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Published Jun 2009
400 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
Through seven previous novels, Reggie Nadelson has created one of the more memorable characters in detective fiction: Artie Cohen, New York police detective and first-generation American with complex ties to his Russian past, especially his close friendship with the enigmatic and flamboyant New York/London club owner Tolya Sverdloff. Now, in Londongrad—by far Nadelson's most ambitious novel to date—Artie is faced with a murder that strikes at him personally and will ultimately place his best friend’s life in his hands as it challenges his own loyalty.
In a playground in Brooklyn, Artie is led to a dead girl tied up in duct tape on a children's swing. He soon realizes the killer murdered the wrong girl—the intended victim was Valentina Sverdloff, Tolya's daughter, long adored by Artie. Artie flies to London to tell Tolya and finds himself enmeshed on his friend's behalf in a maelstrom of Russian money and crime. Like Berlin at the end of World War II, somebody tells Artie, Londongrad, as it's known, has become an offshore island for the new Russian underworld. Over his head, Artie is drawn further in, to Moscow, where, balancing between the old KGB and the new FSB, between the dazzle and grimness of Russia today, he uncovers a painful truth about his past that puts Tolya's life in the balance.
"Starred Review...Outstanding." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. There is an almost surreal fury to the action in an Artie Cohen novel, and if the narrative voice seems to falter now and again, such infelicities of style are quickly forgotten as one's pulse rate accelerates." - Booklist
"Starred Review. ... Nadelson explores what happens when the desire for increased wealth and power backfires. Fans of Daniel Silva may find much to enjoy here." - Library Journal
"[I]f the narrative voice seems to falter now and again, such infelicities of style are quickly forgotten as one’s pulse rate accelerates." - Booklist
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Reggie Nadelson is the author of Fresh Kills, Red Hook, Disturbed Earth, and four other Artie Cohen novels. Comrade Rockstar, her biography of Dean Reed, the American émigré who became the biggest rock star in the Soviet Union, was bought by Tom Hanks for a feature film. A journalist and documentary filmmaker, she lives in New York City.
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