Rating: 
Summary: Exciting, no holds barred!
Review: I know few Russians but this is how I imagine Russia is these days. The mood of cold, wet, miserable landscapes and people is compelling. The consequences of grief on the lives of family survivors is brilliantly shown, while the characters grapple with seemingly insurmountable problems, and still survive. Great read, but not for the depressed!
Rating:
Summary: poetic and gritty, witty and wise
Review: I read "Siberian Light" a year or two ago, and I am currently reading it again because, from time to time, I recall its poetic and gritty lines. This is an excellent read, masterfully done. White has a fine talent for charcterization. I hope that if the author hasn't written more about Siberia, he will--and soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow paced "thriller"
Review: I started Siberian Light with great anticipation, hoping for a glimpse into the world of Siberia while moving through an entertaining story. While Robin White provides a stark, apparently realistic view of a fairly dismal existence in present day Siberia, the story itself is unfortunately lacking a compelling reason to move quickly through the book. Although billed as a "thriller," this was not a "page turner" by any means. The ingredients were there: murder, corruption, political power struggles, evil business interests. Unfortunately, Siberian Light seemed too often to simply plod along. The main protagonist, Gregori Nowek, is an intriguing character, who, although admittedly having endured numerous difficulties in his life, seems to wallow in self pity so much that it slows the book down. Through Nowek, the reader is meant to come to know and understand Siberia, so perhaps the dark side of Nowek is a necessity. All-in-all, I wish that I had waited for this to come out in paperback instead of buying the hardcover when first published. If you want a look into the world of Siberia following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Siberian light will be worthwhile. If you yearn for a true "thriller," look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Slow paced "thriller"
Review: I started Siberian Light with great anticipation, hoping for a glimpse into the world of Siberia while moving through an entertaining story. While Robin White provides a stark, apparently realistic view of a fairly dismal existence in present day Siberia, the story itself is unfortunately lacking a compelling reason to move quickly through the book. Although billed as a "thriller," this was not a "page turner" by any means. The ingredients were there: murder, corruption, political power struggles, evil business interests. Unfortunately, Siberian Light seemed too often to simply plod along. The main protagonist, Gregori Nowek, is an intriguing character, who, although admittedly having endured numerous difficulties in his life, seems to wallow in self pity so much that it slows the book down. Through Nowek, the reader is meant to come to know and understand Siberia, so perhaps the dark side of Nowek is a necessity. All-in-all, I wish that I had waited for this to come out in paperback instead of buying the hardcover when first published. If you want a look into the world of Siberia following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Siberian light will be worthwhile. If you yearn for a true "thriller," look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Great but fell apart at the end
Review: I was really into this book and couldn't put it down - White is a great writer and the detail was fantastic. You really feel transported to Siberia. The suspense was building and building but then I thought it fell apart at the end. We find out what the conspiracy is but it is never really explained who was at the very base of it and what their motive was. Maybe I missed something - please email me if you disagree.
Rating:
Summary: Too much
Review: Interesting premise, but ultimately fell apart for me toward the end. Too many subplots that strained credibility. Enjoyed the descriptive narrative of life and culture in Siberia, but not at the expense of a believable storyline.Payoff wasn't there for the time investment I put into this book. The author has led an interesting life and I hope he has a book in him that's better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! That was a REAL exciting trip to the real Siberia
Review: Siberian Light is a lot of things. It's a murder mystery, a kind of Baedecker of Siberia, and even a technothriller too if you forget about Tom Clancy and think INTERNET. It proves the world is getting so small even Siberia is available at the click of a mouse. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: A thriller along the lines of Gorky Park
Review: Some writers are more skillful than others at painting pictures with words: Robin White creates a detailed potrait of quiet courage, perseverance, and stoicism within a gripping tale of murder, mayhem, greed, and corruption. There is enough action and dry (sometimes dark) humor to entertain even the most discriminating reader. Nowek is a politician turned lawman... sometimes not so carefully threading his way among plots and counterplots, capitalists and communists, the haves and the have-nots in a modern Siberian setting. Similarities between Nowek and Martin Cruz Smith's character in Gorky Park and sequels become readily apparent. Readers that need constant gratification and junk food for the mind need to stick to Harry Potter or Clive Cussler. Those who enjoy well developed characters, realistic settings, and intricate plots will read Siberian Light and any sequels with great relish.
Rating: 
Summary: A Guilty Pleasure
Review: Sometimes it is nice to read for pure entertainment and I feel that this is a good book to do that with. The premise is so far fetched that in my mind this book is like some of Robert Harris' "what if" thrillers ("Fatherland", "Archangel"). However I really liked the dialogue (which with the help of Chuchin the driver was sometimes funny and "snappy") and I liked the characters and wanted to see how their lifes were going to unfold and what the end of the book will bring for them. In fact I got so much into the book that I read all 400 odd pages in 3 days. One thing that I did feel was very genuine was the description of life in a small Siberian town. Reading about an out of the way town in a country that used to be a super power and now is almost Third World, lost in a a landscape of huge mountains and snow, struggling to stay civilized...made me think about all the things I take for granted. Is it predictable? Sort of. Is it about deep human feelings? Not really. Is it fun to read? Yes. Does it make someone living in USA feel fortunate about our high standard of living? YES!
Rating:
Summary: A Guilty Pleasure
Review: Sometimes it is nice to read for pure entertainment and I feel that this is a good book to do that with. The premise is so far fetched that in my mind this book is like some of Robert Harris' "what if" thrillers ("Fatherland", "Archangel"). However I really liked the dialogue (which with the help of Chuchin the driver was sometimes funny and "snappy") and I liked the characters and wanted to see how their lifes were going to unfold and what the end of the book will bring for them. In fact I got so much into the book that I read all 400 odd pages in 3 days. One thing that I did feel was very genuine was the description of life in a small Siberian town. Reading about an out of the way town in a country that used to be a super power and now is almost Third World, lost in a a landscape of huge mountains and snow, struggling to stay civilized...made me think about all the things I take for granted. Is it predictable? Sort of. Is it about deep human feelings? Not really. Is it fun to read? Yes. Does it make someone living in USA feel fortunate about our high standard of living? YES!
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