However, Special Assignments, the fifth novel in the series, was "like a bomb", becoming a bestseller, making all the previous Fandorin novels bestsellers, and making Akunin a huge star in Russia.
Special Assignments, the fifth installment in the series, was a game-changer, achieving phenomenal success, surpassing its predecessors in popularity, and solidifying Akunin's position as a leading figure in Russian literature.