Right from that chilling opening, Sepetys has you in the palm of her hand. The story itself is genuinely haunting and will stay in my mind. That complete dedication to truth in the face of horror is a running theme in her books and reminds us of our duty to preserve history, even the parts that may be obscured and hidden by external forces. She brings the history to life and then passes it over to the reader for them to continue.

Also, at the back of the book and through her author’s notes, Sepetys ensures that the spark lit by this book can be fed through further reading and research. This is an incredibly detailed fleshing out of this part of history. I appreciate just how extensively Sepetys researches her work and this definitely shines through in the finished product. Her previous works have had this spirit and ultimate message to them, acting as jumping off points to continue your own research and being brilliant books at the same time. After researching Nicolae Ceaușescu and his dictatorship, I now appreciate this book even more and Sepetys’ dedication to ensuring these aspects of history are not forgotten or erased. I must admit to knowing very little about this period of history, but Sepetys ensures you are well-versed with enough facts for the story. Sepetys sheds light on another little-known part of history: the brutal regime of Romania in 1989. I Must Betray You is such a claustrophobic read, making you constantly on edge and checking over your shoulder.

Yet again, Ruta Sepetys has blown my mind.

I must betray you ruta sepetys