A Killing Winter (An Akyl Borubaev novel) - Hardcover
Tom Callaghan made his name as a successful advertising executive and filmmaker. Now in A Killing Winter he has created an atmospheric thriller that deftly shines a harsh fluorescent glare on the pitiless work of being a homicide detective on the frozen, mean streets of the post-Soviet 'Stans.
In this neo-noir set in the mountainous Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, hard-bitten inspector Akyl Borubaev mourns the recent death of his beloved wife--the only humanizing force in his otherwise bleak life as a homicide detective in Bishkek. As he struggles to face his personal pain, Borubaev is assigned to investigate the murder of a young woman whose horribly mutilated body is found dumped in a public park in the dead of the forbidding Kyrgyz winter. When the pathologist informs Borubaev that the killer stuffed a fetus from another woman into the womb of the victim, the detective realizes he is hunting a psychopath. Then Borubaev discovers the woman is the only daughter of Mikhail Tekebayev, the powerful and ruthless Minister of State Security, and realizes the case will probably destroy him, regardless of where the evidence leads.
Borubaev begins making enemies everywhere he turns, even as he is aided by a motley assortment of dangerous cut-throats: his uncle Kursan, whose cross-border smuggling is the stuff of local legend; the explosive police chief, who wants the case solved as soon as possible; Saltanat, a beautiful and murderous agent of the Uzbek Security Service; an entire police force of bent cops; and members of the Kyrgyz mafia.
All of which would just be another day in the life of Akyl Borubaev—if the investigation didn't turn up a blood-chilling connection to multiple homicides in several nearby countries, including one on a military base in Russia.
In this neo-noir set in the mountainous Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, hard-bitten inspector Akyl Borubaev mourns the recent death of his beloved wife--the only humanizing force in his otherwise bleak life as a homicide detective in Bishkek. As he struggles to face his personal pain, Borubaev is assigned to investigate the murder of a young woman whose horribly mutilated body is found dumped in a public park in the dead of the forbidding Kyrgyz winter. When the pathologist informs Borubaev that the killer stuffed a fetus from another woman into the womb of the victim, the detective realizes he is hunting a psychopath. Then Borubaev discovers the woman is the only daughter of Mikhail Tekebayev, the powerful and ruthless Minister of State Security, and realizes the case will probably destroy him, regardless of where the evidence leads.
Borubaev begins making enemies everywhere he turns, even as he is aided by a motley assortment of dangerous cut-throats: his uncle Kursan, whose cross-border smuggling is the stuff of local legend; the explosive police chief, who wants the case solved as soon as possible; Saltanat, a beautiful and murderous agent of the Uzbek Security Service; an entire police force of bent cops; and members of the Kyrgyz mafia.
All of which would just be another day in the life of Akyl Borubaev—if the investigation didn't turn up a blood-chilling connection to multiple homicides in several nearby countries, including one on a military base in Russia.
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About the Author:
Born in the north of England, Tom Callaghan received degrees in English Literature and Art History from Vassar College and the University of York, Tom joined Saatchi & Saatchi, spending 10 years as a Creative Group Head in London, New York and Philadelphia (where he helped establish a Saatchi office). His controversial film for Survival International, starring Richard Gere and banned from UK television, ran worldwide for many years. He joined the newly-formed M&C Saatchi as Creative Group Head for three years, before moving to the Far East to pursue interests outside advertising. He is a frequent contributor to Campaign, Communicate, Media Week and Rolling Stone. A Killing Winter is his first novel.
Review:
"Better than Child 44. Akyl Borubaev is a terrific creation."―Anthony Horowitz, New York Times bestselling author of Magpie Murders
"Inspector Akyl Borubaev has world-weariness, sorrow, cynical charm, toughness and brains to spare . . . by the end of A Killing Winter you'll be breathless and begging for more."―Peter Spiegelman, author of Thick As Thieves
"Well paced, beautifully written and a stonking good story to boot, you can't go wrong really."―Liz Loves Books
"Tom's writing is nothing short of incredible; the fact that this is a debut novel is just astounding."―Book Addict Shaun
"A Killing Winter is a brilliant debut, and an early contender for one of my top reads of the year"―Raven Crime Reads
"It's brutal but not cynical; you feel it. It's a hugely impressive debut; atmospheric and stirring"―Time Crime
"Callaghan is a hell of a writer, with a tremendous sense of pace and an arch ear for juicy dialogue and the pages flies by"―Crime Thriller Fella
"Callaghan has done an excellent job of introducing us to life in a former Soviet State and has created a character which has great potential for becoming a favorite for fans of the mystery and thriller genres. His characters are richly developed and the plot moves quickly, without getting bogged down with frivolous details. I look seeing more of Inspector Borubaev in future books and happily give this debut novel 4/5 stars."―Bestsellersworld.com
"Inspector Akyl Borubaev has world-weariness, sorrow, cynical charm, toughness and brains to spare . . . by the end of A Killing Winter you'll be breathless and begging for more."―Peter Spiegelman, author of Thick As Thieves
"Well paced, beautifully written and a stonking good story to boot, you can't go wrong really."―Liz Loves Books
"Tom's writing is nothing short of incredible; the fact that this is a debut novel is just astounding."―Book Addict Shaun
"A Killing Winter is a brilliant debut, and an early contender for one of my top reads of the year"―Raven Crime Reads
"It's brutal but not cynical; you feel it. It's a hugely impressive debut; atmospheric and stirring"―Time Crime
"Callaghan is a hell of a writer, with a tremendous sense of pace and an arch ear for juicy dialogue and the pages flies by"―Crime Thriller Fella
"Callaghan has done an excellent job of introducing us to life in a former Soviet State and has created a character which has great potential for becoming a favorite for fans of the mystery and thriller genres. His characters are richly developed and the plot moves quickly, without getting bogged down with frivolous details. I look seeing more of Inspector Borubaev in future books and happily give this debut novel 4/5 stars."―Bestsellersworld.com
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- PublisherQuercus
- Publication date2015
- ISBN 10 1623653908
- ISBN 13 9781623653903
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages276
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