Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin mysteries track the adventures of a Russian detective in the latter quarter of the 19th-century. They are well written, fast-paced and enjoyable. Each one contains the same basic ingredients: the brilliant but emotionally scarred detective Erast Fandorin; charming yet dangerous women; a murder or mystery which has or could have a political impact on mother Russia; and a villain who tests Fandorin's physical and mental skills. Yet, Akunin manages to mix and match the ingredients enough to make each new story seem fresh. The fifth in the series to be published in English, "Special Assignments", is as fresh as the first and was great fun to read.
"Special Assignments" consists off two separate novel-length stories. "The Jack of Spades", is light and almost whimsical. It pits Fandorin against a skilled con-artist who takes great delight in scamming Moscow's rich and powerful ruling elite. Fandorin must try to match wits and best the Jack of Spades even as he comes to admire the con-man's ability to separate a ruler from his rubles. "The Decorator" pits Fandorin against a brutal serial killer who, like London's Jack-the Ripper, has started on a campaign of torturing and killing Moscow's street walkers. This story is not for the squeamish. Nevertheless, it takes a few stunning turns and the climax was both surprising and powerful.
"Special Assignments" will not disappoint fans of the Erast Fandorin mysteries. It should also be enjoyed by people who are new to Akunin's work. It stands up well on its own and can be enjoyed by people who have not read the earlier book. Having said that, I think the reading experience would be enhanced by reading Akunin's earlier books in the series. They include [[ASIN:0812968778 The Winter Queen: A Novel (Erast Fandorin Mysteries)]], [[ASIN:0812968794 Murder on the Leviathan: A Novel]], and [[ASIN:1400060508 The Turkish Gambit: A Novel (Erast Fandorin Mysteries)]]. First, they are each excellent in their own right. Second, they provide the reader with background information on Fandorin that does make some of his actions here a bit easier to grasp. Each volume is good by itself but the sum is far greater than its individual parts. L. Fleisig |
Special Assignments: The Further Adventures of Erast Fandorin (Erast Fandorin Mysteries) Books In Print, Audio Books.