I recommend it highly as an informative companion volume. It is written with knowledge of Russia and Navalny I am going to find it hard to follow these books as they are both thought provoking
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 11-08-24
Another brilliantly written piece by John Sweeney
I am always excited when I hear John releases a new book, yet again I wasn't disappointed. Taking a look behind the curtain keeps you on your toes and shocks you around every corner. 5 stars
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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- Fred
- 17-08-24
So disappointing
Navalny was someone I was keen to read about but this book provided me with little insight. I found the writing style immature and the narration exaggerated in tone which was off-putting. I gave up at the four hour mark after soldiering on as long as I could.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- keepingitreal
- 03-10-24
An engaging take - let down by poor production.
This needed more attention to detail in production - which is a real shame as John Sweeney’s book and read are great overall.
The pronunciation of Russian names throughout is completely inconsistent and at times, just plain misread (persistent offenders are Lyuba/Yevgeny). All names ought to have been checked before recording - Russian names are notoriously difficult to an English reader. It makes it hard to follow for a listener who doesn’t know the names as written.
In addition, some odd editing choices in pacing (very quick jumps between paragraphs that needed a beat) towards the end of the book.
Such a shame, as a lot of research and care has gone into the book but it’s been let down a bit in audio for want of a small amount of extra effort and attention.
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