Archive 17 by Sam Eastland

First published in the UK as Siberian Red in 2011; published in US by Bantam on February 28, 2012

Shortly after he offers to tell the commandant the location of Col. Kolchak, a man named Rybakov is murdered in a Siberian prison camp. Stalin, believing that he watched Kolchak die, is alarmed to learn that he might still be alive. Stalin assigns Pekkala to investigate Rybakov's death and to find Kolchak. Pekkala was the Tsar's most trusted investigator before the Revolution, a unique position that carried an insignia and title: the Emerald Eye. Despite his connection to the Tsar (which resulted in years of imprisonment after his post-Revolution arrest), Pekkala now works for Stalin in the Bureau of Special Operations.

Posing as a prisoner, Pekkala returns to the Siberian camp where he survived years of forced labor in the frozen wilderness, marking trees for cutting. Pekkala's investigation of Kolchak's murder is hampered by an unfriendly camp commandant, a hostile guard, and a troika of prisoners who are all that remain of the Comitati, Kolchak's loyal followers. Pekkala soon realizes Stalin's true agenda: the hope that his investigation will lead Pekkala to the supply of Imperial gold that Kolchak was hiding for the Tsar's family. Yet the answer to the Kolchak mystery may lie in Archive 17, where inconvenient information goes to die.

Archive 17 blends riveting action with psychological tension as characters are forced to confront current threats and terrors from their past. There is a subtlety to Sam Eastland's characterizations that isn't a common feature of modern thrillers. Even characters who aren't at the forefront of the novel -- including Stalin's personal assistant and a sadistic prison guard -- have well-formed personalities.

Eastland peppers his story with atmospheric detail that contributes to its illusion of reality. His writing style is economical, resulting in a narrative that is rich but short. Layers of intrigue rise to a dramatic pinnacle as the story progresses. The novel's conclusion is surprisingly satisfying.

This is the third Eastland novel to feature Pekkala. It isn't necessary to read the first two (I haven't) to understand this one. I nonetheless intend to place the first two novels on my reading list. Pekkala is a fascinating creation of a skilled writer.

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