Tatiana: An Arkady Renko Novel

Tatiana is the eighth book to feature Russian investigator Arkady Renko. Normally, this would warrant a warning: only those deeply committed fans who keep a card index system going on all the details of the previous seven should dare to pick up this book. Except this is a perfect standalone. Everything you need to know is supplied in the taut and economical prose. If you have not already read one of these books, you couldn’t hope to find a better place to start than this.

The trigger for Renko’s investigation this time around is the supposed suicide of an investigative journalist. Apparently she came home one night and just jumped off her balcony. Then the mortuary lost her body. There can’t be an investigation without a body, right? So they found the body again, but then cremated it. That should have ensured there was no investigation. Except this level of cover-up is all Renko needs to stimulate his interest. By the time the end comes into view, the level of corruption has reached such epic levels, there’s dark humor about the plan as exposed. So if you enjoy the story of a man tilting against Russian windmills, this is very much the book for you.