Stalin: A short booklist

Russia Martin Sixsmith

A one volume history of Russia through the centuries

Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar Simon Sebag Montefiore

Comprehensive

Titans of History Simon Sebag Montefiore

Contains an excellent short biographical essay on Stalin

Hitler and Stalin Laurence Rees

Rees' latest publication

Behind Closed Doors Laurence Rees

Stalin, The Nazis, and The West

Red Famine Anne Applebaum

One of my favourite historians writing on 'Stalin's War on Ukraine'

The Great Terror Robert Conquest

Stalin Robert Service

Stalin Albert Marrin