A Summer Revenge

Inspector Akyl Borubaev #3

by Tom Callaghan

In the burning heat of the sun, murder is deadly cold.

Having resigned from Bishkek Murder Squad, Akyl Borubaev is a lone wolf with blood on his hands. Then the Minister of State Security promises Akyl his old life back . . . if Akyl finds his vanished mistress. The beautiful Natasha Sulonbekova has disappeared in Dubai with information that could destroy the Minister's career.

But when Borubaev arrives in Dubai - straight into a scene of horrific carnage - he learns that what Natasha is carrying is worth far more than a damaged reputation. Discovering the truth plunges him into a deadly game that means he might never return to Kyrgyzstan . . . at least, not alive.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tom Callaghan was born in the North of England and educated at the University of York and Vassar College, New York. A creative group head at Saatchi & Saatchi for many years, he has worked in London, New York, Singapore and Dubai.
He attended the 2011 Emirates LitFest Crime Workshop given by Mark Billingham: the result is A Killing Winter, the first novel in a series featuring Kyrgyz Murder Squad Inspector Akyl Borubaev, published worldwide in English by Quercus. Publishing director Stef Bierwerth said of it: “Right from the very beginning, A Killing Winter hits you like a steam train. It’s an incredibly polished debut thriller which convinces through its originality and timeliness.”
An inveterate traveller, Tom divides his time between Bishkek, Dubai, London and Prague.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in the excellent Inspector Akyl Borubaev series set in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Akyl is now an ex-member of the Murder Squad having resigned after events in A Spring Betrayal. He is living hand to mouth, missing his old job, when he is summoned by Mikhail Tynaliev, Minister for State Security, a powerful, brutal, and ruthless man, who wants Akyl to retrieve a memory stick from Natasha Sulonbekova. Natasha was Tynaliev's mistress who has run off to Dubai after apparently stealing state secrets. This is a poisoned chalice of a mission which Akyl knows endangers his life, for if he succeeds, he will acquire information that will threaten the Minister. Arriving in Dubai with diplomatic status, he is greeted with a grisly and macabre scene of carnage, an omen of what awaits him. Dubai is a shock to Akyl's system with its brutal, relentless and oppressive heat making him feel homesick. The Dubai Akyl encounters is less the place of luxury consumer brands, wealth, overwhelming consumerism, glass and steel skyscrapers; it is the seedy underbelly of Dubai with its dismal sleazy bars, and the poverty of trapped and abused women.

Salman Kulayev is Akyl's contact although he wonders how far he can be trusted. Akyl's search for Natasha takes him to the Vista Hotel, where he finds her, only to find himself drugged and having compromising photographs taken of him. He discovers it is not state secrets that Natasha has stolen but access codes and information of bank accounts where Tynaliev has squirreled away £10 million of his ill gotten gains. Unfortunately there are others who are interested in getting their hands on that money that results in a rising tide of the dead in a city that prides itself on its low crime rates. The deadly and dangerous Saltanat is in Dubai as a member of the Uzbek Security Forces, looking to eliminate Chechan terrorists planning mayhem and mass killings. The two join forces when it becomes clear that there are connections between their separate missions. Akyl finds himself fighting to stay alive as danger and the dead swirl all around him. Will he be able to negotiate the trickiest of jobs and survive?

This is an action packed thriller set in Dubai, a place I have little knowledge of other than the obvious. The author is closely acquainted with oil rich Dubai which is apparent in his detailed knowledge of the place in the story. I really enjoyed reading this fast paced book with its short chapters that often end on cliffhangers. However, I missed what I loved most about this wonderful series which is location of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan itself. The character of Akyl remains as compelling as ever, he still mourns but finds his memories of his dead wife are beginning to fade, and his ambiguous relationship with Saltanat does not prevent his growing love for her, although a happy resolution of this seems out of reach. He has to be at his wiliest and deploy a subtle guile to extract himself from the multiple threats he faces and ensure a certain form of justice prevails. A great and entertaining read of a tremendous series. I recommend beginning at the first, A Killing Winter, as there are so many references to what has happened previously.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akyl Borubaev once again finds himself in danger while working for the State Security Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Minister Tynaliev. Inspector Borubaev wants to be able to return to his former position in the Murder Squad of Bishkek. However, Minister Tynaliev has a personal favor to ask of the Inspector which will be rewarded with reinstatement to his old position. The Minister's mistress has left the country and fled to Dubai with a stolen valuable that the Minister wants back. Borubaev agrees to take the case but soon realizes the value of the object and the lengths many people will go to to acquire this valuable puts his life in great danger, even from Minister Tynaliev.

Lots of action in this newest edition to the Inspector Borubaev series. For some unknown reason, I love to read about tormented Russian police and surprisingly, there are plenty of authors who write about this. Looking forward to the next edition.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third in the series, a series ive enjoyed immensely to date.

Akyl Borubaev is no longer a detective but is still in the thrall of his masters & that of shadowy government echelons, its no big reveal as we learn this early doors setting the wheels in motion for our erstwhile Inspector.

We start in Dubai this time & it’s the seedy areas of Dubai too which are very colourful & not quite what I’d expected in a conservative Arab state rich in oil money…. The under class is revealed in all it’s detailed depravity.

The story is pacey, leaving you turning the pages into the night with it’s short, on message chapters…. No long drawn out convoluted plots here, cuts straight to the chase. Despite the pace though you’re still treated to the visuals of the landscape & the characters are well fleshed out with their particular nuances. Jus how I like ‘em!

If you’ve not picked this series up yet & enjoy gritty hard boiled detectives then this is for you! Jus gets better n better, 4.5 Stars rounded to five for me.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I looked out the window and suddenly I was struck by how much I missed Kyrgyzstan - so much beauty crammed into so small a country. I remembered the long road from Bishkek to Osh, twisting and coiling back on itself as if a giant ribbon had fallen from the sky and draped itself across the mountains”.

I love books that allow me to travel and explore places I have been, am planning to visit or places that I’ve never really considered going to. Tom Callaghan’s Kyrgyz quartet series is absolutely that, wrapped up in a high octane Central Asian Noir story featuring the very likeable deep thinking Inspector Akyl Borubaev. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and A Summer Revenge, third book in the quartet continues in a similar gritty vein that I’ve come to enjoy and expect.

While most of this book takes place in Dubai, Kyrgyzstan underpins everything. It is present in thoughts, dreams, reflections, culture and geography. Callaghan knows Kyrgyzstan and this is very clear throughout these books. The mountains, towns, geography, lake Issyk-Kul, people, and customs in a post Soviet era permeate the lives and characters. This book is Kyrgyzstan meets Dubai and Callaghan does an excellent job in my opinion of blending these cultures perfectly.

In the midst of all the gritty action... I love the gems like “dreams have great importance to Kyrgyz people, even city bred ones like me. For the people in the villages, it seems only proper to view the vastness of the mountains as affecting everyday thoughts and actions.... the manaschi, the men who recite our poetry, do so in a trance, often claiming to be inspired by dreams...”

In amongst all that, the story takes us on a wild ride through Dubai, Kyrgyz style, full of revenge, greed, murder, and mystery with all the thrills and spills we’ve come to associate with Akyl Borubaev. IMO he’s kind of like a Central Asian Harry Hole in many ways, minus the booze, but just as broody and melancholy.

Great series and a great book. 4 Kyrgyz stars.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akyl Borubaev is not longer part of the Kyrgyzstan Murder Squad having angered the wrong people in book 2. Akyl is a still a troubled man and being an Inspector is not part of his life but is his life. He deeply loyal to his country despite the corruption and societal suffering.
The dangerous and corrupt Minister of State Security has summoned Akyl. In Kyrgyzstan, you do not refuse an audience with such a powerful man. His mistress had not only insulted his ego by fleeing the country but has left with a substantial amount of his money at a tune of 10 million. If Akyl wants his job back, he needs to find the woman and the money and bring them back.
Of course, nothing is that simple. Akyl has to travel to Dubai and mingle with mobsters and prostitutes to find her. While there, it becomes obvious that more than people want that money and will do anything to obtain it.
Dubai is a strange place. Her wealth is in your face with the luxury cars, skyscrapers and shopping malls. Yet, behind all the glitter, there is violence, corruption and prostitution.
I look forward to the conclusion of this series.

[DunklesSchaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endlich ist er da – der dritte Teil meiner liebsten Krimiserie aus Kirgisistan! Endlich wieder mit Akyl Borubaew durch die kirgisische Schönheit streifen und ja, ich bin mir darüber bewusst, dass Sommer dort wohl nicht mit anderen Sommern verglichen werden kann. Aber egal – Hauptsache Kirgisistan, nicht?
Oh je – hier hat der Autor mich ganz schön ausgetrickst. Diesmal schickt er seinen Ex-Ermittler nämlich nach Dubai. Temperaturen jenseits der 40 Grad, flirrende Hitze, Staub und Geld. Und mittendrin ein abgerissener Kirgise auf der Suche nach Tynalijews letzter Geliebten.

Worum geht es?
Die Geliebte Tynalijews, des Ministers für Staatssicherheit und Akyl Borubaews Nemesis, ist verschwunden. Der Minister möchte sie wieder haben und schickt Borubaew mit dem Versprechen ihn wieder in die Polizei einzugliedern, auf die Suche nach ihr. Natürlich ist die Geliebte nicht nur einfach so verschwunden, sondern hat ein paar brisante Informationen bei sich. Als Versteck hat sie sich Dubai ausgesucht, so dass Akyl sein Köfferchen packt und mit den kläglichen Spesen des Ministers in der Tasche, dorthin reist.

Einer wie der andere?
Durch den Schauplatz Dubai gelingt dem Autor hier eine große Abwechslung. Auch wenn der Autor in der Danksagung betont, dass Dubai eine der sichersten Städte ist, kommt sie in dem Buch nicht gut weg. Die Krimigeschichte mal beiseite gestellt, findet zumindest Akyl kaum ein gutes Wort über Dubai. Hauptsächlich liegt das wohl am Wechsel zwischen versengender Hitze und kältestarrender klimatisierter Luft. Auch ist Akyl sich deutlich bewusst, dass er dort höchstens geduldet ist. Er ist nicht reich und nicht berühmt, sondern eben nur ein Kirgise, mit kaum Geld in der Tasche, der unangenehme Fragen stellt.

Opfer, Tat und Täter
Eine Schönheit mit Plastiktitten, eine Jagd durch Dubai und viele kleine und große Gauner. Im Übrigen auch ein Zusammentreffen der verschiedensten Nationen: bulgarische Waffenhändler, kirgisische Unterhändler, vietnamesische und kirgisische Nutten, tschetschenische Dschihadisten und natürlich eine usbekische Geheimagentin.

Themen
Die Suche nach den brisanten Informationen stellt sich als Suche nach vielen Millionen heraus, deren Zugangscode auf einem USB Stick von Natascha, der ehemaligen Geliebten, entwendet wurden. Tatsächlich findet Borubaew das Mädchen recht schnell, heißt aber noch lange nicht, dass sie den USB Stick auch herausrückt. Und das viele Geld lockt Terroristen an, die damit gerne ihren Kampf gegen die Ungläubigen finanzieren wollen. Das wiederum ruft Akyls alte Flamme, die usbekische Geheimagentin Saltanat, auf den Plan, welche die Terroristen aufhalten will. Ihr seht also – auch in Dubai geht es rund!

Was war gut?
Wie auch in den vorigen Teilen der vermutlich auf vier Teile angelegten Reihe (Die Jahreszeiten legen das ja nahe – nach Blutiger Winter und Tödlicher Frühling) ist dem Autor auch hier wieder ein flotter, spannungsgeladener Thriller gelungen. Keiner der Beteiligten ist sich zu schade, jemanden auszutricksen und zu betrügen oder eine Waffe zu ziehen. Tatsächlich rätselt man auch die ganze Zeit, wie Borubaew wohl selbst seinen Kopf aus der Schlinge zieht – denn der Minister wird wohl kaum einen Mitwisser am Leben lassen.
Vermischt wird das spannende Geschehen mit Borubaews Sicht auf Dubai, aber auch seinen Vergleichen zu Kirgisistan. Sein Herz schlägt für sein Heimatland, auch wenn er dort nicht alles gutheißt.

Was war schlecht?
Ja, ich gebe zu, ein klein wenig war ich schon enttäuscht, dass der Krimi diesmal nicht in Kirgisistan gespielt hat. Irgendwie hat es der Autor geschafft, dass mir dieses kleine, durchweg korrupte, aber landschaftlich wunderschöne Land ans Herz gewachsen ist. Aber auch an Dubai gewöhnt man sich, ja, man kann sogar sagen, vielleicht – aber nur vielleicht – werde ich es im nächsten Teil ein klein wenig vermissen.

FAZIT:
Eine aufregende Hetzjagd durch Dubai mit meinem Lieblingskirgisen – Borubaew jagt Millionen hinterher, gemeinsam mit Terroristen und dem Geheimdienst. Actiongeladen, spannend und ein wenig wehmütig.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third novel in the author’s series featuring Akyl Borubaev of the Bishkek Murder Squad. While the previous two novels have been set squarely in Akyl’s home country of Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek is the capital) this third outing pulls him from his comfort zone. Not only is Akyl now firmly ex-police (after events that transpired in the previous book) but his old protector/nemesis, the powerful Minister of State Security, has very much made him an offer he cannot refuse. The Minister’s mistress, Natasha Sulonbekova, has disappeared, apparently run off, and Akyl must travel to Dubai to find her. Succeed and he stands to get his old job back. Refuse, or fail, and he’s likely to find himself in an early grave.

From the outset, Akyl guesses that there’s more to the Minister’s tale than a case of a foolish older man falling for a younger woman only to be embarrassed when she runs away. He wonders whether she’s stolen money from him, but thinks that even this might be not the whole truth. His task is further complicated by the fact that in Dubai he will be operating alone, with none of the official jurisdictional authority that he’s used to. Should he be arrested by the authorities or fall foul of criminal actors, then no one will come to the rescue.

A Summer Revenge is an atmospheric novel and the author clearly either knows Dubai well or has done his research. This isn’t the Dubai of the superrich and glossy holiday brochures, rather it is a seedy underbelly full of dingy strip clubs and populated by prostitutes, gangsters and hustlers. As with the previous two volumes in the series Akyl proves to be a likeable protagonist while the other characters are all well drawn. The exception remains Saltanat Umaroza, a femme fatale Uzbek assassin, a recurring character who I still find a little too clichéd for my liking.

As with the previous two novels, the plot of A Summer Revenge is multifaceted. Akyl’s suspicions that the Minister’s concerns for his mistress’s whereabouts stretch to more than that of a lover spurned, or mere financials, are borne out. The tale that unfolds involves corruption, greed and Chechen terrorism. The author does a neat job of juggling the various plates he spins and tying up all the various loose ends. That all said, I enjoyed this outing of Akyl’s a little less than his previous adventures. This might be that the peril never seems particularly high. Yes, if Akyl fails, the Minister might have him shot, but compared to A Killing Winter (book 1) and a Spring Betrayal (book 2) where he was battling the perpetrators of ritualistic killings, international corruption and child prostitution rings, the plot of A Summer Revenge just feels a little tame.

That said, this is still a cut above many other novels in the genre and the depiction of Dubai is fresh and intriguing.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Sterne

Der dritte Band der Krimireihe um den kirgisischen Ermittler Akyl Borubaev ist wie die beiden Vorgänger wieder ein guter und spannender Krimi geworden, kann für mich aber nicht ganz an die ersten beiden Bücher anknüpfen. Das hat vor allem 2 Gründe:

– das Setting: Während die ersten beiden Bände vor allem durch den rauen Charme Kirgisistans ein hervorstechendes Alleinstellungsmerkmal hatten und dieser unverbrauchte Schauplatz die Lektüre sehr interessant gemacht hat, verschlägt es Akyl Borubaev in seinem dritten Einsatz nach Dubai. Das ist zwar auch durchaus noch recht originell, der Autor schafft es aber nicht ganz, diesem Setting ebenso viel Leben einzuhauchen wie zuvor Kirgisistan. Zudem bewegt sich der (Ex-)Inspektor praktisch in den gleichen Kreisen wie zuvor (düstere Nachtclubs, abgewrackte Hotels etc.), sodass der Schauplatz nicht mehr so eine bedeutende Rolle spielt.

– die Story: Musste Borubaev in seinen ersten beiden Einsätzen noch brutale Mordfälle aufklären und dabei tief in die Unterwelt Kirgisistans eintauchen, so geht es hier hauptsächlich darum, für seinen Auftraggeber (einen kirgisischen Minister) eine Person (die geflohene Geliebte) ausfindig zu machen. Diese Aufgabe stellt den Ermittler nicht vor allzu große Herausforderungen und es geht in der Geschichte meistens hauptsächlich darum, irgendwelche zwielichtigen Gestalten ausfindig zu machen und hin und wieder einen Mordanschlag zu überstehen. Klingt simpel, ist es auch.

Trotzdem ist Akyl Borubaev auch beim dritten Mal wieder eine spannende Figur, die sich nicht immer zwingend an Regeln und Gesetze hält und bei seinen Ermittlungen auch ohne groß mit der Wimper zu zucken über Leichen geht, dabei aber dennoch immer wieder Herz zeigt und zumindest versucht, inmitten von Korruption, Mord und Menschenhandel für wenigstens ein bisschen Gerechtigkeit zu sorgen. Zudem darf man sich auch hier wieder über ein Wiedersehen mit seiner usbekischen Partnerin/Geliebten Saltanat freuen, was für einer Fortsetzung der wohl unromantischsten Romanze im Thrillergenre sorgt. Und auch wenn die Handlung etwas abfällt, so ist sie dennoch (zumeist) spannend und unterhaltsam. Für den abschließenden vierten Band des Quartetts darf es dann aber gerne wieder eine etwas anspruchsvollere Story sein.

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as I did the previous two in the series.

Welcome to the third book in the series, and the continuing story of now former Bishkek Murder Squad Inspector, Akyl Borubaev. This one takes him on a mission to the Southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai.

It is now Summer, and Akyl has been summoned by the Kyrgyz Minister for State Security, Mikhail Tynaliev to complete a mission that is of a sensitive matter involving a former lover who has skipped the country with a number of secrets and a large amount of money. Those secrets could be very troublesome to the Minister, so we wants the girl, the secrets and the money returned to him. So, Akyl is given diplomatic status and sent to Dubai with the understanding that he is not to fail this mission, and could be reinstated to his old job should he succeed. As always, he tends to get himself into precarious situations with various low-lifes, dangerous criminals... and Saltanat.

As I stated in my review of the first two books in the series, if you are easily offended, or squeamish about the descriptive details of killings and injuries, then this might not be the book for you.

Just as with books one and two of the series, once I started reading this one, I had a hard time putting it down at night so I could get some sleep. I have read the first three books, back-to-back, which is highly unusual for me, as I like to mix things up when I am reading. That streak will end, as to date, I have not been able to track down a copy of Book 4, An Autumn Hunting. I am hoping to track one down soon.

[Bookworm9992001 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dissatisfied with this one, the series is getting to be a tad formulaic. Also missed the lovely mountain settings of Akyl's native Kyrgyzstan.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get on with this book think it was the location it was set in, its very unfamiliar to me

[Maraia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series - come on book 4!

[Emily Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and look forward to the next book.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series as I know little about this part of the world. The setting is gritty and knowing the right people and staying in favour is important. I found this third novel in the series to be the least strong. A lot of the plot happens in Dubai and I found the main protagonist made some questionable decisions that left him in hot water. However I would recommend reading these books