The Breath of Evil (also known as Two on the Riverbank) is a profound psychological thriller and philosophical parable by the master of Ukrainian contemporary prose, Valeriy Shevchuk.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a provincial town, the story begins with a mysterious murder. However, the detective plot serves only as a framework for a much deeper investigation into the human soul. Shevchuk explores the thin line between morality and sin, the nature of hidden desires, and the inevitable "breath of evil" that dwells within every individual.
Written with the author’s signature Baroque complexity, the novella challenges the reader to look beyond the surface and confront the darkness that often hides behind a mask of respectability.