Allison Epstein with Olesya Salnikova Gilmore "Let the Dead Bury the Dead"

Come on down to Allison Epstein's BOOK LAUNCH for her novel Let the Dead Bury the Dead at The Book Cellar! She will be joined in conversation by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore.

About the Book:

The war is over - it’s 1812 and Russian forces have defeated Napoleon. Sasha, a self-made captain of the Imperial Army, is finally coming home to his lover, the wayward Grand Duke Felix in Saint Petersburg. Sasha’s been dreaming of this moment but before he even makes it to Felix’s doorstep, their reunion is interrupted by a mysterious woman lying in the snow, Sofia. Maybe it’s all the folk tales Sasha grew up on, but he begins to suspect Sofia may not be…human. This twisted tale unfolds in Allison Epstein’s latest novel, LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD (Doubleday, Fiction; October 17, 2023). 

Sofia’s presence drives an instant wedge between the reunited lovers. Sasha sees a cunning and dangerous witch, while Felix is charmed and taken by her political suggestions. Under her spell, Felix and Sofia separate from Sasha to join a dissident group of organizers, the Koalitsiya. They’re brewing up the largest strike the city has ever seen and Sasha is tasked with tracking the man he loves. Sofia’s power grows and tensions rise as the future of Russia could be forever changed.

Inspired by the Decembrist Revolt, Epstein creates a rich world full of revolutionaries, fairy tales and love in this reimagined history. Her irreverent and infectious sense of humor jumps through the thrilling and fast-paced story as she transports readers to dark and surreal Imperial Russia.

About the Author:

ALLISON EPSTEIN earned her MFA in fiction from Northwestern University and a BA in creative writing from the University of Michigan. A Michigan native, she now lives in Chicago, where she works as an editor. When not writing, she enjoys good theater, bad puns, and fancy jackets. She is the author of A Tip for the Hangman.

About the Moderator:

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore was born in Moscow, Russia, raised in the US, and graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in English / political science, and from Northwestern University School of Law with a JD. She practiced litigation at a large law firm for several years before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. She is happiest writing historical fiction and fantasy inspired by Eastern European folklore. She lives in a wooded lakeside suburb of Chicago with her husband and daughter. The Witch and the Tsar is her debut novel.