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Boris Akunin Books in Order

17 Books
3 Series & collections
1998 – 2019 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Your Boris Akunin Journey

If you are looking to dive into the rich, atmospheric historical mysteries of Boris Akunin (the pen name of Grigory Chkhartishvili), there is one definitive place to start: The Winter Queen (originally published in Russian as Azazel). This novel introduces Erast Fandorin, a nineteen-year-old registration clerk for the Moscow police force. Starting here is not just a recommendation; it is crucial for understanding the character. Fandorin begins as a naive, idealistic young man, but the tragic events of this first book shape his personality, give him his trademark graying temples and slight stutter, and set him on the path to becoming the brilliant, detached detective readers love.

While each book in the Fandorin series works as a standalone historical mystery, reading them in order allows you to witness Fandorin’s evolution across decades of Russian history. You will watch him grow from a green clerk into an espionage agent, a diplomatic attaché, and a seasoned private investigator, all while the Russian Empire itself shifts around him.

The Erast Fandorin Mysteries: Publication and Chronological Flow

For the main Erast Fandorin series, publication order and chronological order are almost entirely aligned. Akunin designed the series so that each book moves forward in time, mirroring Fandorin's aging and the historical progression of late 19th and early 20th-century Russia. The only minor exception is the dual-timeline structure in The Diamond Chariot, but even that is best experienced in publication order. Below is the recommended reading path based on the English translations:

  1. The Winter Queen (1998 Russian / 2003 English) – Set in 1876. A young, enthusiastic Fandorin investigates the public suicide of a wealthy student, uncovering a global conspiracy.
  2. The Turkish Gambit (1998 Russian / 2005 English) – Set in 1877–1878 during the Russo-Turkish War. Fandorin serves as a Serbian volunteer and gets drawn into a high-stakes espionage plot.
  3. Murder on the Leviathan (1998 Russian / 2004 English) – Set in 1878. Channeling classic Agatha Christie, this is a locked-room mystery set aboard a steamship heading to India.
  4. The Death of Achilles (1998 Russian / 2005 English) – Set in 1882. Fandorin returns to Moscow after years in Japan, only to investigate the mysterious death of his friend, a celebrated war general.
  5. Special Assignments (1999 Russian / 2007 English) – Set in 1889 and 1891. A volume containing two distinct novellas: The Jack of Spades (a lighter story about a clever con artist) and The Decorator (a dark, gripping thriller featuring a Jack the Ripper-style serial killer in Moscow).
  6. The State Counsellor (1999 Russian / 2008 English) – Set in 1891. Fandorin deals with political terrorism and corrupt government officials, forcing him to choose between his duty and his moral compass.
  7. The Coronation (2000 Russian / 2009 English) – Set in 1896. Set against the backdrop of the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, Fandorin must rescue a kidnapped royal child from an international mastermind.
  8. She Lover of Death (2001 Russian / 2009 English) – Set in 1900. Fandorin investigates a bizarre suicide club in Moscow. This novel acts as a companion piece to the next book.
  9. He Lover of Death (2001 Russian / 2010 English) – Set in 1900. Set in the slums of Moscow, this companion novel focuses on Fandorin from the perspective of a young street thief.
  10. The Diamond Chariot (2003 Russian / 2011 English) – Set in 1905 (during the Russo-Japanese War) and 1878 (detailing Fandorin's lost years and ninja training in Japan).
  11. All The World's a Stage (2009 Russian / 2017 English) – Set in 1911. Fandorin, now in his fifties, falls in love with a theatrical actress and investigates a series of murders in her theater company.
  12. Black City (2012 Russian / 2018 English) – Set in 1914 on the eve of World War I. Fandorin travels to Baku, an oil-rich city rife with revolutionary tension, where he faces his deadliest adversaries.
  13. Not Saying Goodbye (2018 Russian / 2019 English) – Set between 1918 and 1921. The final Fandorin novel, set during the chaos of the Russian Civil War, bringing Fandorin's epic saga to its ultimate conclusion.

Important Caveats for English Readers

While the list above provides a smooth narrative arc, English readers should be aware of a few gaps. Akunin wrote two additional volumes in the Fandorin cycle that have not been officially translated into English: The Jade Rosary (2006, a collection of short stories and novellas filling in gaps in Fandorin's timeline) and Planet Water (2015, a collection of three novellas set between 1906 and 1912). Fortunately, the main novels that are translated still provide a coherent and satisfying overall story arc, and you can jump from The Diamond Chariot to All The World's a Stage without feeling lost.

The Sister Pelagia Mysteries

For readers who enjoy a slightly different tone, Akunin wrote a delightful three-book spin-off series featuring Sister Pelagia, a bespectacled Russian Orthodox nun living in a provincial diocese. While the Fandorin books are action-packed adventure thrillers, the Pelagia novels are closer to cozy mysteries, though they still contain dark undertones and Akunin's signature social commentary. They should be read in order of publication:

  • Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog (2000 Russian / 2006 English) – Pelagia is sent to a wealthy estate to investigate the mysterious deaths of a rare breed of white bulldogs, only to stumble upon a series of human murders.
  • Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk (2001 Russian / 2007 English) – Pelagia investigates reports of a ghostly black monk walking on water near a remote island monastery.
  • Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel (also published as Sister Pelagia and the Red Rooster) (2003 Russian / 2008 English) – The final book in the trilogy takes Pelagia far from her provincial home on a journey that leads all the way to the Holy Land.

Spin-Offs and Standalone Works

For die-hard fans, the Fandorin universe extends beyond Erast himself. Akunin wrote a modern-day spin-off series called the Nicholas Fandorin Mysteries (often referred to as the Master or Magister series). The protagonist is Nicholas Fandorin, Erast's grandson, a British historian who returns to Russia to investigate his family's historical relics. These books alternate between modern times and historical flashbacks. The first translated book in this series is Altyn Tolobas.

Additionally, Akunin has written standalone historical dramas. Notable among these is the play To Kill a Serpent in the Shell (2018), which details the political power struggles of late 17th-century Russia, focusing on Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna, her lover Vasili Golitsyn, and the young future Emperor Peter the Great. It functions as a brilliant historical drama exploring alternative paths for Russia's history.

What to Know Before You Start

Akunin's writing is celebrated for its pastiche of different classic detective subgenres. Each Erast Fandorin novel is written in a distinct style: The Winter Queen is a conspiracy thriller, The Turkish Gambit is an espionage tale, Murder on the Leviathan is a high-seas whodunit, and Special Assignments features a Victorian serial killer hunt. This variety keeps the series incredibly fresh. The translations by Andrew Bromfield are exceptionally well-regarded, capturing the witty, slightly archaic, yet fast-paced flavor of the original Russian text. If you enjoy historical atmosphere, clever puzzle-box plots, and deep character development, Boris Akunin's work is a masterclass in modern mystery writing.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start with for Boris Akunin?

The best starting point is definitely The Winter Queen, the first novel in the Erast Fandorin series. It establishes Fandorin's tragic backstory and explains the origins of his distinct traits, such as his stutter and graying temples.

QCan the Erast Fandorin books be read as standalones?

Yes, each novel features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end of the book. However, reading them in order is highly recommended to follow the overarching character development and Fandorin's personal journey over the decades.

QAre all the Fandorin books translated into English?

Most of the primary novels are translated, but two major collections have been skipped in English: The Jade Rosary (2006) and Planet Water (2015). Fortunately, the main storyline remains easy to follow without them.

QHow does the Sister Pelagia series compare to the Fandorin books?

The Sister Pelagia series is a trilogy featuring an Orthodox nun detective. It is set in provincial Russia and has a slightly cozier, more satirical tone compared to the high-stakes, international adventures of Erast Fandorin.

QWho is Nicholas Fandorin?

Nicholas Fandorin is Erast Fandorin's grandson, a modern-day British historian. He stars in a spin-off series starting with Altyn Tolobas, which blends contemporary investigations with historical flashbacks.

QIn what order should I read the Sister Pelagia books?

You should read them in publication order: start with Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog, follow with Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk, and finish with Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel.