A Fine Red RainTension runs high as a Moscow cop investigates murder under the big top—from the Edgar Award–winning “Ed McBain of Mother Russia” (Kirkus Reviews). Porfiry Rostnikov was one of the top detectives in Moscow—until he crossed the KGB. On the orders of the secret service, this bulldog cop is busted down to the minor crimes unit, where his talents are utterly wasted. When a drunk climbs the statue of Nikolai Gogol in Arbat Square and threatens to kill himself, Rostnikov tries to talk the man down. But with a perfect somersault, acrobat Valerian Duznetzov leaps from the statue—the final jump of a storied career. Across town, Duznetzov’s partner, Oleg, practices his trapeze routine high above the circus floor. After letting go of the bars and going into a perfect double flip, Oleg falls, expecting the net to catch him. But the net has been sabotaged, and Oleg dies. As Rostnikov digs into this strange pair of deaths, he finds dark secrets inside the Moscow circus—secrets sure to grab the attention of his old friends at the KGB. “The shrewd, temperate Inspector Rostnikov . . . himself is like an acrobat on the high wire without a net, a target of both his jealous supervisor and the unknown murderer . . . This witty, intricate thriller reaches a suspenseful finale in the center ring under the Moscow Circus Big Top.” —Publishers Weekly |
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began Belgorod Billy Joel briefcase circus closed Colonel Snitkonoy Comrade Inspector crowd dark desk door Drozhkin Dunin Duznetzov EDGAR AWARD Emil Karpo eyes face feeling Felix Felix Dzerzhinsky front Georgi Vasilievich glasses Gogol Gogol Boulevard Gorgasali brothers Gray Wolfhound Grigorovich hair hand head hurried investigation Ivanov Katya Rashkovskaya killed killer knew Lenin looked at Rostnikov Lubyanka Mathilde Maya Mazaraki metro Metro Station Mirbat morning Moscow moved murder night Nikolai nodded Oleg opened Osip Pankov Paulinin Perhaps Pesknoko Petrovka police policeman Porfiry Petrovich Procurator's Prospekt prostitute pulled rain red hat Sarah Sasha Tkach sighed slowly smile someone Soviet Soviet Union stepped stood stopped street sure sweating talk tell thought trailer Vdnkh Metro voice Vostov wait walked watched whispered window Yuri Pon Zhenya