Leo Demidov

Leo Demidov is the main character and principle protagonist in the novel “The Secret Speech” by Tom Rob Smith. In his late-thirties, Leo is married to Raisa, and is the adoptive father to Zoya and Elena, the orphaned daughters of a man one of Leo’s subordinates murdered in “Child 44”. Leo, a former member of the MGB, and ashamed of his past, has been living his life the past few years in search of redemption by heading up a homicide department to solve real crimes, and to making sure Zoya and Elena have as much of a family life as possible, as well as any opportunity possible as well. Leo’s goals in life are thus twofold: to provide for Zoya and Elena, and to put truly-guilty criminals away. Zoya, however, will not let Leo forget the past, and takes every opportunity to emotionally wound and insult...