Having been a fan of the Arkady Renko series since the eighties and during that era's modern forensic heyday. I look forward to each new book as a chapter in the ongoing saga of the much put upon Chief Inspector with a little science thrown in for good measure. I was very surprised that there was a new book out and was scrambling to find my libraries ARC only to find out that I had just missed someone grabbing it off the shelf in a wholly out of the way corner of our book selectors. I turned to Net Galley and was surprised to learn of all the new improvements such as a read aloud option and that they now had their own app!

Although my reading interests have changed over the years, I am still a big fan of the characters in the book and feel like this story is laying the foundations for another more complex book, hopefully another Gorky Park. Who knows? I would be happy with another chapter in the life of our Russian friend, but with so much going on in the Ukraine and in Russian politics Arkady could keep going on forever and Martin Cruz Smith could explore a World War 3 take on the plot that would be another cultural marker.

I recommend this book for old fans of the series. The plot is as always clever and leaves the reader wanting more. New readers to the series would miss some of the backstory with its many varied changes in scenery but could look for the rest of the series to fill in the blanks. After all these years the only constant that we can expect for our hero is to somehow survive whatever turmoil takes place, like a stolid Russian flavored Robert Ludlum spy, Arkady lives to see another day despite the odds against him.

Through these books we can travel through inaccessible lands and face military trained dolphins. We solve intricate plots with well-honed skills, and we are shown personalities and characters from the safe distance of a keen investigator’s eye that are not always fully developed except where necessary to advance the plot, but that's alright since we are viewing the world through the oculus of an onion shaped dome.

Arkady has been stuck to a desk job by his boss who would love to fire him, but can't. So Arkady gets every crap job their is to investigate. He's is also noticing that his balance is off and has trouble with his hands when manipulating something. He drops things and trips over his own feet. He finally goes to his doctor who lets him know that he has Parkinson's Disease (note: so does MCS).

Arkady is contacted by an old colleague, who wants him to find his daughter. She works for one of the few news anti-Putin agencies that still operated in Moskow. Of course it's not one of the safest jobs that you can do in todays Russia. It's the middle of 2021 and there are multiple rumors that Putin is about to attack Ukraine and add the rest of that country to Crimea and eastern Donbas.

While Arkady is speaking to her friends, two anti-Putin activists are murdered. Who could do this? It sounds a lot like the old KGB. While searching for the assassin Arkady gets involved with the daughter of one of the murdered men, and runs into his old girlfriend who is working for the NY Times. It gets very convoluted, and in the end, after witnessing another assassination, Arkady has to help his new girlfriend to escape the country.

I appreciate the short scenes and chapters. It helps move along a detailed story with complex themes and lots of characters. Arkady and Elena’s romance feels forced and could reasonably be omitted from the story without changing the plot. I found the history and famous figures interesting enough that I actually looked them up. Despite this being my first Arkady Renko story (so I missed the first 9), I still understood him.

Martin Cruz Smith introduced us to Arkady Renko in 1981 in “Gorky Park.” This is the 10th book in the series — Arkady hasn’t really aged 40 years (he’s 54 now in the series), but the politics have changed, billionaires are the primary criminals, law enforcement in Russia is still corrupt, and yet Renko just wants to be a good cop. In “Independence Square”, the main character has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (an autobiographical detail from the author who has had the same affliction since 1995), but it’s just another personal challenge, not an overwhelming obstacle.

Renko is always a stalwart seeker of justice even though he receives scorn from superiors. In this novel, he’s trying to find a missing woman, Karina, and is becoming entranced by her friend, Elena, whose politics are anti-establishment. Essentially, the Renko novels are police procedurals, not political thrillers — although here the legal system is a bottomless pit of bureaucracy. Smith’s great strength has been creating the frustrating Russian atmosphere around Renko. In this fictional universe, Crimea is the primary occupied territory and Renko’s investigations draw him into the tensions of the upcoming Ukrainian conflict. Will Renko, usually apolitical, get caught up this time in the inevitable tensions wrought by the Putin regime?

You can easily read any of the Gorky Park series as standalone books and still be satisfied with a terrific story. Smith has an excellent addition to his time-tested series. 4 stars!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Tatiana, Arkady’s sort of ex, has gray-green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Pukh, poplar tree fluff, is almost a full-fledged character in this book.

Arkady Renko is such a straight arrow policeman that even gangsters will approach him for help. Arkady's unofficial search for a musician daughter involved in an anti-Putin group laps over into an official investigation of group members being murdered. It is more difficult than usual for Arkady to investigate due to personal issues. I don't know how a man of his honor and integrity has managed to survive all the changing politics of Russia. Here's hoping he coninues!

"Independence Square" is the latest installment in Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series, and possibly the last installment. The author is reported to have Parkinson's Disease, and he has shared this with his fictional detective.

Arkady is fighting for what's right, as he deals with his diagnosis. While seeking to solve a murder that hits close to home, he finds himself an eyewitness to a couple more. All of this set to the backdrop of Putin-caused criminality and a corrupt system standing in his way. Will he make it out safely, and can he get someone he cares about to safety before that person is caught and held to account for a crime they didn't commit?

There's plenty of tension and suspense in this well-written novel. I enjoyed it!

From the way the ending read, and considering the author's age and diagnosis, this may be the last installment in the series, but I think it was handled well, if that was the case. Investigator Renko is doing what works for him, and there's no false hope that the near future will be wonderful in Putin's Russia. Overall, a very good book that was well handled, considering the various real-life and fictional circumstances at play. Well done!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for getting to read an advance copy of "Independence Square."

Martin Cruz Smith always delivers an intriguing look at the former Soviet Union. This time Renko heads to Ukraine in a very timely book. Very vivid characters and setting, and the grimness we have come to expect from Renko's world. The addition of his illness is a poignant note.

How wonderful to find a new book by Martin Cruz Smith! I’ve enjoyed following Arkady Renko since Gorky Park. This was a real treat for those of us who’ve read Renko’s journeys over the years.

There was a lot of preliminary before we actually got to Ukraine, but of course, the plot took off from the beginning, some of those people winding up in Ukraine and some of them getting killed along the way. It’s very current in its application and very informative (as are all Smith’s books) about what’s behind closed doors.

Introducing Parkinson’s into Renko’s life was an interesting turn of events. Then in the notes afterward, I see that Smith is writing from his personal experience with that debilitating disease. That, of course, made the story that much more real.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Independence Square is a story that takes place in Russia in 2022 prior to the beginning of the war in Ukraine. It follows an investigation into the abduction of the daughter of a powerful Russian that leads Arkady who works as a state investigator. The mystery quickly becomes more complicated. Karina has a leading activist role in the Forum, whose leadership Putin wants to crush . Seemingly, the plot seems to be the standard plot of many books about Putin working to eliminate any opposition. However, its focus is really about the lead up to the invasion of Ukraine using Putin’s hatred of the Tartars in Crimea. His desire to eliminate the Tartars, many of whom fled to Kiev and other cities, is just a way to justify his invasion . What makes the story so good is that some characters are not what they appear to be. The fast paced escape to Ukraine makes it hard to put down.
I can only find one thing that I could criticize. The fates of all but one of the characters is revealed, and she is the most integral to the story. Does she get exposed and killed or imprisoned as an enemy of Russia? Otherwise, I liked Independence Square a lot. I will definitely recommend it.

A tightly packed, fast-paced tale of Russian intrigue and deception just before the invasion of Ukraine. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication for an honest review.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read and review Martin Cruz Smith's 'Independence Square.'

I've been a huge fan of Arkady Renko since the 1980s when I discovered Martin Cruz Smith's hero/antihero. I enjoyed learning about Soviet experiences when that was the environment in which he was operating and then following how he's adapted to the change (or the 'plus ca change') as the former USSR and satellite states have gone through decades of political, social, and cultural upheaval. So, I was thrilled to see a new instalment of Renko's adventures.

I'm giving this a four star rating but honestly, that's probably a bit high and due to my history with the character and the author because it feels like this one might be an episode too far. He retains all of the traits that make him Renko but he must be at least close to what could be described as elderly making the romantic elements of the novel a bit of a stretch. The revelation that he's suffering from early-stage Parkinson's is an interesting (and autobiographical) twist and does provide additional depth to a well-known character.

There's also a disconnect between the title, the 'Arkady Renko in Ukraine' tagline and the plot - he actually spends very little time in Ukraine.

All that said, it's a good yarn and that ability to weave the realities of life/politics/policing in the USSR/Russia into the plot has not deserted Smith. It's still eye-opening to see the influence of the state and the figurehead of the state has on every aspect of life in terms of policing and bureaucracy - as above, in that part of the world, plus ca change.

This book was thrilling and intriguing. I loved it. It felt like a roller coaster. I can’t wait for the next book by the author.

I've always kind of felt that the Arkady Renko series should have stopped with Red Square, which sees Arkady and Irina reunited. The books that follow in the series have a gradual decline in Arkady doing any actual investigating, and in his personality development. Well, maybe Havana Bay, and Wolves Eat Dogs were ok. But there's been this slow, sad change through the books in which we get much less investigating, and less cultural information and thoughtful analysis, and less of everything that makes Arkady Arkady. Independence Square has only a little investigating, a forced new relationship that has zero chemistry, and an Arkasha who lacks the verve of earlier books. I know that Martin Cruz Smith is writing some of his own life into Arkady here, with Parkinson's, but what we get is a cardboard cutout of Arkady--and Zhenya, who also deserves more--and not much more.

Arkady Renko is back and in the middle of international intrigue…..again.

First introduced in the classic espionage thriller Gorky Park, Arkady Renko is a police investigator in Moscow. He is smart and honest, which isn’t necessarily the norm in his line of work, and is quite cynical about everything in Russian life….except for his job. He drives his politically savvy boss Zurin crazy, and as a result has been relegated to riding a desk of late. Arkady has also developed some odd physical symptoms…tiny handwriting, balance issues, even hallucinations….which are troubling. His doctor tells him that he has Parkinson’s disease, which can be managed to some degree but will ultimately take a huge toll on his physical wellness. His lover, fearless journalist Tatiana Petrovna, has left him and accepted a new job with the New York Times. Arkady’s just trying to get through the days with his partner Victor when he is approached by an acquaintance, the well-known gangster Bronson, to track down Bronson’s daughter Karina, who has inexplicably dropped out of sight. He and VIctor visit Karina’s apartment and find out that, in addition to being a talented violinist, Karina is also involved with an anti-Putin group known as the Forum, led by Leonid Lebedev. Demonstrations organized by the Forum are regularly monitored by the FSB, and dispersed by members of a motorcycle gang, the Werewolves, known for being an arm of Putin’s government. Arkady attends one such demonstration with Karina’s roommate Elena, a beautiful Tatar from Crimea, and finds that his adopted son Zhena and his friend Alex, a talented hacker, are also there. Alex turns up dead after calling Arkady late one night asking to meet, and a tire tread from a motorcycle is found at the scene. It’s not too long before someone assasinates Lebedev, and although the powers that be quickly decide that he was killed by Chechen terrorists, Arkady knows that is just a politically expedient solution. Pursuing the missing Karina and the killer of Lebedev the trail leads Arkady to travel to Ukraine with Elena, whose father (who happens to be the exiled leader of Crimean Tatars) lives there. It’s June of 2021….like everyone else in Russia, Arkady is fairly certain that Putin is gearing up to retake Ukraine, but is betting on the invasion to not start quite yet. More assassinations follow, and Karina turns up in a very unexpected spot. Leaving Ukraine for Crimea, Arkady soon finds that distortion, deception, and division are being employed in the Crimea under the corrupt Governor Novak, a longtime crony of Putin. Tatiana appears, but she and Arkady have no time to figure out what if anything is still left of their relationship. War is in the offing, the populace is being manipulated by those who value power over country, and Arkady and Elena may just not make it out of Crimea alive.

Independence Park is a quick and engrossing read, with Martin Cruz Smith’s timely takes on what has been happening in this corner of the world, not just in the current day but earlier, both during World War 2 and later in 2014 when Putin annexed the Crimean Peninsula. As in areas like the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East, different groups hold opposing views of which country should truly be in control of these regions, and many are willing to go to war to retain or retake the territories. I raced right through the novel. Arkady Renko is an intriguing character, and in the forty years since readers were first introduced to him, he and his world have undergone many changes….but remain, at the core, much of whom or what they have always been. Is this the best Renko novel yet? Probably not (Gorky Park is pretty hard to beat, let’s be honest), but in my opinion it is still well worth the read. For a reader who hasn’t yet read the Renko novels, Independence Park can very easily stand on its own, and will likely inspire readers to go back to the beginning and read them all. Art often imitates life, and in this case that proves true in an unusual way. Martin Cruz Smith himself has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and thus imparts Arkady’s experiences with the disease with great verisimilitude. I’m not sure how many more Arkady stories are left to be told, but I am certainly glad to have spent these hours enjoying this one. Readers of Martin Cruz Smith will certainly want to pick up a copy of this latest Arkady Renko outing, while readers of John Le Carre, Charles Cumming, and Alan Furst (among many others) will also enjoy this novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for granting me access to an advanced reader’s copy of Independence Square

Martin Cruz Smith’s “Independence Square” is a solid entertainment.

The tenth in Mr. Smith’s Arkady Renko series, it follows the Moscow detective as he searches for a missing anti-Putin activist in the Crimea and Ukraine in the days prior to Russia’s recent invasion of that country.

Renko is some 40 years older than when he made his debut in “Gorky Park.” The years have not been kind. Despite his brilliance as an investigator, he's been relegated to desk work. Tatiana, his long-time lover, has left him. And he learns that he has Parkinson’s Disease, the debilitating effects of which arise whenever Renko is subjected to great stress. Perhaps it is time for Arkady to retire and take his pension. Certainly there are those in power who would like to see that happen.

But then an old acquaintance asks for his help finding his daughter, Karina, a violinist belonging to a group that wants to see Putin deposed. Subsequent murders of other anti-Putin activists lead Renko and his new love interest, Elena (Karina’s roommate and fellow activist) from Moscow to Kyiv to the Crimea to find not only Karina, but the killer(s). What they discover is immensely surprising. That they now find themselves being hunted is equally alarming.

Mr. Smith has given us a very entertaining, somewhat enlightening novel of mystery and adventure. It begins slowly, even moodily, but progresses with ever increasing tension and suspense as the pages fly by. Along the way, readers will learn something about modern Russian history and how Mr. Putin, his government, and particularly its security service, the FSB, operate (at least, in Mr. Smith’s opinion).

In sum, I enjoyed “Independence Square” very much and think that fans of Arkady Renko, as well as newcomers to the series and those interested in present-day Russia will too.

My thanks to Net Galley, Martin Cruz Smith, and Simon and Shuster for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

Independence Square is a somewhat dull and tedious story of a search for a missing daughter of a friend set against the background of Russia in the period preceding its invasion of the Ukraine. There are a multitude of characters ranging from concert violinists, protesters to Putin’s government, resistance fighters and a New York Times reporter. There is a lot going on in the novel — murders, trained dolphins, chess matches, difficult border crossings, etc.
Although I have misgivings about the book, I thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to its publication.

Independence Square by Martin Cruz Smith
This is the most recent (10th) book in the Arkady Renko Series and perhaps maybe the last. It is not the best in the series but still a good read. Why perhaps the last? Followers of Mr. Cruz Smith may know he suffers from Parkinson. Now in this book he has Renko also diagnosed with Parkinson. There is hope for both and I do hope there is more to follow. In this book Arkady is once again on his own with no support from his fellow officers in Moscow. About half of this story takes place in Kiev and Crimea just before the 2022 invasion by the Russians. It is in the background but I think President Putin does play more of a role than he has in other of the stories. The story is a bit thin and is less than 200 pages long. This would not be the first book to recommend to someone about the Renko series but all in all still a welcome addition to readers of the series.

This is not the best Arkady Renko but it is nice to see him again. There is a little too much travel from place to place, and a few too many startling deaths for my taste. The intrigue isn't particularly deep nor noticeably Russian but still, Arkady is there, working, and trying to keep his life together under Putin. Definitely worth reading.

Independence Square by Martin Cruz Smith is a tantalizing mystery set in the Ukraine, Crimea, and Russia that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. As the executions progress, Arcaday and his friends suffer losses trying to survive the invasion of Russia and plots against the establishment. It is a very informative novel historically and geographically. I enjoyed the advanced reader copy.

Arkady Renko, the character at the center of Smith's earlier novels, is back on the case and not a moment too soon as a woman is missing and the bodies start falling around him. The action takes place in Moscow, Ukraine and Crimea and is set in the summer of 2021, while Russia is tuning up for war. If you are a fan of Smith's earlier work, as I am, this novel won't disappoint. Renko is a hapless police investigator that is caught between tying to do the right thing and the frustrations of a corrupt Russian system. Some of the characters resonate given this oppressive society has been laid bare by current events, and Smith expertly weaves fiction with reality. He also dives into some of the history of Crimea and its residents to set the context of his narrative. All in all, a great read.