At our previous literary salon, we discussed the novel Era of Mercy by the Vayner brothers — a work better known to most people through its screen adaptation The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed.
It must be said that this is quite a controversial piece.
The novel by Arkady and Georgy Vayner is not just a classic of Soviet detective fiction — it also raises timeless questions: what is more important — the letter of the law or the sense of justice? At the heart of the story are two detectives, Gleb Zheglov and Vladimir Sharapov, whose investigative approaches differ radically. One is willing to deceive in order to punish a criminal, while the other insists on working strictly within legal boundaries.
The story takes place in the postwar period, when losing food ration cards could mean starvation. The novel vividly portrays the stark contrast in society at the time: some dined in restaurants, while others sold their last belongings just to survive.

Both Zheglov and Sharapov are relentless toward criminals, but their methods differ.
Zheglov believes that the end justifies the means — the main thing is to catch the criminal, even if it requires breaking the law. He is willing to risk his own life in the fight against crime. Sharapov, on the other hand, believes that true justice is impossible without adherence to legal norms. Their conflict becomes a philosophical dialogue about power, morality, and the price society pays for order.
The authors offer no easy answers. They neither condemn nor justify their characters. Instead, they invite the reader to reflect: can a person who breaks the law for a “higher goal” still be a defender of truth? Or does crossing the line make them no better than those they fight against?
Era of Mercy is a story about how difficult it is to remain humane in a world where evil often disguises itself as justice, and the choice between right and necessary becomes a true test of conscience.

The books by the Vayner brothers are available in our library. Come by, sign up if you haven’t yet, and join us for some reading and our literary gatherings!