n the third Sister Pelagia novel, Boris Akunin sends the strong-willed detective-nun from her post at the Zavolzhsk Diocesan School for Girls all the way to the Holy Land. She is both pursuing and pursued with odds stacked heavily against her. All is well, more or less, in the end - whether with the help of God or not is up to the reader to decide.

The book includes quite a lot of religious debate. Judaism and Christianity with variants of each come under consideration. Is the prophet Manuila the Second Coming of Christ or the first coming of the Jewish savior? Or is he insane? Or is he duping everyone? Who are the forces resisting him?

At the same time that Pelagia is in Palestine, the local prosecutor Berdichevsky is off on his own far-flung investigation into religious extremists. His investigation leads him to some very unexpected names and places.

I found the multiple plot lines overly complicated and difficult to follow. At times one struggled to recall what Pelagia or Berdichevsky were up to. The ending suggests that the Red Cockerel may be Sister Pelagia's last adventure. I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but after this trip around the labyrinth, I will not miss the sister. Fear not fans of Boris Akunin; he has written 12 Erast Fandorin crime novels and has started a series (yet to be published in the US) featuring Erast's grandson! ( )

If I could have rated this book at six stars, I would have done so, and even then have wondered whether I was holding back for fear of seeming too enthusiastic.

I really enjoy Akunin's books in general, but this one had me spellbound. There's so much that I could say about the book, but I'd hate to spoil the treats in store for anyone.

The ending! The dénoument! What a way to end a series! I'd never have dared a plot like this, but... Akunin's done it, and I'm unutterably grateful that he has. ( )