The Past Affairs

In the spring of 1884, the dark, heavy ice finally melted on the Neva late. A chilling damp wind began to wash ugly bloated corpses onto the shores and shallows. This time, there were simply an absurd number of them. However, the police of St. Petersburg quickly and without a shadow of a doubt found reasons: either accidental drowning, or inebriation, or unconsciousness. Accidents, what can be done…
Vice-Director of the Police Department Pavel Afanasievich Blagovo disagrees with the official stance. Together with Alexei Lykov, he seeks permission for a second autopsy of a certain innkeeper from Ostashkov, who supposedly fell into the river while intoxicated. The results of the water analysis in the dead man’s lungs shock Blagovo…

The book consists of five novellas that return the reader to the times of young Lykov and the still living Blagovo.