A series of murders struck the Udmurt town of Votkinsk on the eve of Alexander II’s visit during his journey across the Russian Empire. The governess of the future composer P. Tchaikovsky, Fani Dyurbakh, joins the investigation led by the secret adviser Lagunov. Who is the real criminal?
The same question is being investigated by journalist Elena, who arrives in the town already in the 21st century. Elena, along with her new friends—a bell-ringer and artists—tries to find a missing historical icon, learning both Orthodox and pagan history of Udmurtia. And she turns out to be involved in yet another murder.
Who is behind all these crimes? And how are they connected to the fate of the girl and the events of the 19th century? The writer Anastasia Tumanova about the book: "The novel won’t let the reader get bored for a single moment. All the heroes are interesting, many-sided, each has their own character and line of behavior—they evoke very different emotions in the reader, from irony to deep sympathy and empathy."