This is the fourth Miroslava Holmes book and all the Holmes books have dealt with Russian politics, but this one deals with them even more. Events from 1638: The Sovereign States are included in this novel and from there it continues the story of the main Russian thread of the 1632 Universe.
Czar Mikhail Romanov of the United Sovereign States of Russia has problems by the score.
The Embassy Bureau is run by an incompetent from an important family, who is possibly a traitor. Sheremetev is gone, only to be replaced by Mikhail's Uncle Ivan, who, if he's as corrupt as Sheremetev was, is a lot more competent. The advances in technology mean that while he can defend himself against Muscovite Russia, he doesn't have the forces to defeat them.
So it's looking like a long stalemated war.
Russia can't afford a long war. The Sovereign States has no port not blocked by Muscovite Russia and the Swedes. Even if he should defeat Muscovite Russia, the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth would still be sitting between him and western Europe. His foreign credit is failing and the conflict between the free states and the serf states is getting ready to shatter his new nation before the ink is dry on his new constitution. The Royal chef can't prepare a proper croissant. The Pravdivyye Fakty is printing fantasies and code groups that are telling the Muscovites who his agents are, while the only private detective in Russia is off on the far end of Kazak.
Now someone has killed a congressman.
What's a czar to do? Mikhail needs another Grantville. Another Ring of Fire to bring innovations to Russia, enough innovations so that the rich and powerful can't steal all the new wealth before it reaches the poor.
Mikhail doesn't ask for it but he gets what he needs. Because what he needs is A Diogenes Club for the Czar.