The Partisan by Patrick Worrall is a gripping Cold War thriller that follows two young chess prodigies entangled in a deadly game of espionage, secrets, love, and betrayal across the East and West. In the summer of 1961, the conflict between the East and West became more dangerous. Both sides fought to gain the upper hand. Yulia and Michael are two young chess prodigies from opposite ends of the world who meet at a chess tournament in London. The pair feel drawn to each other, but little do they realize that they are pawns in a perilous game.
Shadowing them is Greta, a Lithuanian resistance fighter relentlessly hunting down dangerous men across the globe. Vassily is Yulia’s bodyguard and protector during her competitions. He is also a spymaster for the USSR, known for his cunning and significant influence. He appears to be two steps ahead of everyone until Yulia meets and falls for Michael.
I thought the novel was an okay read. There were many elements at play, making it at times difficult to keep track of everything. The narrative shifted back and forth between time and characters. I expected the main focus to be on Yulia and Michael, yet they seemed secondary at times. The book felt long-winded and overly drawn out on occasion (i.e., Yulia’s and Michael’s dull conversations). At other times, the story hinted at a deeper plot, but we received no further details or context, or it was delivered in a convoluted way. I enjoyed Greta’s storyline the most and wished the novel had primarily focused on her. I found it hard to get into the story otherwise. I would be open to reading more books by the author, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek them out.
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