Alexei Volkovoy, a Russian who works undercover for several individuals in the Russian government, knew Kato well. In fact she and Alexei were lovers, a fact which causes his present significant other, Valya, no little distress. Against his better judgment, Volk vows to avenge her death by hunting down and dispatching her killer.

Volk’s inquiries lead him to an American, Grayson Stone, and a Frenchman known as Jean-Louis. These men apparently have an agreement of some sort which involves French, American and Russian governments and nuclear waste disposal. They also are both very nasty men. They are obviously followers of Machiavelli in that for them the end justifies the means. For these driven men there is little or nothing that qualifies as cruel or unusual punishment. In addition they don’t like each other much.

It soon becomes clear to Volk that to discover what happened to Katarina, and why, he will be forced to play one side against the other though either side would not be at all unhappy were Volk to meet an untimely death.

The Burning Lake is the fourth in a series after Volk’s Game, Volk’s Shadow and The Verona Cable. As in the earlier novels insight is gained into the Russian mindset as well as a mini education in current Russian politics. As the major thrust of the novel centers on nuclear weapons, nuclear production facilities, and waste disposal, various government policies on nuclear arms, use and particularly disposal are discussed.

Because one of the central characters is a journalist, we gain some insight into the present state of journalism in Russia. In a age where in the United States aspiring journalists are worried about the print media being usurped by telecommunication venues, Russian journalistic concerns are on another level altogether. This novel clearly reflects that difference.

While the plot of The Burning Lake could easily sustain many readers, the author has chosen to let his readers learn a good bit more about how Volk’s mind works. The man takes his job seriously and has no qualms about killing another individual, but he displays a softer more emotional side as he considers his relationships with Kato and Valya. Uncovering the circumstances surrounding Kato’s death and tracking down her killer are more than a job for this enigmatic man.

The quality of the writing in this novel is excellent. Mr. Ghelfi does not rely on graphic details of horrific scenes to gain his audience’s attention, though he does not shy away from gory details. Action scenes progress in short simple sentences. Descriptions of scenes dictate more complex verbiage. He knows how to command a reader’s attention as when Volk receives the news that he is to search for Kato’s major informant. Volk says he is being asked to search for himself. Readers learn how officials conduct interviews to elicit information. How important the tone, word selection, and observation of the respondent’s body language is deftly demonstrated.

Other than referring to a man performing autopsies on bodies as Oteri in some places and Otari in others, this book has been meticulously written. The language is precise and accurate. The background information is educational. The characters are consistent in their behavior. Even the quotations from famous writers at the beginning of each part are aptly chosen. Whether or not you have read the previous entries in the series, The Burning Lake is well worth the time it takes to read it.

--Andy Plonka