An Autumn Hunting

Inspector Akyl Borubaev #4

by Tom Callaghan

'Even better than Child 44. Akyl Borubaev is a terrific creation' Anthony Horowitz'Just keeps getting better . . . buy the whole series right away' Peter Robinson, No.1 bestselling author of Sleeping in the GroundNo sooner has Akyl Borubaev been reinstated as an Inspector in the Bishkek Murder Squad than he's suspended for alleged serious crimes against the state. After an attempted assassination of a prominent minister goes spectacularly wrong, Akyl is a fugitive from his former colleagues and involved with one of Kyrgyzstan's most dangerous criminals. On the run, caught up in a illegal scheme that can only end badly, it's time for Akyl to take a stand for everything he believes in.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller

400 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2019

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 3 out of 5]

I believe this is the final addition to Tom Callaghan's quartet featuring Inspector Akyl Borubaev set in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a fascinating location. Minister of State Security, Mikhail Tynaliev is not a man to be ignored, and Borubaev knows plenty about the skeletons that reside in his closet. Akyl is at what is a scene that is desperately familiar to him, a young unknown woman's death from a overdose, addicts proliferate in the country. However, her post mortem reveal anomalies, but he is unable investigate as he is summarily suspended from duty. Having only recently been reinstated with the Bishkek Murder Squad, the shooting of a significant political figure compounds Akyl's problems as he is forced to go on the run, the most wanted man, with no options and a bleak future. Others too are interested in his demise, the Circle of Brothers believe he was behind the killing of their pakhan, the brutal Maksat Aydaraliev. In truth, Akyl was not responsible but to deny it does no good.

The Circle of Brothers control the lucrative drug trade, and it is now headed by a new pakhan, Kanybek Aliyev, a man with a bold visionary plan to implement strategic shifts in the business in a changing world, and sees possibilities in Akyl helping him to implement this. Akyl is a man with no choices and Aliyev is a dangerous man who could snuff out his life at any moment. Trust does not come easy to Aliyev, a smart and ruthless operator. Akyl finds himself in Thailand tangled with operators there, just waiting for any missteps that he might make so that they can take him out. The only help he has is the Uzbek Security Services Saltanat, a woman it would be a mistake to underestimate, a smart and intelligent one woman killing machine. His intimate connection with her is giving him the potential opportunity to recover from the persistent trauma and grief trapped within him after the death from cancer of his beloved wife, Chinara.

What I have loved about this quartet of novels more than anything is the location of Kyrgyzstan, a country I knew little about at the beginning. This addition has in many ways been a a deeply felt disappointment for me. The narrative struggles to live up to the complex and intricate plotting and make it feel believable. There are sections of polished prose, but they are islands surrounded by cracks that make this feel like disjointed, poorly stitched together storytelling. It is as if the author reached an impasse when it came to making the novel coherent and in finding the requisite skills for the much needed character development that needed to take place. Not to mention that he insists on hammering home the same points ad infinitum. This is a shame, Callaghan set the bar so high with A Killing Winter, which eclipses all the other novels in its brilliance and had me eagerly anticipating the sequels which never quite lived up to the first book. No doubt many other readers will likely appreciate this more than me.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Onto the final book in the series which has been based on the four seasons of the year, eagerly anticipated as its been one of my favourite series in the Crime Noir genre.

The plot seems straight forward…… Akyl is on the run…… but….. not all is as it seems in this one!
All the usual suspects are involved & as ever enjoyed the writing & characters.

I can’t really say more than that for it would spoil the story, so that’s yer lot for this review….
4.5 star finish rounded to a four & the series overall ways in at 4.5 stars rounded upto a five & highly recommended for those who follow crime Noir & want to read about a very diffo setting than the norm.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But most of all, I knew my anger and resentment and disgust were all aimed at one person, the man who stood every morning with a razor in his hand and avoided staring into his eyes in my mirror.” P150

Complex, broody, gritty and authentic: Inspector Akyl Borubaev of the Bishkek Murder Squad is everything I love about a protagonist in Noir novels. An Autumn Hunting rounds out the ‘Kyrgyz Quartet’, a series of four books, named for each season of the year, by Tom Callaghan, and is his first foray into writing. He’s done an excellent job and the entire series is polished, original, and a cracking good read. Set in Central Asia, the reader is introduced to Kyrgyzstan, landlocked former Soviet republic and is immediately immersed in the life and culture of the country. Callaghan writes with authenticity, as one who has spent much time in Bishkek, capital of this locale.

An Autumn Hunting sees Akyl head underground, a wanted man, suspended from the Murder Squad, guilty of attempted assassination. But this is not just a book about a thrilling ride of adrenalin, Callaghan gets us inside Akyl as a human being, vulnerable and authentic. We feel his grief at the loss of his wife, Chinara, terminally ill from cancer and dying under heart wrenching circumstances. We feel his self doubt, self loathing, confusion and stubbornness and we lament with him, and identify with him.

I love the way Callaghan highlights the many contrasts and conflicts in his character. In so many ways Akyl is an anti hero yet he really is the hero of these books and we feel him. And what’s more we go on a cracking good ride through the streets of Bishkek and the remote roads of Kyrgyzstan.

Great series. Solid 4 stars all the way.

“Sometimes, small things are all you can do to try to improve the world.” P41

[miss.mesmerized mesmerized · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine junge Frau wird tot aufgefunden. Akyl Borubaew, Inspektor der kirgisischen Mordkommission in Bischkek ahnt, dass dieser Fall alles andere als einfach werden wird, denn die scheinbar Drogensüchtige ist an einem neuen Stoff verstorben, um ein Vielfaches stärker als die bekannten Drogen. Aber lange hat er an diesem Fall nicht zu ermitteln, denn der Minister für Staatssicherheit entlässt ihn. Eine Kleinigkeit, passende Beweise für sein vermeintliches Fehlverhalten zu finden. Stattdessen bittet er ihn um eine ganz besondere Mission, die er undercover durchführen soll. Doch bevor es so weit kommt, erschießt Borubaew seinen Erzfeind und wird zum Staatsfeind Nummer 1. Schutz kann er ausgerechnet nur bei den Drogenbaronen der Region finden. Und so wird aus dem einstigen Vorzeigepolizisten der eifrige Diener der Unterwelt.

Auch der vierte und scheinbar letzte Teil der Serie um den kirgisischen Inspektor erfüllt nicht nur die Erwartungen, sondern schließt die Handlung überzeugend ab. Borubaew sieht sich dieses Mal nicht nur einem Feind gegenüber, sondern wird gleichermaßen mit dem korrupten Polizeiapparat wie auch sich bekämpfenden Drogenkartellen konfrontiert. Dass er lebend aus der Nummer rauskommt, ist schon fast ein Wunder, aber daran hat er ja nicht alleine Anteil, ohne tatkräftige Unterstützung seiner Geliebten, der usbekischen Agentin Saltanat, die für nicht wenig Überraschung sorgt.

Die Handlung ist ausgesprochen komplex und die Spannung wird durch die Erzählperspektive konstant hochgehalten. Man kann den Ich-Erzähler Borubaew nicht als unzuverlässigen Erzähler bezeichnen, er bietet keine Mehrdeutigkeiten, aber geschickte Auslassungen schaffen Lücken, die vielfältige Auslegungen zulassen und den Leser in die Irre führen und auf die falsche Fährte locken. Am Ende löst sich aber alles glaubwürdig und restlos auf und auch die Persönlichkeit der toten Drogensüchtigen wird aufgeklärt.

Ein rundum clever konstruierter Thriller, der vor allem von seinem Protagonisten lebt, der mit Menschenkenntnis und Mut für die richtige Sache kämpft und sich einem - vermutlich leider sehr realistisch dargestellten – durch und durch korrumpierten Verwaltungsapparat und von Gaunern unterwanderten Gesellschaft gegenüber sieht.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as I did the previous three in the series. It was my least favourite of the quartet.

Welcome to the fourth book in the series, and the conclusion of the former Bishkek Murder Squad Inspector, Akyl Borubaev story.

It is now Autumn, and Akyl starts by attempting to assassinate the Kyrgyz Minister for State Security, Mikhail Tynaliev. When that goes dreadfully wrong, he has to flee and ends up having to “befriend” the very people he was once working to put a stop to.

Working with his new found gang of friends, Akyl is asked to broker a large drug trade agreement with a very powerful man in Thailand. But, once again, Akyl gets himself into precarious situations with various low-lifes, dangerous criminals... and Saltanat. He is now a wanted fugitive in his own country, with a price on his head. So, can Akyl get himself out of this one?

As I stated in my review of the first three 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.

With this series now wrapped up and put away, I am hoping that Tom Callaghan continues writing and comes out with a new series, with another protagonist to read about. Maybe a series with Saltanat as the main character? Until then... we wait.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a huge confession to make. Although I have the other three books in the Inspector Akyl Borubaev series on my massive and ever increasing ‘To Be Read’ mountain, I haven’t got around to reading them yet. Judging by how much I enjoyed reading ‘An Autumn Hunting’, I can guarantee that they won’t be there for much longer. I really enjoyed reading ‘An Autumn Hunting’ but more about that in a bit.
Inspector Akyl Borubaev is certainly an interesting character and then some. He has been around the block more than a few times and he has gained a lot of life experience along the way. ‘An Autumn Hunting’ sees his reinstatement as an Inspector within the police service. He had been suspended for something which is mentioned in a previous book. However his reinstatement does not last long before he is suspended again and fitted up for crimes that he did not commit. He realises that the doo doo really is hitting the fan. Akyl is honest enough about his career and that he has done things that he is not proud of. Akyl is a dedicated police officer, who is stubborn and who doesn’t like being told what to do. Akyl struck me as a rebellious figure who won’t hesitate to go against orders if he feels that the orders are wrong or that something doesn’t seem quite right. There is an assassination attempt on a high ranking government official but the attempt fails and Akyl ends up going on the run from his former colleagues and becomes involved with a criminal. Will Akyl survive with his life? Will he manage to sort out the case against him? Will he manage to see off his enemies? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
The book certainly starts in a way that I am not going to forget in a hurry. It certainly grabbed my attention and drew me into the story. Before I knew what was happening I was addicted to reading the book. I had a feeling in which direction the story would lead me and in a way I had the right ending but other details were wrong. I really felt for Akyl and to start with I felt rather defensive of him because I figured that he needed at least one person fighting his corner. The more I read, the more I got into the story and the more I wanted to find out what happened in the end. Although I didn’t always agree with the methods he used, I couldn’t argue with some of the results that his actions had. There were certain characters that I wished I could have slapped with a wet fish for some of what they did. Reading this book was a lot like riding on a very scary and at times unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns and moments that knock the stuffing out of you.
In short I really enjoyed reading ‘An Autumn Hunting’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It can be read as a standalone book but because I am a bit OCD and for certain references to past events in this book to make sense, I fully intend to read the series in full and in order. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Tom Callaghan. Here’s hoping that I don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Zzzareader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many reviews talk about how great it was to learn something about Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia post Soviet Union collapse and I find that so depressing. The author, again, gives the impression that he has given the place a very cursory visit and picked up some "facts" from guide books. This also includes a "lads on tour" for Bangkok, though again a bit light on description. There is very little character development other that stereotypes. His in country descriptions add nothing to your understanding of Kyrgyzstan, for example on page 3 "Balykchy is a festering shithole you wouldn't want to visit twice". That's all, he doesn't say what makes it a shithole or say something about the way the whole area fell from being the summer playground for tourists from all over the Russian federation, spawning vast spa hotels on the shores of Issyk Kul at Cholpon Ata, all now in various states of decay. My impressions were that, like so many towns in Central Asia the Soviet Union collapse was devastating. The planned economy was no longer there and suddenly there were no jobs and no prospect of work. You can see that Balykchy had something going in the past, there are vast sites that house decaying processing facilities and warehouses and the surrounding, now dray and barren, agricultural lands still show evidence of extensive but now abandoned irrigation systems. I found Balykchy depressing, but dismissal in two words is just lazy writing.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting-readable enough of its type. Long term lead character, Russian detective in modern post Soviet police service. Liaising between old style policing in black market zones and regular crime and the newly de eloped, rigorous drug trades of tradtional imports agai st a rising production of synthetics in Asia. Big time backdoor fights. Mega money. Conscience and cover-up.
Fair.

[Kevin Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant series

This is without a doubt one of the best series of books I have read in a long time, the location is as much a part of the story as the characters. This is a tough, gritty series and the author doesn't hold back on some of the action. This is a highly recommend and series if you like your fiction hard boiled.

[Amy Timmins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect with this book other than some kind of crime. What I wasn’t expecting was how surprising it was. Just when you think the main character had been through enough, more came their way at a surprisingly fast pace. This book is exciting, keeps you on your toes. It’s got action, romance, revenge, remorse and would make a great movie.

[Tom Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bleak, well-written, but the plot was a little obvious and the ease with which the central character crossed international boundaries was just a little incredible. An enjoyable read, nonetheless, although the ending suggests Borubaev may not be seen again.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fitting finale to this series