In the suburban town of Malakhovka, just outside Moscow, the body of a young woman is found. The investigation soon takes an unexpected turn when the crime appears to be linked to a previously unknown drawing by Marc Chagall. As the detectives move closer to the truth, the case grows ever more puzzling. Echoes of the past weave into the present, and coincidences no longer seem accidental.

Combining a compelling detective plot, a poignant love story, long-kept family secrets, and the distinctive atmosphere of old Malakhovka, this novel leads readers to a revelation that lies far from where anyone is looking.