The Coronation - Boris Akunin
Despite the setting, The Coronation is in essence little more than a regular hostage drama, Fandorin contriving to draw out the handing over of the ultimate ransom and keeping Mika alive until the Coronation has taken place, by which time he hopes to have enough information and preparation to make an assault on Dr Lind. A regular historical adventure and crime thriller, the novel however takes on another level through the brilliance of Akunin’s writing, pacing, characterisation and historical research. Written from the perspective of the rather stuffy, protocol-insistent Royal Major-domo Afanassi Zioukine, Akunin is able to contrast the sentiments and behaviour of the period with the methods of Fandorin, bringing authenticity to the setting as well as a great dynamic and humour in all the intrigue of the Royal Court’s romances, rivalries and scandals. Nothing new for an Akunin Fandorin novel, but as hugely entertaining as any of the others.
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