Siberian Light

by Robin White

Siberian Light is a thriller set in Siberia as corrupt capitalism replaces corrupt communism. The protagonist is a former geologist who is now the mayor of a Siberian city. When he is called upon to investigate the death of a shady "bizness man," he must use all the resources he can muster, including his expertise in the exotic geology of the remote Siberian landscape. Played out on a broad and unfamiliar territory, the novel moves back and forth from a small Siberian city to the great Tungunska oil fields and to the Taiga forest where the endangered Siberian tiger is slowly disappearing.

As the novel opens, a shady Russian businessman has been killed in the Siberian oil town of Markovo. Gregori Nowek, the mayor of the city, begins an investigation at the behest of a Moscow bigwig, only to learn that a KGB retread, Kaznin, has taken charge of the open-and-shut case--to protect the real killers who work for his "Nomenklatura" bosses. They frame a beautiful Russian-American woman, a tiger researcher, for the murders, though Nowek has discovered evidence that points to foreign involvement, leading to the Russo-American venture. Only Nowek, a man who has given up hope in law and in the future, can save her, and by doing so find a way to restore faith and hope again.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Russia, Adult, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

442 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was unsure if I would really like this story. It is set in Siberia, Russia, so the character names and place names were unfamiliar to me. But, the story of the murder and the intrigue surrounding that murder began to engage me with the characters.

Gregori Nowek, the mayor of Markovo Ia small Siberian town) is ordered to investigate the brutal murder of a man as well as those of the two militia men who had initially responded to the scene. Although the political powers usurp the investigation, Nowek is determined to follow the few clues he had obtained - a fragment of cloth, American bullets and an unidentified bone - to find the killer. On the way to solving the crime, he stumbles over another more sinister plot which threatens the life of Dr. Annna Vereskaya (who studies endangered Siberian tigers), his daughter, and himself.

I loved this story and truly had to keep reading to find out what happened next.

[Pilsudski · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the opening scene of this book, the writing is also good, and there are some fun characters in it, however I liked the book less and less the longer I read. The main reason for this was the unbelievable plot. Why would Americans put other Americans in jail in Russia? It just doesn't make sense and it isn't explained either in the end. What do they gain by locking them in Russia instead of the US when the operational costs to do so are apparently not less than the costs would be in the US... And this when they're on top of an unexploited oilfield... despite these facts, that really got onto my nerves, this book had a lot of good things going on aswell. Overall it was an ok book but the plot is just too farfetched and nonsenical.

[Ursula Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was unusual and perhaps a little unbelievable, but I couldn't put the book down. I loved the main character and his sense of desperation, his side-kick who could survive anything, the tenderness felt for a dead wife, and the young woman full of spirit and determination. The settings were vivid and even "felt" cold. The realism of the failed Soviet oil drilling expeditions gave a lovely tone of authenticity.

[Rubberboots · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent thriller. The main character Nowek was great and so was the setting. The plot was well crafted and had a good pace. I thought the author missed on an opportunity to weave in Leroy into the fold - his introduction was great, but his part quickly fizzled. Other than that, nothing really outstanding / poor about the book - slightly above average.

[Anthony Ellerbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minor spoilers but the book has pretty graphic depictions of violence, murder, and rape so if that’s not your thing I’d advise against reading this. I’m not gonna say anything about the actual story itself and any of the characters so that’s why there’s no spoiler tag.

Anyway onto what I thought of the book.

Was an interesting read. Had a lot of intrigue and mystery to it. My favorite parts of the book are when the characters are actively investigating things and trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together and make sense of them.

The first 50 pages or so I didn’t really care for even though that’s the real set up of what is going to happen in the book. I loved the middle of the book which constitutes probably 250-300 pages of it. The ending was meh for me. Lots of action and a lot happening but I felt it lost touch to the mystery aspect of the book which I found more interesting. Feel like the conclusion to all the build up wasn’t anything special but it was decent enough.

A solid 4/5 stars.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thriller, set in Siberia with the local Mayor as hero/detective, struggling against the Russian Mafia, ex-KGB thugs and nasty multinationals, all set against a backdrop of the frozen wastes and a decaying Siberian town. The central thesis is actually a bit implausible (ok, unbelievable) but that doesn't spoil it. A real page-turner.

[Garth Pettersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Siberian Light. The setting (Siberian in the spring) worked well and the characters were all believable and interesting. The protagonist appealed to me, as he was just fallible and burdened enough to be real, and his sardonic wit kept the dialogue enjoyable. Now I have to find a copy of the sequel. Thank you to Larry O. for recommending the novel.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn this was good. I have very low expectations from battered hardcover thrillers I pick up in desperation at the library. But this one had it all: excellent writing, great characters, and a doozy of a plot. Loved it.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novel set in Siberia dealing with crime and corruption in an outpost town and a remote wilderness area. Gives a real feel for the rough side of everyday life in Russia and the breakdown in their society. Excellent plot and well - developed characters keep your interest throughout.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough to earn my time with a subsequent novel, The Ice Curtain. I liked the Representation of the Russian outlook on life, particularly the interaction between the main character, Nowak, and is driver - well done.

[Virginia]

I've started reading this book and it is quite interesting; however it has that depressing sort of atmosphere inherent in stories with this setting and I just wasn't in the mood for it at the moment. So it is shelved for the time being but I will pick it up & continue it soon.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tense, violent and intricately worked out thriller set in Northern Siberia. The mayor of a small town, Nowek, starts investigating a murder of a rich businessman and to policemen and gets involved in an illegal and murderous cooperation between Soviet authorities and an American-Russian joint venture AmerRuss supposedly exploring for oil but in reality a not-quite-plausible or well explained dumping ground for US prisoners (where is the cash in that?). The murder points to a woman who is too coincidentally like Nowek’s dead wife and who is trying to save the fast going extinct Siberian tiger. His16 year old daughter is abducted tortured and raped by a psychopath who works for AmerRuss, who also keeps a pet ferret in his pocket. All these threads come together in a real page turner, contrived but compulsive reading. The old Russian saying “Poor Russia, too far from God and too close to Siberia” describes this 1990s Russia. Government has broken down in these parts and the law is what the most powerful say it is, the Mafiya, who control AmerRuss. Possibly too violent, and a bit of self indulgence – LeRoy Jones and his gang rape isn’t really essential to the plot but gives some colour.

[H.R. Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complex thriller with a sinister plot
The main character of this fast-paced thriller is the mayor, Gregori Nowek. He is also a violinist and a geologist, not a law enforcement professional. He is drawn into a sinister mystery because of his role as Mayor and even though he is warned off, he is compelled to find the answer.

This Russo-American intrigue touches on issues that are relevant today. It has interesting characters, a great sense of place - being set in Siberia adds to the intrigue - and a thrilling read.

I enjoyed following the main character and his need to pursue justice while also pining for his dead wife and trying to parent his rebellious daughter. There is intrigue, suspense, a hint of romance, and it ends with hope.

A Quote I liked: "Mayor, troublemaker, musician. Piece by piece, note by note, we try to make the world a little bit better each time we play.'

A thrilling read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Happpy Flower · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the plus side: an exciting ending.
On the negative side: too much description of the bleak geography and landscape. I found myself skipping whole pages of description so I could get on with the story.

Also found the female characters not well developed. Why was the daughter so rebellious? We’re left to divine that. And why on earth is Anna so eager to get romantic with Nowek? She has bigger concerns, life and death ones.

Much suspension of disbelief required.

[Marty Greenwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book because it had Siberian in its title. About a mayor of a small town up against the Russian bad guys, ones who conspired with American companies and American bad guys. Slow moving, but not in a bad way. Maybe the slow details are packed with color and feeling. About the cold and what the cold does to people.

[Fiona · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off ok, then got progressively worse. Every Western cliche about post-Soviet Russia along with the most ridiculous plot ever. Clearly the author was too embarrassed to get a native Russian to proofread it, so the 'authentic' Russian phrases and even the characters' names are absolute nonsense.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thriller, set in Siberia with the local Mayor as hero/detective, struggling against the Russian Mafia, ex-KGB thugs and nasty multinationals, all set against a backdrop of the frozen wastes and a decaying Siberian town. The central thesis is actually a bit implausible (ok, unbelievable) but that doesn't spoil it. A real page-turner.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, a thriller with an unusual twist. A great group of characters. A smuggler, a former KGB agent, a beautiful animal rights activist, a old blind violinist and the survivor of the gulag camp.

[Morgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

History, culture, politics, and a mystery. When a leading citizen, and then the 2 police sent to investigate are murdered in the small Siberian town, its mayor investigates, against the wishes of the ruling party, risking his daughter's life as well as his own.

[Tonia Rome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t swept up immediately into the story as the Russian names and words were a little difficult to navigate at first. I am glad I stuck with it. The character development and story line was great and after the first three chapters I was hooked to the end.

[Sy DeMaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started out a little slow and gradually picked up speed. For whatever reason, I enjoyed this whodunnit and the window it provided into the clash of various business ethics in Russia. Nicely done.

[annalee ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful writing, interesting and thoughtful characters, but a confusing plot that left me with more questions than answers. I did enjoy this novel, but a little nitpick: Moscow, Idaho is not pronounced the same as Moscow, Russia, so that kind of irked me.

[Manavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and loved the Russian setting!

[Crt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Frank Consalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book I really loved the main character and whole story. Recommended.

[Jim Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The storyline was hard to follow at times but the descriptions of spring in Siberia, of the language and culture and politics of Russia kept me hooked.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would make an excellent movie.

[Kristine L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brittle characters and a predictable plot. Wake me when it's over. Or hand over the industrial strength No Doze. Maybe both.

[Meikoningin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Siberian Light by Robin White

Siberia, land of hope and desperation. A place of unimaginable wealth and unimaginable greed. Gregori Nowek is the mayor of the small river town of Markovo. He is ordered to investigate the killing of three men. Two of them are members of his own militia. The third is a man who has made a fortune from an American-financed oil exploration deal. The investigation leads Nowek into a labyrinth of deception and ends with a terrible discovery: an old horror, long thought dead, has reemerged amid the frozen wastes of Siberia. Gregori Nowek is an amateur violinist, former oil geologist and a man of reason. He believes in law even though he lievs in a lawless nation. He still holds fast to a flicker of hope; hope for the future and hope for himself. It remains hidden, waiting to be ignited by Anna Vereskaya, an American ecologist and savior to the endangered Siberian tiger. When Anna is named the prime suspect in Ryzkhov's murder Nowek wants to believe she is innocent. Anna has come to Siberia to study and save the great Siberian tiger. Instead, she has found the dangerous edge of a brutal conspiracy that draws them both into a hunt for the truth and a desperate race for survival. Siberian Light captures the agonies of a nation catapulted into the twenty-first century from the deep sleep of communism. This read started off ok but lost it quite early on. The characters are ok but not too likeable.The book sports every Western cliche about post-Soviet Russia, Russians may well find it offensive. The writing style is a bit stiff. The plot was too unbelievable: Americans putting Americans in a Russian jails. To make things worse: there is no explanation. 2,5 out of 5,0 for this one.

[Red Haircrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The details of Russian interaction and life, the self-deprecating humor, and pragatism which occasionally borders fatalism all wrapped together with a fierce sense of self is what I greatly loved about this book. The author set the tone so exactly to what I observed, it was like being back in Russia again. The story is not overly complicated and is entirely believable for the most part although some aspects later in the story, some characters and situations were sensationalized in a strange, unexpected way that did not fit with what had gone before. Just odd, was my feeling, but it was the author's story to tale. Except for those details and scenes, which you'll discover if you read it through, it's an engrossing action filled story of suspense.