"Time of the Black Moon" by Tatyana Korsakova, summary Automatic translate

This book is a 2013 mystical detective story. The plot describes the clash of harsh Russian reality with dark African magic. The main character becomes the target of persecution because of her past, hidden on another continent. The work combines elements of police investigation and mysticism, where ancient voodoo rituals take place in ordinary city apartments.

Plot summary

The story begins with a frightening ritual. An unknown Omolawo performs a rite using white clay. He creates a doll, weaving white hair into it to harm the Moon Girl. The magician uses red cloth and ebony beads. He hurries, as the spirits urge him to complete the ritual.

Meanwhile, a young woman named Leah wakes up in a hospital ward. She suffers from memory loss. Her instincts compel her to move and search for a way out. A nurse enters the room, intending to administer a lethal injection. The syringe contains ordinary air. Leah defends herself, resulting in the nurse’s death from a broken neck. The woman escapes through an open second-story window, jumping from a height of about six meters.

Meeting with Alexander

On the street, an exhausted Leah is rescued by Alexander Sirotin. Friends call him Mongol. He’s a strong man with a dark past but a fair character. He brings the runaway to his home. Alexander notices her unusual appearance, which leads him to nickname her "Firegirl." Leah hides the truth about the hospital. She’s afraid Alexander will turn her in to the police.

Soon, Mongol’s friend tells him the truth. Forensic expert Zubarev, nicknamed Frankenstein, reports that Leah is wanted. The police consider her a dangerous criminal. Alexander refuses to believe the girl’s guilt. He decides to protect her, despite the obvious risks. A trust develops between the stern man and the fragile fugitive.

Police investigation

Investigator Goreiko simultaneously takes up the case. He interrogates witnesses and attempts to piece together the crime. Investigator Goreiko methodically unravels the tangled web of strange circumstances. He points out details that don’t add up in the official version. The nurse turned out to be a hired killer, not a random victim.

The investigation involves Anatoly Markovich and Vlad Voron. Anatoly Markovich has extensive resources and ulterior motives. Vlad Voron acts harshly, pursuing his own interests. Investigator Goreiko faces pressure but continues to seek the truth. He discovers that large sums of money and ancient artifacts are involved. Witness Ogurtsov provides testimony that helps the investigation move forward.

African Heritage

Gradually, fragments of her memory return to Leah. It turns out that until she was two, she lived in the Congo. Her mother worked there as a doctor on a medical mission. It is there that the roots of her current problems lie. A strange amulet hangs around the girl’s neck — a copper disk with a black crescent moon. This object possesses mystical powers.

The amulet attracts trouble. An African magician uses ancient spells to break the girl’s will. Leah suffers from terrifying hallucinations. She constantly hears the sounds of ritual drums and flying ball lightning. The attacks of pain become more frequent. The girl grows weaker as the doll drains her life energy. The magic works remotely, destroying Leah’s mind.

Confronting the pursuers

The enemy is getting closer. Anatoly Markovich’s mercenaries are tracking the fugitive. Alexander hides Ognevushka from the bandits, with Frankenstein actively assisting him. Forensic expert Zubarev has access to classified medical information. He discovers that the murdered nurse’s syringe did indeed contain air, which could have caused a fatal embolism.

Leah tells Alexander about a man nicknamed Judas. This man betrayed her trust in the past. Alexander tracks down the pursuers. A series of brutal clashes ensues. Sirotin uses his fighting skills to fight off the mercenaries. He realizes that conventional weapons cannot defeat ancient magic. He is forced to seek unconventional means of defense.

Revealing secrets

Investigator Goreiko uncovers new evidence. He realizes that Leah acted in self-defense. Goreiko joins forces with Alexander. They discover that Anatoly Markovich hired an African sorcerer to gain control of the Black Moon Amulet. This artifact grants power over the human mind.

Vlad Voron is playing his own game. He’s trying to seize the amulet from Anatoly Markovich. A clash of interests leads to a bloody end. The mercenaries are destroying each other. The sorcerer Omolavo is performing the final ritual, attempting to completely subjugate Leah. The girl is on the brink of madness. The drumming in her head becomes deafening.

The final battle

At the crucial moment, Alexander breaks through to the ritual site. The African priest’s magic clashes with the Mongol’s brute force. Sirotin destroys the altar. He shatters the clay doll, freeing Leah from the curse. The amulet around the girl’s neck heats up, repelling the remaining dark energy.

Omolavo is defeated. His own magic turns against him. Anatoly Markovich is arrested by Investigator Goreiko. Vlad Voron disappears, escaping justice. The police close the hospital murder case. Leah’s actions are officially ruled self-defense. She fully recovers her memory.

The end of the story

The characters’ lives gradually return to a peaceful course. Leah is freed from the persecution and terrifying visions. The African spirits leave her alone. Alexander cares for her, helping her overcome the effects of psychological trauma. Frankenstein returns to his work at the morgue. Investigator Goreiko receives a promotion for successfully solving a complex case.

At the end, Alexander and Lia are left alone. Sirotin takes a velvet box from his jacket pocket. His hands are shaking. He gives the girl an ordinary engagement ring. Alexander says, "It only looks ordinary, but it comes with a perfectly decent man: hard-working, sober, caring." He promises to always protect her. Lia smiles and accepts the gift. The girl finds long-awaited peace next to her beloved, forever forgetting the magic of the Black Moon.