¶ … Boris Akunin's the Turkish Gambit (New York: Widenfield & Nicholson, 2005)

Boris Akunin's novel the Turkish Gambit is a historical mystery set during the 19th century. A war is raging between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The heroine of the novel, Varya Suvorova, is an ordinary -- or not so ordinary woman -- caught in the crossfire of politics. Varya's fiancee is unjustly accused of spying for the Turkish side. Although she mistrusts the novel's detective she grudgingly agrees to cooperate with Erast Fandorin, to find the real spy and prove her fiance Petya is innocent to the world.

The most interesting aspect of the first part of the novel is not so much the mystery, however, but the character of Varya herself. Varya began her career as a midwife, but after the war broke out she became a telegraph operator. She believes, irreverently, that because God created "Adam first and Eve afterwards, far from demonstrating that men were more important, this demonstrated that women were more perfect." (p.7) She believes that "chastity and hypocritical piety were shackles imposed on women" by men, and even debates with her fiancee whether it would be wrong or right to have an open relationship with another man. (p.9) Despite their unconventional attitudes towards marriage, Varya clearly loves Pyotr, who seems like the more conventional member of the pair. "Of course, he would settle for carnal love without a wedding ceremony," (which would be more in keeping with Varya's political beliefs) but acknowledges "it would be better to get married properly, since it would spare them many complications." (p.10)

The best-laid plans can go awry, and when Pyotr is accused of espionage, the common soldier seems to have little hope of surviving, given the heightened state of tensions within the Russian army, unless Varya can find the real culprit. This is why she is willing to seek the help of anyone who will offer her aid, even a detective she personally dislikes.