A police procedural mystery set in Russia. Of course, it's a thriller.

Black Wolf, is about a woman who is found dead outside of St Petersburg during a morning in January. There are no traces because they have been buried in the snow. Then to make matters worse she has no injuries.

When the police close the case, Natalya believes they are hiding something and as the investigation unfolds you find out she was an anti-Putin activist. So, Natalya goes undercover to expose the truth, and here is where the mystery really begins.

Enjoyed this book and the Russian setting. Natasha is a strong female lead and the action just keeps coming. I will definitely look out for more from the author in the future.

This book for me took a while to get in to - I think the writing style wasn't one that I was easily absorbed by. However once I started to get into it, I really began to enjoy this read - an interesting, engaging read.

Thrilling story, great plot and characters that keep you guessing right til the end. Great for fans of this genre. Really enjoyable.

A heroine who defies sense and caution in an attempt to reach the truth and a fascinating depiction of Russian life. The sense of peril and unpredictability is constant and the book races along so that you cannot be sure what the ending will be and who will be left standing at the end. Thanks to Mirror Books and Netgalley for this free ARC.

I enjoyed Black Wolf, but perhaps not as much as its predecessor, Motherland.

Set in contemporary St. Petersburg, Natalya Ivanova is an honest investigator in a deeply political and corrupt police force. As she investigates the death of a woman who is involved in an anti-corruption protest movement, she becomes embroiled in political intrigue and faces the determination of Russia’s super-rich and their protectors within the state to thwart what may be an embarrassment to them, with extreme consequences for her and her family.

The great strength of these books is the portrait of a corrupt society where political and financial interests override any sense of law, justice or fairness. G.D.Abson writes very well and creates an excellent atmosphere of suppression and fear, along with the bone-chilling cold of a Russian winter. The story, though, is a bit average with a lot of familiar clichés among the superior background and the ending became rather silly, with – you’ve guessed it – a stand-off with the killer who explains everything to Ivanova before...etc. etc, plus a bit of a with-one-bound-she-was-free solution to her political problems.

This is a perfectly decent read, but the powerful background isn’t such an original feature second time around and as a police thriller it’s nothing special. Recommended with reservations.

(My thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)

This sequel to 'Motherland' is another complex investigation for our idealistic and honest cop trying to operate in a sea of corruption - the maverick lone wolf is a cliche of crime fiction, of course, but what lifts this is the engaging characterisation, the slick writing, and - most of all - the commentary on contemporary post-Soviet Russia. With Decembrists rebelling against the Putin regime plus the internal politics of the police and various other security organisations, this is nicely complicated and a gripping read.

According to Russian legend, a Black Wolf is a result of a wolf mating with a domestic dog. “Outcasts, destined by be neither one thing or the other. The wolves in their pack attack them for being different and they are shot when seeking human company.” No one trusts a Black Wolf.

That’s a good description of Captain Natalya Ivanova. A ranking officer in the Criminal Investigations Directorate in St. Petersburg who seeks only the truth. A truth that may be in line with Party dictates. The people she investigates don’t trust her because she doesn’t toe the Party line. The victims don’t trust her because she is part of the Party establishment. An honest menti. A Black Wolf.

An educated building surveyor with a 2yo son, Elizaveta Kalinina, has started to be accepted by the Decembrists. A radical fringe group in Russia with a history of civil disobedience and bent on exposing political corruption. She, Max (a university faculty) and Gregor (former party member since marginalized and now a videographer for hire) have been digging into gov’t honchos who live far above their means. Out of town dachas are being filmed in prep for a Youtube documentary.

January, 2018. Dang cold and snowy in St. Petersburg, up near the Finland border. A local traffic cop on duty near a string of those dachas stops at a snow bank to relieve himself and finds Kalinina’s body. The case falls to Ivanov. But given the location, the Russian version of the FBI, Sledstvennyi Komitet (Sledkom) takes over. Their job it to clear the case, truth be damned. They claim Kalinina was a prostitutka who died of an overdose. That doesn’t jive with what the medical examiner says or what her own criminologist found. Not to mention that Max’s twin sister gets to Ivanova to tell here that Max is now missing.

Ivanova’s boss, the entirely disagreeable former FSB Colonel Dostoynov tells her she’s done with the case and done with the Service if she continues to dig. But when the Black Wolf bears her teeth, she's on the stalk. Into the Decembrists, into the traffic cop who found the body, into Gregor, into Max's brother, into that string of dachas and the paper trail of ownership, why the intense security at those dachas, and some videos of the dachas from a wrecked drone, one scene in particular. What she finds just might get her killed.

All this while a couple other side-stories evolve in the knee-deep snow and frigid cold. Like her step son making the moves on Max’s sister. Like her husband, Misha and also a cop in the Directorate, being driven out of his job and into prison by Dostoynov. Like her partner, the plodding but reliable (most of the time) Rogov, also being a target of Dosotynov.

This is the 2nd in a series by Abson. The first, Motherland, was well received by the boys here at MRB and Abson hasn’t lost his touch. We are carefully shown the black (multi-layered political corruption) and white (Ivanona, Decembrists) of Russia in all their glory. Ivanova has two reasons for digging so deeply: find and punish those actually responsible and to make sure that Kalinina’s son grows up knowing his mother wasn’t an addict/prostitute.

This first-class police procedural is fraught with unforeseen twists that leading us through a culture we only know from biased media outlets and western political agendas. Probably more truth here than what we’ve seen. Much like the trilogy from Zoe Ferraris about a female cop in Saudi Arabia, Abson puts the local dirty laundry out there for us to absorb.

As a reminder to the Russian elite: better remember to toe the line. Step over it, and Captain Black Wolf will find you.

Wow. What an unexpected surprise!

Black Wolf follows Captain Natalya Ivanova investigating the murder of a woman found at the side of a road. The plot takes off from the get-go involving an anti government group, corruption in the police and an eclectic home life.

I hadn’t come across this author before. I haven't read the first one-but I didn't feel I'd missed out either. The plot is tightly written. The characters are well shaped. The descriptions of Russia evocative and makes me realize I’d never want to go there because of the cold-that's how powerful this authors words are!

I love thrillers and usually prefer those based in the US but I will look out for more in this series. This author deserves a higher profile. An immensely satisfying read.

BLACK WOLF is a highly addictive read. G D Abson is a great writer. I read this book in one sitting. Great characters even though they are flawed, and a highly developed plot.

A clever, complex, gripping tale of murder and corruption in St Petersburg. This is the second I have read from this author in this series and it is just as good if not better than the first, because as the author gets to know the characters, they become ever more nuanced and compelling. The setting of St Petersburg, and the pursuit of one detective for the truth in a corrupt political system, is very authentic. The author weaves a mystery around this setting which is absolutely gripping. I don't know if it's true that politicians and police behave like this in Russia, but this author makes me believe it, which is what matters. I'm looking forward to more of this.

This is a story in Mother Russia about a young woman found dead with no apparent visible signs, how did she die? Turns out she had asbestos poisoning, how did she get it,? as she was found nowhere near any asbestos, let alone enough to kill her. Captain Ivanova found her and obviously want to crack on and solve the case but then Sledkon come and take it away from her (similar to FBI I think) but she does get it back, and in the meantime her husband is working away because he works for the same police that she does and the higher up wants to get rid of him so he gets sent to different areas. of the country.out of the way. Captain Ivanova does find out that this woman was in an organization call the Decembrist which is as Anti Putin group and obviously government organizations want them hushed up quickly. It's quite hard to follow with all the different political groups in charge and many people seem to disappear and never heard of again, and also corruption on all levels even at the bottom end. Quite a complex tale and some of the street names are difficult to pronounce but was enjoyable different. strong characters, not that much description, but this is the 2nd novel in this Captain Ivanova series, and I have not read the 1st one. Having said that it didn't make any difference to the storyline so can be read separately. I would like to thank Mirror books and Netgalley for an advanced copy to read and review, and this review is my personal thoughts...

In the depths of a Russian winter in St Petersburg a body is found by the side of a road. A young woman, with no visible signs of injury, lying in a ditch. The case falls to Captain Natalya Ivanova, who quickly links the case to a group of dissidents with political motivations. As the case starts to progress government agents shut it down, and Natalya and her husband find themselves on the outer. As Natalya continues to pursue the case unofficially she finds not only is her job at risk, but also her life.

I did find Black Wolf to be an enjoyable police procedural, and the setting of the Russian winter was memorable. The political intrigue of modern Russia I found to be of particular interest, for those of us in the west who really have no idea what goes on in the post-Soviet era. However I didn't find any of the characters particularly engaging, and though the book climaxed with a satisfying conclusion, I doubt I will be looking out for other books in the series. An okay read for a quiet day.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Black Wolf is the second thriller in the Captain Natalya Ivanova series based in stunning St Petersburg, Russia, and it has to one of the most unique works of noir I have encountered despite reading widely in this genre. The setting is what makes the book as well as the original cast of ruthless and unusual characters. This is one of my favourite series' for sure. It is a deeply political thriller and plays to the view the West appears to have of Russian politicians and institutions being either corrupt charlatans, brutal fascists or both. That's where Natalya comes in — she's a champion of fairness and justice and perceives the corruption running rife in her country as a cancer which needs to be cut out.

It's an action-packed read with Natalya regularly finding herself in some interesting predicaments, and Abson lands you right in the middle of the drama from the first couple of pages. As soon as I picked it up I knew I was destined to read into the small hours. The linear nature of the story and the single perspective narrative, Natalya's, enable you to get to know her as a character and watch her evolution through the series. There is tension aplenty as she defies the wishes of those around her placing a target on her back. Those with a lot to hide want to eliminate her and squash her but she refuses to be cowed.

With an oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere underpinning it all, this is a fast-paced, authentic and exciting portrayal of Russia. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.

This excellent sequel to Abson's debut thriller, Motherland, again features Captain Natalya Ivanova of St Petersburg's Serious Crimes Unit. Natalya is a good investigator and an honest one who wants to arrest the real culprit and not just make the evidence fit the suspect for a speedy result. This makes her unpopular both with her new boss, Colonel Dostoynov, and the federal investigations unit, FSB who investigate matters related to state security. Her current investigations into the death of a young woman, found on a remote roadside were taken from her by FSB, when the dead woman was found to have links to an anti-Putin activist group. Knowing that they will do nothing to find the murderer, Natalya feels compelled to continue investigating how and where the girl died, at the risk of infuriating her boss and losing her job. Natalya's husband, Michael who works in the same unit, is also on a fast track to losing his job as the new boss (who's job Michael should have) tries to clear away any opposition and sends Michael running all over the country investigating backlogged cold cases.

The wintery, atmospheric St Petersburg setting and the political climate in Putin's Russia are what makes this series so compelling. This is a society of people struggling to under difficult conditions, watching their step and keeping their heads down lest they draw attention to themselves and find state security or anti-corruption investigators on their doorstep finding evidence where none exists. The rich and powerful are protected and off-limits to the police, even when blatantly corrupt, making an honest cop's job even more difficult. The plot is well written with good pacing and has the feel of thorough research to make contemporary St Petersburg as well as the lives and relationships of the characters feel real and authentic. Highly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley the Author and Mirror Books for kindly providing a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review. This is a new Author to me and this is the second book of the series featuring our heroine and i would expect more to follow but having read and very much enjoyed this book i will be looking for the first and keeping an eye out for more to follow.
A young woman is found dead on the outskirts of St Petersburg on a freezing January morning. There are no signs of injury, and heavy snowfall has buried all trace of an attacker.
Captain Natalya Ivanova's investigation quickly links the victim to the Decembrists, an anti-Putin dissident group whose acts of civil disobedience have caught the eye of the authorities. And Natalya soon realises she is not the only one interested in the case, as government security services wade in and shut down her investigation almost before it has begun.
Before long, state media are spreading smear stories about the dead woman, and Natalya suspects the authorities have something to hide. When a second rebel activist goes missing, she is forced to go undercover to expose the truth. But the stakes are higher than ever before. Not only could her pursuit of the murderer destroy her career, but her family ties to one of the victims threaten to tear her personal life apart.
A captivating, pacy thriller that plunges right into the beating heart of Putin's Russia.
So says the publishers 'Blurb' for this book, and now for my opinion, this is an excellent read, a book that immediately grabs your interest and does no let go until the final page, a real page turner. Well written and researched. with a real feel for the time and place, so descriptive you can almost feel the cold. Whilst this is the second book of the series and there are some very slight references to a previous investigation it works perfectly as a standalone story, and did not spoil the story in any way. The characters are well drawn and very believable especially the 'Ballsy' brave charismatic clever idealistic and possibly the only honest cop in the city. Imagine a female 'Arkady Renko' and i can think of no higher praise for the Author. There are more than enough plot twists to keep this reader guessing and failing miserably to crack the case. Engaging gripping imaginative and gritty, a terrific read which i heartily recommend.

Black Wolf is a sequel to The authors debut novel Motherland.

As with the previous book we have a strong and likeable character in Captain Natalya Ivanova. She is called out with her deputy to a murder. With so many obstacles in her way will she find out who the murderer is.

Set in Russia this is certainly a page turner. The author has given us some brilliant secondary characters that adds so much to the story.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Author: G.D. Abson
Genre: Crime Fiction/Thriller/Noir
Publisher: Mirror Books
Pages: 336

A woman is found dead outside of St. Petersburg. After investigating, Captain Natalya Ivanova links her to an anti-Putin activist group. A government group that has been looking in to this group steps in and shuts down her investigation before it gets anywhere. After another activist disappears, Natalya is forced to go undercover in an attempt to discover what is really going on and find the murderer. This decision could put not only her career, but her family and personal life at risk.

I was hoping for something a bit different than my “normal” thriller when I received this copy of Black Wolf, and boy did I get it with this wonderfully written crime fiction noir. This novel grabbed me and pulled me in to the story from the very beginning, and I did not want to put it down. The writing is beautifully atmospheric, and although I’ve never been to Russia, I could picture everything vividly. The story is very much character driven, so thankfully the author does a wonderful job of writing complex and multifaceted characters. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and their stories, especially Natalya, who presented a wonderful strong female lead. This was exactly the gritty crime drama that I was looking for, and I enjoyed it immensely! This is the first of Abson’s books that I have read, but it is the second in this series. The first is Motherland, and you can bet that I will be picking that one up!

Review will post on my blog on May 14.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Mirror Books for an advance copy of Black Wolf, the second book to feature Captain Natalya Ivanova of the St Petersburg Criminal Investigations Directorate.

Natalya and her deputy, Sergeant Rogov, are called out to a dead body. Elisaveta Kalinina has been murdered but before the investigation can get going it is turned over to state investigators because the victim was a dissident Decembrist and with an election looming the government wants to avoid scandal and root out her fellow travellers. Natalya wants justice not a coverup and keeps investigating but she’s fighting stronger powers and soon the repercussions are hitting close to home.

I thoroughly enjoyed Black Wolf which is a drama filled thriller with some unexpected twists. There is barely a dull moment whether it the political apparatus in full flow, the depiction of greed and self interest or the action scenes and I was hooked from start to finish. This is partly because the novel is told, after the first few scene setting opening chapters, exclusively from Natalya’s point of view. This allows the reader to identify with her and get absorbed in her narrative. The other part is the strong plot, not so much the actual investigation but the repercussions from it and the moves Natalya has to make to keep it moving forward. The author never lets the reader forget that Russia is an authoritarian state so the novel is chock full of atmosphere. The paranoia, greed, self interest and vindictiveness are everywhere, making for a difficult but intensely rewarding read. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Russia, in fact it made me shudder at the thought of living in those conditions, constantly on guard against reprisals whether deserved or not.

In stark contrast to this venal background Natalya Ivanova is a beacon of fairness and incorruptibility. How likely this is I am unable to judge but it makes for good reading in the standard good v evil way. In detective fiction set in the West Natalya would be a fairly standard detective who wants to serve justice, drinks too much and is a dogged investigator. In St Petersburg she is seen as an uncompromising anomaly. It’s an interesting twist.

Black Wolf is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

GD Abson follows up his excellent crime debut Motherland set in St Petersburg, Russia, featuring the wonderfully offbeat detective, Captain Natalya Ivanova of the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU), with this brilliant follow up. Abson writes a atmospheric crimes series that captures the dark heart of Putin's tyrannical Russia, and crooks and thieves of the political establishment, and its no holds barred approach against those politicians, journalists and activists that challenge and oppose it. After previous events in the SCU led by Colonel Vasiliev, the new head of the unit is Colonel Dostoynov, a man keen to be rid of Natalya's husband, Mikhail or 'Misha', a Major in the Unit. So Misha finds himself travelling to places like Siberia, from where a young girl, Diana Maricheva ran away in 2012. Her body has now been discovered in the grounds of a monastery.

In the desperate'y freezing and snowy cold of a St Petersburg winter, Natalya is on the scene of a murdered woman's body dumped in a ditch. The woman turns out to be 25 year old Elizaveta Kalinina, a surveyor, and an anti-Putin activist allied to a group that the politically powerful in the country wish to crush. To this end, Sledkom, who have a reputation of going after the innocent on behalf of the guilty, take over the case. Kalinina's reputation is being unjustly trashed, and Natalya cannot help but feel for the dead woman's young son and her mother. Despite all the dangers that it entails, to herself, her colleagues, friends and family, she is determined to investigate and get to the truth. In a case that illuminates the twisted nature of the political power groups in the country and the differing security services that Natalya has to negotiate, danger swells around Natalya, as she stands to lose everything and those closest to her.

Abson writes a gripping and compulsive novel that provides a fascinating picture of the inner workings of today's Russia. I have become completely invested in the main character of Natalya, and her endeavours to be a honest cop in a dishonest and criminal political milieu. The colourful
and interesting supporting cast, such as Natalya's colleague, Leo, trying to atone for his previous betrayal, work partner, Sergeant Stepan Rogov, stepson Anton, the FSB's Major Belikova and others are becoming a well established part of this distinctively character driven series. The characterisation is beautifully done and being well and skilfully developed. I found this a brilliant crime read, and I think many readers will appreciate the wintry St Petersburg and Russian location amidst a background of elections taking place. Looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Mirror Books for an ARC.