In the exciting novel Child 44, written by Tom Rob Smith, the powerful and cold country of the USSR, under the reign of Joseph Stalin, undergoes significant changes; this new communist society enforces a strict “no crime” policy. Meanwhile, war hero and MGB member Leo Demidov is tasked by his superiors with covering up what is known to be a train accident; when in reality it was a certain murder. Conversely, when more bodies are found dead and the same footprints are left; with their mouths filled with tree bark and their stomachs expunged from their bodies, Leo can't help but believe that there is a cold-hearted murderer traveling across the Soviet Union killing innocent people. While this may be true, it goes against Stalin's ideology, leaving Leo in a terrible position, with no choice but to confront the massive and authoritarian Soviet Union. Tom Rob Smith's detailed description of the Soviet Union, the beautiful depiction of the main characters and the symbolism hidden behind each chapter, demonstrates all the fear and critical flaws that we were incorporated into society under Stalin's rule. Smith sets the story in the era of Stalin's ruthless Soviet Union, in the archaic 1950s. Where the totalitarian regime is presented as a new beginning for the entire nation, while in reality, the government and the communist party hide their true identity behind the closed doors of the Ministry of State Security; taking advantage of these services to create fear, with the aim of shaping a perfect communist society, where crime and hatred would become extinct words. There is no crime. Few people believed it absolutely. There were flaws: this... middle of paper ... Stalin's reign. Raisa's characterization, as depicted in the novel, symbolizes society's feelings towards all state agents, fear and terror. The symbolism hidden behind the footprints at crime scenes is just a glimpse of the great flaws present in communist society, which creates the perfect environment for a serial killer to walk around innocently. “We cannot make a revolution with silk gloves. » -Joseph StalinWorks quoted "hackwriters.com - Review of Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith." hackwriters.com – Review of Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. Np, and Web. May 13, 2014. “Quote from Joseph Stalin.” BrainyQuote. Xplore and Web. May 13 2014. .