“Gripping, passionate, political and emotional” Marcel Berlins, The Times
“The Distinguished Assassin is a compelling novel that, in its raw, stripped-back prose, explores the issues of freedom and conscience; humanity and redemption; dark and light; fidelity and revenge in Stalin’s USSR” Goodreads
“This remarkable book takes us into the heart of Stalin’s Russia between 1949 and 1955, when the dreaded labour camps were in force and for many, even on the outside, life was tougher than anything we in the west can possibly imagine” Adrian Magson, Shotsmag
“This is a powerful story of love and betrayal, of friendship and hatred. It introduces crime fiction fans to an unfamiliar world” Marina Sofia, Crime Fiction Lover
“Taussig’s style is robust, descriptive, passionate and searingly honest. Fast-paced, brimming with suspense and intelligently imagined, The Distinguished Assassin is a heart-felt reminder of the inhumanities of state repression, and an addictive thriller with a powerful moral message” Pam Norfolk, Lancaster Guardian
Russian crime has never been so good.
1952. Stalin’s Russia. Persecuted by vicious MVD agent Vladimir Primakov, betrayed by his beautiful wife and forced to the very bottom of life by the cruel system he lives under, war hero and former professor Aleksei Klebnikov is offered a mission by the notorious thief-in-law Ivan Bessonov: to assassinate six leading Communists, all of them evil men.
Aleksei agrees to undertake it, this mission, after which he will finally have his revenge on Primakov, who also stole his wife. But when, with just one man left to kill, Aleksei is suddenly reunited with her, he discovers that all is not quite what it seems, and that perhaps he has an even greater enemy than Primakov, his wife and the Communist system…
Publisher’s Comments:
Written in Taussig’s strong, distinctive voice, and with a great moral sense, The Distinguished Assassin is a fantastic achievement by a writer who has successfully married the fictional styles of crime and historical fiction, the novel containing pace and insight in equal measure. The story Taussig tells, of a persecuted intellectual’s revenge against Russian Communists, is not only a tense, thrilling and addictive tale of one man’s fight against a wicked and corrupt regime, but also an intelligent, thoughtful and moving account of life in Soviet Russia.