Death of a Dissident

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating window into 1980's Moscow
Review: Most of the books written for Americans about Soviet era Moscow seem to be spy thrillers filled with dramatic characters. Death of a Dissident, while acknowledging the Communist state, is much more a book of real people living and working in this world. Just because they're communists doesn't mean they don't commit crimes of passion or worry about their children or whether they can win an athletic competition.

This is the debut of the long running series feature Rostnikov and his two assistants. I'll certainly be reading more. It's fundamentally a police procedural -- but with both a Russian mind and the Russian system to work within.

In this book a dissident is murdered the day before a show trial where he had hoped to get his message to the western media. It quickly becomes clear that this isn't a KGB murder but that a mad man is out there. Kaminsky guides the reader through a fascinating mix of genuine clues and red herrings. A good read.

I haven't read later books in this series but so much happens in this book to establish the chemistry of the trio of detectives. It's worth chasing down a copy to start at the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating window into 1980's Moscow
Review: Most of the books written for Americans about Soviet era Moscow seem to be spy thrillers filled with dramatic characters. Death of a Dissident, while acknowledging the Communist state, is much more a book of real people living and working in this world. Just because they're communists doesn't mean they don't commit crimes of passion or worry about their children or whether they can win an athletic competition.

This is the debut of the long running series feature Rostnikov and his two assistants. I'll certainly be reading more. It's fundamentally a police procedural -- but with both a Russian mind and the Russian system to work within.

In this book a dissident is murdered the day before a show trial where he had hoped to get his message to the western media. It quickly becomes clear that this isn't a KGB murder but that a mad man is out there. Kaminsky guides the reader through a fascinating mix of genuine clues and red herrings. A good read.

I haven't read later books in this series but so much happens in this book to establish the chemistry of the trio of detectives. It's worth chasing down a copy to start at the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Simple entertainment with enough twists to keep you interested.
Review: Rostnikov the stubborn genius of the police is very likeable as all of the characters in the series. It's hard not to when all their faults and virtues are described so nicely.

In this book and others in the series the author routinely lets you know very early exactly who committed the crime but he doesn't often explain why. The mystery often turns out to be why are these people committing these crimes and that is what makes this so interesting.

I can only hope though that Russia is not as depressing as it is described. If it is then thank goodness I live here in this capitalist world with no morals.

So if you like a good mystery that's a quick read then enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: The first book in an outstanding series
Review: This is the first book in the Rostnikov series. Kaminsky has managed to create distinct characters that you like and care about and also an interesting mystery. In the process you also learn about the difficulties and coping mechanisms needed for living in Russia. This series is almost on par with the greatest of the foreign mystery series-the Martin Beck series beginning with the Laughing Policeman.