The Death of Achilles
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| Recent Russian language edition | |
| Author | Boris Akunin |
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| Original title (if not in English) | Смерть Ахиллеса |
| Translator | Andrew Bromfield |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian |
| Series | Erast Fandorin |
| Genre(s) | Historical, Mystery, Novel |
| Publisher | Zakharov (Russia), Random House (U.S.) |
| Released | 2005 (U.S.) |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0753820978 |
| Preceded by | Murder on the Leviathan |
| Followed by | The Jack of Spades |
The Death of Achilles (Russian: Смерть Ахиллеса) is the fourth novel in the Erast Fandorin series by Boris Akunin. Its subtitle is детектив о наемном убийце ("detective of the hired killer"). The novel is innovative in the sense that the story is told twice; halfway through, the point of view is switched from Fandorin to his nemesis. Only when the two stories reach the same time, the conclusion is told.
[edit] Plot
When Fandorin returns from Japan with his manservant Masa, he enters the service of Moscow governor Dolgoruki. Later that day, the White General Mikhail Sobolev, nicknamed the Russian Achilles and an old friend of Fandorin's, is found dead in the same hotel. Officially, he died of a heart attack, but Fandorin becomes suspicious when he talks with the body guards of the general. Fandorin had befriended these cossacks when he rooted out a Turkish spy during the siege of Pleven (see The Turkish Gambit). But the same cossacks now treat him with hostility.
Fandorin finds out the reason for their hostility as he discovers that the general had not really died in the hotel, but was moved there from the apartment of his mistress. Found dead in a compromising situation, the cossacks tried to prevent a scandal and protect the reputation of the general. But Fandorin looks even deeper and finds out that a large sum of money is missing. He learns that Sobolev is trying to raise funds to begin a political campaign, and Fandorin begins to suspect foul play. He finds that the general has been poisoned in a very clever manner, and the killer, Achimas, anticipated the cover up, which would ensure his safe getaway.
Achimas is a hired assassin, who has only failed three times in his career. One of those times was his assignment to kill Fandorin, when he just managed to kill Fandorin's wife, as Fandorin himself was chasing him (see The Winter Queen). In the unavoidable showdown, Achimas is slain by Fandorin.
[edit] Historical context
The figure of general Sobolev was based upon the White General Mikhail Skobelev. Skobelev died suddenly of a heart attack in 1882, and conspiracy theories state he had been poisoned by order of Tsar Alexander III.
The governor of Moscow, Dolgoruki, shares his surname with the founder of Moscow, Yuri Dolgoruki.
[edit] External links
- Complete online text of The Death of Achilles, in Russian, at Boris Akunin's official website.
- Interview with Boris Akunin, with references to The Death of Achilles
- Review by Sam Allis in the Boston Globe.
| Books by Boris Akunin |
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Erast Fandorin Series: The Winter Queen | The Turkish Gambit | Murder on the Leviathan | The Death of Achilles | The Jack of Spades | The Decorator Nicholas Fandorin Series: Altyn Tolobas | Out-of-School Reading | F.M. Sister Pelagiya Series: Pelagiya and the White Bulldog | Pelagiya and the Black Monk | Pelagiya and the Red Rooster Series Genres 2005: Children's Book | Spy Novel | Science Fiction Other works: Comedy/Tragedy | Fairy Tales for Idiots | The Seagull |
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