The Twelfth Department

By: William Ryan

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Captain Alexei Korolev has nothing to complain about. He has his own room in an apartment, a job in the police force that puts food on the table, and his good health. In Moscow in 1937, that's a lot more than most people have to be grateful for. But for the first time in a long time, Korolev is about to be truly happy: his son Yuri is coming to visit for an entire week.

Shortly after Yuri's arrival, however, Korolev receives an urgent call from his boss - it seems an important man has been murdered, and Korolev is the only detective they're willing to assign to this sensitive case. In fact, Korolev realizes almost immediately that the layers of sensitivity and secrecy surrounding this case far exceed his pay grade. And the consequences of interfering with a case tied to State Security or the NKVD can be severe - you might lose your job, if you're lucky. Your whole family might die if you're not. Korolev is suddenly faced with much more than just discovering a murderer's identity; he must decide how far he'll go to see justice served... and what he's willing to do to protect his family.

©2013 William Ryan (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"While the police work will keep readers engaged, the series' chief strength comes from Ryan's skillful evocation of everyday life under Stalin." ( Publishers Weekly)

A Who Dunnit Set in Pre-WWII Moscow

Not a great story, but a good story set in pre-WWII Moscow. Although not a page turner, I never lost interest and I enjoyed the novel setting and cast - a police detective investigating a murder caught between warring factions of the secret police. Ryan does a good job of portraying life in pre-WWII Moscow and he creates a sense of tension while helping to illuminate what it was like to fear the state and its informers.

Always entertaining and thoughtful

I love this series and I was a little concerned to see that there was a new reader but he did a great job. Worth the credit!