Vadim Book

In 2020, as a divided and impoverished Russia is driven further into chaos by refugees fleeing, and spreading, a TB epidemic, former policeman Vadim is sent to the US to scout for football players; he does not like acting as errand boy for his old friend Roy, political boss of the North East, but it is better than the possibly fatal alternatives. He finds himself caught up in the affairs of Katerina, the drunken Russian wife of Presidential hopeful Rushton; very soon, he finds himself helping to investigate her abduction and murder and that of Rushton's niece by a serial killer controlled enough to work for hire. He also finds himself hopelessly in love with Katerina's blind daughter... Vadim is an intelligent book about politics and justice. Rushton is campaigning on a programme of massive aid to Russia and when the question arises of whether he is involved with the murders, knowingly or unknowingly, Vadim has to balance different sorts of public good and personal loyalty. Intelligent about the American political process and the roots of Russian organised crime, informed about everything from gulag executions to likely developments in ophthalmic surgery, this combines whodunit, political thriller and sheer excitement in an impressive package. --Roz KaveneyRead More