Sergey Trifonov

1899, the Christmas-time St.Petersburg. Ice-covered rivers and canals of the capital seethe with festive activities. On the eve of the new century those who should not be destined to meet, come together. They are people from different worlds: Matvey, the son of a lamplighter, whose only treasure is his silver-plated skates; Alice is the daughter of a high-ranking official dreaming of science. Each of them has his own difficult life-story, but having accidentally met they rush forward together in pursuit of their dreams.

In the evening, a writer meets a boy crying in the park, who tells him that while playing a game he gave his word of honour to guard a gunpowder storage shed and that he couldn't leave his post. The writer helps the boy to find an honourable way out of the situation.

The life of foreman Ivan Plotnikov has been going downhill for a long time because of his invincible habit of enduring everything. But, by chance finding himself at the Russian bathhouse championship, he learns that this is not a curse at all, but a great talent. Now he will have to fully develop his ability to endure in order to finally believe in himself, regain the respect of his loved ones and compete for the solid cash prize that he so desperately needs.

The sad ride of driver Zarezin and Circus Girl, Bonnie, to deliver a sick circus elephant, Bodhi, to be euthanized, becomes a wondrous journey full of unexpected twists and joyous encounters that changes all three characters, human and elephant, forever.

What if Konstantin Gavrilovich, from Anton Chekkov's famous play, did not commit suicide and was murdered instead? And who did it? Boris Akunin's take on The Seagull unfolds as a comedic murder mystery.