The Samovar Murders

The Matyushkin Case Files #4

by Alexei Bayer

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of. Brought in to oversee the local militia investigation, Pavel Matyushkin soon realizes that not all is what it seems, that there are hidden forces at play in this case, both in the government and in the shadowy world of organized crime.In this fourth installment in the Matyushkin Case Files, the dogged detective uncovers not just sordid crimes and petty jealousies, but also a dark and little-known chapter in Soviet history – what happened to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers crippled in the Second World War. The result is not only a page-turning mystery full of compelling characters, but one that reveals important historical events largely forgotten.

Genres: Mystery

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2019

About the author

Came to the US in 1975. Worked at a print shop on Long Island, graduated from Columbia College in 1980 with a degree in Italian literature. Studied in Bologna, Italy and got an MA in International Economics from The Johns Hopkins SAIS program. Worked for Educational Testing Service, for A. Gary Shilling, a Wall Street consultancy, Standard & Poor's, The Economist Publications. Started my own economic consulting firm, KAFAN FX Information Services.
Started writing fiction in 1990. Published short stories and poems in Kenyon Review, New England Review, Salamander, River City and other publications. A collection of short stories, Europtrash, came out in Moscow in 2004 in a Russian translation by writer Andrei Gelasimov.
Translated from Russian both contemporary works of prose and poetry and Russian 18th and 19th century classical writers, including Maya Kucherskaya's New Paterikon, published in English as Faith and Humor from Muscovy.
First murder mystery, Murder at the Dacha, published in 2013, followed by a prequel, Latchkey Murders (2015) and a sequel, Murder and the Muse (2016).
Just finished Children of the Ark, a sci-fi novel set in 2276; finishing a novel set in a New York suburb and the fourth Russian mystery, to feature gangs of disabled WWII veterans.

Reviews

[Alastor Moopy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentin Kotov, a renowned poet and war hero has been brutally murdered. All evidence points to young Joseph Kofunda, an African student who was the last person seen with the victim. This is a police procedural set in Soviet Russia some years after WWII. Along with the view of how the law and justice works in that environment we get a nice glimpse into everyday life under authoritarian rule. The results veer between horrific and comedic.
'Socialist Justice is True Justice' reads the banner in the courtroom, while the Judge and People's Assessors look as if they have been selected by Mosfilm Casting. None of which prevents the trial from turning into a farce.
Major Yegorov the police chief is another caricature with his pride at being able to get confessions with menaces.
Then there are the war veterans who have been used and abused by the system and have formed their own ways to protect themselves.
Fortunately for poor Kofunda, Lieutenant Matyushkin of Moscow Criminal Investigations has doubts about the case and
wont let bureaucratic interference or his partners idiosyncrasies get in the way.
The story is compelling and you can't put it down once you start. Each character has their flaws and noble qualities and each one is utterly believable.
An excellent addition to the crime genre and highly recommended.

[Maria Rivas-mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the height of the Christmas season and there is so much happening. Yet I find I must find time for The Samovar Murders. The novel is set in 1960s Russia. A famous poet has been killed and the son of a recently deposed African president ‘confesses’. The case has political implications and everyone goes into CYA mode. Everyone, that is, except Pavel Matyushkin, a detective who can’t seem to let go and follows the trail - in spite of official warnings - wherever it leads. The mystery itself is great; even better for me is the peep into life as it was then for the ordinary Russian citizen: the communal living, the underbelly inhabited by men made into ‘samovars’’ by WWII, and - the war itself:
“A human wall will have grown out of the white steppe and will move relentlessly on the German positions, cutting through the coils of barbed wire or climbing over the bodies of the shtrafbat, engaging the Germans in brutal hand-to-hand combat. And, through it all, pulsating, ebbing and flowing and never breaking off, will be the thunderous, debilitating, heart-stopping Hooraaaaaaaay, Hooraaaaay-aaaaaay, Hooraaaaay-aaaaay-aaaaaaay.”
Gripping. Horrific. Satisfying. Alexei Bayer’s book is worth the read. My thanks to the Author and Booktasters for facilitating a complimentary copy for a fair review.

[Pramit Deb Burman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book after finding it listed in an author-reader program that allows the readers to read the books participating in this program in exchange of their honest reviews. The very first thing that ignited my interest was its name, that clearly points to a place and time, often shrouded in mystery for many of us. While reading the book, I had a feeling that 'The Samovar Murders' is not only a gripping crime thriller, but it surely excels beyond that to be a historical deed of an era. The author brings out the plight of common people under autocratic rules which often have priorities that comes at the expense of the citizens' basic human rights. The trumpet of victorious ruler often engulfs the agonies of war victims including ex-soldiers. The description of the contemporary world politics could not probably be any better, where no decision is is taken without self-interest and the boundary of good and bad is not tightly drawn. The humane side of the protagonist is shown along with his professional commitment which is much hopeful for the civil society. The author tells the story with realistic description of the characters and their lives, laced with a fine dose of hard-hitting sarcasm, however never allows the crime investigation to go slow while doing so. Overall, this book surely met my expectation.

[Vicky davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts in the midst of WW2 and then jumps to post war Russia, where the majority of it is set. A detective of the MUR is asked by his superior to investigate the supposed open and shut case of a murdered war poet, but then almost immediately told to step back from it for diplomatic reasons. Suspecting injustice but feeling his hands are tied, he tries to work on a previous case with his partner, but repeatedly finds himself drawn back to the murder.
There are flash backs to a character during the war, but at first we’re not sure who. The descriptions of the horrors of war are truly effective and informative and the author writes with such attention to detail you feel you are learning about post war Russia too.

I was privileged to be given a free copy of this book on the understanding I would submit a fair and honest review

[Vasiliki Mazis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good murder mystery but also have a soft spot for anything Russian or set in Russia; This story takes place in post World War Two Soviet Union but its characters and their actions have been greatly impacted by, what Russians refer to as The Great Patriot War. Two detectives, Lenny and the narrator, Matyushkin, are detectives who initially are investigating a crime involving some illegal activity in a market but then get assigned a murder case of a great Soviet poet; the suspect is an African student whose family had political ties to the Soviet Union. What seems to be two separate crime stories are carefully interwoven by the end. Murder is clearly not just murder in this society; this is a story that explores the suffering and the complexities of life during and after the war and presents a fascinating array of characters. I loved this and highly recommend it;

[Kathleen Rohmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is not light reading. I really enjoyed the intricacies of the plot and wish I had read it sooner. I think if I had read the first three novels, it would be even better, but it definitely can stand alone. This interesting and exciting story by Bayer does a marvelous job of character development. I thoroughly got to know Pavel Matyushkin, but did not find him predictable like so many other detective stories. I plan to go back and read the first three novels and then read this one again. I found the glimpse into life in Russia during WWII very intriguing and original. You certainly have to pay attention while reading this novel-- it’s not light reading. However, once you get into the story, it is worth the time spent on it.

[Ryan Kurr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre and content of this book were very far outside of what I normally read. I skip around between genres every now and then when I see or hear about something that interests me, but often I miss things that I might enjoy simply because I think that I might not like them. I found myself very intrigued and engaged shortly after I began. It's not what I would call a light read, you definitely have to invest in the writing if you want to truly enjoy it. The characters felt real and genuine, which is important for something set in a different time period and dealing with war and politics. If you normally don't read something on this subject matter, I would highly recommend this book for a jump into a pool of mystery and intrigue!

[Emmett Hoops · Rating 5 out of 5]

This detective novel is so well written that I felt like I was returning to an old friend when I resumed reading it. Pavel Matyushkin is a doggedly determined member of Moscow Criminal Investigations, whose efforts are hampered by half-witted bureaucrats in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Along the way, you'll get vivid descriptions of Moscow and Soviet life in the 1960s. I especially liked the description of a typical Moscow apartment building: smelling of sour cooking, cat urine, and cigarette smoke. I'm looking forward to the next Matyushkin case file.

[Chandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, finished reading the excellent book written by Alexei Bayer. Generally, when I read the mystery genre books these days, most seem to be working in the same structure, with only a few exceptions. Gladly, this book goes to the later group. The author simply took it as a challenge to follow the traditional structure of story-line and begin the story, and actually finish with an ending you may or may not have assumed as a possibility; yet you are thrilled to see it actually happening. Very good to read, if you can find the time to read thoroughly... happy reading!

[Christine Vazou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing detective book novel which sets the perfect mood if you love the mystery genre with an ending, I personally had not seen it coming. The book is mainly set during 1960s Russia with various flashbacks set during WW2. Aside from the main plot of the book, it was also the flashbacks that contributed much for me to love this book since it depicts what we all should never forget, what a terrible thing war is. I would totally recommend this book to all mystery lovers. Congratulations to the author!!

[Yolisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Pavel Matyushkin is assigned a murder case of a prolific War Poet.He is given instructions that he has to follow but as usual,he doesn't completely follow them.Instead he follows his gut,exposes a lie,finds himself in deep trouble.
Because of his integrity an innocent man gets to be released.He makes an interesting discovery that leads to a dubious character's arrest and saves another police officer's reputation.

[Puneet Sapaliga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime, detective, mystery genre books fascinates me & Samovar Murders didn't disappoint me at all.
The plot has been interesting & full of surprises. A glimpse of historical events is introduced in between to give a better understanding of the various characters involved. The narration is simple & easy to understand.
With so many twists and turns in the murder case, the author has kept the readers glued to the book.
I recommended this book for those interested in Murder mystery.

[Daniel Genis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather liked this detective story , although the English typos and mistranslations were irritating. It was a good period piece. Fun and quick.

[Vasiliki Mazis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good murder mystery but also have a soft spot for anything Russian or set in Russia; This story takes place in post World War Two Soviet Union but its characters and their actions have been greatly impacted by, what Russians refer to as The Great Patriot War. Two detectives, Lenny and the narrator, Matyushkin, are detectives who initially are investigating a crime involving some illegal activity in a market but then get assigned a murder case of a great Soviet poet; the suspect is an African student whose family had political ties to the Soviet Union. What seems to be two separate crime stories are carefully interwoven by the end. Murder is clearly not just murder in this society; this is a story that explores the suffering and the complexities of life during and after the war and presents a fascinating array of characters. I loved this and highly recommend it;