The White Russian by Tom Bradby
St Petersburg 1917. The capital of the glittering Empire of the Tsars and a city on the brink of revolution where the jackals of the Secret Police intrigue for their own survival as their aristocratic masters indulge in one last, desperate round of hedonism. For Sandro Ruzsky, Chief investigator of the city police, even this decaying world provides the opportunity for a new beginning. Banished to Siberia for four years for pursuing a case his superiors would rather he'd quietly buried, Ruzsky finds himself investigating the murders of a young couple out on the ice of the frozen river Neva. The dead girl was a nanny at the Imperial Palace, the man an American from Chicago and, if the brutality of their deaths seems an allegory for the times, Ruzsky finds that, at every turn, the investigation leads dangerously close to home. At the heart of the case, lies Maria, the beautiful ballerina Ruzsky once loved and lost. But is she a willing participant in what appears to be a dangerous conspiracy or likely to be it's next, perhaps last, victim? In a city at war with itself, and pitted against a ruthless murderer who relishes taunting him, Ruzsky finds himself at last face to face with his own past as he fights to save everything he cares for, before the world into which he was born goes up in flames. Review Praise for The Master of Rain: Rich, dark, atmospheric, this fine novel captures time and place perfectly... . It's a great crime story that ends up in a place you won't predict... and a great love story that you desperately hope will end up in the place you predict. -- Lee Child From the Trade Paperback edition. From the Back Cover St Petersburg 1917. The capital of the glittering empire of the Tsars and a city on the brink of revolution where the jackals of the Secret Police intrigue for their own survival as their aristocratic masters indulge in one last, desperate round of hedonism. For Sandro Ruzsky, chief investigator of the city police, even this decaying world provides the opportunity for a new beginning. Banished to Siberia for four years for pursuing a case his superiors would rather he'd quietly buried, Ruzsky finds himself investigating the murders of a young couple found out on the ice of the frozen river Neva. The dead girl was a nanny at the Imperial Palace, the man an American from Chicago. The brutality of their deaths seems an allegory for the times, while for Ruzsky the investigation leads, at every turn, dangerously closer to home. At the heart of the case lies Maria, the beautiful ballerina Ruzsky once loved and lost. But is she a willing participant in what appears to be a dangerous conspiracy, or is she likely to be its next victim? In a city on the verge of revolution, and pitted against a ruthless murderer who relishes taunting him, Ruzsky finds himself at last face to face with his own past as he fights to save everything he cares for, before the world into which he was born goes up in flames. Praise for The Master of Rain: 'An immensely atmospheric, gripping detective story with just the right mixture of exoticism, violence and romance.' The Times 'Rich, dark, atmospheric, this fine novel captures time and place perfectly. A great crime story that ends up in a place you won't predict.' Lee Child 'Nigh on impossible to put down . . . This intelligent thriller brings Shanghai to life as Gorky Park did for Moscow.' Time Out 'The atmosphere and menace of Twenties Shanghai are brought to vivid life as the backdrop to this gripping tale.' Daily Mail 'The Master of Rain is that rare thing: a truly epic crime novel, brilliantly researched and superbly executed.' John Connelly 'Does for Shanghai what Raymond Chandler did for Los Angeles - stylish and cool - debauchery at its most elegant.' TIME magazine About the Author Tom Bradby has been a senior correspondent for ITN for more than a decade. As Ireland Correspondent, he covered the unfolding peace process before going on to become Political Correspondent. He then spent three years based in Hong Kong as Asia Correspondent, during which time he was shot and seriously wounded whilst covering a riot in Jakarta. He is now the Royal Correspondent. He is the acclaimed author of Shadow Dancer, The Sleep Of The Dead and The Master Of Rain. About the Author Tom Bradby has been a senior correspondent for ITN for more than a decade. As Ireland Correspondent, he covered the unfolding peace process before going on to become Political Correspondent. He then spent three years based in Hong Kong as Asia Correspondent, during which time he was shot and seriously wounded whilst covering a riot in Jakarta. He is now the Royal Correspondent. He is the acclaimed author of Shadow Dancer, The Sleep Of The Dead and The Master Of Rain.
Publication Details
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Binding: Hardcover
Published by: Bantam Press: , 2002
Edition:
ISBN: 9780593050880 | 0593050886
448 pages.
Book Condition: Good
Dj worn. Spine cocked. Ex-library
Pickup available at Book Express Warehouse
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