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Red Square
  
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Red Square (Paperback)

by Martin Cruz Smith (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

America's preeminent writer of Russian-based thrillers explores international crime and political upheaval in this 10-week PW bestseller
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From AudioFile

Arkady Renko returns to another thriller full of Russian intrigue in a contemporary setting. Renko has been reinstated as an investigator, but once again he quickly has all sides after him. O'Keefe chooses to accent all the characters' speech heavily. Subtlety is lost, and the Russians tend to sound much the same. However, the narration is clear, and O'Keefe speaks each complicated name with clarity and ease. Nonetheless, he can't make up for an abridgment that lacks coherence. Smith's cryptic novels are devilishly hard to keep straight and the abridgment doesn't help. This presentation is an excellent draw to an unabridged recording or the full written text. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Back in the USSR, Jun 25 2007
By Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Red Square (Mass Market Paperback)
Martin Cruz Smith is a former journalist and magazine editor. "Red Square" is his third novel - after "Gorky Park" and "Polar Star" - to feature Arkady Renko and was first published in 1992.

Renko, the hero, works as an Investigator with Moscow's militia - more or less the standard police force - and has something of a chequered career. Never a truly 'practising' member of the Party, Renko hasn't always been thought highly of by those in authority. He has always wanted to catch the people responsible for the crimes he's investigating, regardless of the 'political' consequences - as a result of this, he was once dismissed from the Party for a lack of 'political reliability' and sentenced to a life in Siberia. He also appears to be something of a disappointment to his father, a very famous ex-General. (Arkady's opinion of his father - who is very ill as the book opens - isn't too high, either). However, after the events outlined in "Polar Star", he was reinstated to his former position - but is now working in a new Moscow that he barely recognises. "Red Square" is largely set in Moscow, Munich and Berlin in 1991 and is set in turbulent times : Germany has been re-unified and the breakup of the USSR is closing in.

The book opens in August 1991, with Renko and his partner - an Estonian called Jaak Kuusnets - on their way to a meeting with Rudy Rosen. Although Rosen operates as a banker for the various factions of the Russian Mafia, he has agreed to Renko planting a transmitter in his car for the duration of a Mafia-sponsored illegal market. (This is largely due to the fact that the militia have enough to put Rosen away for a very long time). Despite turning informer, Rosen appears to feel relatively safe. The Chechen faction, headed up by Makhmud, constitutes his only real enemy, but - since all the factions require his services - he doesn't think he's under any real threat. His sense of security is reinforced by Mikhail Kim, his fearsome-looking Korean bodyguard, and his business partnership with Borya Gubenko - the head of the Long Pond Mafia. Unfortunately, shortly after a quiet conversation with Arkady at the market, Rudy is killed when his car goes up in flames - changing Renko's case from surveillance to a murder inquiry. One of the witnesses points the finger at Kim - and it seems clear the Korean was responsible for at least one of the two explosions.

Although Arkady works most closely with Jaak, there are a couple of other members on the team he has assembled. Polina deals with the forensic work and is nearly as dedicated to her job as Arkady Renko is to his. Minin, on the other hand, is practically the anti-Renko : he remains devoted to the Party and is, in fact, the only Party member on the team. Renko's boss is a man called Rodionov - the City Prosecutor and an elected member of the People's Congress. When Renko meets with Rodionov to inform him of the investigation's progress, he's also introduced to General Penyagin - the recently appointed head of CID. Unlike his predecessor, Penyagin is a bureaucrat - not a detective risen from the ranks. Renko is stunned to discover that the third person attending the meeting, Max Albov, is a journalist. As the investigation unfolds, developments take Renko far and wide - even to the recently reunited Germany. However, Albov proves to be someone Renko just can't avoid.

This is a hugely enjoyable book - in fact, the Renko series is just getting better and better as it goes along. The book is set in the USSR's dying days, a difficult time for all those used to playing the political game. As such, it's probably even more dangerous that it had been - especially for someone like Renko who only cared about catching the villain, rather than doing what was politically 'correct'. Highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning of Brilliance, May 18 2004
By Anthony (Hollywood, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Red Square (Mass Market Paperback)
The thing I like most about Smith's work is how well developed and deep his characters are. This isn't just straight action like the disasters I've read by John le Carre. Arkady Renko is up against corrupt bureaucrats, powerful businessmen and rival police organs. They provide him with inept assistants, the bare minimum of support and outdated equipment, yet somehow he still manages to get his man using his tenacity and brains. Renko's attitude is what drives this whole series of books-the sardonic, poetic, romantic and brilliant musings of our hero reveal such a deep character, which keeps us intrigued during any slow parts of the action. Arkady always makes some kind of funny mental comment while he's getting beat up in a subway tunnel or shot at or feasting on a russian dinner of stale bread, yogurt and a cucumber, and it just cracks me up. The plot is also amazing, twisting and turning in so many ways. The first three books are essential, but don't bother with havana bay, it's pathetic compared to these. All things must come to an end, though, and it was great while it lasted.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent Russian Thriller, Feb 28 2004
This review is from: Red Square (Hardcover)
The third Arkady Renko novel by Martin Cruz Smith, Red Square is as strong as the first two. Smith's writing rises far above the typical spy / thriller genre. His characters are fully developed, flawed and nuanced. The dialogue is wonderful, down to Renko's self-effacing honesty and Irina's protective lies. Moscow detective Renko is heroic in a underdog sort of way. Here he confronts Russian mobsters in Moscow and Germany after the murder of an underworld financier and a fellow cop. It's simply good writing, good research, and a good plot. And Arkady's fans will be happy to see Irina again.
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book with a great ending
This book is not only a terrific action/mystery novel that is beautifully written, it provides significant insights into the transition of Russia from a communist to a capitalist... Read more
Published on Nov 23 2003 by John Sharko

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Top Notch Thriller!
The Third in the Inspector Arkady Renko series in Martin Cruz Smith's series of Russian intrigue. The series includes Gorky Park, Polar Star, Red Square and Havana Bay, SO FAR. Read more
Published on Jul 26 2003 by H. Row

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery and History By a Master of Mood and Suspense
Although Havana Bay has been out a few years now, its predecessor Red Square and the two previous Arkady Renko mysteries should never be forgotten. Read more
Published on April 14 2002 by David H. Stebbing

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Author, Great Story
This book is great, a very good book in a wonderful series. You know this is a great series because of all the other books that claim to be just like it. Read more
Published on April 11 2002 by John G. Hilliard

5.0 out of 5 stars Please don't read this book before...
Please don't read this book before you read Gorky Park and Polar Star. And please read Havana Bay after this book.
There is no relation between the books. Read more
Published on April 7 2002 by ayayla

5.0 out of 5 stars Martin Cruz Smith Did It Again!
All I have to say is if you are thinking of buying this book, do it. If you have not read Gorky Park or Polar Star first, then I strongly suggest you do so. Read more
Published on Mar 26 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Again, tops by Smith.
The title is a play on words, and things have really changed in Arkady Renko's Moscow. He's an Investigator again; he has been rehabilitated. Read more
Published on Mar 12 2001 by Sergio Flores

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word ... elegant
Martin Cruz Smith is no more a thriller writer than Steinbeck or Hemingway, indeed he is a master craftsman. Read more
Published on Mar 8 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the first three Arkady Renko novels.
I can't speak for the latest Arkady Renko novel, "Havana Bay," having not read it yet, but for me, the finest of the first three is the magnificent "Red... Read more
Published on Jan 16 2001 by Augustus Caesar, Ph.D.

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a thriller
Martin Cruz Smith's latest in the trilogy of Arkady Renko, one of the more fascinating characters I have come across. Read more
Published on Nov 16 2000 by Aaron Poncinie

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