The Russian Doll

  • Crime; Thriller

  • November 2021

    • World Rights: Hodder & Stoughton

    • Czech Republic: Jota

Packed with twists, intrigue, betrayal, romance and suspense, The Russian Doll constantly wrong-foots the reader and delivers a perfect narrative, right to the last page.

How much did she just say the salary was?

When Ruth Miller returns a dropped scarf to Elena Shilkov, she is whisked from a dreary shared house to a world of unimagined luxury.

The super-rich Russian wants a new personal assistant and won't take no for an answer.

Ruth gets accommodation, a credit card, and a complete wardrobe makeover.

And she's good at the job; distributing gifts, attending galas, dealing with the high-society movers and shakers fighting for Elena's attention.

Then the sinister truth begins to reveal itself, that nothing is quite what it seems in Elena's dangerous, deceptive world.

Ruth should get away.

But it's already too late.

Selected Praise

The Russian Doll is a sharply observed take on the Faustian pact - and contemporary London.
— Financial Times
A polished and brilliantly entertaining thriller.
— ​Best Magazine
I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day ... Superb!
— Mara Timon

Other books by Marina Palmer

As Imogen Robertson (co-written)

As Imogen Kealey (co-written)