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Summary: Soviet and American Life Contrasted In A Detective Story
Review: The novel "Gorky Park" is an excellent portrayal of Soviet life under Communism. Inspector Arkady Renko is called to Moscow's Gorky Park to investigate three dead bodies. He finds the KGB at the crime scene disturbing the evidence. Inspector Renko conducts his own investigation which leads ultimately to America. The Moscow Town Prosecutor, the KGB, the FBI, and the NYPD interfere with his investigation. Inspector Renko doggedly continues his investigation despite these agencies' interference.Martin Cruz Smith has created strong characters. Arkady Renko, son of an Russian general, is the Chief Police Inspector of the Moscow Town Prosecutor's office -- a post everyone agrees is beneath him. Irina Asanova is a film wardrobe assistant who would do anything to leave the Soviet Union. J. D. Osborne is an American multimillionaire decorated by the Soviets for World War II bravery. These characters interact with wonderful dialogue that contrasts the difference between life in Russia and life in America -- a controlled dour existence versus the joy of freedom and prosperity. The author's strong characters and strong portrayal of Soviet life under Communism elevate a good detective story into an excellent novel.
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Summary: Absolute Yawn-Fest After the First Few Pages
Review: The start of this book with the triple murder where the victims faces and fingerprints have been removed made for a very interesting and unusual start. I was grabbed instantly and pulled into the crime at Gorky Park in Moscow. But from there, sadly to say, it was all down hill. I lost interest the more I read. Keeping track of all the Russian names and places was tedious, but would have been a non issue had there been a plot and story that was at least somewhat interesting. But it wasn't, it was just plain dull. I failed to see why this book is so highly thought of. If this is the best murder mystery in the genre, then I guess I will be skipping this genre.
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Summary: Great Work
Review: This book is great, the best out of the series. You know it is good because of all the other books that claim to be just like it. This was really the first book that I believed the dark disgruntled cop roll, he really sells it well. I like the plot twists and the pace. There is also a lot of time dealing with life in the USSR, which is great background. This is really a good book and much better then the movie. Once you read this you will search out the rest in the series.
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Summary: Polar Star is better
Review: This book is somewhere in between three and four stars. First of all, the book's main weaknesses, in my opinion: the main character Arkady Renko is calm, collected and principled almost to the point of being dull. While it was obviously the author's intention to make him straight-laced, it does not help the book much to have such an unrealistic character. Likewise, the love scenes with Irina Asanova seem very strained and unrealistic. But the plot is fairly good and should keep you reading (even if it is a bit of a disappointment in the end). The character problems are not such a big issue in Polar Star and the plot (actually, two plots) and setting are even cooler. If I was going to read one of these books again, it would definitely be Polar Star.
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Summary: Gorky Park
Review: This is the book that got me started on MCS...and he has yet to disappoint...Renko is a hero we can admire...often down for the count but never out! ...unwilling to compromise his basic human decency while wryly observing the strictures,foibles and brutality of soviet society
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Summary: Works well on several levels
Review: This very engrossing book is both an interesting detective story and an interesting insight into Soviet life in Moscow at a certain time in the near past. By setting what would otherwise be a traditional murder mystery (with some traditionally current grotesque elements) in Moscow, Martin Cruz Smith is able to introduce a host of fresh elements into a tired genre. The Russian hero has a whole different set of personal and professional concerns than would his New York counterpart, and the characters and situations encountered are likewise different, strange and interesting because new to this type of fiction. Finally, the basic plot - the nature of the murder and the crime's solving - are totally dependent on the Moscow setting. Great stuff. A real original and highly recommended for anyone wanting something different from the same old stuff.
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Summary: Powerful
Review: When GORKY PARK was published in 1981, the Soviet Union was still going on strong. Now with the passage of time the USSR is nothing but a distant memory and the former republics are fighting hard to keep their independence. Reading Martin Cruz Smith's novel now gives a unique perspective to life in this foreign land. We are introduced to Russian Homicide Detective Arkady Renko who is investigating a triple homicide in Gorky Park. All of the victims were shot and they were intentionally disfigured in order to prevent identification. The only clue left on the scene were a pair of ice skates worn by one of the victims that belonged to actress Irina Asanova. Renko must deal with petty bureaucrats, crooked politicians, the KGB as well as his own personal problems with his own wife. Irina knows more than she is telling the detective. Renko is smitten with her and he is not confident about his feelings. The other major player in this novel is an American furrier named John Osbourne. This businessman has strong connections with Soviet officials and it is believed that he is also a KGB informant. Several Russian officials are protecting him but Renko is not to be dissuaded. He will do what he needs to do in order to get to the bottom of this mystery. Cruz's work is very powerful and strong in character development. Each one of the three major characters has a story to tell and the author does a great job in developing each one. It is a story of heartbreak and broken dreams and definitely one of the best novels ever written about Russia.
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