Man of Bones: From the author of The Times 'Thriller of the Year'

In "The Winter Room," a detective investigates a murder in Stalinist Russia, unearthing a dark and hidden episode in Bolshevik history. The novel is a thrilling and complex thriller that was praised by critics and shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2024
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

The acclaimed author of "The Times Thriller of the Year" and "CWA Gold Dagger Shortlisted" returns with a captivating novel that transports readers to Stalinist Russia. With evocative detail and a pervasive sense of dread and menace, this novel immerses readers in the heart of Leningrad during the winter of 1953.

Ben Creed possesses a genuine gift for conjuring up the beauty and misery of Stalin's Leningrad. The Financial Times praises his ability to bring the city to life, describing it as "a genuine gift for conjuring up Stalin's Leningrad in all its beauty and misery."

As the story unfolds, two bodies are found near the towering statue of Lenin outside the Finland Station. At first, it appears to be a simple hit-and-run, with an officer in the MGB secret police assuring a militia detective that there is nothing sinister about the incident. However, Revol Rossel, who has just been released from a brutal Siberian labor camp and is determined to find his missing sister, knows that it is murder.

His alcoholic and broken superior officer, Captain Lipukhin, sees this as his chance to become a true Soviet hero. He seizes upon the case and enlists the help of sharp-witted Senior Lieutenant Lidia Gerashvili and Major Nikitin, the interrogator who once cut off Rossel's fingers. Together, they set off on the trail of a murderer whose crimes surpass those of even the deranged tsar Ivan the Terrible.

The trail leads them to a dark, hidden episode in Bolshevik history filled with unspeakable horrors. There is only one eyewitness to the crime - Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, whose giant right hand stretches out towards the frozen River Neva. Lenin, Rossel thinks, seems to be pointing at someone. But who?

"The Interrogator" is a tense, complex thriller that keeps readers engrossed from start to finish. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is meticulously orchestrated. The novel is a worthy successor to Cruz Smith's "A.," and fans of historical fiction and thrillers alike will appreciate this compelling and atmospheric story.

In conclusion, "The Interrogator" is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and thrillers. Ben Creed's ability to transport readers to Stalinist Russia and evoke the sense of dread and menace that permeated everyday life is truly impressive. This novel is a testament to his talent as a writer and a must-have for fans of his work.

Weight: 668g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802793123