Crime Without Punishment

A series of murders swept through the Udmurt town of Votkinsk on the eve of Alexander II’s visit, during his travels across the Russian Empire. Fani Dyurbakh, the future composer P. Tchaikovsky’s governess, joins the investigation carried out by the secret adviser Lagunov. Who is the real criminal? The journalist Elena, who arrived in town in the 21st century, is looking for the answer to the same question. Together with her new friends—the bell ringer and artists—Elena tries to find the missing historical icon, learning Orthodox and pagan history of Udmurtia as she goes. And she turns out to be involved in another murder. Who is behind all these crimes? And how are they connected to the girl’s fate and to the events of the 19th century? Writer Anastasia Tumanoava about the book: “The novel won’t let the reader get bored for a single moment. All the characters are interesting and multifaceted; each has their own character and line of behavior—they evoke the widest range of emotions in the reader, from irony to deep sympathy and empathy.”