This is the sixth book I've read about Nicholas II and/or the Russian Revolution. Compared to the others, this book is more gossipy and more conspiracy-oriented.
Radzinsky likes to relay events and link them to the deaths of the Romanovs--for example, several people were crushed in an outdoor celebration of Nicholas' coronation where sweets and gifts were given to the common people. "At dawn the broken corpses were carted out." The author follows with, "Twenty-two years later, also at dawn, also in carts, the corpses of Nicholas and his family would also be carried away."
Radzinsky obtained access to several previously unavailable sources, including the note from Yakov Yurovsky who led the execution of the family. He also conducted several interviews with people who finally felt safe enough to share their stories.
A nitpick: the language is sometimes a bit awkward. Several times I had to stop and re-read a paragraph or two. I'm not sure if this is the author's syntax or the translator's. It does not detract from the power of the narrative.
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