Synopses & Reviews
Some people treat life as consumption. Some, as an exploit. Some see it as a cup to be drained. To the bottom. I look at life as a partner in a game. . . . There are no rules, which makes it a bit scary, but I've gotten used to that. There are no winners, either.
Moscow's exclusive Rublyovka neighborhood is the decadent playground of the Russian nouveau riche. Here, dachas come complete with steam baths, heated floors, and live-in masseurs; poodles are dyed pink to match designer dresses; days of haute couture shopping slip into nights of cocaine-fueled partying; and the city's most glamorous celebrities -- including Oscar-winning directors, world-renowned politicians, and gorgeous movie stars -- rub shoulders with its most notorious tycoons.
Oksana Robski knows firsthand the gripping reality of life in Rublyovka. Based on the author's own experiences, Casualtells the story of a wealthy young woman whose husband is mysteriously gunned down outside their Moscow apartment. Determined to avenge his murder while maintaining her lavish lifestyle, she must navigate through a treacherous labyrinth of high society and low company.
From running her own business to negotiating with hit men, the resilient widow becomes intimately involved in the corrupt and dangerous underbelly of the Russian business world. At once an entrepreneur and socialite, she and her equally rich and beautiful friends attend Moscow's wildest parties, spend thousands on plastic surgery, and stop at nothing to snag rich husbands.
A sensational bestseller in its native Russia, Casualexposes the secret lives of the country's new elite. In a world of double-crossing gangsters, torrid affairs, and truly desperate housewives, startling excess is often accompanied by violence, heartbreak, and betrayal.
About the Author
Oksana Robski ran a chain of Oriental furniture stores, managed a female bodyguard agency, and has studied screenwriting and directing. Casualis her first novel and is based on her personal experiences living a privileged yet precarious existence among Russia's high society. She lives in Moscow.