Neither height nor depth, but nonetheless, a reasonably well-tailored and paced in-between. There are those books that are raised by the quality of characters--this wasn't one. But for a summer sun laze around, it needed neither too much nor too little attention. One word? bemused.

In general, I enjoy novels about Soviet-era Russia - books like Gorky Park, Child 44, etc. which is what originally lead me to this novel. I felt this novel was very well done with strong, well-rounded main characters. What I found different (and very interesting) was Korolev's general attitude towards the State apparatus. In other novels of this era, the characters all seem to be moral upstanding men who are stuck in a bad position because of the Communist leaders and try to make the best of it - but most of them seem to secretly hate the State. Korolev (at least for most of the novel) isn't like that. He sees things for what they are, he is moral and has is own code, but he also has an almost child-like faith in the State and in Stalin that things are only this way because the revolution hasn't finished. That they all need to just bare with it and things will soon be paradise on Earth. Overall, I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect and watching Korolev investigate an ever-widening conspiracy. Very entertaining read - I will be reading more books by William Ryan.

The second mystery I've read this year set in the early Soviet era - is this a new mystery trend? It's a dark mystery, definitely not a cozy, and the layers of suspicion and paranoia that run through the story are interesting. If the author is accurately depicting life back then, people like Captain Korolev are rare: not a Party member, not for sale, perhaps not buying all the Party is selling but sincerely believing that this is all for the greater good.

His investigation into the murder of a young woman, who turns out to be a Russian-born, American-raised nun looking for an icon brings him into contact with Chekists, Thieves and a band of Holmesian Irregulars. It also raises many questions about who to trust and how to keep safe during this time of doubt and questioning (even the young officer assigned to him turns out to be something else).

One thing about this book that I particularly liked was the source list; while I do wonder about the bias of the materials, they look like a good place to learn more about this time in history.

ARC provided by publisher.

Russian characters with all manner of "British" accents...major distraction

A grisly murder of an American nun in a converted church in Moscow starts Alexei Korolev on a journey no one should go on. As a police officer in Stalinist Russia in 1936 he has to be wary of everyone, his co-workers, his neighbours and especially the secret police. I kept thinking how I can't imagine living the way people did back then in that place. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one, although I am a little disappointed that Vanya won't be in it.

Tense thriller set in Stalinist Russia in 1936. Great atmosphere.

The unfamiliar setting in Moscow, in 1936, and the investigation of captain Korolev are so fascinating that I have read this book in less than 3 days.
I like a lot the very good mix between the History (The Stalin's purges, the denunciations, the self-criticism, the constant fear to be send to Siberia) and the investigation.
I learn quite a lot thanks to this book, mainly how USSR sold religious items to rich americains and the existence of quotas in denunciation of innocent citizens.

Alexeï Korolev and the majority of the characters are interesting as no one (but Larimine) are unidimensionals.
Korolev himself is still admiring Stalin, but hide a bible under his wooden floor, live in almost constant fear of saying something he shouldn't.

The relationship he has with the forensic doctor, his colleagues and the young woman with whom he shares an appartent are also interesting.
The chapter in which he meets Kolya, the leader of the Thief, is mesmerizing.

I'm looking forward reading the second book.

I picked this as I really enjoyed [b:Child 44|2161733|Child 44|Tom Rob Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255690645s/2161733.jpg|2167258] which is also set in Stalinist Russia, but this book never really gripped me. To much of what happened was predictable. A really obvious bad guy, people not being who they claim to be, not nice people getting exactly what they deserve, lots of horrible things happening to our hero but he gets the result in the end. All in all fairly undemanding stuff.

Atmospheric, mesmerizing historical and cultural detail made this book really stand out. The mystery aspect was not the most thrilling perhaps, but the excellent sense of place and time was enjoyable.