My Dearest Readers,
Wanting to celebrate the first “Talk like Jane Austen Day” I have endeavored to write this review in the style appropriate to that most beloved of periods – Regency.
The Erast Fandorin Historical Mystery Novels first came to my attention with the praise sang by Lonely Planet as a fine example of modern Russian literature. During my stay in Russia earlier this year, I endeavored to look for it but alas, when we found ourselves at a delightful little English book seller, it pained me to discovery that our guide had been left at our lodgings, and I could not, try as I might, remember the name of the author. I insisted on inquiring after a “Winter Queen” and even my references to the “Russian Sherlock Holmes” failed in bringing about success. So I was left with no other choice but to immediately order it from the kind people at Book Depository as soon as we returned to our humble Abode.
As I have earlier mentioned, “The Winter Queen” is but the first of the Erin Fadorin Mysteries and also the realization of a fascinating Idea by Mr A. – he believes there are 16 different types of Mystery Novels and decided to dedicate each of Mr. F’s books to a different one. This first example is a Conspiracy Mystery, the following a Spy Mystery, then a Closed Set-up Mystery and so forth. I hope you agree with me on how Devilishly fun this endeavor sounds like?
At the start of the narrative, in the year of 1876, Mr. F is not yet one-and-twenty and has just started his career at the Criminal Investigation Department of the City of M–, Russia. His first real assignment is the investigation of a university student who unfortunately decides to kill himself using the so called Russian Roulette – which at the time was called American Roulette!
On his search for the Truth, Mr. F finds himself in the middle, if you can believe it Dear Readers, of a far-reaching International Conspiracy. Mr. A very effectively contrasts the comical innocence of his Hero – who is by no means lacking in intelligence – with the decadence of XIX century M–, not unlike that of our own Victorian London. Indeed, Mr. A shamelessly describes aristocrats giving way to the most appalling of vices while the winds of Revolution surround them.
So it came to pass that I found in The Winter Queen exactly what I was looking for – lively descriptions of life in Czarist Russia, a main character who is not perfect (as you well know, pictures of perfection make me sick and wicked), but who you can see is learning from his mistakes. I also took great enjoyment from the very melodramatic Russian ending.
I am very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
I remain yours, etc,
Alexandra
Post Scriptum: Halloween has almost come and with it the end of my very first RIP Challenge. Oh what good fun we had!
6 comments
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October 31, 2010 at 10:44 am
nymeth
lol, I love what you did here 😀 And I’m sad that I missed an opportunity to talk like Austen for a whole day!
November 2, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Alex
Well, this was just the first of hopefully many. Maybe next year? 🙂
October 31, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Falaise
Like the Austen-speak! I read the first few Fandorin books but then got a bit fed up with them and gave up. I hadn’t realised that he was treating each book as one of his types of mystery, although I did think that Murder on the Leviathan was a great pastiche of an Hercule Poirot story. Now I know that, I am tempted to give them another go if I can find the time.
November 2, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Alex
It is an intriguing idea, isn’t it. I liked this first book. It’s not GREAT, but it kept me entertained, especially because what I was looking for was the Russian element.
November 1, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Iris
You warned me in advance and still I did not talk like Austen all day. I loved your review! You certainly know how to talk like Austen 🙂
November 2, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Alex
I don’t know at all and that’s not false modesty! I just put pieces and elements together in a hurry (I forgot at the Day until about 10PM!). But it was fun writing it all the same 😛