Akunin, "Decorator": summary, reviews of critics, film adaptation

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The work of Boris Akunin "Decorator" is the second part of the book "Special Adventures". It captures with its detective story, interesting characters and investigation. If you want to read a summary of the work and find out other useful information and reviews, then this article will be useful.

Short retelling of the first part

To understand the plot of the second part called “Decorator” by Boris Akunin, you should familiarize yourself with the first work of the cycle - “Jack of Spades”. In Moscow in 1886, skilled criminals organized a gang of the same name and soon shook the entire capital. Their atrocities stood out against the general background with ingenuity and even a creative approach to business. They make their way to the most protected places and at the same time do not leave any clues behind them. Law enforcement agencies cannot do anything, and every object of value is under threat. Under such conditions, the brilliant detective Erast Fandorin sets to work. All delicate matters are entrusted to him, because he became famous for his talent throughout the country.

Beginning of the secondparts

In the second part of the book "Special Assignments" - "Decorator" Akunin - the plot is completely different. Events also take place in Moscow, but it is already 1889 in the yard. The capital was shocked by a series of vivid crimes. All of the victims were women, but no signs of sexual violence were found on them. Instead, the maniac cut out the organs from the bodies of the killed individuals and laid them out in some pattern. Because of this, he was nicknamed the Decorator.

The legendary detective Erast Fandorin, holder of the Order of the Chrysanthemum, takes on the investigation. His suspicions immediately fall on two characters - Elizaveta Nesvitskaya, a well-known nihilist, and student Ivan Stenich, who studied at a medical college. Suddenly, the main character receives a parcel with the victim's ear, but later it turned out that it was a kind of joke by Kuzma Burylin. Fandorin continued his investigation and finally got to the right point. He had a lead that could lead to the killer.

Storyline development

In the second volume of The Decorator, Akunin shows how Erast Fandorin goes on the trail of the killer. Leads lead him to an organization called the Garden Circle, more precisely to the former members of this strange club. The investigator finds out all available information about these people, and in the meantime, a fatal event occurs.

Leonty Izhitsyn, an investigator for important crimes at the district prosecutor, becomes a victim. He unwittingly provoked the maniac, not wanting it himself. Fandorin begins to think about what made the killer go onthis step. His theory leads to the fact that the criminal is afraid of punishment. Previously, his actions were aimed at a mutilated demonstration of the inner beauty of a person. Now he's just trying to cover his tracks, even though he does it skillfully.

Fandorin is trying to find new evidence, but comes under pressure. A series of such impudent crimes, the selection of women as victims does not please the cream of society. They express dissatisfaction with the work of the detective and demand more active action.

Story ending

A turning point comes in Akunin's "Decorator". Representatives of high society are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in Moscow, and the maniac himself has changed the style of the murders. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Count Tolstov, personally takes up the case, Dolgorukov's reputation is under great threat. The situation is heating up not by the day, but by the hour. Erast Fandorin got as close as possible to the investigation, and at that moment the Decorator decided to frame Yegor Zakharov.

He has known him personally since his student years, the new suspect works as a forensic expert, the type fits the style of crimes. At this time, the main antagonist manages to catch Anisy Tyulpanov and kill him in his signature style. He did not bypass his sister Sonya with mental disabilities.

At this time, Fandorin already understood who the maniac was, but he had no clues. He is sent to personally kill Sotsky, the former leader of the Sadistic Circle. The final scene shows the battle between the protagonist and his main opponent. The detective exitsthe winner, but the loss of loved ones was strongly marked on him.

Hints of film adaptation

The film "Decorator" by Akunin was expected by many viewers, because the work is perfect for film adaptation. A gloomy atmosphere, a beautiful plot with an unexpected ending - this is enough to attract an audience. It remained to correctly make the adaptation, and the first hints of this appeared in 2013. The company "Kinoslovo" bought the rights to film adaptation of the work.

Later it was said that work on the new film "Decorator" by Akunin had already begun. Anton Bormatov was appointed director, and Petr Anurov became the producer. The man managed to be noted in the production of the film "The Spirit of Less", which at that time had already thundered at the box office. The main role of Erast Fandorin was approved by Danila Kozlovsky, who appeared in many roles in the industry. In the same "Spirit of Less" he played one of the main roles.

Initially, the plans were to release the picture in 2017, but since then information about the filming has stopped coming. Most likely, production was frozen, and now it is not known if the film adaptation of The Decorator will ever appear.

Positive feedback

It should be noted that Boris Akunin's Decorator was liked by most readers. Users liked the book "Minority Report" in two parts, you can feel the contrast between the volumes. Works with a maniac, a killer of women, envelops the reader in a special atmosphere of gloom. The course of the investigation keeps in suspense untilthe very end, and it is impossible to guess the identity of the criminal.

Dramatic events in the life of the protagonist against the backdrop of the main storyline make you think. Fandorin just started to get used to a quiet life, found a friend in the person of an assistant, but could not stay away from the high-profile case that turned his life upside down.

Interesting is the personality of the antagonist, who calls himself a "decorator". His motivation for creating something more beautiful out of people is both creepy and disgusting, but carries a clear message to readers. For lovers of detective stories, the work is recommended for mandatory review, because it can cause thrills and a storm of emotions.

Negativity from readers

In the second part of Boris Akunin's book "Special Assignments" - "Decorator" - there are moments that not all people liked. The idea of adding an antagonist based on Jack the Ripper looks controversial. Although his motivation is understandable, the image is not quite correctly inscribed in the surroundings of Moscow at the end of the 19th century. The intrigue in the investigation is supported by the fact that the author remembered the antagonist only briefly, it was impossible to suspect him. In this scenario, there is no revelation at the end, which is frustrating.

The style of writing "Decorator" also raises questions. The author does not go too deep into psychological problems. He does not exacerbate the inner drama of Erast Fandorin with his losses. The same applies to the maniac, whose motivation is clear, but where did it come from, the reasonsactions are simply hidden. The confrontation takes place more within the rigid framework of reality, which caused rejection among some readers.

Results

Among Akunin's books, "The Decorator" is strikingly different, although the title of the second volume or part is more suitable for him. This work is written in gloomy colors and constantly keeps in suspense. The killer changes the course of thinking, the dramatic events associated with loved ones, the pressure of society - all this fell on Fandorin. At the end, he again finds himself in the role of a cold-blooded professional who is used to acting alone. He has to make a difficult decision, which strongly disposes readers to the character. Akunin managed to go beyond his usual work. "Decorator" has a number of disadvantages, but they do not overlap the dignity. Hence the result in the form of many laudatory reviews from readers and critics. Among the released screen versions based on Akunin's books are "Turkish Gambit", "State Councillor", "Azazel", "Spy", "Pelagia and the White Bulldog".