When a revered religious icon vanishes from a provincial district in Tsarist Russia, a skeptical young lawyer named Dmitri finds himself tasked with a recovery mission that carries dangerous political implications. Dmitri must navigate the complex social tensions of a region gripped by famine and unrest while contending with the interference of the Tsar's Corps of Gendarmes. His objective is to locate the missing object before the sinister Volkov can use the theft as a pretext to persecute innocent citizens. The narrative unfolds with a focus on the friction between local bureaucracy and imperial authority, maintaining a tone of dry wit throughout the investigation.

This work is characterized by its blend of historical detail and lighthearted procedural elements, typical of the author's approach to crime fiction. The premise suggests a narrative that prioritizes character interaction and period-specific social dynamics over high-octane action sequences. Readers likely appreciate the dry, ironic tone that permeates Dmitri's perspective as he navigates the absurdities of the Tsarist administrative system. The book functions as a study of a specific time and place, using the central mystery as a vehicle to examine the broader tensions of a society on the brink of change.