description: Moscow, May 1876: What would cause a talented young student from a wealthy family to shoot himself in front of a promenading public in the Alexander Gardens? Decadence and boredom, most likely, is what the commander of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Moscow Police thinks, but still he finds it curious enough to send the newest member of the division, Erast Fandorin, a young man of irresistible charm, to the Alexander Gardens precinct for more information.Fandorin is not satisfied with the conclusion that this is an open-and-shut case, nor with the preliminary detective work the precinct has done—and for good reason: The bizarre and tragic suicide is soon connected to a clear case of murder, witnessed firsthand by Fandorin. There are many unresolved questions. Why, for instance, have both victims left their fortunes to an orphanage run by the English Lady Astair? And who is the beautiful "A.B.," whose signed photograph is found in the apparent suicide's apartment? Relying on his keen intuition, the eager sleuth plunges into an investigation that leads him across Europe, landing him at the deadly center of a terrorist conspiracy of worldwide proportions.
title: The Winter Queen
titlecomplete: The Winter Queen
characters: Erast Fandorin, Lady Astair
genres: Russia, Fiction, Detective, Crime, Russian Literature, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Mystery
ratings_count: 12840
places: Russia, St. Petersburg, Moscow
series: Приключения Эраста Фандорина (серия «Новый детектив»), תיבת פנדורין
awards: awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: CWA Silver Dagger
publisher: Isis Publishing