This is a concise piece of historical sleuthing by one of the great Sovietologists. Although published prior to the collapse of the USSR, Conquest's research and speculations have held up. My only complaint is that it can be dry at times, a bit like a police dossier, and it assumes an "intermediate" level of familiarity with the period. The author names people, organizations, etc., (often without further context) that average readers would be unaware of.That said, it is an insightful and frightening glimpse into the ruthlessness of Stalinist Russia. ( )