Webs of Others' Desires

In one of the most prestigious hotels, the body of businessman Sergey Orlov is discovered. Private detective Tatyana Ivanova takes on the investigation, but from the very first steps she runs into witnesses’ lies and the employees of the “White Swan”—including the manager—openly refusing to cooperate with the investigation. Everyone who had even the slightest connection to the deceased falls under suspicion, so one theory replaces another. Gradually, another fact comes to light: the image of the “exemplary” Orlov created by the newspapers bears little resemblance to reality. Tatyana will have to talk to dozens of people, sift out false leads, and even change her own image before she finally finds the real killer.

Marina Serova is a vivid name in modern Russian detective fiction. She graduated from the law faculty of Moscow State University, worked in the Office of the Prosecutor General, and took part in operational activities. The author of fast-paced novellas, whose total circulation has exceeded twenty million copies.