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bibliomaniac2021's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dragonofbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Sexual content
stevem0214's review
5.0
My favorite Arkady novel other than the original Gorky Park. Seems that Arkady is back in good graces...or is he? For that matter, with the Soviet Union survive (we know who that turns out. Will he find Irina...you'll have to read the book. A lot going on in this one at the same time. You have to read These books in order to understand what's going on.
sandin954's review
4.0
Another excellent read in this series. Arkady has his old job back as an investigator in Moscow but the city is going through some major changes along with the rest of the country. A great look at the Soviet Union during the early nineties.
marcel's review
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
4.0
i’m sooo bored by the irina plot but damn renko deserves a win
lande4981's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? N/A
4.5
vanessakm's review
4.0
I am a little torn on what to rate this. I think this book's predecessor, [b:Polar Star|778285|Polar Star (Arkady Renko, #2)|Martin Cruz Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178266745s/778285.jpg|2640521], was just so good this one might suffer a bit in comparison. Nevertheless, I still remain a fan of Smith's gift with prose, his cast of compelling characters and his ability to make the reader really live in the Russian and German mindsets in the era between the Wall's collapse and the dissolution of the USSR.
The book has multiple story lines that converge. One is Renko's investigation of the murder of an informant. Another is his reaction to hearing his great love Irina (the woman he helped defect in the first book, [b:Gorky Park|762806|Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1)|Martin Cruz Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178138027s/762806.jpg|90322]) on Radio Liberty in Munich. The third is the state of Moscow in the twilight of the USSR. The story takes place during August, 1991 in the days leading up to the famous August Coup. The mystery is a typical Cruz Smith labyrinth. My advice is the fewer sittings you can read this in, the better. Of course, once you get past a certain point you won't want to stop.
My main complaint is in the previous book, Renko was living essentially in exile on a factory fishing ship in the Bering sea. Although its ending suggests that he has been forgiven by Moscow, this book opens with him back in his old job as an investigator for the City Prosecutor with no mention of how he got from there to here other than a few asides about how he is considered rehabilitated by the Party. It does lead to one very funny misunderstanding between Renko and his new Boss at a murder scene.
Despite any quibbles, I can't give this book less than four stars. Other than the aforementioned qualities I love about Smith, this book had a great ending.
The book has multiple story lines that converge. One is Renko's investigation of the murder of an informant. Another is his reaction to hearing his great love Irina (the woman he helped defect in the first book, [b:Gorky Park|762806|Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1)|Martin Cruz Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178138027s/762806.jpg|90322]) on Radio Liberty in Munich. The third is the state of Moscow in the twilight of the USSR. The story takes place during August, 1991 in the days leading up to the famous August Coup. The mystery is a typical Cruz Smith labyrinth. My advice is the fewer sittings you can read this in, the better. Of course, once you get past a certain point you won't want to stop.
My main complaint is in the previous book, Renko was living essentially in exile on a factory fishing ship in the Bering sea. Although its ending suggests that he has been forgiven by Moscow, this book opens with him back in his old job as an investigator for the City Prosecutor with no mention of how he got from there to here other than a few asides about how he is considered rehabilitated by the Party. It does lead to one very funny misunderstanding between Renko and his new Boss at a murder scene.
Despite any quibbles, I can't give this book less than four stars. Other than the aforementioned qualities I love about Smith, this book had a great ending.
abookishtype's review against another edition
4.0
At one point in Red Square, by Martin Cruz Smith, one of Arkady Renko’s temporary partners turns to the battered detective and asks, “Renko, do you ever feel like the plague?” (248*). At this point, Renko has been attacked a couple of times. His partner in Moscow has been killed. A couple of witnesses had been killed after talking to him. And, oh yeah, the Soviet Union is going to collapse any day. Renko spends most of this book in Munich and Berlin, so there’s a real chance that his country won’t be there when he returns...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
imalwayswrite's review against another edition
3.0
Arakdy Renko is back in Moscow and working as an investigator once again. While investigating the death of a black market speculator, he runs up against various Russian mafias. During the course of his investigation, he travels to Germany and comes across stolen artwork.
Renko is his usual resourceful self and although he has his job back, he isn't a cool, slick detective. Still, he gets the job done.
Renko is his usual resourceful self and although he has his job back, he isn't a cool, slick detective. Still, he gets the job done.