The Holy Thief is a fast paced thriller set in the early Stalin years in Moscow in the winter of 1936, a time and place filled with hunger, deprivation, and fear. Captain Alexei Korolev of the Criminal Investigation Division is asked to investigate the brutal murder of a young woman found on an altar of a "deconsecrated" church. Korolev is a man who is Russian in his sentiments, perhaps a bit naive, but experienced enough to not blindly trust his superiors. As Korolov digs deeper into the case and more murdered bodies turn up it becomes clear that politics, faith, and his life are at risk. William Ryan does an excellent job in transporting you to a time and place that is filled with tension and political intrigue, and Captain Alexei Korolev is  a strong lead character that you are rooting for from the very start. ~Mara