A review by martyfried
Red Chameleon by Stuart M. Kaminsky
4.0
I think these books are as much about Russia as they are about the crimes that get solved. It seems like the more crimes Inspector Rostnikov solves, the worse off he is. Watching him solve the crime was interesting, but the stories behind the crime is perhaps more so. The politics are as complicated as the cases, and he must tread lightly in solving the crimes.
In this book there are a few thing happening. One is that someone is shooting police and military people from a rooftop. But that crime is a lower priority than the one involving the theft of his bosses car, which is not only important, but must be kept secret because it's an embarrassment that it could happen. And when they decide the murder of a Jew should simply be dropped, the Inspector works on it secretly, knowing that if he solves it, he will need to explain how the murderer was accidentally caught by sheer chance. Then, when it's all over, he needs to choose between two versions of what happened, and must choose the one that is politically the best answer.
Interesting glimpses into day to day life in the USSR.
In this book there are a few thing happening. One is that someone is shooting police and military people from a rooftop. But that crime is a lower priority than the one involving the theft of his bosses car, which is not only important, but must be kept secret because it's an embarrassment that it could happen. And when they decide the murder of a Jew should simply be dropped, the Inspector works on it secretly, knowing that if he solves it, he will need to explain how the murderer was accidentally caught by sheer chance. Then, when it's all over, he needs to choose between two versions of what happened, and must choose the one that is politically the best answer.
Interesting glimpses into day to day life in the USSR.