The first novel in a trilogy about an observant and insightful nun, Sister Pelagia. Breeding a new breed - a white Russian bulldog with a necessarily brown ear - is the cherished dream of the late General Tatishchev, the husband of a large and wealthy landowner Maria Afanasievna from the provincial town of Zavolzhsk, and now her too. And everything seems to be starting to work out, but someone in the most cruel way begins to kill the best dogs. From the chagrin of the general's wife, she simply fell ill and is about to die. And then even worse news begins to disturb the quietest Zavolzhsk - two decapitated human bodies were found at once. And some people already connect this monstrous find with the accusations of the local small people of the Zytyaks of hidden and secret paganism. Everyone is waiting and believing that Bishop Mitrofaniy, known for his sharp mind, will be able to unravel these terrible secrets and crimes. But only he knows that the "real specialist" in all this kind of riddles is the modest and inconspicuous nun Pelagia. And if she gets down to business...
