Just Finished Reading: The Winter Queen by Boris Akunin (FP: 1998)

Moscow, 1876. It wasn’t long before Detective Superintendent Xavier Grushin took pity on the department’s newest and keenest recruit. Young Erast Fandorin was obviously over qualified for his role and itched to be sent out on an investigation rather than being stuck in the sleepy Moscow headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Branch writing reports of what others had done. So when a simple suicide of a disaffected student crosses the Superintendent's desk Fandorin is sent out to ensure that a detailed record is produced for the boy’s family. Keen to prove himself as an investigator the young Erast begins to dig into the student’s background and starts to uncover an apparent mystery. Amused by his obvious naivety Grushin gives his protégée his head in the expectation that his enquiries will soon reach as satisfying dead end. But the mystery behind the student’s death only deepens and slowly becomes something much more – not only a conspiracy against the Russian royal family in far off St Petersburg but a conspiracy spanning Europe and the America’s. A conspiracy involving the great and the good across the known globe (future victims or present protagonists?) seemingly linked to both the outbreak of Nihilist and Anarchist atrocities and the philanthropic activities of Lady Astor and her homes for orphans which have begun to spring up all over the Continent. Can Fandorin uncover his first case before the whole world falls around him?

This was a highly entertain tale of intrigue, races across Europe by train, dangerously alluring femme fatales, fanatics and common criminals, double crossing and the fate of the world held in the balance within the contents of a single letter – oh, and love (of course!). Aptly referred to as Russia’s 19th century equivalent to James Bond this is indeed a crackling little tale which manages (mostly) to stay this side of believable – with the possible exception of the number of times the hero escapes certain death! Deeply mysterious (you’re never quite sure exactly what’s going on or who can be trusted), full of great characters – both good and bad – and with a satisfying (if quite horrible) ending I loved just about everything about this book. It’s certainly one of the best I’ve ever picked up from a left-over jumble sale. Fortunately it’s the first book in the series and after the rather dark ending I really need to know how Fandorin will revenge himself on the remaining members of the conspiracy – and especially on the Winter Queen who brought him so much pain. Definitely recommended for any historical crime fans.

Translated from the Russian by Andrew Bromfield.