"The Secret of the Dead Rector. Book 1" by Viktor Dashkevich, summary Automatic translate

"The Secret of the Dead Rector. Book 1" is the fourth novel in Viktor Dashkevich’s acclaimed urban fantasy detective series, published in 2025. This book is a retro detective story set in an alternate Russian Empire of the late twentieth century, where humans coexist with magical beings called divas. The central plot revolves around the mysterious murder of the head of the Moscow Academy of Witchcraft and the subsequent investigation, which is entrusted to the St. Petersburg sorcerer-detective Hermes Averin.

The "Sorcerer of the Russian Empire" series has gained immense popularity among readers. The first book in the series was awarded the Eksmo.Debut literary prize. In late 2025, the Plus Studio production company acquired the film rights to the entire franchise about Count Averin’s investigations.

This novel opens a two-volume series of the same name and is the fourth volume in the overall cycle. Previously published in the series were the novels "Count Averin: Sorcerer of the Russian Empire," "The Imperial Div," and "The Demon from the Wasteland." The plot continues in the second book, also titled "The Demon from the Wasteland."

Everyday life of the detective department

In St. Petersburg, due to high combat losses, familiars are temporarily allowed to serve in government agencies. Count Hermes Averin assigns his favorite, Kuzya, to the Directorate. The daily inspections are overseen by the strict Chief Div. Vladimir, who promptly punishes the newcomer for minor infractions of dress regulations and being late for formation.

Kuzya serves his punishment by washing the dorm floors, but decides to take kindly revenge on his immediate superior. He buys Vladimir some ridiculous loungewear: bright yellow striped pants and a red T-shirt with a funny slogan about mice. The chief diva puts on the gift with absolute calm, much to the Count’s amusement.

That night, the peace of the house is disturbed by an alarm. Vladimir reports a riot in the dormitory, caused by divas sent from Moscow. Kuzya turns into a jackdaw and rushes to the scene. It turns out that the Moscow divas beat up a weak colleague, Savely, who was close to investigator Sergei Monchinsky. Savely’s mentor, Kazimir, intervened on his behalf, but the odds were too much.

Kuzya manages to prevent a massacre among the blood-scented creatures through cunning. He promises the local divas that for their good service they will be allowed to choose brightly colored clothes and paint the walls of their rooms. The rebels calm down. Averin arrives, takes control of the situation, and discusses discipline issues within the Directorate with Vladimir.

Incident at the Academy

Young investigator Sergei Monchinsky is preparing to pass the exam for the highest category. He and Saveliy travel to Moscow’s Academic City. The old rector, Ivan Svetlov, is present at the exam. He is accompanied by Inessa, a powerful level ten diva who usually takes the form of an owl.

During a demonstration fight in the arena, disaster strikes. A heavy piece of wall falls from above, fatally wounding the rector in the head. Inessa loses control, transforms into a giant demonic owl, and devours her master. The arena’s protective dome blocks the exits, trapping Sergei and his diva alone with the monster.

Academy Vice-Rector Alexei Menshov informs Averin of the tragedy. According to him, Sergei and Saveliy died, and Inessa crashed through the dome and disappeared in an unknown direction. Averin, along with Vladimir and Kuzya, flies to Moscow to investigate. Lyubava, Sergei’s fiancée, remains in St. Petersburg, hoping for a miracle.

The first clues and secrets of the Vault

In the rector’s office, Vladimir unexpectedly kneels before Vice-Rector Menshov. It turns out that Menshov is Vladimir’s former employer, with whom they served together in military counterintelligence back in 1939. Menshov explains that Inessa’s valuable talisman of subordination has disappeared from Svetlov’s safe. The safe was opened with the original key, and there are no signs of forced entry.

The detectives examine the crime scene. Kuzya finds tiny drops of Sergei’s blood in the arena. Vladimir feels no severance of the residual connection with Monchinsky, which would have surely disappeared with his death. Averin concludes that Sergei is alive. He likely managed to bind Inessa to his talisman to save her from someone else’s will and escaped with her.

Menshov tells of a vault of forbidden magical knowledge beneath the library, which someone attempted to open the day before the tragedy. Librarian Petrovich reports that Rector Svetlov came there at night in a strange state, without his wheelchair. In reality, the rector was being controlled using a forbidden spell called "The Puppeteer." This spell allows one to control a person by inserting a special needle.

Mysterious fall

The investigation is soon complicated by a new incident. The deceased rector’s grandson, fifth-year student Matvey Svetlov, falls from the dorm roof. He survives thanks to tree branches and a magical shield, but breaks his arm and suffers a head injury. A fake suicide note is found in his room. Matvey claims he was pushed by an unknown assailant and accuses Menshov of murdering his grandfather.

Vladimir and former top diva Innokenty conduct an investigative experiment involving roof jumps. They conclude that Matvey jumped himself, having braced himself beforehand. The young man staged an assassination attempt. It turns out that Matvey’s father gambled away the family mansion to Menshov. The vice-rector seized the mortgage to save his friend’s family from ruin, but Matvey was unaware of this and sought revenge.

Averin speaks with Menshov’s daughter, Evgenia, who works as a class teacher for the sorceresses. She is trying to protect her father and is hindering the investigation. Vice-Rector Natalya Andreyevna tells Averin about the Puppeteer and shares old memories of her tragic affair with the deceased rector. She admits that Svetlov took morphine before his death to relieve severe pain.

Secrets of the Past and the Library

Averin decides to take a closer look at Vladimir’s personal file. He learns of his service with Menshov in the pre-war years. The old investigator was a proponent of liberal views and recognized the individual rights of divas. Menshov allowed Vladimir to sleep on his bed and eat the same food he ate, and Vladimir, in return, served him loyally and protected him from bribes.

To search for clues, the detectives head to the Academy’s Main Library. Averin bribes librarian Petrovich with a box of chocolates. The old diva reveals that Rector Svetlov opened the Vault with an original key, which Inessa later took with her. Petrovich himself received his name during the reign of Peter the Great, as a gift from the Shah of Persia. He is assisted in guarding the library by the winged diva-cats Ruslan and Lyudmila.

Kuzya examines the Vault’s staircase and smells Menshov, his daughter Evgenia, Natalya Andreyevna, and Professor Voznesensky, Petrovich’s master. It turns out that Voznesensky severely punished his diva for breaking into the Vault. Averin examines a massive silver door sealed with a complex magical pattern. The effects of the silver and the spells cause the sorcerer a severe headache and nausea.

Provocation against Menshov

Kuzya secretly searches the vice-rector’s house, taking advantage of the owner’s absence. He discovers Inessa’s stolen talisman under the mattress in Menshov’s bedroom. The culprit planted the valuable artifact to frame the veteran investigator. When Menshov returns home accompanied by Averin, his diva Diana senses the talisman through the closed door.

The strict Highest Priority for the protection of the Academy’s interests, ingrained into the Divas, is activated. According to this protocol, Diana is obligated to immediately absorb Menshov to preserve his memory and the Vault’s secret codes. The Vice-Rector desperately resists his Diva’s will, restraining her with the last of his strength, while Averin quickly applies silver handcuffs and announces an arrest. Diana’s magical control is terminated, as the suspect is transferred to the jurisdiction of the state investigation.

Menshov suffers a severe hypertensive crisis due to the enormous strain. Diana again attempts to absorb his dying mind for the Academy’s secrets, but Vladimir blocks her. On Averin’s orders, Vladimir and Diana share their energy, keeping the old sorcerer on the brink of death. Menshov is taken to the hospital, where medical specialist "Battery" stabilizes his condition with the help of "Caduceus."

Kuzya’s preparation for a secret mission

The detectives realize that a powerful sorcerer is behind the crimes, manipulating the students. Menshov suggests that Kuzya infiltrate the student community disguised as a foreigner. To accomplish this, Kuzya is temporarily sent to the Portuguese Academy of Coimbra to learn the language, manners, and cover story. He will be posing as a Portuguese student named "Pedro."

Before leaving, Averin changes the position of the familiar Bond of Submission on Kuzya’s wrist, transforming the collar into a bracelet, and gives him a watch with a power-blocking amulet. Vladimir helps Kuzya prepare a cover story and reminds him of the rigor of the upcoming test. Kuzya promises not to take unnecessary risks.

In the morning, Averin runs along the Academy’s paths and encounters Evgenia Menshova, who is performing challenging physical exercises on a tightrope. She is concerned about her father’s health. Averin explains that Menshov was framed and asks her not to interfere with the investigation to avoid causing more victims. Evgenia promises to try to help.

New investigators from the Directorate — Vadim Luchkov and the elderly sorcerer Andrei Sakirkin — arrive at the faculty cafeteria. Sakirkin, who turns out to be an old acquaintance of Natalya Andreyevna’s, greets her warmly. Menshov, who escaped the hospital for porridge and rosehip compote, joins them for breakfast. The sorcerers joke and prepare to continue their investigation.