Tatiana

Stalwart. When Martin Cruz Smith introduced the character Arkady Renko to readers in 1981, the policeman clashed with the expectations of his Soviet bosses. In the novel titled, Tatiana, the eighth in this series, Arkady remains at odds with his superiors. Russia changes, while Renko remains true to himself. Skeptical that a case was not a suicide, Renko and his sidekick, Victor Orlov, decide to investigate. Smith writes terrific prose, maintains the development of a complex character who is both cynical and romantic. In each novel in this series, Smith takes the reality of contemporary Russian life and places Renko into the middle of things. This latest novel is among the best in the series, and I highly recommend it to any reader who enjoys crime fiction. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Tatiana from amazon.com.