From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 7/20/2007 8:56 AM Uncovering the truth, whatever the cost
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 19/07/2007
Susanna Yager reviews crime fiction
During the quarter of a century since his first appearance, Martin Cruz Smith's introspective detective Arkady Renko has survived the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as well as his own fall from favour. In Stalin's Ghost, Renko is even more out of step with the new regime and struggling to maintain his fragile relationships with the only two people he cares about.
He has been assigned to investigate claims by some travellers on the metro that they have seen Stalin at one of the stations. It's a delicate situation; Stalin still has his admirers, Russian nationalism is on the rise and an election is coming. The sightings seem to be connected with the political campaign of Isakov, a police officer and a hero of the war in Chechnya, whom Renko suspects of involvement in several murders. The fact that Renko's lover has left him for Isakov makes his suspicion look like jealousy, but he is determined to uncover the truth, whatever the cost. advertisement language=javascript src="../../core/NetGravity/mpu.js"></SCRIPT> language=JavaScript src="http://ads.telegraph.co.uk/js.ng/site=arts&spaceid=mpu&sz=200x200&sz=240x400&sz=250x250&sz=300x250&ls=f&transactionID=1184946711233&Section=arts/books/fiction_reviews&view=details&xml=/arts/2007/07/19/bocrime.xml"></SCRIPT>
Not so much a thriller as a brilliant portrait of modern Russia, Cruz Smith depicts an emerging new country still clinging to its old ways, where no one, including Renko, can escape from the past. Cripple Creek by the great James Sallis is the sequel to Cyprus Grove, which introduced Turner, the ex-cop, ex-convict and ex-therapist.
Turner is working as deputy sheriff in a small town near Memphis when Sheriff Don Lee arrests a drunk driver suspected of being involved in organised crime. An attack on the jail succeeds in breaking out the prisoner, leaving Don Lee and another officer seriously wounded, and Turner sets out to hunt down the men responsible. How effortless Sallis makes it seem to take a relatively simple story and turn it into a compelling read.
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com
