Description
Book SynopsisCRIMEA, 1914
When the Tzar''s head of security is assassinated, Erast Fandorin is called to investigate: the killer has been overheard mentioning a ''black city'' so Fandorin and his trusty companion, Masa, head to Baku, the burgeoning Russian capital of oil.
But from the moment they arrive in the city - a hotbed of corruption and greed by the Caspian Sea - they realise someone is watching their every move, and they will stop at nothing to derail their investigation.
Having suffered a brutal attack and with Masa''s life hanging by a thread, Fandorin is forced to rely on the help of an unexpected new ally, and he begins to suspect the plot might be part of something larger - and much more sinister.
With war brewing in the Balkans and Europe''s empires struggling to contain the threat of revolution, Fandorin must try and solve his most difficult case yet - before time runs out.
Trade ReviewThe Erast Fandorin detective novels are always meaty, packed with historical detail, old-fashioned in the best sense and intricately plotted. Readers can expect
prime Akunin -
ingenious, twisty, at times digressive, exotic - a challenge to which his translator, Andrew Bromfield, rises magnificently. * Daily Mail *
One of the most distinctive characters in historical crime fiction...
Twenty years after his debut, Fandorin remains a thoroughly engaging hero * Sunday Times *
