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“Putin’s Labyrinth: Spies, Murder, and the Dark Heart of the New Russia”, written by Steve LeVine, was released in South Africa in April 2009.

What is it all about?

On the back of escalating oil wealth and a markedly higher standard of living, there can be no doubt that Russia is aspiring to once again become a world superpower. But has the country managed to relinquish its legacy of bloodshed and the elimination of opposition?

In “Putin’s Labyrinth”, author Steve LeVine recounts six bloodcurdling events that took place under Vladimir Putin’s two terms as Russian president. From the murder of “Forbes Russia” editor Paul Klebnikov to the nuclear poisoning of KGB-spy-turned-defector Alexander Litvinenko, LeVine describes Putin’s legacy as one marked by targeted assassinations and official indifference to the slaughter of hostages.
While LeVine believes that Putin is responsible only through the “complicity of his inaction”, his repressive rule – which LeVine believes he maintains today as prime minister – has done nothing for a passive public that seems to tolerate injustice and lacks the “inclination to care”.

Who is the author?

Steve LeVine is the chief foreign affairs writer for “BusinessWeek”. He was a foreign correspondent for 18 years, reporting for publications such as “The Wall Street Journal”, “The New York Times”, “Newsweek” and “Financial Times” from the Soviet Union, Pakistan and the Philippines.

His previous book, “The Oil and the Glory: The Pursuit of Empire and Fortune on the Caspian Sea”, is a history of the Soviet Union through the lens of oil.

What do others say?

Steve LeVine holds the (apparently) envious position as a "living critic" of Russia, and his future looks brighter still as a result of positive feedback from critics and reviewers. The eyewitness accounts and interviews with living relatives in “Putin’s Labyrinth” shed new light on widely reported events, and the book is heralded as a riveting albeit chilling read.
However, criticism has been levelled against the glaring omission of some events, such as the murder of Andrei Kozlov and the Beslan school siege.
Furthermore, LeVine has been criticised for being too present a character in his book, and also for drawing overarching conclusions about the character of the Russian people without tightly linking the stories in his book to this purpose.

“Booklist”: "With fresh insights into the Chechen wars and Putin’s postpresidency plans, LeVine’s important take on the all-too-real machinations and bloodthirstiness from which espionage thrillers are made, is both unnerving and intriguing."
“Publishers Weekly”: "Unfortunately, LeVine tends to insert himself into his accounts often and inappropriately… and his prose is marred by cliché, bad humor and stabs of sentimentality. Though an impressive reporter, LeVine is a frustrating writer, too often putting himself in the way of a good story."
“New York Post”: "LeVine’s belief that the Russian psyche is permanently consigned by history toward dictatorship, strong-armed rule and state-sanctioned violence makes for some exciting reading, but is ultimately unconvincing. The people of the Russian Federation have choices, and we do them and ourselves a great disservice to cast them simply as passive victims."

How do I get hold of it?

“Putin’s Labyrinth” is published by Random House. It is available at Exclusive Books at a recommended retail price of R160.00.

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