There is something indefinable missing from the tales of Erast Fandorin, the 19th-century Russian detective who is the protagonist of Boris Akunin’s series of mysteries. He is a collage, of course — a mix of the Pink Panther (with his Asian servant, with whom he practices the martial arts) and Sherlock Holmes (with his less brilliant but sometimes inspiring and always devoted sidekick) — and he has the seemingly requisite collection of quirks and superior capabilities (master of disguise, strong as a bull, etc.). But it doesn’t always jell into what one would expect to be great mystery fiction.

The new book, SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS, is actually a collection of two novellas, THE JACK OF SPADES and THE DECORATOR. I applaud both author and publisher for committing to the format and resisting the temptation to stretch each story into a full-length novel.

SPADES is a fairly simple tale of a complex con artist who cons folks a little too high up in government — high enough so that Fandorin is put on the case. This also introduces us to Anisii Tulipov, who quickly becomes Fandorin’s invaluable assistant. While pleasant enough, there is little to sink one’s teeth into here, and with its preponderance of Russian place names, and few character dynamics, it’s somewhat forgettable.

But THE DECORATOR is definitely ambitious and worth your time. It proposes a new theory about Jack the Ripper, and will be a must for those who collect Ripper material. A brutal murderer who preys on prostitutes and beggars is loose in Moscow, word has reached the capital, and the sovereign’s upcoming visit must be cancelled. In order to save face, Fandorin must discover the culprit quickly before the sovereign deems that those in power in Moscow are ineffective, and should be removed. Fandorin’s investigation is counterbalanced by occasional written reflections from the killer, providing a window into that tormented soul.

For those who already love Fandorin, the time period of the late 1880s or the exotic Russian locale, then SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS is a welcome addition to the canon. The feats of deductive reasoning (showcased when Fandorin counts on his beads) are well-done, but a little too far and few between, and the rather shocking development in the second story is a bold move, but also sadly disconcerting. I don’t think this book elevates Akunin and Fandorin to the level of our other world-famous detective mystery heroes, but there is still room for improvement, still room to create interesting stories, still a possibility that this series could blossom into something great. —Mark Rose

Buy it at Amazon.

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• THE DEATH OF ACHILLES by Boris Akunin