Where some of Stalin's greatest crimes lie buried . . . Russia, 1937. In Moscow, Stalin's purges are reaching their darkest hour. Meanwhile Korolev, a police investigator, must travel to the bleak, battle-scarred Ukraine – scene of some of Stalin's bloodiest crimes – to look into the mysterious death of a young woman. The victim, a beautiful film production assistant, had made both powerful friends and terrible enemies . . . The second in this lauded historical crime series, William Ryan's The Bloody Meadow was shortlisted for the Ireland AM Irish Crime Novel of the Year Award.