Red Star: A Dmitri Petrov Crime Novel
About this audiobook
Red Star: A Dmitri Petrov Crime Novel
In the treacherous, shifting landscape of the Russian Federation's criminal underworld, rising star Viktor Vasilev is about to learn that some legends refuse to stay buried. One night, after leaving his exclusive nightclub, Vasilev is discovered unconscious in the parking lot—the victim of a brutal assault. While being transported to a hospital he keeps moaning the name of a famous Russian crime boss, Ded Hasan.
What makes this truly intriguing to Chief Inspector Dmitri Petrov is that Ded Hasan, a notorious and revered crime boss, was assassinated twelve years prior, gunned down outside a Moscow restaurant. Why in the world, would Viktor Vasilev be uttering the name of a man long presumed dead?
Chief Inspector Dmitri Petrov and Manislov Illich begin digging into a case that defies all logic. But as they do, an ominous twist emerges; the powerful FSB—Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB—intervenes, joining the investigation into Viktor Vasilev.
As Petrov and Illich peel back layers of deception and delve into the dark, intricate machinations of Russia's criminal elite, they uncover a world where old grudges never die, and the past holds a terrifying grip on the present. Red Star is a gripping, intriguing lesson about power, vengeance, and the enduring shadows of organized crime in the Russian Federation.
"A masterclass in suspense, where the ghosts of the past cast long, dangerous shadows over Russia's underworld."
"Petrov and Illich navigate a chilling conspiracy that redefines the rules of organized crime."
"An atmospheric and intricately plotted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page."
"Gripping, dark, and utterly compelling – a deep dive into the heart of Russian criminal intrigue."
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About the author
A Life Lived in Ink:
From the Federal Prison System to Saint Petersburg: The Unconventional Path of a Crime Novelist
When asked recently about the background behind my Dmitri Petrov Crime Novels, it made me reflect on my unusual journey. My path to becoming an author is perhaps not what you would expect.
For over three decades, I served two 14-year sentences in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for bank robberies. The federal system is a unique environment, a melting pot of individuals from every corner of the globe. In 2004, as I was beginning my last sentence, I decided it was time for a profound change. I felt a new path calling me, and I believed that as an author, my past would not and should not define my future.
In 2010 I was transferred to Butner, North Carolina. It was a smaller medical facility, and my unit of sixty inmates, and the prison's total population of around six hundred, provided an intimate, and in many ways, an unprecedented classroom. I shared that space for seven years with some truly infamous figures, including Bernie Madoff, Jonathan Pollard, Nicky Scarfo, and Carmine Persico—and that’s only a small glimpse of the experiences I had there.
During those twenty years, I dedicated myself to an intense study of Russian, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Spanish, along with my native English. I would seek out foreign inmates from those countries, intentionally "zoning in" on them to test my language skills. I believe that when you make the effort to learn someone's language, it opens doors to understanding that remain firmly shut otherwise. It was in this unique educational environment that I met a number of Russian vory, or "thieves," in the BOP.
One Thief-in-law at Butner, a man who had his own reputation, was so taken with me that he hired me to ghostwrite his life story. The money he paid me was vital—I saved every penny for my release—but the real value was the education he gave me. What I learned about the inner workings of organized crime in the Russian Federation was more valuable than any textbook could ever be. He would often tell me my Russian was terrible, but he'd add with a laugh, "when you imitate a Russian trying to speak English, you are spot on."
Since my release, that foundation has served me well. I have now published twenty-eight novels across seven different series. But the one that remains closest to my heart is my Dmitri Petrov Crime Novels, which I began in that very unit. Dmitri Petrov is an inspector for the Saint Petersburg Police in the Russian Federation. The first book, Vodka Express, introduces his world, and the second, White Nights, immerses him in the city's famous festival. Red Star is the third, and I am thrilled to announce that the fourth novel in the series, Russian Roulette, is now available.
My journey is proof that inspiration can be found in the most unlikely of places. The lessons I learned—about language, culture, and the complex human beings on all sides of the law—continue to fuel my writing. It's a reminder that every experience, no matter how unconventional, can be a tool to create something new. I am now a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Crime Writers Association in the U.K.
