Customer Reviews

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This was a satisfying crime novel set in a gloomy Russia. It was so gloomy I was reminded of New York in the classic sci-fi movie Escape from New York. Is it really so horrible? But the characters sparkle, especially Rostnikov, as they somehow survive and cope amidst the corruption, crime and depression.

This book is composed of three interesting and suspenseful crime stories. Rostnikov's team is split up into three pairs and each pair is assigned to a case. All three tales are compelling and all of the characters, both good and bad, are fully developed.

This was as good as A Cold Red Sunrise, which won an Edgar. Recommended reading for all mystery fans.

I like the Rostnikov detective series because while certainly living in a depressing climate the characters all seem to show their humanity in small ways. Even the gaunt unsmiling Karpo shows that he can care with his befriending of mad genius in the forensics department.

If you like mysteries that tell you everything then you'll like this one. I can only hope though that Russia gets less depressing as time goes on because no matter if it is even greatly exaggerated it makes America's ghettos pale in comparison.

Porfiry is back and the saga continues. Oh, how he's been missed. All the regulars are there and it's like a visit with the family to find out what they've been doing. Of course, the path of the Russian police is never without a new twist or a more difficult challenge. The new boss seems much more likeable and appreciative of Porfiry's intellect. Hope the next reunion isn't so long in coming

Simply great stuff, why is it not more widely known?
Once you have read one, you will want to read the whole series.Inspector Rostnikov is my hero!

Since the last book, there have been three major changes in the life of Chief Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov:
1. His son Yosef has come to work in his department,
2. The Grey Wolfhound has been made a General and head of security at the Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg; and Colonel Yakovlev (formerly of the KGB) is his new boss, and made Porfiry his chief deputy,
3. He has had his bad leg amputated below the knee and is getting used to a new prostetic leg.

There are two things going on in his life that he does not yet know about:
1. Yosef has proposed to Elena Timofeyeva (the former Procurators niece)
2. His wife Sarah has begun to have 'episodes' that might be related to the brain tumor she had removed

As always, there are three crimes to be solved (and of course they all are by the end of the book):
1. Some one(s) has murdered six Jews from a single congregation
2. A serial rapist (twelve over the last few years) has just struck again, this time a television reporter
3. A serial bomber, an anti-nuclear activist (and admirer of the Unibomber) has injured the daughter of a journalist who opened the letter by mistake

But there are very good clues for Porfiry and his people to follow:
1. Of the six men killed, one was not a Jew
2. The woman who was attacked, a reporter, is sure that the man was wearing a police uniform and left in a police car
3. The bomber has a source or way of knowing when the Police know that a bomb is imminent to blow up

The only thing not solved by the end is when (not whether) Josef and Elena will get married. There are also two very touching vignettes at the end that involves the two little girls staying with Porfiry and Sarah, and separately one about the Vampire (Inspector Karpo).

To me this has been the best of the series so far, hands down.

Good flavor of Moscow (some hyperbole on
corruption). Characters continue to develop,
though perhaps a little too slowly.
Karpo is given hope. New boss looks promising.
For those that like Rostnikov, a welcome new book.