The Mystery of Cape Pitsunda

A historical detective story set against the backdrop of real events of the First World War.

At the core of the plot is a clash between military and police counterintelligence, secret political combinations, and crimes inseparable from the era and its upheavals.

Summer of 1916. The Russian army, having suffered heavy losses, falls back and with difficulty holds new positions. In the rear, irritation grows: the Tsar is not forgiven either the protracted war or the fact that he declared himself Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Society is tired and dreams of peace. In the Duma, a conspiracy takes shape: politicians led by Guchkov are preparing to overthrow Nicholas II, seeking support among senior generals—also disappointed in the monarch. In Petrograd, a palace coup is being planned, and for it to succeed, it is important to neutralize the capital’s police at the right moment. But the State Councillor Lykov is capable of ruining the plans—so he must be removed from the capital at any cost. Guchkov asks the generals to find a pretext to send the detective far away.

The pretext is found quickly. Along the Black Sea coast, near Cape Pitsunda, suspicious activity by German submarines is reported. Locals are sure that somewhere nearby their secret base is hidden—and that German help comes from agents among the local Muslims. On the counterintelligence’s orders, Lykov and Azvestpulo travel to Abkhazia to destroy the spy nest…