The Red Moth

Inspector Pekkala has been called to the Kremlin by Stalin, who is now in the possession of a picture of a moth.  The picture had been in the briefcase of an SS officer whose plane had been shot down.  Why did the officer then kill his pilot and immediately commit suicide?

Pekkala travels to the Lubyanka to visit a prisoner who might know something about the painting.  However, the man is unable to help.  He suggests that Pekkala approach a student of his who is now a cryptographer.  Upon seeing the painting, Lieutenant Churikova realises that it is a Baden-Powell map, but of what she couldn’t say because a codex is needed to decipher it.

After intensive study, Pekkala determines that the moth is actually a map of Leningrad.  However he feels that there is more to it, but just what?  Hopefully Churikova can help this time.  It is Pekkala’s assistant that comes to the realisation that the second map is a set of rooms.  Pekkala studies it further and comes to the conclusion that one room in particular is the Amber Room in the Catherine Palace.   The Nazis plan on stealing the amber!

Stalin decides to send Pekkala, Kirov and Churikova behind the German lines to apprehend the mastermind behinds the scheme.  They will be assisted by an old friend of Pekkala’s; one whom he had assumed was dead.  Pekkla's friend, Kovalevsky, was thought to have been assassinated in Paris, but he had been living in Moscow all along.  However, plans are changed when Kovalevsky is suddenly killed.

Without Kovalevsky, will the other three still be able to carry out their mission?  Author Sam Eastland’s thriller is intense and comes with a surprise ending.  The Amber Room actually did exist and its current existence is unknown.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.