Berlin, August 1991. An emigre Russian couple are found murdered. American art historian Francesca McDermott is recruited to organise a major retrospective of 20th century Russian painting. In Moscow, the search begins for a rogue former KGB agent, Andrei Orlov, who has disappeared without trace. Three seemingly unconnected events.... Working alongside Francesca is a Russian expert on the art that Communism dismissed as `decadent`. Serotkin is combative, attractive, mysterious; he is also secretive, and his secrets hold lives to ransom.
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