I circled back to read the Fandorin book I'd missed, and Akunin is also doing strange things in this narrative. The story is told from the point of view of an unreliable witness, but the 'unreliable' part is constantly corrected by Fandorin, which I suppose is a way to keep the reader on track with the wildly gyrating plot. The wild gyrations are a pity, because the novel is set amidst the coronation planning for Tsar Nicholas (yes, that one), and some of the incidents are historically accurate. Our narrator keeps complaining that Fandorin lectures him, and in the same way the author lectures the reader. Sigh. Not sure what to do about a series I had initially enjoyed. ( )

I just did not like the tone of the book; all the pomposity bored me as did the all of the lengthy erudite first person narratives of Afanasi Ziukin, the majordomo of Grand Duke George Alexandrovich.

Grand Duke Georgii Alexandrovich arrives in Moscow with three of his children for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas. During an afternoon stroll in the park, Georgii’s daughter Xenia is dragged away by bandits, only to be rescued by Erast Petrovich Fandorin and his Japanese sidekick, Masa. Then the group realizes that the four-year-old, Mikhail, has been taken in the ruckus.

A ransom letter arrives from the kidnapper demanding ransom in form of the Count Orlov Diamond from the royal coronation scepter.... and so the adventure began. ( )

Brilliant. Akunin never disappoints. "The Coronation" is one of his best. Even though it's really hard to pinpoint the best - his writing is superb throughout.

Here the story is told on behalf of the Head Butler for the royal/tzarist family - and how excellently told: with all the nuances of a person firmly established in his position; so we end up with two protagonists: Fandorin himself and Afanasii the butler, who inadvertently and reluctantly becomes our hero's helper, while vacillating between distrust and admiration for Fandorin. The mystery plot is skillfully sculpted on the background of real historical events - the coronation of the last Russian tzar and the horrible aftermath on the fairgrounds celebrating it.

The original Russian version came out a while ago, but I missed it somehow. English translation doesn't disappoint at all, though. An excellent, unforgettable read!!! ( )

At various times I've read the whole series that's been translated into English so far, and consider this episode the best so far. Narrated by the butler to one of the Romanov royal family, this tells of the coronation of Nicholas II--really, the kidnapping of one of the sons, a little boy, Mika, and the efforts of Fandorin, the butler, Afanasy, and others to rescue him and to keep out of the hands of the archcriminal, Dr. Lind, the Orlov diamond, which will play a part in the coronation. As ransom, Dr. Lind, asks for various Romanov jewels but consents to the family's "renting" the diamond until after the coronation then making the exchange. Incredible unexpected developments all through the story keep up the non-stop action. The conclusion came completely out of the blue!

Highly recommended. ( )

This book is wonderful and it made me work to fact check what things were like in Russia before the Bolshevik Revolution.
As for the detective Fandorin, he is resourceful, athletic, a master of disguises, insightful, is plagued by a nemesis, is a master of logic, and has a very useful sleuthing partner. Sound somewhat familiar? But he is definitely his own character, just as Russia is quite dissimilar from England even in this time of the final days of the tsars.
The investigation of the kidnapping mastermind, evil as he is, is full of twists and red herrings as well as action and adventure and is related by the chief butler to the royals who involves himself even more than he expects to.
This is one in a series ably translated by Andrew Bromfeld, but any floundering by this reader is not the fault of the author or translator, but my own ignorance of Russian history.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Grove Atlantic via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )