Martin Cruz Smith: Polar Star

[Sybarite]

Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith

The return of Arkady Renko after Gorky Park left him in the snow and freeing mink in the US.

Having avoided being shot for treason, his old enemy Colonel Pribluda has enabled Renko to 'escape' Moscow, but after a few years, he's on the "slime line" of a Soviet factory ship in the Bering Sea, and the chances are that he won't be allowed back on land when they return to Vladivostock.

But that's before a female member of the crew turns up in a fishing net – and her death wasn't accidental. And an investigation can't wait, because the ship is working with US trawlers and so international relations could be involved.

A tight and compelling thriller, which leaves you guessing until the denouement. Smith creates excellent characters, while his descriptive powers can have you feeling the blast of icy air as the boats head for the ice cap.

 

[silverseason]

There are perhaps 4 in the series about Renko's adventures. The most improbable and the one I enjoyed most was Havana Bay, in which Renko goes to Cuba. The Cubans hate the Russians who have withdrawn their support for the Castro regime. It is a convincing picture of Cuban life.

 

[Sybarite]

I must admit, Silverseason, I've enjoyed both the first two and the next one, Red Square is on the shelf, but I'll leave a little gap between reading it. Havana Bay comes after that, followed by Wolves Eat Dogs and Stalin's Ghost (which was only published in the UK last summer).

When I get to Havana Bay, it'll be strange to read a Renko novel that isn't set against a snowy, icy backdrop.

They're certainly very atmospheric – I get the feeling that Martin Cruz Smith very much sympathises with that sense of romantic Russian fatalism.

 

[helgi]

I must admit, Silverseason, I've enjoyed both the first two and the next one, Red Square is on the shelf, but I'll leave a little gap between reading it. Havana Bay comes after that, followed by Wolves Eat Dogs and Stalin's Ghost (which was only published in the UK last summer).

When I get to Havana Bay, it'll be strange to read a Renko novel that isn't set against a snowy, icy backdrop.

They're certainly very atmospheric – I get the feeling that Martin Cruz Smith very much sympathises with that sense of romantic Russian fatalism.

was, like, Havana Bay written in Italy?

 

[Sybarite]

was, like, Havana Bay written in Italy?

I, like, haven't, like, a, clue, like.

 

[silverseason]

was, like, Havana Bay written in Italy?

Havana Bay is Havana, Cuba - warm nights, hot music, old cars. Red Square is Moscow - discontented people, shabby parks. Polar Star is fishing boat in cold water - bad smells, sulky crew. No Italy anywhere, so far, but Martin Cruz Smith does wonderfully at evoking times and places. If he goes to Italy, I'll follow him there.

I also recommend his December Sixth, set in Japan just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It's not a detective story - no Renko in this one - more of a thriller.

 

[753C]

Just finished re-reading December 6. What an absolutely amazing read. Smith paints a picture of Tokyo on the eve of war that is breathtakingly vibrant, detailed, and tragically beautiful. This is a story that has it all. Suspense, action, culture, romance, comedy, tragedy, etc.