"[An] extraordinary sequel . . . Kurkov captures the atmosphere of 1920s Kyiv with terse, poetic prose, and punctuates his crackerjack plot with gorgeous Proustian reflections . . . Distinguished by its humor, heart, and subtle political urgency, this series deserves a long life." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[The Kyiv Mysteries] provide timely lessons for anyone living under an oppressive regime. . . . These novels are more than detective thrillers: They are studies in the surprising ambivalence that people living under occupation may feel, even when those in power go to extraordinary lengths to cement their rule through violence, manipulation, and terror. And they are important today not just for their insight into the past but also as a guide for surviving the present." - The Atlantic

"Ukraine's most famous novelist returns with his second book about a detective in revolutionary Kyiv. . . . [The Stolen Heart is a] highly satisfying sequel. One-eared Samson is an endearing guide to the vividly recreated Kyiv. The novel's surreal, black humour is an ideal lens through which to view the absurdities of living in a Bolshevik paradise." - The Times (UK)

"[The Stolen Heart marks] a welcome return to post-revolutionary Kyiv." - Kirkus Reviews

"A historical mystery with some elements of heightened melodrama, Kurkov writes with humor and compassion about the pure-hearted Samson. . . . [The Stolen Heart is] a Kafkaesque investigation." - Asymptote