The Death of Achilles: A Novel (Erast Fandorin)

International intrigue, professional rivalry, the criminal underworld of nineteenth-century Moscow, and an irresistible femme fatale: if Erast Fandorin was hoping for a quiet homecoming, he is about to be disappointed. Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow after an absence of six years, only to find himself instantly embroiled in court politics and scandal. His old friend General Sobolev - the famous 'Russian Achilles' - has been found dead in a hotel room, and Fandorin suspects foul play. Using his now-famous powers of detection - powers that belie his twenty-six years - Fandorin embarks on an investigation, during which the political and the personal may become dangerously blurred. With the assistance of some formidable martial arts skills, acquired whilst Fandorin was in Japan, our eccentric and ingenious hero must endeavour to discover not so much whodunit, as why ...

in 1882, After Six Years Of Foreign Travel And Adventure, Renowned Diplomat And Detective Erast Fandorin Returns To Moscow In The Heart Of Mother Russia. His Moscow Homecoming Is Anything But Peaceful. In The Hotel Where He And His Loyal If Impertinent Manservant Masa Are Staying, Fandorin’s Old War-hero Friend General Michel Sobolev (“achilles” To The Crowd) Has Been Found Dead, Felled In His Armchair By An Apparent Heart Attack. But Fandorin Suspects An Unnatural Cause. His Suspicions Lead Him To The Boudoir Of The Beautiful Singer–“not Exactly A Courtesan”–known As Wanda. Apparently, In Wanda’s Bed, The General Secretly Breathed His Last. . . .

the New York Times - Marilyn Stasio

in Andrew Bromfield's Exuberant Translation Of the Death Of Schilles, This Young Adonis Applies His Investigative Skills To The Politically Awkward Death Of A Beloved War Hero, Earning Gasps Of Admiration For His Piercing Intelligence, Athletic Prowess And, Above All, Dashing Style.

In 1882, after six years of foreign travel and adventure, renowned diplomat and detective Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow in the heart of Mother Russia. His Moscow homecoming is anything but peaceful. In the hotel where he and his loyal if impertinent manservant Masa are staying, Fandorin's old war-hero friend General Michel Sobolev ("Achilles" to the crowd) has been found dead, felled in his armchair by an apparent heart attack. But Fandorin suspects an unnatural cause. His suspicions lead him to the boudoir of the beautiful singer--"not exactly a courtesan"--known as Wanda. Apparently, in Wanda's bed, the general secretly breathed his last. . . .From the Trade Paperback edition. In 1882, after six years of foreign travel and adventure, renowned diplomat and detective Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow, in the heart of Mother Russia. His homecoming is anything but peaceful. In the hotel where he and his loyal if impertinent manservant Masa are staying, Fandorin's old war-hero friend General Sobolev ("Achilles" to the crowd) has been found dead, felled in his armchair by an apparent heart attack. But Fandorin suspects an unnatural cause. His suspicions lead him to the boudoir of the beautiful singer--"not exactly a courtesan"--Known as Wanda. Apparently it was in Wanda's bed that the general secretly breathed his last.--From publisher description Fandorin kommer tilbake til Russland etter et opphold i Japan. Som reisefølge har han sin japanske tjener, kampsportspesialisten Massa, som har reddet livet hans flere ganger. Fandorin er nå blitt ansvarlig for spesielle tjenester under Moskvas generalguvernør, prins Dolgorkoi. Samme dag som Fandorin kommer hjem blir general Sobolev, også kalt Akilles, funnet død. Han er nasjonalhelt etter innsatsen under kampene på Balkan. Alt tyder på at han har dødd av et hjerteinfarkt, men Fandorin har sine tvil. Erast Fandorin er for mange kjent fra "Vinterdronningen", "Tyrkisk Gambit" og "Leviathan" som fins i norsk oversettelse. Boken kom på norsk i februar