The Mysterious Bride

The second novel in Yulia Yakovleva’s new detective cycle about the adventures of an unwilling sleuth, rotmistr Matvey Murin, takes us to the backdrop of 1813. This time the setting is Ensk—cozy, like trampled old felt boots. Despite the provincial nature of the town, in local salons passions run high, intrigues are woven, and monstrous deceit is carried out.

After the war, Matvey Murin goes to visit the family estate and discovers it has been destroyed and burned. But before he has time to sort out the arson, our hero is drawn by the provincial beau monde into a whirlpool of local gossip: someone got fatter, someone’s dog had puppies, and meanwhile the lady Yukhnova died under strange circumstances. Everyone in the rich household had a motive: three adult children of Yukhnova—Arkady, Tatyana, and Yegor, who had gone to war—were desperately in need of money. But the most suspicious is the wife of the eldest son—a suddenly appeared Elena Karlovna. Is she really who she claims to be?

The fog of war is an excellent way to hide lawlessness, and Matvey Murin is sure this is exactly one of those cases. He intends to bring the murderer to light and restore justice.

Rotmistr Matvey Murin

1. The Braytor (Bretër)

2. The Mysterious Fiancée