Customer Reviews

The Winter Queen: A Novel

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

THE WINTER QUEEN is an interesting journey into Czarist Russia. Well written and almost lyrical at times, with a great sense of humor and adventure.

Erast Fandorin follows the breathtaking twists and turns of his investigation...Highly recommended. Like a Russian James Bond. This book is elaborate, intricate, profoundly Czarist, and Russian to its bones. It is almost as if Tolstoy sat down to write a murder mystery. A strange and appealing novel, and not quite like anything you've ever read before. The book is as international as caviar and vodka.

Definitely makes me want to read others in this series.

We learn from the book-jacket (and from the description above) that Akunin has sold millions of books in Russia, and that The Winter Queen is the first in a series of novels involving 19th century criminal investigator Erast Fandorin. I stumbled across this book on a table in Harrod's, and if the rest of the series are as fast-paced, witty and well-written as this one I am a new Akunin fan.

The book takes place in 1876 Moscow, where a good-looking, wealthy young gentleman approaches some ladies in the park and shoots himself in the head. Some in the Criminal Investigation Department wish to close the file immediately, an obvious suicide by a lovesick youth, but young Fandorin, a newcomer to the department, takes the investigation seriously. He starts uncovering all sorts of interesting secrets and conspiracies, taking him to London and back. Along the way he must deal with attempts on his life, learn how to gamble for high stakes, preserve his honor by issuing a challenge to a duel, and decide whether an agent in London is trust-worthy or a double-agent.

Some here have likened Fandorin to James Bond, or a Russian Sherlock Holmes, but he doesn't really fit either bill since he is too young, naive, eager to please and vulnerable compared to those classic characters. At various times in the novel Fandorin prepares to meet his maker, including one chilling scene in London where he gets to take a swim in the Thames, Harry Houdini style. We know he must make it to the next book in the series, but he seems to make it by the skin of his teeth. I agree with the reviewer who likens him more to the young protaginist from Caleb Carr's The Alienist, a much closer match in my opinion.

The language of the novel can get a little wooden at times, common especially with translated works, but the dialogue occasionally sparkles, and Akunin is trying to emulate a late 19th century style. Overall I enjoyed this book immensely, and will have to look for some of the later books in the series. Four stars.

Boris Akunin's The Winter Queen was a very nice 'read'. The first in a series, Akunin introduces us to Erast Fandorin, a young investigator newly hired by the Moscow police force. Erast comes to the police after his father's family fortune took a dramatic turn for the worse that jolted Erast out of a life of upper-income leisure into a career as a detective. Young, tenacious, intuitive, and more than a bit naïve, Erast is assigned to investigate a clear cut case of suicide. On its surface, an easy investigation designed to ease Erasts's entry into life as an investigator. Of course, all is not what it seems and Erast determines quickly that there is more to the case than a simple suicide. Erast (and Akunin) slowly peel away the layers of mystery and reveals in the process a world-wide conspiracy centered on a series of well run and maintained orphanages endowed by a rich, influential English noblewoman. Along the way Erast encounters love, lust, gambling, and avoids a series of death defying experiences. Standing alone the series of events described above sounds rather pedestrian. A well worn theme. However, the pleasure to be derived from this book is the setting, late 19th century Russia. Akunin has a keen eye for detail and atmospherics. He conveys (as does the excellent translation) a sense of what life must have been life in 19th century Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The book ends triumphantly but Fandorin's triumph turns bittersweet n the last few paragraphs. Although this made for a disconcerting jolt at the end of the book it is quite understandable when one considers that Winter Queen is the first in a long series of Fandorin mysteries. A happily ever after ending would not leave much room for drama in the next installment.

Some have compared Fandorin to Sherlock Holmes with a bit of Inspector Clouseau thrown in for good measure. I think Fandorin's character stands on its own and needs no comparison to other literary detectives. If I had to provide any sort of comparison it would be to the protagonist in Caleb Carr's The Alienist. The characters and story lines are quite different of course. The comparison lies in the impact of the historic locale (19th century New York City and 19th century Moscow) that forms the atmospheric heart of each book.

All in all this is a very entertaining piece of mystery writing set in an exotic locale. It is a perfect book to read on the beach, on a long plane ride, or sitting on a lawn chair in the back yard. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

In Germany it was student duelling - with sabres, as Mark Twain so vividly described. In late 19 century Russia it was suicide, sometimes performed in bizarre ways - one loaded chamber in a revolver [the reference to "American Roulette" is delicious]. In this case, the victim is a new orphan, having inherited a vast fortune. He doesn't leave life intestate, however. His will stipulates the property and money go to a British aristocrat who operates an international network of "progressive" orphanages. This raises a host of questions which will be sorted out by a new member of Moscow's Criminal Investigation Department.

In this rollicking story of a Moscow generally beyond our ken, Akunin introduces Erast Fandorin. He's a young man of aristocratic lineage lacking the financial security of Kokorin, the youthful suicide. Erast must make his way with his skills, and these are many. Language, in particular, is a significant talent, which is why he's sent to London seeking more information. He stakes out The Winter Queen - a down at heels hotel - because one of his contacts, the gorgeous Amalia Bezhetskaya seems to be using the hotel as a "drop". Tracking down people in London is risky at the best of times, but Fandorin, who is clearly too trusting, falls into one trap after another in his quest. He's also, in the best Russian tradition, too respectful of the nobility - until they prove unworthy of it.

Akunin is able to mix plot and characters with seamless talent. He builds this story and those involved with a deft touch. At less than 250 pages, to incorporate so much into such a limited space takes a rare skill. Nor, even with the economy of words, does Akunin leave anything out. The story flows and builds, starting from an incident in a Moscow park and culminating in a global conspiracy. It's a stimulating read and one which any "mystery" reader would enjoy - as would nearly everybody. stephen a. haines - [Ottawa, Canada]]

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!

Akunin's "Winter Queen" is a wonderful addition to the mystery genre. We meet Erast Fandorin in 1876 Moscow, as he attempts to solve a mysterious suicide. Soon, while he is investigating, a murder is committed, and Erast knows he is on to something. Frankly, Erast is quite lucky here, as fate prevents him from dying at least three times. That is why this book is only 4 stars instead of five. Good background on "Russian" roulette, and on the moody fatalism of Russians. I really liked how the conspiracy was found, and its purpose. The book should have kept its "Azazel" title for America, as it is much more relevant to the story. Count Hippolyte is an intriguing sidekick type, and I hope to see him again in an another Fandorin novel. Great shocker of an ending. Goes out literally in a bang.

This is the first in Boris Akunin's series of novels featuring the detective Erast Fandorin in 1870s Czarist Moscow that has been the rage of Russia in recent years, and it is a good thing the novels are supposed to get better as they go, because this was prettty much of a disappointment. Involving a far-reaching anarchists' conspiracy masked behind the apparently random suicide of a student in the Alexander Gardens, the story is full of twists and turns, many of which you see coming (especially the character reversals). Things aren't helped by the translation from the Russian, which winds up sounding exactly like a translation from a foreign language--indeed, it sounds as if it were translated from Russian to a third intervening language and then to English. And the novel's final chapter seems at odds tonally with the rest of the book. On the other hand, the conspiracy itself is pretty original and interesting (although you guess who's behind it very quickly), and the story, while quite literate, is pretty much of a pageturner. Best of all, the main character, the young detective Fandorin, is very appealing. Vain but bashful, smart but naive, and supremely lucky, he does seem promising for later (and, one hopes, better) installments in the series.

"The Winter Queen" by Boris Akunin is set in 1876, Czarist Russia, and introduced me
to Erast Fandorin, the author's young investigator with the Moscow police. Granted,
perhaps the style of writing, the wit, and even the other nuances of the prose are due to the actual
translator's abilities (Andrew Bromfield), still this series promises to be popular here in America as well as in
Russia, where millions of copies of this series have been sold, we are told.

Young Fandorin (21 or so) fast finds himself caught up in a series of bizarre incidents,
beginning with the suicide of a young student. By chance, Fandorin indulges his
superior's "interest" in the suicide and then begins to unravel a far-reaching world of
intrigue, espinage, murder, and general mayhem, from Moscow to London and back.

The murder plot aside, Akunin's period piece is good reading as he's able to capture the
atmosphere of late 19th century Russia, yet without judging it one way or the other. His
few references to "the communists about" are also subtle, but not important to THIS
STORY.

Akunin's series (reportedly more than 10 Fandorin episodes) apparently are finding
themselves into welcomed English translations. If "The Winter Queen" is a true example,
let's bring 'em on! A good, exciting, series. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Akunin's historical mystery series is hugely popular in his native Russia and spans about ten books, the first of which is this one. Set in Moscow and London in the 1870s, the hero is Erast Fandorin, a young clerk for the Moscow police who gets caught up in an international conspiracy. If the words "international conspiracy" sets your warning bells ringing, it's with good reason in this case. The book starts promisingly enough, with the bizarre suicide of a young gentleman in an upscale public park. This piques the interest of Fandorin's superior, and the eager-beaver clerk is let loose to check it out. This leads to the salon of a beautiful tease who has whole passel of men wrapped around her finger. And this leads too... well, a whole bunch of other stuff that gets progressively sillier and sillier.

In the old days, this is what was called a "penny dreadful", and it's hard to understand what reviewers are finding so great about it. Yes, the Russian angle is kind of interestingófor about forty pages, then one starts to realize that Moscow in the 1870s doesn't feel particularly different from Paris or London of the same time with a bit of a stricter social rank system. The hero is also initially interesting, with his energetic idealism and naiviteÈ, but after a while he starts to grate. Many seem to want to compare him to Sherlock Holmes, but that's a very poor analogy. Fandorin (unlike Holmes), seems to find no clue to obvious to overlook, is repeatedly tricked and manipulated by his enemies, and is impulsive rather than deliberative. A much better fictional model is James Bond (as presented in the books, not in film). Fleming's Bond is remarkably foolish and tends to blunder around until the villains tell him their plot, only escaping death through some desperate act of bravadoóall of which fits Fandorin pretty well. The parallels truly come together in the ending, which is lifted straight from one of the Bond books (I won't name which one).

The writing and translation are fine; everything is rendered in a kind of mock period style that works fine in the context of the book. In the end, I'm rather baffled by how well-received the book is. It's a workmanlike period piece that veers into the lamest kind of excess, the kind of thing that would work better (or at least be more fun) visually, either as a movie or comic book series. It seems the series is destined to be published in its entirety in English, the next two books (Leviathan and The Turkish Gambit) are out this year, with The Death of Achilles and no doubt the rest to follow them.

Having read all of the original Fandorin novels, I was a bit skeptical about the first installment translated into English. Having great use of Russian language as one of his strongest assets, Akunin did an excellent job presenting a good view into the late 19th century Russian literature and the life of the late 19th century Moscow "Beaumont" - money, love, lust, dirty secrets - and a hero who has never lost a gamble!

All that rendered in English could be, I was afraid, like a bad Rambo movie -- a bunch of pseudo "Russian"-dressed people who speak gibberish and look as fake as a seven-rouble bill.

Andrew Bromfield, however, did an excellent job of bringing the tale of Fandorin to the English-speaking crowd. A great story in conjunction with a good writing style, it kept the feel of the "Leo Tolstoy"-style writing with frequent though not exuberant foreign quotations and footnotes.

Although knowledge of Russian is not required for this reading, if you're not a fluent Russian reader - keep a dictionary (or a Russian-speaking buddy) handy - some terms, probably to accentuate the feeling of true Russian writing, were left transliterated rather than translated, so dacha was used instead of an easier to understand yet less eclectic "summer house".