Strange Beasts

The most interesting novels about Stalin’s special forces—SMERSH. Second lieutenant of SMERSH Alexey Saveliev is assigned to the front-line zone where a gang left behind after the German troops’ retreat is operating. According to the local NKVD department, the hideout of the remnants is set up in an old mill. It was decided to conduct a raid and eliminate the enemy. Saveliev is ordered to cover his comrades, who are supposed to be the first to rush into the mill. But at the last moment, the operation falls apart: the mill turns out to be mined, and many Chekists die. It seems the enemy managed to get warned. Suspicion falls on Alexey—because he’s the new man in these parts… The young officer has nothing left to do but identify and neutralize the real traitor himself… “Death to Spies!” (SMERSH) was the short and merciless name of a special unit of the NKVD that reported directly to I. Stalin. Created during wartime, it consisted of proven-in-battle, honest, and fearless officers of the Red Army. Everyone feared SMERSH—both the Fascist agents preparing sabotage in our battle formations and Hitler’s henchmen operating deep in the Soviet rear. The enemy knew: if Stalin’s special-forces fighters were already on his trail, a fair and swift court would be unavoidable.

The novels of the SMERSH series—Stalin’s special forces—are always an exciting, dynamic plot and new historical knowledge. They’re action-packed stories written in a simple and understandable language. The total print run of A. Tamonikov’s books is over 10 million copies! “A. Tamonikov’s novels are about real men for whom the concepts of valor, honor, and duty aren’t empty words.” — V. Kolychev