Recommended books, March 17 The Black RussianBy Vladimir Alexandrov(Atlantic Monthly Press; 306 pages; $25)Alexandrov's feat of historical sleuthing is the astonishing account of the tragic life of the son of an American slave who reinvented himself as a polyglot multimillionaire overseas. After Visiting FriendsA Son's StoryBy Michael Hainey(Scribner; 300 pages; $26)Hainey's unforgettable memoir chronicles his pursuit to unearth the facts surrounding his father's mysterious death.