The author, whose fascination with all things Russian has resulted in histories, television work, and documentaries on the subject, leaps into the realm of fiction in this sinister thriller about a post-civil war serial killer loose in Moscow in the not too distant future. It's as though Crime and Punishment's Raskolnikov came to life and chronicled a nightmare about Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy running rampant in 21st century Russia -- even as the country struggles to save itself.

-Rick Koster