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The Volga Ruby
As the European Powers indulge in an arms race that will eventually lead to war the rival empires court the favour of Russia, seeking to secure an alliance that will bring Russia into any war on their side. On the domestic front The Tsar is trying to consolidate power after the failed revolution of 1905 and the creation of the Duma, Russia's first step towards parliamentary democracy. Into this scene enters James Fitzhugh, a British Military Attach‚, sent to Russia to work with the Russian military and help smooth the way to a firm treaty. Soon, however, thanks to a few words overheard by a friend, James is plunged into the middle of a world of plot and intrigue while the future of Russia and her treaty with the British hangs in the balance. Set against the grand architecture of early twentieth century St Petersburg The Volga Ruby is an adventure in the old tradition of adventure stories...
220 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2008
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 29, 2010
I had this book for some time on my shelf and the only reason I had been avoiding it was that it’s set in 1907 Russia and I have absolutely no knowledge about that time period. This being a story around true events and places, I thought a little knowledge would be helpful.
But one day I just picked it up and before I knew I was almost 70 pages in. I had been worried about nothing. The Volga Ruby is a novel that instantly pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages. It’s a story about an Englishman James who is in Russia working as a British Military Attach‚. When the book begins he requests for a meeting with the English Ambassador to let him know about a plot to assassinate the Tsar. The plot is possibly being hatched by one of Tsar’s closest associates and someone who has a lot of power in the court, Count Berovsky. The ambassador assures him that he will take the appropriate action.
When James gets in trouble with one of the bad guys, he is asked to leave Russia for London. Thus begins an adventure to save himself from possible humiliation and making a mark for himself. He also gets involved in blowing the cover of the conspiracy which endangers his life further.
I enjoyed reading the book immensely. I liked reading about a place and time I had never read before and spent a lot of time on the internet looking up Tsarskoe Selo, Church on the Spilled Blood, Troitsky Bridge, Winter Palace and so many other things including real events. I like it when a book does that, makes me want to know more about a place or an event, broadens my knowledge. On the flip side, there were a couple of printing mistakes but nothing that could spoil my reading experience.
Although The Volga Ruby is an adventure that involves the Tsar, Russian politics and the future of entire Russia, it’s surprisingly a very cozy mystery, the one that should be read curled up under a blanket with a cup of chai.
But one day I just picked it up and before I knew I was almost 70 pages in. I had been worried about nothing. The Volga Ruby is a novel that instantly pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages. It’s a story about an Englishman James who is in Russia working as a British Military Attach‚. When the book begins he requests for a meeting with the English Ambassador to let him know about a plot to assassinate the Tsar. The plot is possibly being hatched by one of Tsar’s closest associates and someone who has a lot of power in the court, Count Berovsky. The ambassador assures him that he will take the appropriate action.
When James gets in trouble with one of the bad guys, he is asked to leave Russia for London. Thus begins an adventure to save himself from possible humiliation and making a mark for himself. He also gets involved in blowing the cover of the conspiracy which endangers his life further.
I enjoyed reading the book immensely. I liked reading about a place and time I had never read before and spent a lot of time on the internet looking up Tsarskoe Selo, Church on the Spilled Blood, Troitsky Bridge, Winter Palace and so many other things including real events. I like it when a book does that, makes me want to know more about a place or an event, broadens my knowledge. On the flip side, there were a couple of printing mistakes but nothing that could spoil my reading experience.
Although The Volga Ruby is an adventure that involves the Tsar, Russian politics and the future of entire Russia, it’s surprisingly a very cozy mystery, the one that should be read curled up under a blanket with a cup of chai.
Displaying 1 of 1 review