{"product_id":"sister-pelagia-and-the-black-monk-9780812975147","title":"Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk","description":"\u003cb\u003eFans of \u003ci\u003eSister Pelagia and the White Bulldog\u003c\/i\u003e, the first book in Akunin's Pelagia trilogy, will be instantly mesmerized-and frightened-by this latest foray into Zavolzhsk' s spiritual underworld.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the middle of the night, a disheveled and badly frightened monk arrives at the doorstep of Bishop Mitrofanii of Zavolzhsk, crying: \"Something's wrong at the Hermitage \" The Hermitage is the centuries-old island monastery of New Ararat, known for its tradition of severely penitent monks, isolated environs, and a mental institution founded by a millionaire in self-imposed exile. Hearing the monk's eerie message, Mitrofanii's befuddled but sharp-witted ward Sister Pelagia begs to visit New Ararat and uncover the mystery. Traditions prevail-no women are allowed-and the bishop sends other wards to test their fates against the Black Monk that haunts the once serene locale. But as the Black Monk claims more victims-including Mitrofanii's envoys-Pelagia goes undercover to see exactly what person, or what spirit, is at the bottom of it all. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Praise for \u003ci\u003eSister Pelagia and the Black Monk\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"For all his status as a globe-circling bestseller, Akunin keeps faith in his sleekly engineered and allusive whodunnits with the classical virtues of Russian prose. . . . That polish lends his books a peculiar charm.\"\u003cb\u003e-\u003ci\u003eThe Independent\u003c\/i\u003e (London)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \"Readers can hear echoes of Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Anton Chekov in whodunits that, because of their literary overtones, can be guiltlessly consumed as entertainment.\"\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Random House Trade\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/13\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780812975147\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 368\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.59lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.98h x 5.28w x 0.91d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/24\/2008 pg. 57\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/16\/2008 pg. 70\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2008 pg. 42\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/08\/2008 pg. 30\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Boris Akunin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44240978182325,"sku":"9780812975147","price":15.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_3f91ee17-3e0c-48d4-946b-120b22d91df7.jpg?v=1717470256","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/sister-pelagia-and-the-black-monk-9780812975147","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}