Book excerpt: Under Western Eyes (1911) is a political thriller which takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. de P--, the brutal Minister of State, is assassinated by a team of two, but the bombs used claim the lives of his footman, the first assassin and a number of bystanders. When student Razumov enters his rooms, he finds Victor Haldin, a fellow student who informs him that he was the one who murdered Mr. de P--, but he and his accomplice did not make a proper escape plan. He requests Razumov's help...