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ronanmcd's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A perfectly fine murder mystery. An interesting look at a corrupt society run by a dictator, and his that affects his things really run, how rules and laws are applied. It's a complex game, never knowing what's real, what's true, when to relax or to be cautious. The chess metaphor is used heavily throughout and with good effect.
lizgrim's review against another edition
4.0
Read it in one sitting, might now go back to Gorky Park and read the full series.
stevem0214's review against another edition
4.0
Great book as Martin Cruz Smith always is, but not my favorite. I felt the ending was unsatisfying and seemed to be rushed, like he's gotten tired of writing. Still, Arkady is one of my favorite characters in fiction and I hope there are a few more coming in the future.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
Probably would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the other books before this, oops. This was just ok, not bad but not very interesting either
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for another enjoyable read by Martin Cruz Smith. This is #9 in the Arkady Renko series and it can be read as a stand alone, but would probably work better if you have read the previous books in the series. Arkady is a police investigator for the Moscow Police. His supervisor is Prosecutor Zurin, who is a cunning, ruthless man willing to break the rules if it helps his career. Arkady, on the other hand, is a honest man who struggles to do the right thing in Putin's corrupt Russia.
Arkady is concerned about his lover Tatiana's disappearance to someplace in Siberia. He goes to her newspaper supervisor Obolensky and asks where she is. Obolensky doesn't know where she is. She told him that she was working on a story and did not tell him any more. She has done this before. Obolensky says that she disappears for a few weeks and comes back with a story--usually about corruption.
Then Prosecutor Zurin sends Arkady to Irkutsk, Siberia, to transport a prisoner to a transit prison, interrogate and prosecute him with a resulting good long sentence. Arkady finds Tatiana and 2 rich oil barons, Boris Benz and Mikhail Kuznetsov, both connected to the story that Tatiana is working on. Arkady is first shot at and later left for dead in the Siberian wilderness but survives both times. There are twists and turns in the story and a Siberian dilemma for Arkady.
One quote from Arkady's Siberian factotum, Bolot, speaking to Arkady: ""Isn't it time for dinner? Distances are longer when you haven't eaten," said Bolot as they got back to the car "You never eat, do you.? I've noticed that when you do, you just rearrange your food. You know, you need calories to stay warm."
Thank you Martin Cruz Smith and Simon and Schuster for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
Arkady is concerned about his lover Tatiana's disappearance to someplace in Siberia. He goes to her newspaper supervisor Obolensky and asks where she is. Obolensky doesn't know where she is. She told him that she was working on a story and did not tell him any more. She has done this before. Obolensky says that she disappears for a few weeks and comes back with a story--usually about corruption.
Then Prosecutor Zurin sends Arkady to Irkutsk, Siberia, to transport a prisoner to a transit prison, interrogate and prosecute him with a resulting good long sentence. Arkady finds Tatiana and 2 rich oil barons, Boris Benz and Mikhail Kuznetsov, both connected to the story that Tatiana is working on. Arkady is first shot at and later left for dead in the Siberian wilderness but survives both times. There are twists and turns in the story and a Siberian dilemma for Arkady.
One quote from Arkady's Siberian factotum, Bolot, speaking to Arkady: ""Isn't it time for dinner? Distances are longer when you haven't eaten," said Bolot as they got back to the car "You never eat, do you.? I've noticed that when you do, you just rearrange your food. You know, you need calories to stay warm."
Thank you Martin Cruz Smith and Simon and Schuster for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
petealdin's review against another edition
5.0
He's back with this one. The last two Renko novels were a little flat and muddled. This one is perfect! A book I'll reread.
leemac027's review against another edition
3.0
I do like the writing of Martin Cruz Smith and have read a number of his books. I liked this one but perhaps not as much as the others.
Arkady Renko, Moscow investigator, is back with his pithy sense of humour and practical approach to solving crimes while keeping his own hide intact.
Arkady's girlfriend, journalist Tatiana Petrovna seems to have gone missing in Siberia, not unusual as she has taken herself off the radar before in search of a good story. But this time seems a little different. An opportunity arises for Arkady to go up to Siberia for an investigation so there is time to see if he can also locate Tatiana.
Now of course, there are some oligarchs involved, one Kuznetsov has his eyes set on the Presidency. This may prompt a response from the Kremlin that takes a dislike to those who wish to oppose them.
Aside from the politics, Arkady finds himself in situations that may make life a little interesting like someone trying to kill him and the odd encounter with a bear. And where would he be without this newly recruited factotum!
A good yarn and a very easy read.
Arkady Renko, Moscow investigator, is back with his pithy sense of humour and practical approach to solving crimes while keeping his own hide intact.
Arkady's girlfriend, journalist Tatiana Petrovna seems to have gone missing in Siberia, not unusual as she has taken herself off the radar before in search of a good story. But this time seems a little different. An opportunity arises for Arkady to go up to Siberia for an investigation so there is time to see if he can also locate Tatiana.
Now of course, there are some oligarchs involved, one Kuznetsov has his eyes set on the Presidency. This may prompt a response from the Kremlin that takes a dislike to those who wish to oppose them.
Aside from the politics, Arkady finds himself in situations that may make life a little interesting like someone trying to kill him and the odd encounter with a bear. And where would he be without this newly recruited factotum!
A good yarn and a very easy read.
badcushion's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ogokoo's review against another edition
2.0
A thriller? Not a single thrilling moment in this whole book. Some intriguing characters, but not a single interesting thing done with them.