The Winter Queen

Description

Introducing Russia's bestselling literary thriller writer. 'An absolute delight. Think Tolstoy writing James Bond with the logical rigour of Sherlock Holmes. A hoot.' - Guardian This is the first book featuring Erast Fandorin, a gentleman sleuth who solves murders and mysteries in tsarist Russia. Moscow 1876. A young law student commits suicide in broad daylight in Moscow's Alexander Gardens. But this is no ordinary death, for the young man was the son of an influential industrialist and has left a considerable fortune. Erast Fandorin, a hotheaded new recruit to the Criminal Investigation Department, is assigned to the case. Brilliant, young, and sophisticated, Fandorin embarks on an investigation that will take him from the palatial mansions of Moscow to the seedy backstreets of London in his hunt for the conspirators behind this mysterious death.

Promotion info

SHORTLISTED FOR CWA GOLDEN DAGGER Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin thrillers have sold over three million copies in Russia, with rights now sold in 22 countries. AUTHOR IN UK FOR PUBLICATION - Bookseller insert in the form of 19th century newspaper; high-profile author event Film rights optioned by Paul Verhoeven 'We accompany Fandorin on a breathless gallop through duels, evil temptresses, doublecrossing agents, ghostly visitations, and several attempts on the hero's life which are foiled, happily, by his habit of wearing the "Lord Byron corset"'Daily Telegraph 'A quirky confection of humour and light-hearted nostalgia, in the form of an off-the-wall whodunnit.Erast Fandorin seems more of a Russian Tintin: hesitant, prone to gaffes and lovably immature, though none the less effective in running the baddies to earth' Sunday Telegraph 'Extraordinarily readable, full of incident and excitement, swift-moving and told with a sparkling light-heartedness which is impossible to resist' Evening Standard '[Akunin is] the Russian Ian Fleming...his novel features abduction, villains, beautiful women and, of course, espionage...a treat' Ruth Rendell, Sunday Times

Reviews

'Joy is not a word usually associated with Russian literature, but in its shameless dash through Victoria villainy, this is a joyful read executed with panache and a skilful re-imagining of 1870s London and Russian.' INK (April '04) 'Akunin...weaves a plot laced with twists and turncoats, the increasingly likable Fandorin dodging derringers, daggers and devilish beauties to the end. Racy, predictable and charmingly funny - as long as it's taken with tongue firmly in cheek. From Russia - with love.' -- Daisy Foster JACK (April) 'A stylized literary thriller.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE (1.4.04) 'a series of unputdownable novels.' -- Will Dyke CHICHESTER OBSERVER (22.4.04) 'an intriguing, original and thoroughly enjoyable detective story.' SUNDAY TIMES (25.4.04)

Author description

Boris Akunin is the pseudonym of Grigory Chkhartishvili. He translated Japanese texts before the worldwide success of his Fandorin series. He lives in Moscow.