Pelagia And The Black Monk
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The young nun;s second outing is as well-plotted, suspenseful and entertaining as her first. (Anna Carey The Gloss )
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Just as the dust from the case of the White Bulldog begins to settle in the small Russian town of Zavolzhsk, its sleepy rural existence is shaken up once again by the arrival of a desperately frightened monk who seeks the help of the bishop, Mitrofanii. The monks have been troubled by visions of a dark, hooded figure that appears to walk on the waters of the vast Blue Lake surrounding their monastery. Sceptical of ghost stories, Mitrofanii sends first his clever young ward, then two of his most trusted advisors, to investigate the mystery. All meet with unexpected fates. Finally Sister Pelagia takes matters into her own hands and, adopting a number of ingenious disguises, she ventures across the Blue Lake in search of answers. As she delves deeper into the layers of secrecy that cloak the islanders, and as the body count continues to rise, Pelagia begins to realise that an encounter with a ghost may be the least of her problems...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I started reading the Akunin novels a year or so ago and have been totally hooked on all of them. I was delighted when Sister Pelagia came along to add to the outstanding Fandorin novels. Althought The White Bulldog opener was a little slow to get going it introduced the foundations on which The Black Monk grows and grows. Akunin has a way of enticing you into the novel and the structure of this one is no different - cleverly conceived with a slight "off the wall" feel that keeps you turning that extra page. Although some of the Russian names can take a while to become accustomed to this in no way detracts from the plot and the strength of the characters involved. Here's hoping the next UK publication of either Fandorin or Sister Pelagia is not far away.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In an isolated religious community and resort for the pious, the ghost of its founder has appeared to strike terror into the hearts of monks and visitors alike. When a series of terrible fates meet investigators sent by the Bishop, Mitrofanii, Sister Pelagia takes it upon herself to track down the secret of a ghost - and a murderer.
Apparently, Boris Akunin tries to write his each books in the style of a different mystery or adventure genre and Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk is plainly the 'Scooby Doo' entry into the canon. A creepy old ghost scaring people away from a popular resort community for mysterious ends? What else could it be!
This isn't a criticism by any means - Pelagia and the Black Monk is an accomplished piece of writing and murder mystery in its own right, and tremendously enjoyable to boot. I have to admit I certainly didn't work out the identity of the ghostly villain until late on, even though the clues were all there.
It's enjoyable seeing familiar genre tropes presented in a distinctively Russian manner - sometimes fatalistic, sometimes stoical but always with tongue slightly in cheek. Coincidences abound, characters pop from the page in gleeful description and the pages turn with definite pleasure. Recommended.
Apparently, Boris Akunin tries to write his each books in the style of a different mystery or adventure genre and Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk is plainly the 'Scooby Doo' entry into the canon. A creepy old ghost scaring people away from a popular resort community for mysterious ends? What else could it be!
This isn't a criticism by any means - Pelagia and the Black Monk is an accomplished piece of writing and murder mystery in its own right, and tremendously enjoyable to boot. I have to admit I certainly didn't work out the identity of the ghostly villain until late on, even though the clues were all there.
It's enjoyable seeing familiar genre tropes presented in a distinctively Russian manner - sometimes fatalistic, sometimes stoical but always with tongue slightly in cheek. Coincidences abound, characters pop from the page in gleeful description and the pages turn with definite pleasure. Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Akunin's second Pelagia novel is even better than the first. Having spent a lot of time providing background on the characters, the period and their location in The White Bulldog with some long diversions into mild philosophising (entertaining and highly readable though it was) - the new book, as promised at the end of the last, goes straight into the mystery with little beating around the bush.
That said, it's a while before Sister Pelagia leaps into action, and only after Bishop Mitrofanii's other trusted emissaries have failed - quite shockingly - in their attempts to uncover who or what is behind the fearsome apparition of a ghostly Black Monk at a popular place of religious retreat. Akunin handles all aspects of the thriller masterfully, with marvellous characterisation, borrowing from classic Russian literature, but putting a modern murder-mystery twist on proceedings, with plenty of cliff-hanging thrills and a genuinely unexpected outcome.
That said, it's a while before Sister Pelagia leaps into action, and only after Bishop Mitrofanii's other trusted emissaries have failed - quite shockingly - in their attempts to uncover who or what is behind the fearsome apparition of a ghostly Black Monk at a popular place of religious retreat. Akunin handles all aspects of the thriller masterfully, with marvellous characterisation, borrowing from classic Russian literature, but putting a modern murder-mystery twist on proceedings, with plenty of cliff-hanging thrills and a genuinely unexpected outcome.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not to be missed
One sees on the dust-jackets of Boris Akunin's books excerpts from reviews in the press saying things like "the Russian Sir Arthur Conan Doyle". Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by Michael
Russian response to Cadfael :-)
Akunin's imagination and ability to create characters that are "living and breathing" is remarkable! Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2008 by N. Van Reenen
Miles better than the White Bulldog!
I like Pelagia and the White Bulldog, but this sequel is just so much better. It was a good idea idea by the author to have a nun as a main character as a change to his more well... Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2008 by Jane Austen
Akunin finds new ways to mistify and amaze
As a pure mystery, this is probably the best novel Akunin has ever written and its other elements are not far behind. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2007 by SM
Fantastic book
I just finished reading Pelagia and the Black Monk, and I must say it is a fantastic book. Whereas the first Pelagia book might have been a tiny bit slow, the plot of this second... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2007 by M. Gaskill
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