We uncovered the last of the bodies in the red hour before dusk, as the sun stained the snowcaps of the Tian Shan mountains the color of dried blood and the spring air turned sharp and cold . . . Inspector Akyl Borubaev of the Bishkek Murder Squad has been exiled to the far corner of Kyrgyzstan, but death and corruption still haunt him in the remote town where he has been stationed. Borubaev soon finds himself caught up in a mysterious and gruesome new case: several children's bodies have been found buried together-all tagged with name bands that mark them as orphans, all killed in the same way. In his search for the truth behind the brutal killings, Borubaev hits a wall of silence, with no one to turn to outside his sometime lover, the beautiful and lethal undercover security service agent Saltanat Umarova. When Borubaev himself is framed for the production of blood-soaked child pornography connected with the case, it looks as though things couldn't get any worse. With the investigation at a dangerous standstill, Borubaev sets out to save his integrity, and to deliver his own savage brand of justice on behalf of the many dead who can't speak for themselves . . .
Download and start listening now!
"Akyl comes across as a very real human being; one with a past, who is dealing with the baggage of a lifetime, one who hopes for better from life but doesn't expect it. Don't start this one late at night. The plot never seems to stop moving; you'll be up far later than you intended!—CA Reviews"
—
“A major new voice in crime fiction with his cut-to-the-bone storytelling and descriptive brilliance.”
— Kirkus ReviewsAfter an effective noir opening, Callaghan's second thriller apes the blunt men's action novels of the 1970s and '80s . . . the provocative chemistry between the hero and his scorned lover-turned-sidekick keeps that action interesting.
— Kirkus Reviews[An] oddly fascinating novel...the writing and pacing are snappy and compelling in the best hard-boiled American style.
— BooklistCallaghan combines poetic descriptions and often eloquent prose with an unflinching examination of grisly subjects. Armchair travelers should appreciate not only the riveting plot but the chance to encounter this fascinating country.
— Publishers WeeklyGet ready to be blown away by this series, Kyrgzstan comes to life like a kind of wild west where anything can, and does go
— For the Love of BooksCallaghan is a hell of a writer, with a tremendous sense of pace and an arch ear for juicy dialogue and the pages fly by.
— Crime Thriller FellaInspector Akyl Borubaev has world-weariness, sorrow, cynical charm, toughness and brains to spare . . . by the end of A Killing Winter you'll be breathless and begging for more.
— Peter Spiegelman, author of Thick As ThievesBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Tom Callaghan received degrees in English literature and art history from Vassar College and the University of York, then joined Saatchi & Saatchi, spending ten years as a creative group head in London, New York and Philadelphia (where he helped establish a Saatchi office). His controversial film for Survival International, starring Richard Gere, was banned from UK television but aired worldwide for many years. He joined the newly formed M & C Saatchi as creative group head for three years, before moving to the Far East to pursue interests outside advertising. He is a frequent contributor to Campaign, Communicate, Media Week and Rolling Stone.
Saul Reichlin is a narrator, actor, producer, and director. He has lent his voice to more than fifty television documentaries.