Book Description
"Brilliant . . . enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind."
The New Yorker
A triple murder in a Moscow amusement center: three corpses found frozen in the snow, faces and fingers missing. Chief homicide investigator Arkady Renko is brilliant, sensitive, honest, and cynical about everything except his profession. To identify the victims and uncover the truth, he must battle the KGB, FBI, and the New York City police as he pursues a rich, ruthless, and well-connected American fur dealer. Meanwhile, Renko is falling in love with a beautiful, headstrong dissident for whom he may risk everything.
"Once one gets going, one doesn't want to stop. . . . The action is gritty, the plot complicated, [and] the overriding quality is intelligence."
The Washington Post
"Reminds you just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be." The New York Times Book Review
"An unbelievable achievement . . . vivid, witty . . . completely fascinating."
Boston Herald American
"Gripping, romantic, and dazzlingly original."
Cosmopolitan
My Review
This was a very difficult book to read. It started off very slow with long descriptive passages and not too much dialogue. Not until halfway through did I start to get interested in the story because of the bogged down writing of Martin Cruz Smith. I will give the author another chance because I feel like his books can only get better and I know people who have enjoyed his books. The ending was actually the best part of the story and tied things up pretty good. I do want to read more of Smith's books about Arkady Renko as I find him a rather unique investigator. I would recommend this book to those who would like to learn more about living in Russia during this period of the book.
"Brilliant . . . enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind."
The New Yorker
A triple murder in a Moscow amusement center: three corpses found frozen in the snow, faces and fingers missing. Chief homicide investigator Arkady Renko is brilliant, sensitive, honest, and cynical about everything except his profession. To identify the victims and uncover the truth, he must battle the KGB, FBI, and the New York City police as he pursues a rich, ruthless, and well-connected American fur dealer. Meanwhile, Renko is falling in love with a beautiful, headstrong dissident for whom he may risk everything.
"Once one gets going, one doesn't want to stop. . . . The action is gritty, the plot complicated, [and] the overriding quality is intelligence."
The Washington Post
"Reminds you just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be." The New York Times Book Review
"An unbelievable achievement . . . vivid, witty . . . completely fascinating."
Boston Herald American
"Gripping, romantic, and dazzlingly original."
Cosmopolitan
My Review
This was a very difficult book to read. It started off very slow with long descriptive passages and not too much dialogue. Not until halfway through did I start to get interested in the story because of the bogged down writing of Martin Cruz Smith. I will give the author another chance because I feel like his books can only get better and I know people who have enjoyed his books. The ending was actually the best part of the story and tied things up pretty good. I do want to read more of Smith's books about Arkady Renko as I find him a rather unique investigator. I would recommend this book to those who would like to learn more about living in Russia during this period of the book.
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