Summer of the Extinguished Volcano

Five friends—scientists: an Irishwoman, a Canadian, an American, a Scotsman, and a Russian—gather in Tenerife to discuss their concerns about the future of fundamental science. At first glance, the group seems to be in perfect harmony. But… Margaret, the Irish writer, is found dead on the beach. Could the writer Roman Dobrokhotov be capable of murder? Could the professor of mathematics, Mrs. Riley, have killed her? Or perhaps the most amiable of them all, the biophysicist Stuart? Which of these highly cultured people turned out to be a brutal murderer? What could have driven someone from this refined group to commit such a crime? In Archpriest Georgy Zavershinsky’s new novella, the detective plot is closely intertwined with the characters’ reflections on their own morality. Margaret’s death, like a laser pointer, exposes the self-righteousness, hypocrisy, and hidden spiritual flaws of these seemingly decent, amiable, and upright people. The publication also includes new short stories by the author that raise the same questions: are we really as good as we think of ourselves? The very first situation that knocks us off our usual path exposes all our inner failings and makes us realize how fragile our spiritual perfection truly is.