Description

CRIMEA, 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.

Publisher Review

One of the most distinctive characters in historical crime fiction... Twenty years after his debut, Fandorin remains a thoroughly engaging hero * Sunday Times * The 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 *