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Zoya Volkova Russian Noir Thrillers #1.5
Snow Merry Red
How do you survive the holidays when someone from your family is trying to kill you?
Holidays have always been hard on Viola: the scrutiny of her family members, their comments about her parenting, her drinking, her failing career… She expects all this as she arrives to yet another Christmas dinner. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself locked in a basement of the family’s country house in Moscow exurbs without memories of how she ended up here.
Clearly, someone from her family attempted to get rid of her. But who?
After freeing herself, Viola is committed to find the answer. As the family members arrive into the house for the New Year’s night—Russia’s most important winter holiday—Viola knows she can’t trust anyone.
She recruits a con artist Zoya Volkova to help her. Together, they untangle the web of the family’s darkest secrets, malicious lies and heartbreaking betrayals.
But as the year changes and Viola’s memory returns, she and Zoya aren’t looking for the truth anymore. Now, they need to survive.
This dark page-turner with unpredictable twists is perfect for fans of Laura Lippman, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner.
Holidays have always been hard on Viola: the scrutiny of her family members, their comments about her parenting, her drinking, her failing career… She expects all this as she arrives to yet another Christmas dinner. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself locked in a basement of the family’s country house in Moscow exurbs without memories of how she ended up here.
Clearly, someone from her family attempted to get rid of her. But who?
After freeing herself, Viola is committed to find the answer. As the family members arrive into the house for the New Year’s night—Russia’s most important winter holiday—Viola knows she can’t trust anyone.
She recruits a con artist Zoya Volkova to help her. Together, they untangle the web of the family’s darkest secrets, malicious lies and heartbreaking betrayals.
But as the year changes and Viola’s memory returns, she and Zoya aren’t looking for the truth anymore. Now, they need to survive.
This dark page-turner with unpredictable twists is perfect for fans of Laura Lippman, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2021
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 2, 2021
***I received this as an ARC for my honest review***
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
Aside from minor typos, the story was rather engaging and fast paced! I did wish I knew more about Russian traditions to fully appreciate the story and the goings on - there is an author's note at the beginning - but perhaps an appendix for some of the other terms would help? My only other complaint is that there was such a large number of characters, it became somewhat hard to juggle everyone. But I would definitely pick up another read by this author. Thank you for the opportunity!
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
Aside from minor typos, the story was rather engaging and fast paced! I did wish I knew more about Russian traditions to fully appreciate the story and the goings on - there is an author's note at the beginning - but perhaps an appendix for some of the other terms would help? My only other complaint is that there was such a large number of characters, it became somewhat hard to juggle everyone. But I would definitely pick up another read by this author. Thank you for the opportunity!
November 3, 2023
I believe I got this from a newsletter and I was stoked to get a holiday read in.
The story is that Zoya, a house squatter, accidentally picks a house that already has someone in it. The someone has been kidnapped…by her own family. Everyone else has just shown up to celebrate the holiday and though she is recently freed from the basement, she doesn’t know who did it to her.
This was an interesting take on a thriller. It features chapters with Zoya, which are third person, but also first person chapters as Viola tries to recall the night that she was taken. It mixes Catholic Christmas with Russian New Years/Christmas, which was cool to see because I never knew there was a difference. As this is one of the most dysfunctional families of all time, Zoya is at the wrong place at the wrong time. Too bad she’s roped into all of this!
Enjoyable, quick, and not without holiday feels. It does get dark though!
Personally a 4/5* for me.
The story is that Zoya, a house squatter, accidentally picks a house that already has someone in it. The someone has been kidnapped…by her own family. Everyone else has just shown up to celebrate the holiday and though she is recently freed from the basement, she doesn’t know who did it to her.
This was an interesting take on a thriller. It features chapters with Zoya, which are third person, but also first person chapters as Viola tries to recall the night that she was taken. It mixes Catholic Christmas with Russian New Years/Christmas, which was cool to see because I never knew there was a difference. As this is one of the most dysfunctional families of all time, Zoya is at the wrong place at the wrong time. Too bad she’s roped into all of this!
Enjoyable, quick, and not without holiday feels. It does get dark though!
Personally a 4/5* for me.
November 28, 2021
Dysfunctional families celebrate the holidays too. Zoya, a homeless squatter and con artist simply wanted a few hours of peace and thought she picked an empty dacha in a development roughly 90 kilometers from Moscow. With an Olivier salad, a can of caviar imitation and two (2) bottles of sparkling wine she's all set to enjoy celebrating the arrival of the New Year. She wanted this New Year to be different so maybe this time it will. After all,
The author's page on Amazon reveals
It is a dark and suspenseful psychological novella. I simply couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
"How you spend New Year's Eve defines how you'll spend the rest of the year."But Zoya's not alone in the house...
The author's page on Amazon reveals
"Nadya Frank is the pen name of Russian-American author Nadezhda Frank Bauman. Born and raised in the city of Ryazan, a four-hour drive from Moscow, she changed countries and occupations until settling in the United States. She now lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her husband and daughter, and writes full time, striving to create captivating stories that accurately reflect modern Russia."This story is indeed captivating. Everyone's emotions are running in high gear for different reasons with each person's secrets from the past finally catching up to them.
It is a dark and suspenseful psychological novella. I simply couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
November 17, 2021
Whilst I was reading this I was picturing a Noel Coward type play it feels like that, really entertaining switching between different timelines but exploring two dinners one Catholic Christmas and then new year and what happens this year and last.
It was an easy read due to the way it was written and it just flowed.
Not my usual but will definitely be reading more by this author.
It was an easy read due to the way it was written and it just flowed.
Not my usual but will definitely be reading more by this author.
November 3, 2021
Viola is looking forward to the holidays (in Russia New year is a big thing). What she isn't expecting is to be locked in a basement for a week with no memory of how she got there or who by. She manages to free herself and wants some answers which she hopes she will get at the family new year party. She quickly finds a friend to help her- the friend being a con artist Zoya.
This is well written (a few typos but I read an ARC) and well put together. I love the title- a hint of Christmas but not straightforward- indicative of the read. There are some references which may require a little more explanation for those not familiar with Russian traditions or abbreviations/acronyms, maybe a reference index would help with this. A novella with characters that could possibly be developed into a full length novel to give more background and insight into their personalities. A good cohesive first novel and a very solid start- well done!
This is well written (a few typos but I read an ARC) and well put together. I love the title- a hint of Christmas but not straightforward- indicative of the read. There are some references which may require a little more explanation for those not familiar with Russian traditions or abbreviations/acronyms, maybe a reference index would help with this. A novella with characters that could possibly be developed into a full length novel to give more background and insight into their personalities. A good cohesive first novel and a very solid start- well done!
January 1, 2022
Zoya, the main character in this series, unwittingly gets involved with an eccentric family when she was only hoping to squat in an empty dacha for one night to escape the stresses in her own life situation. She had planned to at least enjoy the Russian New Year’s Eve using a stolen car as transportation. The new character, Viola, drags herself up the stairs after being knocked out and spending a week in the basement of her family dacha. Unfortunately, Zoya noted no movement and chose this dacha to squat in overnight on January 7. Viola holds her own in the first chapter prior to Zoya’s headlong entrance into the family circus and becomes the pivotal character in the narrative.
At first Viola mistakenly thinks Zoya knocked her out and dragged her down into the basement, but when convinced that is not the case she quickly draws Zoya into this family drama with a promise of good holiday food and a reward for keeping an eye on Viola when her family arrives. Viola suspects someone in her own family dumped her in the basement for reasons that will be revealed later. Viola wants Zoya to find out who kidnapped her and threw her into the basement. The raucous and crazy family arrives at the dacha and the story begins to unwind and unravel.
The author, Nadya Frank, who was born near Moscow, successfully tells the family saga slowly with crucial detail and with every new revelation the family dynamic shifts and another relative is under suspicion. Zoya is observant and perceptive - always aware of her surrounding environment. She developed these skills in her early life as she managed to survive on the cold back alleys of Moscow with only her wits to outsmart the cons and the scammers and unscrupulous employers in her chosen profession of unlicensed car mechanic (only men in Russia can be car mechanics).
The ending was a bit abrupt considering the feelings and secrets that Zoya and Viola shared over Russian New Year, but the journey there is great reading. It’s the family dynamics, melodrama, and behaviors that give this novel an edge and some unsuspected reveals.
At first Viola mistakenly thinks Zoya knocked her out and dragged her down into the basement, but when convinced that is not the case she quickly draws Zoya into this family drama with a promise of good holiday food and a reward for keeping an eye on Viola when her family arrives. Viola suspects someone in her own family dumped her in the basement for reasons that will be revealed later. Viola wants Zoya to find out who kidnapped her and threw her into the basement. The raucous and crazy family arrives at the dacha and the story begins to unwind and unravel.
The author, Nadya Frank, who was born near Moscow, successfully tells the family saga slowly with crucial detail and with every new revelation the family dynamic shifts and another relative is under suspicion. Zoya is observant and perceptive - always aware of her surrounding environment. She developed these skills in her early life as she managed to survive on the cold back alleys of Moscow with only her wits to outsmart the cons and the scammers and unscrupulous employers in her chosen profession of unlicensed car mechanic (only men in Russia can be car mechanics).
The ending was a bit abrupt considering the feelings and secrets that Zoya and Viola shared over Russian New Year, but the journey there is great reading. It’s the family dynamics, melodrama, and behaviors that give this novel an edge and some unsuspected reveals.
December 21, 2021
Snow Merry Red by Nadya Frank - Rating: 1.5 /5⭐️
.
.
Holidays and life has been hard in Viola. Especially this one. But as Zoya discovers her, Viola enlisted her help to figure out who is the true monster in her family of liars.
.
.
LIKES:
- The different traditions of Christmas - celebrating on January 7th, Christkind, and Ded Moroz.
- Story was pretty engaging and fast paced. I really liked the concept of her starting to work through it at the end of the chapter to transition into s flash back.
.
.
DISLIKES:
- Didn’t feel like Christmas really other than them decorating the tree. And I was really excited to learn more about Russia’s Christmas traditions but other than a quick description in the authors note and a couple words in the book, I didn’t get much. I guess I was expecting more of like a Krumpus vibe from it.
- Kind of predictable that it was Uncle Ted all along.
- Had a few typos that were heard not to notice and would take me out of the story.
- I didn’t feel like the child molesting was talked about enough. Which I know was a part of the lure of Viola’s story. But it just didn’t sit good with me how abrupt it was and overall ignored. And I think it could have really played into a bigger part of the overall psychological part of her and her brothers underlining problems.
.
.
Overall, I think the concept behind the book was very good. I just wish it was not a novella so we could get fully engrossed in the Russian Christmas tradition more.
.
.
Holidays and life has been hard in Viola. Especially this one. But as Zoya discovers her, Viola enlisted her help to figure out who is the true monster in her family of liars.
.
.
LIKES:
- The different traditions of Christmas - celebrating on January 7th, Christkind, and Ded Moroz.
- Story was pretty engaging and fast paced. I really liked the concept of her starting to work through it at the end of the chapter to transition into s flash back.
.
.
DISLIKES:
- Didn’t feel like Christmas really other than them decorating the tree. And I was really excited to learn more about Russia’s Christmas traditions but other than a quick description in the authors note and a couple words in the book, I didn’t get much. I guess I was expecting more of like a Krumpus vibe from it.
- Kind of predictable that it was Uncle Ted all along.
- Had a few typos that were heard not to notice and would take me out of the story.
- I didn’t feel like the child molesting was talked about enough. Which I know was a part of the lure of Viola’s story. But it just didn’t sit good with me how abrupt it was and overall ignored. And I think it could have really played into a bigger part of the overall psychological part of her and her brothers underlining problems.
.
.
Overall, I think the concept behind the book was very good. I just wish it was not a novella so we could get fully engrossed in the Russian Christmas tradition more.
December 16, 2021
I received an ARC from the author for an unbiased review.
I liked this book. I really did. For one, it is a novella, which means I read it in a day. And the story was well-written. The characters were well-rounded.
The story begins with Zoya Volkova trying to enjoy a peaceful New Year at a dacha in the exurbs of Moscow. Little does she expect to stumble upon Viola who is bound and left at the empty dacha.
Viola has no memory of how she ended up there but the thing she remembers is her dysfunctional family's Christmas dinner. What should be a happy event is marred by little fights and tantrums. Also, everyone has something to hide. So, who did this to Viola? And will Zoya be able to figure it out before the New Year rings in?
A quick, gripping read about a family that will go to any lengths to protect their secrets.
4 stars.
I liked this book. I really did. For one, it is a novella, which means I read it in a day. And the story was well-written. The characters were well-rounded.
The story begins with Zoya Volkova trying to enjoy a peaceful New Year at a dacha in the exurbs of Moscow. Little does she expect to stumble upon Viola who is bound and left at the empty dacha.
Viola has no memory of how she ended up there but the thing she remembers is her dysfunctional family's Christmas dinner. What should be a happy event is marred by little fights and tantrums. Also, everyone has something to hide. So, who did this to Viola? And will Zoya be able to figure it out before the New Year rings in?
A quick, gripping read about a family that will go to any lengths to protect their secrets.
4 stars.
December 2, 2023
Zoya is a homeless squatter that picks the wrong house to squat in over the New Year's holiday outside of Moscow, Russia. While making herself at home, she discovers Viola. Viola had escaped from being locked in the basement of her parent's house and did not remember how she had gotten there. Viola blackmails Zoya into helping her find out which member of her family had knocked her out and locked her away, otherwise Viola would report Zoya for illegally breaking in the house.
This story takes many twists and turns as we learning about the members of Viola's dysfunctional family and their secrets. A short holiday thriller that I would recommend to others to read.
This story takes many twists and turns as we learning about the members of Viola's dysfunctional family and their secrets. A short holiday thriller that I would recommend to others to read.
November 21, 2021
Overall 3.75*
This short story is set between Christmas and New Year in Russia which is celebrated differently to Europe. The story is mainly told alternatively by the two main characters Viola and Zoya who meet under unusual circumstances. For British readers not only does the reader need to absorb the differing Russian customs but also the Americanisms from the writer however once I had grasped these, I really enjoyed the story and the plot. It was a good concept and a good read.
Thanks to the author for the ARC to review.
This short story is set between Christmas and New Year in Russia which is celebrated differently to Europe. The story is mainly told alternatively by the two main characters Viola and Zoya who meet under unusual circumstances. For British readers not only does the reader need to absorb the differing Russian customs but also the Americanisms from the writer however once I had grasped these, I really enjoyed the story and the plot. It was a good concept and a good read.
Thanks to the author for the ARC to review.
November 24, 2021
I absolutely loved this novella! The author did a great job by explaining a bit about Russian traditions for the holidays at the beginning of the book, though I would have loved to know a little
Bit more about them! The author did a great job with the character development and the book started out with a bang! I loved that this was set around the holidays as I have not read a book like that in the past. It combines two of my loves suspense and holidays! Overall, I though she did a wonderful job with this book and I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Bit more about them! The author did a great job with the character development and the book started out with a bang! I loved that this was set around the holidays as I have not read a book like that in the past. It combines two of my loves suspense and holidays! Overall, I though she did a wonderful job with this book and I can’t wait to read more by this author!
January 13, 2022
What a fantastic psychological family drama.The suspense and mystery alone are enough to keep those pages turning. All of the characters were great and amazing people well, maybe not all but most. There was this one character which I kept waiting for each and every appearance to see where they were going to end up next
December 13, 2021
Great Read
This is the first book I read by this author. It was quite a bit different from anything else I’ve read before But I found myself becoming wrapped up in the story and I really enjoyed it.
This is the first book I read by this author. It was quite a bit different from anything else I’ve read before But I found myself becoming wrapped up in the story and I really enjoyed it.
December 18, 2022
Horrible Family Gathering!
Wonderful book though! .. I loved the story and reading more of Zoya's escapades, she's a great character that the author created, always up to something. I can't wait to read another book by Nadya Frank and recommend the books too everyone.
Wonderful book though! .. I loved the story and reading more of Zoya's escapades, she's a great character that the author created, always up to something. I can't wait to read another book by Nadya Frank and recommend the books too everyone.
January 15, 2024
Definitely not a thriller. More of a mystery type book.
There were a lot of characters with a lot of side stories most of which didn't really pertain to the main plot. It was a bit chaotic especially for such a short book. I only finished just to find out who did it.
There were a lot of characters with a lot of side stories most of which didn't really pertain to the main plot. It was a bit chaotic especially for such a short book. I only finished just to find out who did it.
October 16, 2025
An interesting twist on house squatting. Some questionable characters especially the property owners and their equally unusual family. You need to read the first book in the Zoya Volkova series before this one to better understand Zoya's background.
December 20, 2022
All and all a good holiday thriller novella..I had a little trouble keeping up with all the characters and the context was a little heavier the expected.
December 30, 2022
A very interesting story with some amazing characters. Loved it.
December 13, 2023
This book was interesting and VERY fast paced. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I LOVED that it wasn't predictable. I really enjoyed the short chapters and the different holiday traditions . It was a fun quick read .
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews