Well, I found this book...
First, I wanted to drop it. Then, I read the premise again and realised that it was a fantasy book. This was not real Russia. These were not really our times....
What can I say, After Yekaterina is a very good story of human nature: it shows what humans are capable of when put in a very confined place and time.
There are three murders seemingly unconnected. There is a millionaire turned politician, a honest detective, a prostitute and a whole town lost between two warring empires.
Such stories are not supposed to have happy ending. This one is not an exclusion. There is no happy end as there is no escape from New Moscow.
Humans will be humans wherever they are and whatever nationality they are. After Yekaterina could have been called after Elizabeth very easily. There only difference being the snow, the cold and the bad cars and cigarettes.

This seems like your typical cop series. Cop is good, but untrusted because of past mistakes. But his search for the truth unveils all the horrible things happening in his city around him. Everyone is involved. I can't give away much more then this. I loved the main character, but despised the parents of the victims. The author did a great job creating the characters and I really felt for them, or really hated them depending on who I was reading about. Wonderfully done!!
I was a little lost in the beginning, I didn't realize it was placed in a fake world. But the book was written well I was sucked in from the beginning. I will defiantly continue on with this series. I love when I find a new author!

The premise--a murder/conspiracy mystery set in a tiny, autonomous, Russophone country in an alternate reality--is a good one. But the writing is repetitive, sluggish, and needs a heavy copyedit, and the descriptions of women throughout are sexist and off-putting. The male gaze is overwhelming. There are also a few too many echoes of Gorky Park in this as well, which will inevitably invite comparison--and this book will not come out the winner in that.

K.L Abrahamson's story was great and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for future books by her. Loved the cover too!

Absolutely loved this book's vibe! Catherine the Great is one of my favourite historical figures and this alternative reality is rather interesting, sprinkled with mystery and 'raw air'.