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sandranir's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't read any Arkady Renko book in years and it's wonderful to renew the pleasure.
This book is most probably my favorite in the series (although the prior books are just as addictive). I find that in this one, Renko has finally come into maturity, keeping his stubborn sense of justice against all odds but perhaps with less pathos than in the previous books. The plot is depressingly too close to reality for comfort but it wouldn't be riveting if it weren't, and the secondary characters truly hold their own, leaving a memorable trace in the reader's mind.
A very satisfying read!
This book is most probably my favorite in the series (although the prior books are just as addictive). I find that in this one, Renko has finally come into maturity, keeping his stubborn sense of justice against all odds but perhaps with less pathos than in the previous books. The plot is depressingly too close to reality for comfort but it wouldn't be riveting if it weren't, and the secondary characters truly hold their own, leaving a memorable trace in the reader's mind.
A very satisfying read!
jporterfield99's review against another edition
4.0
Arkady Renko is Peter Falk, and I'm okay with that. Snappy character interactions and a timely and swift-moving plot that doesn't stray too far from plausibility help make this the most enjoyable Martin Cruz Smith novel I've read since Wolves Eat Dogs.
duvallmel's review against another edition
3.0
There was a dark and depressing tone through much of the book, but a very satisfying ending. One of my favorite lines in this novel:
"Because once you're officially dead you soon will be. It's a matter of bookkeeping..."
"Because once you're officially dead you soon will be. It's a matter of bookkeeping..."
gavinsteyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
skhuter's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the main character Renko Archady. The Russian setting was my favorite. I'm a big fan of getting my geography and culture lessons from fiction! The author's sparse style is not quite my taste. More than a few times I had to go back to the beginning of a conversation to figure out who was talking. Apparently the author doesn't believe in dialogue tags. I think I'll read another one and see if the books are an acquired taste.
bookie936ange's review against another edition
4.0
Beaches, bicycles, oligarchs, corruption, murder, journalists, neonazis, and submarines!
stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
WOnderful as always. This one ends with Arkady in love as well as his son...I thought the series ended with this one, but The Siberian Delima came out in 2019. I need to read that one again I suppose!
hedread's review against another edition
2.0
Somewhat entertaining but not one of this author's better books. Not smoothly written
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Investigator Renko takes on another case that his superiors do not want him to solve when a journalist falls to her death. Always a fascinating look at Russian society. Listened to the audio version which was well narrated by Henry Strozier.