The Coronation - Boris Akunin
The former State Counsellor Erast Fandorin becomes involved once again in official affairs of the highest order when Mikhail, the son of Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich one of the eminent members of the Russian Royal family is abducted in broad daylight in Moscow, only days before the coronation of Nicholas II. The abduction has been carried out by Dr Lind, a ruthless and highly dangerous criminal that Fandorin has been trailing for a number of years across Europe. Even though he is at the scene of the crime with his faithful Japanese servant Masa, Fandorin is once again unable to prevent Lind from carrying out the kidnapping. The stakes are high in this Fandorin adventure. Not only is the life of a young Prince in grave danger (Lind is not usually inclined to allow his hostages to live), but worse, the, the ransom demanded, a precious stone from the royal sceptre, threatens to derail the imminent coronation and tarnish the reputation and international standing of the Romanov Royal Fa...