Tom Rob Smith’s trilogy of thriller/mystery novels is about a Soviet era investigation into child murders that seem to be connected to someone politically connected, or high up in the Communist Party.

So “Child 44” bears a resemblance to both the novel and film “Gorky Park” and the old Peter O’Toole/Omar Sharif vehicle “The Night of the Generals,” about a Nazi investigation into the murder of a Warsaw prostitute that points to three German generals. That doomed, corrupt and ruthless regime mixed up in murder plotline.

Variety says that Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman has just been added to class up the “Child 44” cast. As a suspect? Safe bet.