Porfiry Rostnikov books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?"

"There are 17 books in the Porfiry Rostnikov series, published between 1981 and 2009."

Q: "What is the first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?"

"The first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series is Death of a Dissident, published in 1981."

Q: "Is the Porfiry Rostnikov series set during the Soviet era?"

"The series begins during the Soviet era in 1981 and continues through the collapse of the USSR and into post-Soviet Russia. The changing political landscape of Russia forms an important backdrop to the mysteries throughout the series."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Death of a Dissident	1981	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
3	Black Knight in Red Square	1984	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
4	Red Chameleon	1985	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
5	A Fine Red Rain	1987	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
6	A Cold Red Sunrise	1987	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
7	The Man Who Walked Like a Bear	1990	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
8	Rostnikov’s Vacation	1991	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
9	Death of a Russian Priest	1992	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
10	Hard Currency	1995	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
11	Blood and Rubles	1996	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
12	Tarnished Icons	1997	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
13	The Dog Who Bit a Policeman	1998	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
14	Fall of a Cosmonaut	2000	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
15	Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express	2001	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
16	People Who Walk in Darkness	2008	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy
17	A Whisper to the Living	2009	Stuart M. Kaminsky	Buy

The Porfiry Rostnikov series by Stuart M. Kaminsky follows Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, a heavyset Moscow police detective with a bad leg from a World War II injury. Rostnikov investigates murders and other crimes while contending with the political pressures of working within the Soviet (and later Russian) justice system. His small team includes Emil Karpo, a gaunt and ascetic detective loyal to Marxist ideals, and Sasha Tkach, a younger officer with a troubled personal life.

The series spans nearly three decades, from the Cold War era through the fall of the Soviet Union and into modern Russia. A Cold Red Sunrise, the sixth novel, won the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel in 1989. Kaminsky built his version of Moscow through research rather than personal experience, and critics consistently praised the authenticity of the setting. The books offer a window into Russian society and culture at a time of enormous change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?

There are 17 books in the Porfiry Rostnikov series, published between 1981 and 2009.

What is the first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series?

The first book in the Porfiry Rostnikov series is Death of a Dissident, published in 1981.

Is the Porfiry Rostnikov series set during the Soviet era?

The series begins during the Soviet era in 1981 and continues through the collapse of the USSR and into post-Soviet Russia. The changing political landscape of Russia forms an important backdrop to the mysteries throughout the series.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order