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I loved the author’s use of English. It made it so easy to read and the short chapters made it almost compulsive to keep on turning the pages. The author obviously knows the country and has a good knowledge of business as well as an active imagination. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend it to everyone.
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Plenty of intrigue and local colour.
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Within the backdrop of the vibrant capital city of Kyiv (Kiev), a young Scottish businessman Alex feels his uncertain way. At first it is with the rather forward beauties that he meets in bars, restaurants and parties. Slowly you begin to realise that he must be quite good looking because the girls can't wait to get him into bed but then rather to his surprise often demand money for their evening services. But soon he is seduced by the beautiful Irina, who is very good news but unfortunately the daughter of Koralin the owner of a rival company to Alex's own foods business. But this rivalry is soon forgotten when war is declared on the Koralin family by the terrible Ormulov's -the shady mafia of Kiev. The drama and deaths escalate at a pace that makes Midsomer Murders look tame stuff. Will Alex our hero make it through?........ You must read it
It is a novel that is not only great fun but one that is deeply felt. The hero like the author is a businessman. It is unusual for novelists to be able to portray the business world with such insight. You learn the crucial importance of the businessman being trusted and respected not only by their employees but also their rivals. Perhaps this moral code counts for even more in a country such as Ukraine where corruption is endemic.
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Well this was a rollicking read, and clearly Tim has thoroughly enjoyed writing this book, and it shows - the story moves along at great pace in with an array of characters and plotlines. Good to see a novel weaving business in to the story so seamlessly as well.
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A fine debut by this Scottish author. Tightly plotted, with goodies, baddies and I-wonder-whiches reflecting the complexities of real life in Ukraine; and twists of the plot both predictable and wholly not. Meticulously researched with interesting insights into the sad political divisions and colourful folkways of a country which will be new to many readers.
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I am just finishing reading ‘The First Shadows of Morning’ by Timothy Nobel.
I thought this book was absolutely amazing. From the plot to the characters, I read through the book so smoothly.
I liked how at the beginning of this book a lot of questions were thought of by the main character. Questions that I hoped were answered throughout. Did Timothy Nobel succeed? Absolutely. Some if not all the questions were answered and I love how the author gave us an idea of what was to come.
Having the book start with ‘the explosion’ and then going onto ‘before the explosion’ is also very good because it leads people to be more interested in how it happened and what is coming to happen next.
I think this book is an easy read, but still for developed readers. What I mean by easy read is that you don’t have to read over a certain part more than once to understand what is going on. I like this because it keeps you moving forward with the book.
I definitely think that this book is a must read and I think the author should be very proud of his work. I will most likely read this book again in the coming future and I will make sure to tell my family and friends.
Good job and I wish Timothy Noble the very best of luck with this amazing book.
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A great paced story full of corruption and intrigue based set around the Ukraine.
The short chapters keep you interested and pushes everything on. It didn't take long to finish at all.
The author has done a great job in fleshing out characters especially Alex.
The authors knowledge of Ukraine and business helps the story out as well so nothing seems misplaced and too over the top.
Would highly recommend.
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This is a story of Intrigue, corruption within business world of Ukraine. It’s a fast- paced story of a young man given a leadership role who earns his stripes growing a company while navigating the network of competing protection gangsters, never sacrificing his values, nor abandoning his employees. But it is more than this- it is the story of the choices made, the price paid by so many caught in between. It is ultimately a story of survival and hope for a different, better future.
The brief history of Ukraine in the Appendix is very informative and adds even further context to the story. I would encourage all readers not to bypass reading it.
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I particularly liked the title. A fast paced read. Alex, the main protagonist, had to build relationships quickly and hit the floor running in a foreign country. The detailed portrayal of the characters pulled the reader through the pages at pace, forcing them with an intense curiosity to finish the book.
The reader feels as though they are travelling through the Ukraine landscape on a guided tour gaining a real flavour of the surrounding architecture with such a clear narrative voice. Alex learnt quickly the importance of learning a language before accepting a job offer.
I was surprised to learn about the swiftness of the women who seemed to throw themselves at western men. One thing Alex was sure about from the offset was Irina, the Milan fashion designer. Although falling under her spell meant a different outcome in terms of starting a family. I felt that many women could empathise with Irina’s mother when her daughter jokingly mentioned that she might like to have a couple of babies without a husband! A bright individual in reality, Irina was looking for a man who ticked all the boxes. Someone who was handsome, intelligent, etc but would be supportive of her own business ambitions. Was her father just being over-protective, as the reader soon discovers quite rightly so. More importantly, was Alex ready to settle down, and join the marriage and parenthood club?
The novel explored the intricacies of working in the Baltics within the boundaries of the vast political and cultural differences, e.g. corruption. Would Alex trust Irina’s parents Viktor and Yelena? Or Dimitry and the hapless Boris Ormulov who were running their own undercover scheme to extract precisely what they wanted from their victims.
The incident with the stab through the hand might have resulted in a little more than a flesh wound for Alex?
When reading a novel I like to be gently educated as the plot unfolds. This one certainly obliged. Whether through examination of the local customs, the local food, or the sights and scenery in the town squares. When the factory is deliberately sabotaged, Alex is faced with yet another dilemma, but abandoning the factory and all its employees was not being supportive in his view. What would it cost for the new father-in -law to come to the rescue when the chips were down? I highly recommend this book.
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"The protagonist, Alex Graham, a British businessman who was sent by his company from London to Kyiv, Ukraine to formulate a strategy and make a feasibility report for the next venture, there. While on the visit to Kyiv he countered with people belonged to different background and learned more than enough to how to make his business more sustainable and progressive. Later, he falls in love with a Ukrainian girl, Irina Koraline, an intelligent entrepreneur and fashion designer who belonged to a well-off background but made a benchmark of her expertise in fashion world on her own. Fate brought them together but having a cruel future as well.
There are some other characters having a detail stage appearance because they equally participate in the development of the story, and once the story will start, reader will not be able to put it done.
The book is divided in three parts and starts with 'explosion' chapter which made readers more curious to know what and how this explosion happened.
It's a work of fiction but the author has impeccably written about Ukrainian people and culture that it gives a feel of real experience. Stating about culture, political influences, war situation between Russia and Ukraine, and gangs and games. I truly appreciate how much research the author has done to pen done this amazing story, which also educates about the history of Ukraine and Russia, as well as an acute observational one for the business readers."
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A fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable read! Filled with intrigue and wonder, the characters are well fleshed out and written in such a way as to draw the readers in! I read this very quickly and would recommend it!
