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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Relevant to Today's Political Climate, 11 Jan 2010
In the "State Counsellor" Akunin once again hits the target squarely in the middle. In the last decade of the nineteenth century, terrorists (nationalists, socialists, anarchists and just plain crazies) hunted and killed not just Monarchs and Generals, but Politicians and anyone in authority. At the beginning of this novel a man disguised as Fandorin murders the new Governor General of Siberia, in a train that is packed with soldiers. The knife has the letters "CG" for Combat Group etched into the blade. The CG is the militant arm of the Socialist Party and the successor to the "People's Will".
Fandorin's job is to find not only the killer but also the CG. Unknown to Fandorin (at least at the beginning), there is a 'leak' in the Police Department/ Internal Security. The leak (under the initials "TG") is supplying the CG with information to be used to eliminate high state officials. An officer from St. Petersberg (an aide-de-camp) of the Tsar, is sent to Moscow to take over the investigation. It appears that the Governor General of Moscow (and Fandorin's mentor) is about to be 'retired', leaving Fandorin without a 'patron'.
As always, under Akunin's deft hand, Fandorin is able to triumph over all sorts of plots and counter-plots, not to mention some unlikely turncoats. The one weakness in this story is the authors heavy handed treatment of three romances that go on as a backdrop to the story which seem to be superfluous. As in many Russian stories, there appears to be a level of anti-semetism in the book, but it's hard to tell whether Akunin means for this to be an accusation of the society at that time or an indictment of current Russian society.
There is an interesting epilogue, which to mention would be a huge spoiler. You will though, see a major change to Fandorin's character in the next book.
Zeev Wolfe
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slightly flawed, but still terrific!, 8 Jan 2010
"The State Counsellor", the sixth book in the Erast Fandorin series, sees the beloved gentleman sleuth investigating the murder of the Governor General of Siberia by terrorists. But only after proving his own innocence first. Our hero, using his razor-sharp powers of deduction, quickly concludes he has been framed and that there is an informer in the ranks, and then sets out to expose the traitor.
The translation is superb and the book itself is a delight, although the conclusions become obvious three quarters through. Despite the subtle humour in the story, however, the tone of the book is slightly less playful than before. We see, as one reviewer rightly commented, a more vulnerable, more human side to Fandorin. But even so, the character remains as charismatic, as enigmatic and as debonair as he has ever done.
One problem I had with the book was that different names were used for the same characters. It distracted me from the story at times. Unfortunately, this is something beyond the translator's control, due to Russian language conventions. 'Tis most confusing for the reader, though!
The muddle with the names aside, the Erast Fandorin series still remains an utter gem and the author has not let us down with " The State Counsellor". I've gone on to buy the next instalment and I've every confidence Mr Akunin will deliver the goods once again.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boris Akunin does it again!, 10 April 2009
I have now purchased all of this series' books since I found them in Russia in January 09. if you like nice detective work, full of descriptions of 19th century Russia, this is for you. I especially like the way the author starts the chapters with a comment that entice you to continue for example "Chapter 4, in which Fandorin realises that his day will end up worse than it started". A real gem and very enjoyable!
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by Boris Akunin
by Boris Akunin
by Boris Akunin
by Boris Akunin
