Symphony of Monsters - by Marc Levy (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, this is an unforgettable story of courage, resilience, and love by internationally bestselling author Marc Levy.

2023, Eastern Ukraine. Veronika, a nurse, comes home to discover that her nine-year-old son, Valentyn, has disappeared. She is distraught--as is her daughter, Lilya--they have no idea where Valentyn has been taken or why.

They each embark on a quest to find him--Lilya with the bold recklessness of an adolescent, Veronika with the fearless determination of a mother. But the enemy have eyes and ears everywhere and no one can be trusted. Almost no one.

Hundreds of miles away, behind the scenes, a brilliant and stubborn outlaw is working to help them find Valentyn. Together they will have to confront this Symphony of Monsters, a real-life project that is more terrifying than fiction.

By turns moving and gripping, from the very first page to the last, the reader is rooting for these everyday heroes caught in a plot that is bigger and more sinister than any of them can imagine.

This novel is inspired by true events. The conservative estimate of the number of Ukrainian children kidnapped since Putin's large scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is currently 20,000. The author was inspired to write about these events to raise awareness while something can still be done: "I never knew my paternal grandparents because they died at Auschwitz. Growing up, when I asked my teachers why nothing had been done to stop the camps, invariably the answer was we didn't know. When I learned about the large scale, systematic deportation of Ukrainian children I decided to write a novel about it. That way, those who will read it will not be able to say we didn't know."

Review Quotes

"A haunting and deeply moving thriller. Constructed like crime fiction, this story is one to be read in one sitting." -- Sandrine Bajos, Le Parisien

"Marc Levy is back, with a masterful novel that is remarkably timely." -- Victoria Lasserre, Cosmopolitan (France)

"Marc Levy's novel is grippingly current, he skillfully creates endearing characters and suspense. An excellent read." -- Ariane Bois, Psychologies

"Marc Levy has crafted a storyline that is just right." -- Ariane Chemin, Le Monde

"An intense, emotionally rich novel." -- Cécile Pivot, Femme Actuelle

"A novel that straddles feelings of hope and feelings of outrage towards the deportation of Ukrainian children. This thriller immerses us in the shocking reality of current affairs." -- RTBF.be

"It would be impossible not to be moved by this courageous mother, Marc Levy's incredible heroine. A novel that is constructed like a first class thriller." -- Bernard Lehut, RTL

"A story to be read in one sitting. The characters are very moving." -- Le Journal de Quebec

"Marc Levy crafts a terrifying story whose darkness it as times brightened by an unexpected light. The ending is as diabolic as it is shocking." -- Nathalie Dupuis, Elle (France)

"You must read The Symphony of Monsters. It is a novel that perfectly illustrates the power of fiction. This novel can have a heaviness to it--because it is empathetic and effective." -- Jean-Claude Vantroyen, Le Soir (Belgium)