The Criminal World of Tsarist Russia

Essays on the criminal world in the final years of the Russian Empire, written by the head of the Moscow detective police, the outstanding criminologist and detective Arkadiy Koshko, are still read with unflagging interest today. The "Russian Sherlock Holmes" possessed not only the talent of an investigator but also an extraordinary gift for writing. Koshko enthusiastically and with a considerable dose of humor recounts the police's tricks, methods of surveillance and disguise, the latest achievements in criminology for his time, and techniques for solving crimes, captivating readers with lively and vivid Russian language and dedication to the cause of protecting citizens. His short stories about mysterious incidents, dangerous villains, colorful swindlers, and, of course, brave detectives engage not only fans of the crime genre. In each of his cases, the detective sought to uncover the circumstances that lead to crimes, making his essays a profound exploration of human nature.