My second Goodreads recommendation comes from KATHRYN IN FL. I'm truly in her debt for bringing this book back to my attention.

Gorky Park is a remarkable piece of literature. It is beautifully written, with every word carefully chosen to create a vivid and engaging world. The pacing is also perfect, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish.

Over the years, Gorky Park has received a great deal of praise, and it is well-deserved. It holds up like a bona fide classic, standing the test of time and continuing to captivate readers.

If you haven't read Gorky Park yet, I highly recommend it. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

I was hooked just by reading the flap of the book. Written in a Russian plot, yet again by an American author! Anyway, throughout the entire book, the famous Gorky Park in Moscow is present. Near Gorky Park, beneath the snow, three fingerless and faceless corpses are found. Leading the investigation is the Chief Investigator of the Homicide Department, Arkady Renko. One exciting story unfolds after another. To solve the case, Arkady has to face off against global intelligence agencies like the KGB and the FBI.

After reading the first 150 pages of the book, I felt like I was reading one of the most captivating storytelling books in the United States. The transition from a crime scene to a family drama and then back to forensics was really painful. Then, the triangular relationship between Zoya, Arkady, and Smid was not very understandable. Some things were left extremely unclear, for example, a civilian being targeted by a detective from the Homicide Department for no reason (if I explain in detail, there is a possibility of major spoilers). However, the later part was excellent. Arkady's mastermind, action, twists - it compensated for the initial setback. It's not bad. And the author, being American, has clearly shown this throughout the entire story. The author has also shown a bit of Russia's misfortunes under Stalin, Chekhov, and Brezhnev, as well as Russia's various military imbalances throughout the book.

This book was written over 30 years ago when the Soviet Union was beginning to show signs of disintegration.

During this period, informal contacts between the FBI and the KGB were common, and this truly cold war dominates the entire book. There is a moral dilemma that runs through it and makes one "get hooked" on the book, even though at times it may seem that it is fleeing to nothing. It is not. Patience is required, but the rewards are just around the corner.

I don't know why this book was on the shelf. I didn't know I had it (!) and it doesn't belong to me (!).

It's always bad to lend books :).

Overall, this book offers a unique perspective on a significant historical period. The author's exploration of the moral dilemma adds depth and complexity to the story. Despite its age, it still manages to engage the reader and keep them turning the pages. It serves as a reminder of the tensions and uncertainties that existed during the cold war era. Whether you're a history buff or simply looking for an interesting read, this book is worth checking out.

A Cold War crime thriller that truly packs a punch and serves up more than a few unexpected surprises.

However, it's a bit of a pity that the numerous plot twists have to vie for the spotlight with some rather cringe-worthy and bad sex scenes.

On one hand, this book simultaneously manages to evoke a sense of nostalgia for those blockbuster sensations that everyone was devouring in the 1980s.

It takes you back to a time when reading such thrilling novels was a popular pastime.

On the other hand, it also makes me grateful that I've evolved into a more discerning reader since then.

I can now see the flaws and areas that could have been improved upon in this particular work.

Nevertheless, despite its shortcomings, the book still has its moments and manages to keep you engaged with its complex plot and the mystery that unfolds.

It's a bit of a mixed bag, but it does offer an interesting reading experience overall.

3 to 3.5 stars.

Would've been 4 stars probably if I had not come across Child 44 first. This meant that 'Gorky Park' was always going to be compared to Tom Rob Smith's novel.

I think if John le Carre wrote crime novels instead of espionage ones, it might end up being something similar to 'Gorky Park'. What's admirable about this book is its wide scope. It begins with a triple murder in the heart of Moscow, then transcends through places like Leningrad and Shatura, and finally culminates in a riveting finale in New York. The protagonist, Arkady Renko, is a likeable character. His obvious indifference to his marital failures can even seem endearing at times. Also, for much of the first half of the book, you wonder what's going on, and then all of a sudden, things slowly and eventually fall into place.

However, what prevents this book from reaching awesomeness levels is how the plot drags on at times. This can be very frustrating. I understand it's not exactly a fast-paced thriller and is actually a police procedural, but it still doesn't make reading an easy task. Also, the world Martin Cruz Smith makes us envision is realistic, but since it's set in the Brezhnev era, it's not really as terrifying as it would've been if set in the Stalinist era.

Still, I'd recommend that you read 'Gorky Park' by Martin Cruz Smith. It's not perfect, but it has a good mystery at the core of its plot, and fans of crime fiction would find it a worthwhile read.

From other reviews that I have read, I know that I'm clearly in the minority.

However, I just didn't find anything about this book or the characters to like. Ardaky Renko has possibilities, but it may take some very creative writing on Martin Cruz Smith's part to bring out his "inner man" and turn him into a detective that readers will cheer for.

As for this book, the murders in the park were a good beginning. But it soon became so wrapped up in Russian politics, mixed with corrupt Americans and a slut who had the morality of an alley cat and the intelligence of a Barbie doll. As a result, the whole thing soon reached "train wreck" status.

I'm not sure that I ever want to give this series any more time or effort. And believe me, it took effort to finish it. I found the story convoluted and the characters unappealing. The combination of different elements seemed forced and didn't come together in a satisfying way. Maybe others will find more to enjoy in this book, but for me, it was a disappointment.

A very dully told mystery presents itself, perhaps with the lamest antagonist I've encountered thus far in a crime novel. I have a penchant for Cold War-era thrillers, but I'm 0-2 between this one and Tom Rob Smith's Child 44, which was a far superior Soviet murder story.

Arkady Renko, a homicide detective in the USSR, usually deals with cases stemming from domestic violence or excessive vodka consumption. However, this time, 3 bodies are discovered beneath the melting snow in Gorky Park, a highly trafficked public area. The bodies, two men and one woman, are missing their fingertips, faces, and eyeballs. The two men have been shot through the teeth from front to back and also through the heart, while the woman was only shot through the heart.

Okay, so far, it seems promising! The makings of a ritualistic-style killer in one of the most uptight and no-nonsense countries of the time? At this point, I'm fully convinced I've struck gold!

Alas, those good vibes dissipated quickly. All that gruesome body stuff occurs in the first chapter or two, and it's downhill from there. The remainder of the book delves into Arkady's crumbling marriage, traitors within his own police department, spies, and an American fur magnate.

Yes, a fur magnate is central to the story about people missing their faces, eyeballs, and fingertips.

Honestly, the pace left me fighting sleep for most of the time. Since this is my second attempt at reading this novel - and I'm glad to say I finally finished this huge NYT Bestseller from 1981 - I'm certain I won't be reading any more from Martin Cruz Smith. I simply did not enjoy this.

I can't believe I resisted this for so long.

There used to be a German copy on our shelves. It was a book my husband actually read. He's a smart guy but doesn't read much fiction. However, I unloaded it a long time ago without a thought since its popularity turned me off. But now, it turns out to be a truly worthwhile and luxurious read for a Russophile like me. I don't really care that it's a thriller. Although all thrillers should be this good, and of course, they're not. The atmosphere in this book is so vivid and visual. Moscow is my favorite character. After that, it's brooding and terse Arkady Renko, who never wastes words. The language used is pretty gorgeous.

So maybe it was a lucky thing to have read this 30 years after its publication. With obvious hindsight and a romantic longing for a certain youth, it makes even the Cold War seem enticing. It brings back the disconcerting coexistence of dishonesty and absolute bluntness in those Soviet interactions. Oh, who am I kidding? Sometimes the lingering effect is the impractical dream of being an Irina or a Margarita or an Anastasia. I just don't know where that comes from.

At the autopsy-room door Arkady stopped to light a cigarette.

"You going to puke?" Levin looked up when he heard the match strike.

"Not if it interferes with your work..." p. 11

"It's a curious thing" -- he went on talking while he ate -- "it used to be that whenever Russian émigrés arrived in America they would start a restaurant. They served wonderful food -- beef Stroganov, chicken Kiev, paskha, blini and caviar, sturgeon in jelly. That was fifty years ago, though. The new emigrés can't cook at all; they don't even know what good food is. Communism has erased Russian cuisine. Now, there's one of the great crimes." p. 317

“‘There are not many road signs in Russia, you know.’ He laughed. ‘If you don’t know where the road goes, you shouldn’t be on it.'” — Arkady Renko

When Gorky Park was first published in 1981, it was immediately banned in the then Soviet Union due to its accurate portrayal of everyday Soviet life. Although I have never been to Russia (my only exposure to the culture was the year I spent unsuccessfully attempting to learn the language), its image is closely associated with the glamorous Moscow of the film, The Saint, in my imagination. Smith’s description, however, is completely different! It is gritty, dark, and dangerous. Everyone is afraid of being sent to a political prison or, even worse, Siberia. And they have every reason to be scared; the shady past of a close relative, a single whisper from a vengeful neighbor, or even owning a Bible could be enough to get one in trouble with the KGB.

Detective Arkady Renko leads a simple life. Despite being the son of a decorated war general and a member of the communist party, he prefers not to cause trouble or receive any negative marks on his party card. Murder is his area of expertise, and that suits him fine, as all the cases he has encountered so far have been the direct results of drunkenness, jealousy, or accidents. Open and shut. But he is not prepared for the three frozen bodies discovered in Gorky Park, with their faces skinned and fingertips cut off. Clearly, this is no ordinary Soviet murder.

I enjoyed this book for the same reasons I was captivated by Smilla’s Sense of Snow. It was both a thrilling page-turner and a social commentary. Although the world has changed since 1981, many things remain the same. Greed, money, and corruption still drive the world, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. Everyone seemingly has a price at which they can be bought, and those who are faithful to their beliefs and standards often suffer. I have already purchased the next book in the series, grateful that, unlike Peter Hoeg’s book, Renko lives on for another seven books.

Spy stuff!

I have a vivid and extremely clear memory of my mother sitting in her favorite armchair, engrossed in reading this particular book. The image is etched in my mind as if it were yesterday.

It makes me wonder now, as I look back, what exactly it was about that book that held her attention so firmly. Was it the thrilling plot filled with secret missions and dangerous adversaries?

Hey mom, I really want to know. Was it good? Did it take you on an exciting adventure through the world of espionage? I can only imagine the emotions and excitement it must have brought you as you turned each page.

Maybe one day, I'll pick up that same book and try to understand what made it so special for you.

There's this fascinating concept in fantasy and sci-fi writing known as world-building. It's quite self-explanatory really. Since these books don't occur in our universe, it's the author's responsibility to provide all the details. They have to paint a vivid picture, adding shading in just the right spots to ensure we can clearly see what we're supposed to be looking at. Economics, politics, interpersonal relations, language, gender roles, humor - all these elements can be incorporated well, emphasizing certain aspects and embellishing others, so that the empty spaces also contribute to the overall canvas. Or it can be done poorly, with everything crammed in, resulting in a chaotic mess like "Where's Waldo" where no one can figure out what's going on. Martin Cruz Smith is an excellent world-builder. He writes about a real place that no longer exists in the same way, and I don't think that makes his job any easier.

Granted, I have no idea what life was like in the Soviet Union in the early '80s, and maybe the author didn't either. But he has created a fully realized world, a backdrop that adds a great deal of freshness to this twisty detective thriller. Part of the reason Stieg Larsson's books created a new genre in the U.S. (sort of - the Swedish location-specific murder genre) was his obsessively detailed descriptions of the Swedish landscape, which gave readers something to focus on while Lisbeth was shopping at Ikea. Here, the sense of place is equally compelling (with the weather being just as miserable); the plot and writing are a lot better.

Arkady Renko is a great character. He understands how the system works and has no problem "losing" the files on a few murder cases to keep the crime rate low and the politicians happy. Yet he refuses to follow the party line, pisses off the wrong people, and follows leads even when he has no vested interest, not even a strong desire for justice. He just wants to be right. He is assigned to the case of three corpses found shot and mutilated in a famous park, and it seems like he keeps working on it for no other reason than that it violated his personal sensibility that it's uncouth to murder people in a place where people come to relax, commiserate with friends, or maybe do some ice skating.

The plot is quite complicated, as expected, but the trappings (you'll see what I mean in a moment) are quite fun. Without giving too much away, everything ties into the international fur trade, and if Martin Cruz Smith is right, it's a bloody business. This is a Russian sable:

This is a Russian sable fur coat:

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It costs about $150,000 and requires dozens of pelts. If you would wear this coat, you are an asshole. The same goes for a hat. Case in point:

The tail-end gets a bit droopy - Renko loses his temper and goes into a pity spiral, and there's all this mirroring of the ways the U.S. and Communist Russia are totally opposite but equally rotten. But then there's an intense final chase sequence that had me muttering at my iPod to hurry up and get it over with, so I guess that worked out. Otherwise, the female characters are not particularly outstanding, but I've read a lot worse in that regard.

Some enterprising bookstore clerk needs to put this series on an endcap when the Dragon Tattoo movie comes out in December, because it is just waiting to be rediscovered.

The quote "It’s not a mystery; it’s just the past.” by Martin Cruz Smith in Gorky Park sets the tone for a captivating exploration. I recall watching the William Hurt film adapted from this book in the early 80s. It was a great movie, and the book was equally excellent. The 80s were a golden era for Cold War espionage/crime novels. This particular genre isn't just about espionage thrillers; it's often a police procedural with a unique twist. Instead of being set in the typical cities like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, it takes place in different locations. For example, Olen Steinhauer's early crime novels in the Yalta Blvd Sequence are set in a Soviet Era state that combines elements of Hungary and Romania. His works include The Bridge of Sighs, The Confession, and others. James Church's Inspector O series also offers an interesting perspective. I've read the first four books, such as A Corpse in the Koryo. Some of LeCarre's novels have a similar feel, although not exactly. While none of these authors reach LeCarre's best, they come close with their own佳作. The common thread among these three authors is hard-boiled crime fiction set in an alien or totalitarian landscape, with sympathetic characters. The main detective always manages to solve the case despite the limitations of the system. This allows readers to think about how our own system might also affect the resolution of crimes. One author who does this well, in my opinion, is Don Winslow. The Cruz novel is the first of 10 Arkady Renko novels, so Renko must be quite the character.

"It’s not a mystery; it’s just the past.”

- Martin Cruz Smith, Gorky Park