Heads you win by Jeffery Archer

"Heads you win" by Jeffery Archer - Split lives!

This book is published by Pan in 2018 and has 480 pages. 

Alexander lives in Leningrad with his mother (head cook at officers mess of the dock) and father (supervisor at the dock). KGB assassinates his father. He and his mother decide to flee Russia. Alexander tosses a coin at the dock to decide if they go to America or England. This toss would decide the fate. From here author narrates two versions of the story. Sasha and his mother go to England in one version and Alex and his mother go to America in other version.

What happens to Sasha? What happens to Alex? Where do they end up? Does Alexander meet Vladimir again? Who else do they meet? Will they stay in their adopted countries or will they return to Russia? Will Sasha and Alex meet?

It's said that when history is created, more often than not, a single incident decides the turn of events. One outcome of the event will create one history and other outcome will create another history. Author uses this concept and creates two versions of the life of protagonist after the toss of coin. It's a very interesting idea and the first I have read. The stories are narrated alternatively, reader has to be attentive so as not to get confused. But it adds an X-factor to the story and makes it interesting. 

There are similarities and differences in the lives of Sasha and Alex. They are both intelligent. They are good chess players. They have female nemesis. They achieve a lot. Mothers of both run pizza parlor. Alex goes into business and Sasha into politics. 

The two stories are interesting and entertaining. Author shows their struggles and their perseverance to come up trump (no pun intended) against odds and be successful. Twice author creates a possibility of Sasha and Alex coming face-to-face in near future, but it doesn't happen. 

He uses the free market of America, British sense of equal opportunities and Russian oppression to prepare an enticing brew. The sub plots are also interesting. Alexander's friend is the key enigmatic figure in later part of story. 

Since the time the story took grip, I was wondering how it would end. The curiosity peaked when I read authors comment somewhere urging readers not to reveal the end of this story. So how does the story end? Well, that is left to the reader to decide. It's a tantalising end. This book deserves to be read for the idea and execution. 

Jeffrey Archer is a well known British author. This is his first novel for two years, and first standalone novel for ten.

Why did I read this book? Author.  

What did I like?  Idea. 

What I didn't like?  Nothing really. 

Worth a read.