LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2024 "Very
intriguing and atmospheric ... a fascinating read in the light of contemporary events.”
–Alexander McCall Smith Bestselling Author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency "With its
earthy prose and stunning attention to detail this stands apart." – Publishers Weekly (starred
review) From Ukraine’s most celebrated novelist "a gift for crime fiction fans" ( New York
Times Book Review ) that introduces rookie detective Samson Kolechko in Kyiv as he tackles his
first case set against real life details of the tumultuous early twentieth century. Kyiv
1919. World War I has ended in Western Europe but to the East six factions continue to vie
for control of Ukraine. Amidst the political turmoil young Samson Kolechko is forced to place
his engineering career on hold. But in the city of Kyiv everything remains up for grabs and new
opportunity lurks just around the corner . . . When two Red Army soldiers commandeer his home
Samson’s life is completely upended. But as Samson juggles his personal life –including a
budding romance with the ingenious Nadezhda a statistician helping run the city’s census– with
the soldiers’ intrusion he winds up overhearing their secret plans. Deciding to report them
Samson instead finds himself unwittingly recruited as an investigator for the city’s new police
force. His first case involves two murders a long bone made of pure silver and a suit of
decidedly unusual proportions tailored from fine English cloth. The odds stacked against him
Samson turns to Nadezhda who proves to be more than his match. Inflected with Kurkov’s
signature humor and off kilter universe The Silver Bone takes its inspiration from the
archives of Kyiv's secret police crafting a propulsive narrative bursting to life with rich
historical detail. Translated from the Russian by Boris Dralyuk
