Gorky Park
Books | Fiction / Crime
4.1
(548)
Martin Cruz Smith
The “gripping, romantic, and dazzlingly original” (Cosmopolitan) Arkady Renko book that started it all: the #1 bestseller Gorky Park, an espionage classic that begins the series, by Martin Cruz Smith, “the master of the international thriller” (The New York Times).It begins with a triple murder in a Moscow amusement center: three corpses found frozen in the snow, faces and fingers missing. Chief homicide investigator Arkady Renko is brilliant, sensitive, honest, and cynical about everything except his profession. To identify the victims and uncover the truth, he must battle the KGB, FBI, and the New York City police as he pursues a rich, ruthless, and well-connected American fur dealer. Meanwhile, Renko is falling in love with a beautiful, headstrong dissident for whom he may risk everything. “Brilliant...there are enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind” (The New Yorker) in this wonderfully textured, vivid look behind the Iron Curtain. “Once one gets going, one doesn’t want to stop...The action is gritty, the plot complicated, and the overriding quality is intelligence” (The Washington Post). The first in a classic series, Gorky Park “reminds you just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be” (The New York Times Book Review).
Whodunit
AD
Buy now:
More Details:
Author
Martin Cruz Smith
Pages
608
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published Date
2020-01-28
ISBN
1982132140 9781982132149
Community ReviewsSee all
"Nothing like a crazy murder mystery with unlikely twists and turns and international intrigue. This is a good one that I re-read because I found it in a Free Little Library and couldn’t resist. This is the first in a series of nine starring Arkady Renko, a Moscow homicide detective, which will be a fun reading project over the coming months. "
Jackie Davidson
"Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith is a gripping thriller set in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. I gave it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Here's the deal:
* The Atmosphere: Smith nails the chilling atmosphere of Cold War Moscow. You can almost feel the snow crunching under your boots and the KGB watching your every move.
* The Intrigue: The mystery at the heart of the story is captivating. You'll find yourself constantly trying to piece together the puzzle along with the protagonist.
* The Characters: Arkady Renko is a compelling character. He's a detective with a unique perspective on the Soviet system, and his struggles are both fascinating and relatable.
However:
* The Pacing: There are a few spots where the story drags a bit.
Overall:
Gorky Park is a well-crafted thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a touch of political intrigue, you'll likely enjoy this one."
sappybeans
"Fascinating look inside Russian criminal life, with a great detective character. First in a fine series."
Robert Greenberg
"Really good book"
B J
Brent Jacob
"Gosh, I read so much that it would be hard to pick just one book as my favorite these days. I have authors that I’ll go back and read one of their series from time to time."
M C
Marcus Caterino
"This is an old book, but so engaging"
Debby Kiefer