Death comes in many guises in the two mystery/suspense novels we review in this issue.

In which we review Dina Rubina's Leonardo's Handwriting, and the nonfiction book, The Pianos of Siberia.

We review Good Citizens Need Not Fear, by Maria Reva, and Fandango and Other Stories, by Alexander Grin.

We asked our editors, advisors, and frequent contributors to share a Russian literary work they felt was particularly apt to read during The Great Pause.

In which we review a book on dissidents, and a novel about literary envy.

Reviews of a history of punk rock and a novel about a not very likeable woman.

A review of two books: one work of fiction, and one labor of love.

Two recently published works of fiction that we liked and wanted to share with you.

I can’t imagine a cleverer or more perverse way of presenting “the first political biography” of Mikhail Sholokhov (1905-1975) than as if from the conscience-addled Sholokhov’s perspective.

In which we review The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessions from Russian Literature, by Viv Groskop, and Restless Empire, by Ian Barnes.

We review books of fiction (Chekhov, Remizov, the Brothers Strugatsky, and Anderson) and an enticing cookbook.

In which we review books on empire and disasters.