The book is devoted to the history of the internal affairs bodies of the USSR, in which N.K. Bogdanov passed almost completely the career ladder. Tracing the life path of his father, the author dwells in detail on key moments in the history of Russia of the 20th century, which in one way or another were connected with the OGPU-NKVD-MVD system, and pays special attention to the political game in the ruling elite of the times of Stalin and Khrushchev. The book is addressed to a wide range of readers.