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alexctelander's review against another edition
3.0
STALIN’S GHOST BY MARTIN CRUZ SMITH: Arkady Renko, the indomitable Russian detective is back with a new tale of murder and mayhem in Moscow. It is a time of political upheaval – nothing new for Russia – but a new politician must be elected. Renko meanwhile enters into a “murder-for-hire” scheme where he discovers the involvement of two fellow detectives – Nikolai Isakov and Marat Urman. Coupled with this is the supposed sighting of Stalin in ethereal form on the platforms of Russian’s subway stations. Black Berets bodies are also turning up at the morgue that are mysteriously linked to Isakov and Urman. The case eventually leads Renko transferring to Tver, where he will discover what exactly is going on and who is behind it all. Naturally, Renko’s uncertain and shaky love interest, Eva – who is also involved in the case – is in an uncomfortable relationship with Isakov, straining nerves and pushing Renko to the edge.
Stalin’s Ghost, Smith’s sixth book with Russian detective Renko once again does an incredible job of capturing the heart of this “new Russia” in a time when few people have visited there and know what the country is really like. Smith never holds back in description, loading each scene with the unique look of Russia, but also with the constant cold and snow adding a freezing tone to everything that happens. This is a new detective novel, with different twists and turns you don’t usually see, but is also part history lesson and part travelogue on Russia. This is a must have for all Smith fans, and a welcome introduction to those trying Martin Cruz Smith for the first time.
Stalin’s Ghost, Smith’s sixth book with Russian detective Renko once again does an incredible job of capturing the heart of this “new Russia” in a time when few people have visited there and know what the country is really like. Smith never holds back in description, loading each scene with the unique look of Russia, but also with the constant cold and snow adding a freezing tone to everything that happens. This is a new detective novel, with different twists and turns you don’t usually see, but is also part history lesson and part travelogue on Russia. This is a must have for all Smith fans, and a welcome introduction to those trying Martin Cruz Smith for the first time.
smartipants8's review against another edition
4.0
One of the reviewers on the back of this book said that Martin Cruz Smith's detective Arkady is a hero in the tradition of Graham Greene's heros. That might be what I like about these novels. Complicated, unable to do the easy thing that would get him out of trouble, and plagued by pity - Detective Arkady gets involved with Chechen vets and American style politics in this pageturner. I picked it up in the Toronto airport and it served me well through the Charlotte to Detroit to Amsterdam flight.
richardwells's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike many series writers, Martin Cruz Smith get better with each book. His characters develop, the situations get deeper, and the writing evolves. I've read all the Arkady Renko novels, starting with Gorky Park, and I've never been disappointed. Can't wait
'til the next one, this is genre writing that transcends.
'til the next one, this is genre writing that transcends.
bjerz's review against another edition
4.0
Snow and the delights/limitations of it is a main character in Stalin's Ghost. Arkady Renko is, as always, the dogged and abused investigator of a murder or two (even if they are not his job), and struggling to keep his odd little ragtag of a family. A little sad and depressing but also engaging and uplifting, "Stalin's Ghost" is another fine story in the Renko saga.
smartipants8's review
4.0
One of the reviewers on the back of this book said that Martin Cruz Smith's detective Arkady is a hero in the tradition of Graham Greene's heros. That might be what I like about these novels. Complicated, unable to do the easy thing that would get him out of trouble, and plagued by pity - Detective Arkady gets involved with Chechen vets and American style politics in this pageturner. I picked it up in the Toronto airport and it served me well through the Charlotte to Detroit to Amsterdam flight.
jgwc54e5's review
3.0
Set in Moscow and Tver, Russian detective investigates murders he’s not supposed to and girlfriend leaves him for colleague involved in war coverup and politics. Yes the plot is confused and hard to get into to start with. I found it interesting for both location and historical facts.
janetlun's review
Another splendid Arkady Renko novel. Smith just does not give this poor police detective a break. His past journeys to a fish trawler slime line and Chernobyl seemed bad, but he gets it even worse this time. Nonetheless, I can't say I've found any of the mysteries particularly depressing. Maybe that's because Renko has such low expectations. [return][return]This is set in modern Russia, with its struggling politics and economy. He's dealing with corruption (as usual), an elusive lover, and his sort-of-adopted son, the chess hustler. I gulped it down in a day. As usual, I've got strong images lingering in my mind's eye. He does that to me far more than most writers. [return][return]I've enjoyed all Smith's novels. It was a long time ago that I read his early ones with a Gypsy setting, so it could be that they wouldn't hold up as well now. The Renko ones set in the Russian world of police investigation are splendid. I recall the one set in the American southwest featuring vampire bats scared me silly. Japan during WWII, the Manhattan project, he's hit a lot of different settings, and always delivers a good novel.
ebeyrent's review
4.0
This was surprisingly good, and not at all what I thought it was going to be. The narrative flows and really sucks in the reader. Phrasing is wonderfully elegant, and although the plot is very dark, the dialog is sprinkled with sharp humor.
I loved the characters, and despite having never read any books in this series, I found that I didn't need much introduction to past plotlines involving the characters.
About halfway through the novel, things got so intense that I had a hard time putting the book down late at night. I found one plot twist to be really improbable, but the rest was really quite engaging.
The ending, unfortunately, got trapped a bit in tropes typical of the genre. I wish a bit more creativity had been employed to draw the plot to a close, but while it wasn't unforgettable, it wasn't a complete turn-off.
I loved the characters, and despite having never read any books in this series, I found that I didn't need much introduction to past plotlines involving the characters.
About halfway through the novel, things got so intense that I had a hard time putting the book down late at night. I found one plot twist to be really improbable, but the rest was really quite engaging.
The ending, unfortunately, got trapped a bit in tropes typical of the genre. I wish a bit more creativity had been employed to draw the plot to a close, but while it wasn't unforgettable, it wasn't a complete turn-off.
jambery's review
3.0
I've skipped a few in this series, but it was easy to pick up again. Gorky Park is still my favorite by far, but this is a good airplane book.
alexctelander's review
3.0
STALIN’S GHOST BY MARTIN CRUZ SMITH: Arkady Renko, the indomitable Russian detective is back with a new tale of murder and mayhem in Moscow. It is a time of political upheaval – nothing new for Russia – but a new politician must be elected. Renko meanwhile enters into a “murder-for-hire” scheme where he discovers the involvement of two fellow detectives – Nikolai Isakov and Marat Urman. Coupled with this is the supposed sighting of Stalin in ethereal form on the platforms of Russian’s subway stations. Black Berets bodies are also turning up at the morgue that are mysteriously linked to Isakov and Urman. The case eventually leads Renko transferring to Tver, where he will discover what exactly is going on and who is behind it all. Naturally, Renko’s uncertain and shaky love interest, Eva – who is also involved in the case – is in an uncomfortable relationship with Isakov, straining nerves and pushing Renko to the edge.
Stalin’s Ghost, Smith’s sixth book with Russian detective Renko once again does an incredible job of capturing the heart of this “new Russia” in a time when few people have visited there and know what the country is really like. Smith never holds back in description, loading each scene with the unique look of Russia, but also with the constant cold and snow adding a freezing tone to everything that happens. This is a new detective novel, with different twists and turns you don’t usually see, but is also part history lesson and part travelogue on Russia. This is a must have for all Smith fans, and a welcome introduction to those trying Martin Cruz Smith for the first time.
Stalin’s Ghost, Smith’s sixth book with Russian detective Renko once again does an incredible job of capturing the heart of this “new Russia” in a time when few people have visited there and know what the country is really like. Smith never holds back in description, loading each scene with the unique look of Russia, but also with the constant cold and snow adding a freezing tone to everything that happens. This is a new detective novel, with different twists and turns you don’t usually see, but is also part history lesson and part travelogue on Russia. This is a must have for all Smith fans, and a welcome introduction to those trying Martin Cruz Smith for the first time.