The Bloody Meadow / U.S.: The Darkening Field (Captain Alexei Dimitrevich Korolev 2)

PUBLISHED IN THE US AS "THE DARKENING FIELD".Following his investigations in The Holy Thief, Captain Alexei Korolev is uneasy– his new-found knowledge is dangerous, and if some of his actions during the case come to light, he will face deportation to the frozen camps of the far north. But when the knock on the door comes, in the dead of night, it is not Siberia Korolev is destined for. Instead, the detective is asked to look into the suspected suicide of a young woman, Maria Lenskaya, and when the detective arrives on the set for Bloody Meadow, in the bleak, famine-scarred Ukraine, he soon discovers that there is more to Lenskaya’s death than meets the eye . . .SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2013 IRISH CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEARRyan has obviously done much research into that sinister period of Russian history and manages to convey its claustrophobic atmosphere brilliantly. - The TimesRyan has produced a film-noir-ish rewrite of the old-fashioned locked-room mystery, complete with creepily gripping, and ultimately gruesome, cops and robbers chase through the great catacombs on which Odessa sit ... Ryan’s unrolling of the mental gymnastics required to survive this upside-down world where the morning’s hero is the evening’s victim is both thrillerishly pacey while also allowing his characters to grow in moral stature. - The SpectatorThe Bloody Meadow is every bit as darkly compelling as its predecessor with ... razor-sharp plotting, an evocative sense of location in a vividly realised Ukraine and most winning of all the vulnerably human Alexei Korolev making a nuisance of himself. - The Daily ExpressThe resemblance to an Agatha Christie country house mystery (but with an injection of politics) grows as he quizzes a colourful set of suspects, in a novel that confirms Ryan’s talent - The Times Captain Alexei Korolev returns ... Following his investigations in "The Holy Thief", which implicated those at the very top of authority in Soviet Russia, Captain Alexei Korolev finds himself decorated and hailed as an example to all Soviet workers. But Korolev lives in an uneasy peace - his new-found knowledge is dangerous, and if it is discovered what his real actions were during the case, he will face deportation to the frozen camps of the far north. But when the knock on the door comes, in the dead of night, it is not Siberia Korolev is destined for. Instead, Colonel Rodinov of the NKVD security service asks the detective to look into the suspected suicide of a young woman: Maria Alexandovna Lenskaya, a model citizen. Korolev is unnerved to learn that Lenskaya had been of interest to Ezhov, the feared Commissar for State Security. Ezhov himself wants the matter looked into. And when the detective arrives on the set for "Bloody Meadow", in the bleak, battle-scarred Ukraine, he soon discovers that there is more to Lenskaya's death than meets the eye .. Following his investigations in The Holy Thief, which implicated those at the very top of authority in Soviet Russia, Captain Alexei Korolev finds himself decorated and hailed as an example to all Soviet workers. But Korolev lives in an uneasy peace - his new-found knowledge is dangerous, and if it is discovered what his real actions were during the case, he will face deportation to the frozen camps of the far north. But when the knock on the door comes, in the dead of night, it is not Siberia Korolev is destined for. Instead, Colonel Rodinov of the NKVD security service asks the detective to look into the suspected suicide of a young woman: Maria Alexandovna Lenskaya - Masha, a model citizen. Korolev is unnerved to learn that Masha had been of interest to Ezhov, the feared Commissar for State Security. Ezhov himself wants to matter looked into. And when the detective arrives on the set for Bloody Meadow, in the bleak, battle-scarred Ukraine, he soon discovers that there is more to Masha's death than meets the eye... ϡ쯦랠 Where Some Of Stalin's Greatest Crimes Lie Buried . . . Russia, 1937. In Moscow, Stalin's Purges Are Reaching Their Darkest Hour. Meanwhile Korolev, A Police Investigator, Must Travel To The Bleak, Battle-scarred Ukraine – Scene Of Some Of Stalin's Bloodiest Crimes – To Look Into The Mysterious Death Of A Young Woman. The Victim, A Beautiful Film Production Assistant, Had Made Both Powerful Friends And Terrible Enemies . . . The Second In This Lauded Historical Crime Series, William Ryan's The Bloody Meadow Was Shortlisted For The Ireland Am Irish Crime Novel Of The Year Award. As Stalin's great terror begins, a killer strikes. Moscow, 1936. A young woman's mutilated body is found on an alter in a deconsecrated church. Korolev is asked to investigate. The victim is discovered to be an American citizen, and now one false move will mean exile to the Zone, the frozen camps of the far north The second novel in William Ryan's lauded, multi-award nominated Captain Korolev series, set in 1930's Stalinist Russia