The Turkish Gambit

February 21, 2005
If chatty digressions on love and war tend to slow the third Erast Fandorin historical to appear in the U.S. (after 2004's Murder on the Leviathan
), Russian author Akunin does a superb job of rendering the immediacy of battle in the 1877–1878 conflict between the Motherland and Turkey, and illuminating the politics behind czarist fantasies of recapturing Constantinople. At the Balkan front, the quiet, stuttering Fandorin befriends Varya Suvorova, a midwife turned telegraphist. Varya is bent on visiting her court-martialed fiancé, who's accused of being a spy. Fandorin and Varya are soon caught up in the fortunes of the Russian army, which a well-placed mole seems intent on betraying. Suspicions point to various Russian staff officers and to some glamorous foreign correspondents, including Seamus McLaughlin from London's Daily Post
and Michel Paladin from the Revue Parisienne
. Codes, courtesans and love letters all come into play, as well as murder and suicide in combat, in a plot more complex than some West Point battle plans. While the plethora of minor characters can be confusing, the quirky Fandorin and determined Varya stand out amid the turmoil of their surroundings. Agent, Linda Michaels Ltd.

November 1, 2004
You never know where rising Russian spy Fandorin will be next. Here he's in Bulgaria, as Russia and the Ottoman Empire trade shots, trying to help brave Varya prove that her fiance is not a spy.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2005
Grigory Chkhartishvili, writing as Boris Akunin (" The Winter Queen," " Murder on the Leviathan" ), is one of Russia's most popular mystery writers. His third Erast Fandorin historical mystery, set in 1877, finds the detective-diplomat gathering intelligence for the Russian army, which is at war with the Ottoman Empire. On the Bulgarian front, Fandorin meets Varvara Andreevna Suvorova, Varya, a feisty, liberated woman who is searching for her fiance, a cryptographer. She soon has the motley crew of soldiers and journalists in the camp vying for her affection when they are not playing chess, gambling, or discussing the meaning of life. When an error in a secret message causes catastrophe for the Russian army, Varya's fiance, Petya, is accused of espionage. She and Fandorin must clear his name to save him and ensure success in battle. Akunin provides readers with vivid historical detail, witty dialogue, and colorful characters. Those who love historical mysteries and Russian intrigue will be delighted with his latest offering. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

March 1, 2005
Though he keeps bringing back diffident yet penetrating sleuth Erast Fandorin, Akunin never exactly repeats himself. "The Winter Queen", which introduced Fandorin, was a chilling evocation of pre-revolutionary Russia; "Murder on the Leviathan" was a Byzantine nod to Agatha Christie. Here, Fandorin seems almost like a secondary character, as in gentlemanly fashion he yields to fiery Varya Suvorova. Russia is warring with the Ottoman Empire, and Varya has trekked to the Bulgarian front to be with her fiancé . When she is abandoned by her carriage driver, Fandorin rescues her and escorts her to headquarters, further smoothing the way by arranging for her to serve as his assistant. With her fiancé accused of treason, Varya is truly in the thick of things; a veritable cavalcade of officers and foreign correspondents keep her (and the reader) occupied. Varya is a terrific character, though fans will miss seeing more of Fandorin, and having him share the spotlight diffuses the energy a bit. Yet this is a complex and cutting tale, with a surprise villain, that should appeal to the international thriller crowd. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/04.] -Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.