Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk

Boris Akunin first made a name for himself in the West with his Erast Fandorin series of detective novels set in 19th century Russia. He has shelved Fandorin for Sister Pelagia, a young nun stationed in a provincial Russia capital who serves the Bishop Mitrofanii. The Black Monk picks up, literally, where Akunin's first Sister Pelagia book ended. Thus, first things first, no one should read this book without having read Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog: A Mystery. A frightened monk roars into town proclaiming that Saint Basilisk has returned to a provincial religious retreat and is haunting the town. The religious retreat consists of two islands: on the smaller island is St. Basilisk's Hermitage now inhabited only by three hermits; on the larger island, an ambitious abbot (archimandrite) has turned the monastery into a thriving spiritual tourist attraction. Mitrofanii dispatches one investigator after another, but each meets with some ill turn or another. Inevitably, Pelagia goes to the island in her disguise as a Muscovite lady. With The Black Monk, Akunin has moved beyond the realm of genre or pulp fiction and into literature on a plane with Umberto Eco (one of his influences). But don't worry! Akunin still sets us a good mystery - or two or three - and combines that with compelling psychological studies of his characters' motivations and compulsions and a clash of mysticism with science - not to mention some funny if implicit commentary on commercialism in modern Russia. Akunin works under the spell of Dostoevsky and Chekov to name only two. Indeed, the book's title comes from a Chekov short story of the same name (See Chekhov, The Selected Stories of). One of Akunin's characters is reading Dostoevsky's The Possessed (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics) (also known as The Devils) and lends it another character, an actor who fully absorbs himself into his roles and who also happens to be an inmate at the open air psychiatric clinic on the island! What could possibly go wrong? Highest recommendation.

When a terrified monk arrives in the middle of the night begging Bishop Mitrofanii of Zavolzhsk for assistance in determining the origin of a mysterious, dark hooded figure thought to be St. Basilik, the Bishop gladly complies. He sends several emissaries to the New Ararat monastery to investigate, yet all of them fail in their mission, some meeting with foul play. Finally he has no choice but to allow the indomitable Sister Pelagia to try her hand at solving the mystery. Pelagia must carefully disguise herself for her adventures at New Ararat. No nuns allowed. However, female seekers are permitted, and the nun soon leaves behind her standard garb and dresses herself as a fashionable lady. Determined to succeed where several men have failed, Pelagia is up to the challenge, however. No shrinking violet, she believes firmly that women are not the weaker sex. But circumstances soon dictate another change of costume: ditching her initial disguise, Pelagia turns herself into a young monk, which gains her access to all she needs to solve the mystery of the mysterious monk. Is the appearance of the black monk human subterfuge, or the appearance of the ghost of St. Basilik? As Pelagia inches closer and closer to the truth, her own life becomes endangered. The thirtysomething bespectacled nun must tread carefully if she is to solve the mystery and preserve her own well-being. The solving of mysteries is certainly much more exciting than the knitting with which she usually occupies herself. Pelagia's life is not the only thing in danger, however. Her vows and her mortal soul are as well. She finds herself inexplicably physically attracted to a questionable character named Nikolai and wants nothing more than to give in to his advances. "`Give me strength,' she prayed to her patron, Saint Pelagia. `As we all know, the soul is willing but the flesh is weak.'" "`Forgive me, forgive me, save me,' poor Mrs. Lisitsyna babbled, confessing her accursed womanly weakness to her Eternal Bridegroom." SISTER PELAGIA AND THE BLACK MONK is a different kind of story, and the storytelling ability of Boris Akunin comes through loud and clear. He amuses and entertains us with a rich and varied cast of characters. This book will transport you to 19th century Russia and enable you to leave the present day behind. --- Reviewed by Amie Taylor

This is the second book in a proposed trilogy, and it is as good a read as was the first one. Actually, it begins directly after the first book ends, and continues from there. Once again Sister Pelagia must don secular clothing to seek out the truth behind the appearance of the ghost of St. Basilisk, the "black monk" of the title.There is plenty of action, multiple red herrings, and a sad, but satisfying ending. Mr. Akunin is a master at setting a scene and giving the reader details of a way of life in Russia that has vanished long ago. I eagerly await the next Sister Pelagia book.

In the late nineteenth century in Zavolzhsk, Russia late at night a terrorized monk arrives at the abode of Bishop Mitrofanii shouting and weeping simultaneously as he struggles to explain that something has gone terribly wrong at the Hermitage. The Bishop seeing his distraught and unkempt monk becomes concerned as New Ararat Monastery is on the isolated Spartan island as well as an asylum built by a wealthy exile. The Bishop sends aids to Hermitage to investigate, but those who step forth on the island go insane. With several homicides already, Bishop Mitrofanii is unsure what to do beyond praying. Sister Pelagia wants to go investigate, but females are banned from setting foot on the island. However, when others fail, Sister Pellagia decides to break custom to by going undercover to learn the truth especially about the so called Black Monk who apparently is behind the terror at the hermitage. The second Sister Pelagia historical amateur sleuth (see SISTER PELLAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG) is an engaging mystery once the heroine takes over the investigation, which comes after the essential background is established as to the players and the locale. Sister Pellagia is a wonderful protagonist who risks everything by violating the Hermitage taboo re females to uncover the truth as she quickly learns nothing or no body including people she has known for a long time are quite like she thought. This is radically different than Boris Akunin's Erast Petrovich Fandorin series but readers will appreciate the Sister's inquiries into the mundane and spiritual shortcomings of her late nineteenth century church. Harriet Klausner

Boris Akunin is a very fine writer, this second in the Sister Pelagia series is another thoroughly enjoyable read, whether for the insights into Russian history, the musings on religion and society, the adventures of the heroine, or the twisting and turning of the storyline. A great mystery that engrosses and engages the reader through the surprising exploits. Boris Akunin's books are a joy to read, always intriquing and never afraid to surprise the reader careless enough to build up expectations of the direction of the novel. Enjoy all his rivetting works.