Book of the Week

A Very Expensive Poison by Luke Harding
Recommended by Zack Colton


Polonium. Russia. MI6. In 2006, two KGB members assassinated a Russian informant, called Alexander Litvinenko, in a hotel in Mayfair. They used a highly rare and highly reactive substance called polonium, produced almost exclusively in Russia, which causes unknown and highly shocking effects. As a true story, this book is action-packed and perfectly written, with the exact balance of history and current events to keep it enticing and shocking.

The author, Luke Harding, was a correspondent for the Guardian in Russia from 2007 until 2011, when he was expelled from the country for critical articles on the state and Vladimir Putin. He has written many books on Russia, such as Mafia State, which describes his experience in Russia and its political system.

As he travels through the events that follow the murder of Litvinenko, he looks at the initial set up and the ensuing investigation, which follows all sorts of dead ends, false leads, and a teapot. For anyone who has heard about this case and wants to know more, or is intrigued by the events, this book is a great read. Full of evidence from CCTV cameras, witness statements and photos from the scene, it is fascinating to see the process of the assassination, the ensuing chaos, and the resulting trial. This is a rare and riveting ride through the recent history of Russia and the UK, looking at their connections with each other and their fluctuating relationship.