The Winter Queen : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: great character! formulaic ending
Review: Erast Fandorin is part Inspcector Cluseau, part Hercule Poirot in a somewhat predictable, but thoroughly enjoyable mystery. The intrepid slueth is a young detective working in Moscow in the late 19th century solving his first murder. The murder, as it happens, grows into a much wider (and deeper) conspiracy that reaches to the pinnalce of political power on an international scale.

The earnest Fandorin is somewhat a bumbler, with average intelligence who manages to stumble his way across, into (and out of) a number of comic - and serious - situations. This was enjoyable to read. Yet I can only give it four stars because of the cliched ending. (No, the butler did not do it.) Those who are avid mystery readers should be able to piece the plot together mid-way through the book - but will keep on reading out of the sheer joy of witnessing Fandorin work.

Rating:
Summary: Winter Queen by Mystery King
Review: The ending! What a shocker! I couldn`t get over it for days, and wanted more! I found this book by chance and read it because I am interested in Imperial Russia. Boy, was I surprised at how good it was, written just as though the author had been there. I was so impressed with the detail of the setting, and the translation was excellent and very readable. I of course do not know Russian and haven`t an idea of what the read is like in Russian, but if it is any better than this translation it must be superb indeed! Try not to look ahead, but it will be hard not to... just think of the surprise you will rob yourself of if you do! It is hard to find good surprise endings these days. As I read this book, I was reminded of the original tv series Wild, Wild, West and some of the evil characters that James came up against. This novel is set at the same time or thereabouts and Ruth Rendell is correct in describing this author as an Ian Fleming type! I want to read all of his books, and I have missed Erast since finishing the book! Bring on more! Bravo!