When the corpse of a Russian is hauled from the oily waters of Havana Bay, Arkady Renko comes to Cuba to identify the body. Looking for the killer, he discovers a city of faded loneliness, unexpected danger, and bewildering contradictions. His investigation introduces him to a beautiful Cuban policewoman; to the rituals of Santeria; to an American fugitive and a group of ruthless mercenaries. In … In this place where all things Russian are despised, where Hemingway fished and the KGB flourished, where the hint of music is always in the air, Arkady finds a trail of deceit that reaches halfway around the world–and a reason to relish his own life again.
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Inspector Arkady Renko is what I would think a “typical” Russian detective might be: introspective, a loner, brilliant in his thinking and doomed always to be Russian. Placing him in Havana, Cuba, is brilliant as that is the exact opposite of who he is and what he is comfortable with. A slow, gradual read that ends only as it should.
I was mainly drawn to this novel by the Cuban setting, having visited this fascinating, lively and troubled country just a few years after the book was written. The descriptions of the people and the place immediately drew me back there, making me wish I’d explored Havana more while I was there.
The story is a fairly gripping mystery/thriller, …
felt rushed and not thought out
never got a bad book from Smith.
A cumbersome read. An intervowen plot so slow and complicated I finally gave up and never finished it.
Interesting book. Rather dry and muted feelings by the protagonist….I enjoyed all his vooks, tho this one seemed more muted than the others.ooo
I am a big fan of the Arkady Renko series. This one did not disappoint.
Martin Cruz Smith has written some fabulous books – this one is only so/so. Although the Cuba setting and history provide a lot of color and background, the plot is weaker than his usual.
Havana came alive and brought back my own images of this fascinating city.
Good book with the usual unhappy ending
consistent with his other books
I like Arcady. A skillful Russian detective invariably working within a political system somewhere that stalls or stymies or conflicts with his estimable work.
Good read!!
Author always delivers
I’ve been a fan of Martin Cruz Smith since the early days and have LOVED all of his series. This series is one of my favorites. I just hope he keeps writing for the next 50 years!
Enjoyed the Cuban history .
Such a good picture of Havana post Russian pullout and the effect on Cuban society.This is played along with the author’s usual mystery. For those who really want to know what life is like in Cuba, this mystery is very good.
Interesting story in an interesting setting featuring well-drawn and interesting characters.
Loved Gorky Park. This one not as much. Arkady seems to be getting tired and cynical past the point of caring or being effective at his job. A decent read, but not up to the standards of others in the series.
What a waste of time! Other than a few interesting facts about the Russian/Cuban relationship (which may or may not be factual) it was a poorly written, confusing nothing of a story.