Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel (Arkady Renko Novels) by Martin Cruz Smith and Ron McLarty

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Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel (Arkady Renko Novels)
Available from Amazon
Price: $22.76
Updated on 11-9-2008.

Features

Audio CD

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (June 12, 2007)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 074355597X

ISBN-13: 978-0743555975

Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches

Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces ()

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Moscow-based Senior Investigator Arkady Renko, in his outstanding sixth outing (after Wolves Eat Dogs), investigates a murder-for-hire scheme that leads him to suspect two fellow police detectives, Nikolai Isakov and Marat Urman, both former members of Russia's elite Black Berets, who served in Chechnya. Isakov, a war hero, is now running for public office. Renko must also look into reports that the ghost of Stalin has begun appearing on subway platforms and why several bodies of Black Berets who served in Chechnya with Isakov have turned up in the morgue. Despite repeated threats to his life, Renko stubbornly perseveres, seeking justice in a land that has no official notion of that concept. Smith eschews vertiginous twists and surprises, concentrating instead on Renko as he slowly and patiently builds his case until the pieces fall together and he has again, if not exactly triumphed, at least survived. This masterful suspense novel casts a searing light on contemporary Russia. 250,000 first printing. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Bookmarks Magazine
His sixth Arkady Renko novel in 26 years, Martin Cruz Smith has produced a suspenseful page-turner packed full of vivid characters, clever dialogue, and hair-raising plot twists. In addition to a gripping mystery, readers will embrace the detailed, harrowing descriptions of the harshness and violence of life in the "New Russia." Critics unanimously praised Smith's sobering depiction of contemporary, post-Communist Russia; indeed, the country emerges as a character in its own right. The Wall Street Journal complained of implausible story lines and the questionable nature of Renko's career choices, but most critics were delighted to see Arkady Renko back in action. Readers will no doubt share their enthusiasm.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel (Arkady Renko Novels) (Hardcover) He hates him much that would upon the rack of this tough world stretch him out longer." King Lear, Act IV, Scene 3. I have read and very much enjoyed Martin Cruz Smith's previous Arkady Renko novels. Renko's erratic career path as a police inspector has seen him survive, barely, the apparatchiks of the Soviet regime in "Gorky Park". He survived the USSR's imminent demise in "Polar Star" and the emergence of bloody cowboy capitalism, Russian-style in "Red Square". In "Wolves Eat Dogs" Renko operated in a Russia dominated by an elite group of billionaire oligarchs who fed like vultures, even upon the radioactive ruins in the Ukraine and Belarus created by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. Now, in Smith's new novel "Stalin's Ghost", Renko lives in a Russia in which the dislocations caused by the last twenty-five years have left many Russians feeling nostalgic for the security and certainty they felt under Stalin. Stalin's ghost may or may not be vexed by being placed upon the rack of this tough, brave new world that is Russia but his presence is most certainly still felt. An article in "Foreign Affairs" magazine in January 2006 contained a poll by a Russian polling organization indicating that as late as 20003, 20% of Russians would vote for Stalin if he were to return to life and run for President. The sentiment forms the thematic undercurrent for Renko's latest investigations. Renko is ordered to investigate the alleged appearance of the ghost of Stalin at a Moscow underground (subway) station. This appearance, real, imagined, or fraudulent seems connected to the Senate campaign of one Nikolai Isakov. Isakov is a former member of the Russian army's elite "Black Berets" and a `hero' of the last Russian campaign against Chechnya. Isakov is the candidate of an ultra-nationalist ticket who urges a return to the greatness enjoyed by the USSR in its glory days and is quick to invoke the name of Stalin in support of that campaign. Renko's investigation is complicated for a number of reasons. Isakov happens to be a police investigator who has also managed to win the affections of Renko's love interest, Eva, who during the course of the novel leaves Renko for Isakov. During his investigation into the ghost, Renko also comes across a series of murders which may or may not be connected to Isakov's alleged heroic acts in Chechnya. These three plot lines: the investigation into Stalin's ghost; the personal dynamic amongst Renko, Isakov, and Eva; and the murders of Isakov's Black Beret colleagues gradually converge until they meet in a nicely dramatic conclusion. "Stalin's Ghost" is a welcome addition to the Arkady Renko series. Smith's plotting and writing is first-rate. I think Smith has shown over the years that he has developed not only a real feeling and affection for his creation, Renko, but also for Renko's homeland, Russia. It would be very easy for a western writer to dip into stereotypes about the old USSR and the new Russia but Smith writes without disdain in my opinion and that is always a plus. He doesn't paint a rosy picture but, grim as it is, Smith is not condescensing about Russia or its people. Smith is also a realist. We don't get happily ever after endings for Renko but the endings Smith creates are, nevertheless, very satisfactory. If I had to point a critical finger anywhere, I would suggest that in "Stalin's Ghost", Renko's ability to survive countless attempts to put him in an early grave, once verging on the miraculous seems to be a bit more of a stretch than I've seen in previous Renko novels. Basically, Smith came close, in my opinion, to losing some of that practical grounding that marked his earlier Renko efforts. Ultimately, that is a relatively minor quibble as Smith did not go `over the top' to the point where it detracted from the plot. This is particularly true for someone like me, who has developed quite an attachment to this fictional character over the years. "Stalin's Ghost" is an excellent piece of fiction that transcends any categorization of it as a piece of genre writing. I think any reader should enjoy Smith's latest saga in the life and times of Investigator Renko. Highly recommended. L. Fleisig (4.5 stars o/o 5).

Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel (Arkady Renko Novels)
List Price: $29.95
Available from Amazon
Price: $22.76
Updated on 11-9-2008.