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acraig5075's review
2.0
I struggled with distinguishing between the many male characters. Maybe I wasn't paying sufficient attention but I continually found myself wondering who's who.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
3.0
What would cause a privileged member of Russia's new billionaire class, one of the fabled "New Russians," to leap to his death from the palatial splendor of his ultra-modern Moscow condominium? And what on earth does the mound of salt on his closet floor mean? And the salt shaker that he took with him on his leap? And why do the dosimeters go crazy when they are brought near that mysterious mound of salt? These are some of the questions Arkady Renko must answer in Wolves Eat Dogs.
The question of the chattering dosimeters is easiest to answer. That salt contains radioactive cesium, but that doesn't explain what it is doing in Pasha Ivanov's condo.
Soon after Ivanov's death, one of his associates turns up in Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with his throat cut, his body appearing white and drained of blood. Renko's superiors send him there, ostensibly to investigate, but mostly just to get him out of Moscow. Arkady Renko is a thorn in their sides, but Arkady with a mystery is like a bulldog with a bone. He just won't let go. He delves deeper and deeper until he threatens to uncover secrets about the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown that some might prefer to stay hidden. Uncovered, those secrets might cost Arkady his life.
Again, in Arkady Renko, Martin Cruz Smith gives us a character that we can care about and root for. The plot was a bit convoluted and difficult to follow, but we go with Renko willingly as he attempts to trace the loose string of his investigation to its source. Somehow, we always know he'll get there in the end.
The question of the chattering dosimeters is easiest to answer. That salt contains radioactive cesium, but that doesn't explain what it is doing in Pasha Ivanov's condo.
Soon after Ivanov's death, one of his associates turns up in Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with his throat cut, his body appearing white and drained of blood. Renko's superiors send him there, ostensibly to investigate, but mostly just to get him out of Moscow. Arkady Renko is a thorn in their sides, but Arkady with a mystery is like a bulldog with a bone. He just won't let go. He delves deeper and deeper until he threatens to uncover secrets about the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown that some might prefer to stay hidden. Uncovered, those secrets might cost Arkady his life.
Again, in Arkady Renko, Martin Cruz Smith gives us a character that we can care about and root for. The plot was a bit convoluted and difficult to follow, but we go with Renko willingly as he attempts to trace the loose string of his investigation to its source. Somehow, we always know he'll get there in the end.
slapshottechnology's review against another edition
4.0
Decent book focusing on Chernobyl. Enjoyed the detective with a Russian tilt.
imalwayswrite's review
3.0
I just love the Arkady Renko character because things never come easily to him. Anyway, these books are starting to become a bit formulaic (there's a woman, Renko's in some shithole setting), but I'm still enjoying them and looking forward to reading the next one.
nigelbrown's review
4.0
A slow start that then seemed to meander aimlessly, finally coming to life in the final third.
An interesting murder mystery in a unique setting which has led me to read more about this disaster and it's after effects on the surrounding area. This was a fascinating insight into modern Russian life, albeit a very depressing one and of the Ukranian disaster. I found the directness of the characters unusual, Maybe, just the Russian way, but all in all a very good story, one which, against the odds, keeps you rooting for Renko.
Minor grumble, why do Americans not have a clue about football, completely unrealistic.
An interesting murder mystery in a unique setting which has led me to read more about this disaster and it's after effects on the surrounding area. This was a fascinating insight into modern Russian life, albeit a very depressing one and of the Ukranian disaster. I found the directness of the characters unusual, Maybe, just the Russian way, but all in all a very good story, one which, against the odds, keeps you rooting for Renko.
Minor grumble, why do Americans not have a clue about football, completely unrealistic.
audreylee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
saparson's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Always enjoy spending time with Arkady Renko, even when his life and disappointments make me sad.