Red Square

Back from exile in the hellish reaches of the Soviet Union, homicide investigator Arkady Renko discovers that his country, his Moscow, even his job, are nearly dead. But his enemies are very much alive, and foremost among them are the powerful black-market crime lords of the Russian mafia. Hounded by this terrifying new underworld, chased by the ruthless minions of the newly rich and powerful, and tempted by his great love, defector Irina Asanova, Arkady can only hope desperately for escape. But fate has something else in store.A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK“Extraordinary.”–Time“Sharply, evocatively written and elaborately plotted . . . [Red Square] should find as many friends as did Gorky Park.”–The Washington Post Book World“Gripping . . . Smith at his best.”–The Wall Street Journal“A crackling suspense thriller.”–The Boston Globe“Fascinating . . . powerful.”–The Philadelphia Inquirer“Absorbing.”–The New York Times It began with the unmourned death of Rosen, one of Moscow's new breed of black marketeers; seemingly a clear-cut case of murder. Although Renko has been recently reinstated at the Moscow Prosecutor's office, the case begins to slip from his grasp. But his determination never to let go leads him to Munich and Berlin - back into the life of Irina The Communist party is dead; the ruble is worthless. As Moscow collapses around Arkady Renko, he escapes to Germany only to find the Russian mafia already on hand, enjoying the country's good beer, driving BMWs through the Brandenburg Gate, and searching murderously for Investigator Renko.