Cover Image: She Lover of Death

She Lover of Death

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

"She Lover of Death" by Boris Akunin is a thrilling and masterfully crafted tale that transports readers to the heart of turn-of-the-century Moscow. The novel, featuring the inimitable hero Erast Fandorin, is a brilliant addition to the genre of Russian crime fiction, showcasing Akunin's exceptional storytelling skills.

Was this review helpful?

What an enjoyable read! Loved all the details of 20th century Moscow, the mysterious characters, the hunt for what was really happening in this secretive group of poets. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Was this review helpful?

Special thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

This book wasn't had bad. I think I mostly read it because I'm excited by cultish themes and suicide, though I don't recommend that in real life of course. I think this is the 13th install!ent of Russian author (pseudonym Boris Akunin) book about protagonist Erast Fandorin, a gentleman who becomes quite flustered around famous people and especially naked women. By hobby, he likes to solve crimes that are puzzling I believe, though I haven't read any of his other books about Mr. Can do run.

Anyway, in this book, a naive Moscow woman, who wears a snake around her neck and wants to be known as "Columbine", joins a suicide club called Lovers of Death. These mostly suicidal to begin with members, gather around, listen to poetry, and a select a person to be the next suicide, but the person has to receive 3 signs of death before killing themself. I had a hard time keeping characters straight.

But instead of suicide, the brilliant Mr. Fandorin, needs to figure out who is facilitating these " murders" although they are suicides, someone is behind it, conjuring up the 3 signs for them before doing themself in.
I found the writing very heavy. Altogether, not a terrible idea. 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I’m rather obsessed with the Fandorin books already. I’m so glad Mysterious Press and Grove Atlantic have picked up the mantle making sure these get published in America.

Was this review helpful?

*Many thanks to Boris Akunin, Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I am a grat fan of Akunin's series with Erast Fandorin, so this offering was another treat for me. This time Fandorin and his Japanese friend follow the mysterious circle and its leader that are behind suicides of the group members.
I am used to Fandorin and his unusual ways, and I accept him for everything he stands for. The historical background is superb, as always and the intrigue engaging.

Was this review helpful?

this was a great read, the characters were great and I was invested from the beginning. I loved the cover it's what drew me in and I'm glad I was able to read it,

Was this review helpful?

I needed to read the previous books in the Fandorin series first to fully appreciate this story. It moved slowly.

Was this review helpful?

This is an entertaining snapshot of a turn-of-the-century Russia that toys with its reader as much as with its characters. While some of the twists ultimately stretch the bounds of what the narrative has established (always difficult to craft a mystery with an ending that can fully balance between overly obvious and completely out of left field--and frankly always a little better to lean toward the latter), the pacing of clues and red herrings are well spaced.

Was this review helpful?

"From Boris Akunin, the writer who invented the popular Russian crime novel, a gripping tale of a secret suicide society in turn-of-the-century Moscow featuring a naive young protagonist and the inimitable hero Erast Fandorin.

Naive young Masha Mironova arrives in Moscow at the turn of the century with a modest inheritance and a determination to shed her provincial Siberian upbringing. As soon as she alights in Moscow, she becomes Columbine, a reckless and daring young woman with eccentric outfits and a pet snake worn as a necklace. In her quest for danger and passion, Columbine soon discovers the Lovers of Death - a small group of poets enraptured by death who gather nightly at the home of their leader, the Doge, and conduct's ances to determine death's next chosen lover. Once named at a's ance, the chosen member must await three signs from death before taking his own life. The string of suicides resulting from the group have drawn attention, becoming fodder for extensive media coverage and widespread hysteria in Moscow. As the group's numbers dwindle, a mysterious newcomer appears. Revealed to the reader as Erast Fandorin thanks to the presence of his trusty Japanese sidekick, Fandorin begins to investigate the suicides while also trying to convince the members that death is neither beautiful nor poetic and should not be sought out.

But will the gentleman detective be able to stop Columbine from taking action when she receives her three unmistakable signs? She Lover of Death is a fantastically entertaining murder mystery, where the murderer's weapons are trickery and psychological manipulation."

I have been devouring crime fiction lately and this is another great entry!

Was this review helpful?

I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Boris Akunin's other novels but after reading She Lover of Death, I am looking forward to doing so in the near future.

I really enjoyed this story and I think the translator, Andrew Bromfield, did a great job. The story came through rather clearly and the wording was smooth. I imagine that can be a difficult task especially with a poem-heavy manuscript.

The characters were interesting and the storyline intriguing. She Lover of Death presents original ideas which make for an engaging read. A review I read after finishing this book mentioned that either a film or series was made based on this book, I hope I get the opportunity to see it as the book was quite visual. There are twists and turns that I have to admit I did not expect, it is nice to be surprised and it is nice to be wondering who is watching, who is reporting, etc. Just the right ratio of clues and suspense.

Boris Akunin is a talented writer and I think many people will enjoy She Lover of Death. Don't let the fact that is an English translation of a Russian novel deter you from reading it. It offers an interesting look at a different time in an exotic locale.

Was this review helpful?

This novel has all the ingredients of the books I like. It is a Gothic story with mysteries to solve that reads like a penny dreadful. A young, naïve woman arrives in Moscow and, eager to shed her identity as a country girl from Siberia, she transforms herself into fabulous Columbine. She quickly becomes entangled with The Lovers of Death, a suicide club with a fascination with poetry and Shakespeare, led by a sinister character. This is part of a series devoted to Erast Fandorin. I didn’t know the character, but the book reads well even if you’re a newbie. I loved Columbine and the live snake she wears around her neck. There are suicides, then murders, and Fandorin and his Japanese sidekick unravel the mystery. The characters are distinctive, original and well defined. Why am I not giving this book 5 stars? Well, the way it’s written failed to catch my attention. The action is constantly interrupted with poems, endless details and characters’ inner monologues. It is well-written, I just found it a little hard to get through.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Grove Atlantic!

Was this review helpful?

Oh boy, where should I start?
If you loved Penny Dreadful and you enjoy reading about cults, mysteries, and deaths all set in the backdrop of 1900th then this book is for you!
I do all the above and I love Boris Akunin. I usually read this author in his native language, but I came across this book on NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised. The translation is also very good.,

Was this review helpful?

This one wasn't my cup of tea. I think this may have been a case of not having read any of the previous novels in the series or something with the translation but, there were pieces of the story that I enjoyed. Columbine is a lovely character, I really liked her true state of naïveté combined with her desperation to seem more worldly and aloof than she actually is. Her diary entries were my favorite point-of-view in the story. Next I would rate the journalist's articles, with the police informant reports being my least favorite simply because it came across, well, like a report and less like a story. Unfortunately the pacing was much too slow for my tastes (especially as a mystery) even from the beginning and it was difficult to keep interest. Also, while I appreciate using the traditional prose of the 19th century, I did not appreciate the racialized accent of Masa. Yes, historical accuracy is well and good but it was wholly unnecessary to the story.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Grove Atlantic, and the author Boris Akunin for the opportunity to do so.

Was this review helpful?

I have enthusiastically read all of the Erast Fandorin books that have been translated into English, and I eagerly awaited She Lover of Death, the latest to make it to America. Part of the joy of reading these novels is the different styles that Mr. Akunin adapts to pay homage to the classic mystery stories we all know and love.

This story starts at the turn of the last century, with the naive young country girl making her way to the big city, where (of course) she will attempt to shed her provincial ways and become one of the glamorous people. Her transformation begins with a name change, she is now Columbine, the cosmopolitan femme fatale ready to set Moscow on fire. She soon falls in with the Lovers of Death, a suicide club of poets, waiting for fate to select them one by one to cross over into Death’s embrace.

This series of suicides has started to draw the attention of not only the public but also the authorities. Both a newspaper reporter and a police informant have infiltrated the group and are reporting regularly on their activities. And also, finally, Erast Fandorin, who comes back to Moscow to prevent more suicides… or is there more to the suicides than meets the eye? The psychological games begin between Erast, the Doge who leads the group, Columbine, and others… will Fandorin be in time to prevent another senseless death?

This was not one of my favorite efforts from Mr. Akunin. A suicide cult, a lot of (bad?) poetry, murder by psychological pressure, the Doge taking advantage of the young gullible females – all of this just left me feeling uncomfortable and waiting for something exciting to happen. The story takes a long time to get going, Fandorin doesn’t even make an appearance until 20% of the way through the book (according to my Kindle!), and most of the initial action takes place off stage, we only arrive at the aftermath. It is only at the very end where the individual threads come together that we see Fandorin in action. The multiple perspectives of third person, Columbine’s diary, police informant notes, and newspaper stories are well done and interesting, although sometimes they become a bit of a distraction. My understanding is that the novel He Lovers of Death takes place concurrently, and this is why Fandorin disappears for stretches of this novel. I’m glad I read this book, but it mostly piques my interest for what’s coming next. If you are new to Erast Fandorin, this is not the place to start.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Grove Atlantic / Mysterious Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Having read a previous work by Boris Akunin, I was looking forward to reading this new installment. I was not disappointed. The elements of the occult which were described in this tale and the characters kept me coming back for more. I really enjoyed reading about this time and place. The early Russia has always held a fascination for me so I relished being transported once again. Fadorin reminds me of Hercules Poirot but with less OCD.

Was this review helpful?

'She Lover of Death' does not disappoint, the eighth in the hugely entertaining series of historical novels featuring detective Erast Fandorin.

Unusually for a Fandorin novel, it is written from the perspective of several characters, not least Masha Miranova, an ingenue who becomes embroiled in a secret society which serves as cover for dark deeds.

Boris Akunin, the author, again plays satisfyingly with the conventions and styles of European detective and adventure fiction, this time set in turn-of-the-century Moscow.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this review.

Was this review helpful?

If you are a reader of Boris Akunin's novels, this is another real treat. Written in the style of Russian 19th century mystery novels, the subject is the members of an anarchist society and their disillusionment. Beautifully translated, it will grip you beginning to end.

Was this review helpful?

A fascinatingly perverse premise illuminates much of this intriguing thriller. It's a read which could have benefited from being a bit leaner, but the characters are richly drawn and the prose mirrors its setting.

Was this review helpful?

Borus Akunin is the pseudonym for Russian writer, Grigory Chkhartishvili, perhaps a decision wisely made because his real name is one to stumble over. But his novels, with a protagonist named Erast Fandorin, have sold thirteen million copies in Russia, have been adapted for television and film, and have made him a wealthy man. Did I like his book? Well, to a certain, degree, I did.

Fandorin is pictured as a charming man with a slight stammer, a gentleman with a protective demeanor who becomes quite flustered around people that are famous or females that are nude. He is a hobbyist at solving crime puzzles, and has a slight mysterious air about him. But he is brilliant, along with being charming, and I considered him intriguing. His aura kept me churning through a confusing story about people with difficult names and motives. Keeping characters straight was a major hassle.

In 1900 Moscow a young woman joins a suicide club known as the Lovers of Death. The members read poetry at meetings and games are then played to decide which member will next commit suicide. It all seems preposterous at first but as the story goes along and the members are studied, their troubled minds are exposed, their predilection with death is revealed, and the reader comes to expect the deaths, if not understand them. Although the deaths come at each person’s own hand, someone else is doing the manipulating and facilitating. Figuring out the perpetrator becomes Fandoran’s (and the reader’s) challenge, as well as deciding how to end the club. The ending will remain a secret.

Akunin’s writing is somewhat ponderous and formal. The heaviness could get annoying, but it does add to the 19th century Russian setting. So my advice would be to read what interests you, glide across the tough parts, and then decide where you fall in the legion of admirers. There’s a lot to respect here.

Was this review helpful?

Are you into seances, death cults, poetry, mysteries, and early 1900s? Basically, were you a fan of the TV series "Penny Dreadful", whose third season we shall not speak of? If yes, this may be the book for you!

Somehow I'm the only person reading or having read this book, and I honestly think y'all are sleeping on it.

First, the negatives, to get them out of the way: close to the end, I was mostly ready for the book to be over. The finale dragged at first, then became ridiculous, and then abruptly ended. **SPOILER!!** Are we seriously supposed to believe that Erast was able to climb that well all by himself in a matter of seconds, start shooting, fall, but climb back up again, no problem? I'd also have liked to see Columbine for one last time after her final botched suicide attempt. **END SPOILER** Also, while I really enjoyed the multiple media (newspaper articles, letters, diary entries, etc.) in the beginning, the gimmick felt kinda forced by the end.

Ignoring the above, it was a very enjoyable story. I enjoyed the mystery, the mixed media storytelling, Erast Fandorin's presence (he's nothing original, an "uber smart and suave detective" is nothing new, but I still liked him), Columbine's POV (immature as hell but slowly getting better), and, of course, the creepy elements of the death cult.

(Note: I'm going to sound like such a millenial now, but I just couldn't get over the fact that the villain was called Doge, like the famous meme. I'm not kidding when I tell you I couldn't stop picturing the meme.)

All in all, I was very satisfied with the book, and I'm disappointed that I'm literally the only person on Goodreads speaking about it. Give it a chance!

Was this review helpful?