This is a difficult question. I'm afraid I don't know a suitable reference book either. I have always used Russian catalogs because of their accessibility and completeness. There is nothing surprising here - who else but the Russians is good at knowing about their banknotes.
Still, I recommend paying attention to the books of the Coins Moscow company. They have translated many of their coin catalogs into English, but unfortunately not their banknote catalogs. Their guide (identifier) to Russian banknotes of general issues since 1769 is based on the current principles of collecting Russian banknotes. It is up-to-date, quite complete, contains clear color illustrations, prices, information on all main varieties and defects. Here's a review of the third edition on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMDfdaIIj0Y
