Books: Great expectations for Andrew Drummond's fourth novel

NOVGOROD The Great, by Andrew Drummond, is published by Polygon, priced £9.99. It is released on September 29.

In 2004, Edinburgh writer Andrew Drummond was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book of the Year Award owing to the success of his debut novel, An Abridged History of the Construction of the Railway Line Between Garve, Ullapool and Lochinver.

Subject-wise, his latest release, set in Novgorod, a decaying Russian Imperial town in the 19th century, could not be more different. But it is likely to prove just as popular.

South of St Petersburg, in 1833, two travellers meet - Horatio a black merchant, and Ksenia, a young widow. In a dilapidated inn they spend the night together and are mutually attracted.

It is here, as they pass an evening, they come across a dying man and as they investigate his circumstances, they also stumble upon a retired British army officer living in squalor, brooding over his memoirs.

As they are invited to watch over the dying man in his final hours, all four characters come together to tell fascinating and emotional stories from their past.

Andrew Drummond is also author of An Hand-book of Volapuk (2006) and Elephantina (2008). Novgorod is his fourth novel.