Child 44 Resources

He's the man, the myth, the legend—the one and only Tom Rob Smith.

This site will give you an in-depth history on the oppressive Soviet prison system that haunts the pages of Child 44.

Child 44 reads like blockbuster thriller, so it makes sense that the book has been adapted into a blockbuster thriller, starring heavyweights like Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy.

Since your curiosity is surely piqued, why not take a gander at the trailer for the film adaptation?

This chat with author Tom Rob Smith describes the real-life inspiration behind his decidedly unreal novel.

In this interview, Smith discusses his storytelling style and the huge role his mother played in its development.

This psychology article from Popular Science might give you insight into Andrei's twisted mindset—if you can handle it, that is.

In this brief interview, Tom Rob Smith describes the unique evolution of Child 44. Spoiler: it involves a Cambodian soap opera.

This interesting—and, okay, sort of cheesy—video provides insight into the real life stories that went into the making of Child 44.

This heart-pounding program documents the real story of serial killer Andrei Chikatilo—the inspiration behind Child 44's Andrei.

This chat with NPR focuses on Smith's portrayal of Moscow and the way that the city has changed in recent years.

This episode from the International Spy Museum's podcast investigates the techniques and strategies utilized by Soviet spy agencies.

This is the home of the MGB—the setting for some of Child 44's most harrowing scenes.

Want to see the face of a fearsome agent of the MGB? Click at your own peril.