Pelagia and the Red Rooster

Boris Akunin

She is a cross between Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown, although the murders she investigates are rather more gruesome and brutal than Miss Marple ever encountered.

The action is set mainly in Russia in the late 19th century. Sister Pelagia is returning home on board a ship accompanied by Bishop Mitrofanii with whom she has a father/daughter relationship. Also on the ship are a motley collection of characters including pickpockets, Jewish zealots, Zionists and sodomites, all on their way to the Holy Land.

A horrible murder takes place on the ship of an alleged Messiah and Sister Pelagia inevitably gets drawn in to the ensuing investigation. State Counsellor Dolinin, who takes charge of the investigation, is smitten with Pelagia and asks for her help. The crime trail takes them to a forest in the Urals.

Fearing that Dolinin is falling in love with her, Pelagia travels on alone to the Holy Land on what becomes a spiritual journey.

In the meantime, Matvei Bentsionovich, the public prosecutor, continues the investigation in Russia. The story then alternates between the two detectives. The constant switching of points of view gives the story an episodic feel and increases the tension.

This is the third and final book in a series of three about Sister Pelagia. Although this is a translation, the prose is descriptive and flowing and the dialogue is particularly well written. The plot is rather convoluted and confusing at times. The ending is deliberately enigmatic and this may disappoint some readers.