The Romanov Conspiracy: Historical Thriller Novel - Perfect for Mystery Lovers & Book Club Discussions

"The Romanov Conspiracy" by Glenn Meade is a curious blend of history and fictionalized back story surrounding an attempt by an alliance of ex-patriate Russians, Irish Republicans, Brits and even an American to rescue the Romanov royal family just prior to their assassinations by the new Communist leadership during July 1918 (this combination of characters is unexpected since "The Rising" by the Irish against the Brits had just ended tragically two years earlier). While the initial action shifts among Ireland, St. Petersburg and other Northern Europe locations, the main locus is at Ekaterinburg on the edge of the Ural Mountains, the demarcation between Europe and Asia and where the Romanov's ended their lives.In his preface, the author notes that "which part is truth and which small part is fiction" is up to the reader to decide. My take is that the history is interesting but the imagined relationships between the principle characters and stream of events get in the way of a more compelling story. Initially, there are multiple stories, each relevant to the various characters, eventually unified and leading to the significant event of the murders in the Ipatiev House cellar.There is also the overlaid lens of the story being retold by one person, a Russian emigre, Michael Yakov, living in Collon, Ireland to a researcher, Dr. Laura Pavlov, who has just been part of team uncovering mass graves near Ekaterinburg. While this technique may aid blending the fiction and factual elements and has a plot element of its own, the element seems distracting and works hard for justification. It also appears to be the author's love of Ireland, especially the Mourne Mountains.Some of the characters bear more than a passing resemblance to some of the principals in Boris Pasternak's "Dr. Zhivago": Uri Andrev, a major character, and his divided allegiance to his ex-wife, Nina, and romance with Lydia Ryan, his rescue team partner, are very much like Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif in the movie version), Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin) and Lara (Julie Christie). The determined opponent of Uri, Leonid Yakov, chasing across Siberia on an armored train is not unlike Tom Courtenay's Strelnikov.The Romanov family focus is primarily on Anastasia, for whom the question of her survival will remain unanswered. The details of the assassination event make it pretty clear that if she did survive, she would likely have been significantly damaged. However, it does bring into play the question of Anna Anderson, the claimant to being Anastasia, upon whom the movie with Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brynner was based. As a footnote to that episode, it does appear that DNA testing of Anderson's remains during the early 1990's established that she was not related to the Romanov family.This is the first book by Glenn Meade that I've read. While critical of its storyline approach, I appreciate the effort he has put into the historical research. I plan to try another one of his novels, of which there are several, to see if he does better with working through the characters and plot elements.