Cold Message

For fans of Alexandra Marinina’s books, here is a new Russian detective novel written by a woman investigator. The narration—real facts, familiar locations, and mysterious murders—draws the reader into a complex but captivating world of investigation.

In a narrow urban lane, the body of an unknown man is found. The killer stole the victim’s documents, wallet, and a golden chain. The only mysterious clue is a note found in the victim’s pocket, with the words: "Milka bitch, I’m punished…" Police captain Kalinin and Major Virshin try to determine the identity of the murdered man. But the deeper they dig into the complicated life situations of potential suspects, the more tangled the case becomes. Soon, two more mysterious murders occur, clearly connected to the first crime. The investigators hope to decipher the meaning of the note and—using the information they obtain—find the killer. However, the discoveries they make shock the operatives…