Meet Capt. Alexei Korolev, an officer in Stalinist Moscow working in the Criminal Investigative Division as his country changes around him. Assigned to investigate the heinous murder of a young woman found mutilated on a church altar, Korolev begins the skillful juggling of politics and persistence that are his world.
He may be good at his job, but doing that job in the rapidly changing political environment becomes more challenging every day. And when the girl's murder seems linked to other organizations and possibly American visitors, it's not surprising that the case becomes dangerous. A concussion and attempted murder let him know he's moving in the right direction -- but it's iffy whether he'll survive to solve the case.
In just one book, Capt. Alexei Korolev is established as a classic detective, reminiscent of Poirot and Pinkerton. Solid detective work -- with none of the fancy-schmancy DNA and labwork of today's detectives -- and a spirit that believes in justice and speaking for the dead put this book instantly on the keeper shelf. Can't wait for the next Korolev mystery from Mr. Ryan!
It's Moscow, 1936 and Stalin's Great Terror is beginning. In
a deconsecrated
Church, a young woman is found dead, her mutilated body
displayed on the
altar for all to see. Captain Alexei Dimitrevich Korolev,
finally beginning to
enjoy the benefits of his success with the Criminal
Investigation Division of
the Moscow Militia, is asked to investigate. But when he
discovers that the
victim is an American citizen, the NKVD - the most feared
organisation in
Russia - becomes involved. Soon, Korolev's every move is
under close
scrutiny and one false move will mean exile to The Zone,
where the enemies
of the Soviet State, both real and imagined, meet their fate
in the frozen
camps of the far north. Committed to uncovering the truth
behind this
gruesome murder, Korolev, enters the realm of the Thieves,
who run
Moscow's underworld. And as more bodies are discovered and
the pressure
from above builds, Korolev begins to question who he can
trust; and who, in
this Russia where fear, uncertainty and hunger prevails, are
the real criminals.
Soon, Korolev will find not only his moral and political
ideals threatened, but
also his life.
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