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Moscow, 1936. Stalin’s Great Terror is about to begin when a young woman is found dead in an abandoned church. Captain Alexi Korolev, finally beginning to enjoy the benefits of his success as a detective in the Moscow Militia, is asked to investigate. But when he discovers that the victim is an American citizen, the NKVD – Russia’s most feared organization – becomes involved. Soon, Korolev’s every step is being closely watched and one wrong move will mean exile to a freezing camp in the far north.
Determined to uncover the truth behind the horrific murders, Korolev enters the sphere of influence of the thieves who rule the Moscow underworld. As more bodies are discovered and pressure mounts from the top, Korolev begins to question who he can trust and who the true criminal is in a Russia rife with fear, uncertainty, and hunger. Soon, Korolev will find not only his moral and political ideals threatened, but his life as well.
Shortlisted for the 2011 THEAKSTONS Crime Novel of the Year Award and the KERRYGOLD Irish Novel Award
Impressive. Ryan… not only dramatizes the difficulty of being an honest cop in a repressive police state, but also makes the perpetual fear of being reported for disloyalty real.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Ryan writes with narrative drive and urgency, a great sense of place, and a central character who is conflicted, moral, and, most importantly, likable: detective fiction heaven.
Times Literary Supplement
Ryan really can write – his English is elegant and evocative, allowing each scene to be savored while moving the plot forward with unerring precision.
irish independent
These details make The Saint Thief one of the most exciting mysteries of the year
Sun Sentinel
It’s full of atmosphere, beautifully written, and meticulously researched.
irish censor
It is Ryan’s description of the details of the hard old Soviet life that makes this story so fascinating.
The Irish Times
For a debut novel, it has a difficult setting and is full of suspense, with a claustrophobic atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the personal optimism.
Financial Times
Set in a vivid Stalinist Russia, the story seamlessly blends the creeping paranoia of a surveillance state with brutal serial murders
Metro (Crime Novel of the Year)
Ryan’s novel has an authority that is unbefitting of its debut status… The omens for this series of novels… are very promising indeed.
Daily Express
The book features beautifully observed characters who inhabit a nightmarish world of fear, suspicion, and danger. Ryan deftly captures the realities of life in the most surveilled society in history.
yorkshire evening post
Fans of Philip Cole, Tom Rob Smith, and Oren Steinhauer will enjoy this strong coming of age thriller from debut author Ryan. . . Booklist
This is a debut novel written with the same confidence in the author’s narrative that it feels as if he or she has spent years perfecting his or her art.
Irish Independent Book of the Year
Excellent thriller… The loneliness and determination of Ryan’s Korolev is reminiscent of Martin Cruz Smith’s ferocious Arkady Lenko.
Library Magazine
Ryan’s research and his genuine feeling for a unique place and time make Holy Thief a particularly rewarding read.
Ellery Queen Magazine
Although The Holy Thief is a dark book, Ryan incorporates grim humor into the narrative to keep the plot from taking itself too seriously. However, the highlight of the novel is the plot, which provides a plausible, believable explanation for the motives behind the murders.
Book reporter
Ryan captures the widespread fears of Stalin’s rule, where even a joke between friends could lead to condemnation and exile in “The Forbidden Zone…” An impressive debut.
Historical Fiction Association (Editor’s Choice)
ASIN : B09HSDKPWZ
Publisher : Crazy Horse Publishing (October 4, 2021)
Publication date: October 4, 2021
Language : English
File size: 639 KB
Text to Speech : Enabled
Screen readers : Supported
Enhanced Typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Sticky Notes : Kindle Scribe on
Print length: 352 pages
Page source ISBN : 0312586450
Customers say
Customers find the storyline interesting, well structured, and researched. They also describe the writing style as well written and delightful. Readers also mention the characters are memorable and the book is a quick read.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
