Latest news with #ArkadyRenko
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Martin Cruz Smith, bestselling author of "Gorky Park" and other thrillers, dies at 82
Martin Cruz Smith, the bestselling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with "Gorky Park" and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82. Smith died Friday at a senior living community in San Rafael, California, "surrounded by those he loved," his publisher, Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson's disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th Renko book, "Hotel Ukraine," was published this week and billed as his last. "My longevity is linked to Arkady's," he told Strand Magazine in 2023. "As long as he remains intelligent, humorous, and romantic, so shall I." Smith was often praised for his storytelling and for his insights into modern Russia; he would speak of being interrogated at length by customs officials during his many trips there. The Associated Press called "Hotel Ukraine" a "gem" that "upholds Smith's reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot." Smith's honors included being named a "grand master" by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for "Havana Bay" and a Gold Dagger award for "Gorky Park." Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pennsylvania, he studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at the AP and at the Philadelphia Daily News. Success as an author arrived slowly. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with "Gorky Park." His novel came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centered on Renko's investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park that Smith used for the book's title. "Gorky Park," cited by the New York Times as a reminder of "just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be," topped the Times' fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt. "Russia is a character in my Renko stories, always," Smith told Publishers Weekly in 2013. "'Gorky Park' may have been one of the first books to take a backdrop and make it into a character. It took me forever to write because of my need to get things right. You've got to knock down the issue of 'Does this guy know what he's talking about or not?'" Smith's other books include science fiction ("The Indians Won"), the Westerns "North to Dakota" and "Ride to Revenge," and the "Romano Grey" mystery series. Besides "Martin Cruz Smith" — Cruz was his maternal grandmother's name — he also wrote under the pen names "Nick Carter" and "Simon Quinn." Smith's Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels and he would trace the region's history over the past 40 years, whether the Soviet Union's collapse ("Red Square"), the rise of Russian oligarchs ("The Siberian Dilemma"), or, in the novel "Wolves Eats Dogs," the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. By the time he began working on his last novel, Russia had invaded Ukraine. The AP noted in its review of "Hotel Ukraine" that Smith had devised a backstory "pulled straight from recent headlines," referencing such world leaders as Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine,Vladimir Putin of Russia and former President Joe Biden of the U.S. Smith is survived by his brother, Jack Smith; his wife, Emily Smith; three children and five grandchildren.
CBC
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Gorky Park, Havana Bay mystery author Martin Cruz Smith dead at 82
Martin Cruz Smith, the bestselling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with Gorky Park and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82. Smith died Friday at a senior living community in San Rafael, Calif., "surrounded by those he loved," according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson's disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th Renko book, Hotel Ukraine, was published this week and billed as his last. "My longevity is linked to Arkady's," he told Strand Magazine in 2023. "As long as he remains intelligent, humorous and romantic, so shall I." Smith was often praised for his storytelling and for his insights into modern Russia; he would speak of being interrogated at length by customs officials during his many trips there. The Associated Press called Hotel Ukraine a "gem" that "upholds Smith's reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot." Beginnings as a journalist Smith's honours included being named a "grand master" by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for Havana Bay and a Gold Dagger award for Gorky Park. Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pa., he studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at The Associated Press and at the Philadelphia Daily News. Success as an author arrived slowly. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with Gorky Park. His novel came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centred on Renko's investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park that Smith used for the book's title. Gorky Park, cited by the New York Times as a reminder of "just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be," topped the Times' fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt. WATCH | Trailer for 1983 film version of Gorky Park, based on Smith's bestselling novel: "Russia is a character in my Renko stories, always," Smith told Publishers Weekly in 2013. " Gorky Park may have been one of the first books to take a backdrop and make it into a character. It took me forever to write because of my need to get things right. You've got to knock down the issue of 'Does this guy know what he's talking about or not?'" Smith's other books include science fiction (The Indians Won), the westerns North to Dakota and Ride to Revenge and the Romano Grey mystery series. Besides "Martin Cruz Smith" — Cruz was his maternal grandmother's name — he also wrote under the pen names "Nick Carter" and "Simon Quinn." Inspired by his travels Smith's Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels and he would trace the region's history over the past 40 years, whether the Soviet Union's collapse (Red Square), the rise of Russian oligarchs (The Siberian Dilemma) or, in the novel Wolves Eats Dogs, the 1986 Chornobyl disaster. By the time he began working on his last novel, Russia had invaded Ukraine. The AP noted in its review of Hotel Ukraine that Smith had devised a backstory "pulled straight from recent headlines," referencing such world leaders as Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia and former president Joe Biden of the U.S.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82
NEW YORK — Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with 'Gorky Park' and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82. Smith died Friday 'surrounded by those he loved,' according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Further details were not immediately available, but Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson's disease , and he gave the same condition to his protagonist.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82
Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with 'Gorky Park' and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82. Smith died Friday 'surrounded by those he loved,' according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Further details were not immediately available, but Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson's disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th and final Renko book, 'Hotel Ukraine,' will be published this week. The Associated Press praised it as a 'gem' that 'upholds Smith's reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot.' Among Smith's honors were being named a 'grand master' by the Mystery Writers of America, and winning the Hammett Prize for 'Havana Bay' and a Gold Dagger award for 'Gorky Park.' Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied creative writing, Smith started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at the AP. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with 'Gorky Park." His book came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centered on Renko's investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park cited in the title. 'Gorky Park,' praised as a compelling and informative take on the inner workings of the Soviet Union, topped The New York Times' fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt. ″'Gorky Park' is a police procedural of uncommon excellence," Peter Andrews wrote in the Times in 1981. 'Martin Cruz Smith has managed to combine the gritty atmosphere of a Moscow police squad room with a story of detection as neatly done as any English manor-house puzzlement. I have no idea as to the accuracy of Mr. Smith's descriptions of Russian police operations. But they ring as true as crystal.' Smith's other books include science fiction ("The Indians Won"), the Westerns 'North to Dakota' and 'Ride to Revenge,' and the 'Romano Grey' mystery series. Besides 'Martin Cruz Smith' — Cruz was his maternal grandmother's name — he also wrote under the pen names 'Nick Carter' and 'Simon Quinn.' Smith's Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels in the Soviet Union and he would trace the region's history over the past 40 years, whether the Soviet Union's collapse ('Red Square'), war in Chechnya ("Tatiana"), or the rise of Russian oligarchs ("The Siberian Dilemma"). The AP noted in its review of 'Hotel Ukraine' that Smith had devised a backstory pulled straight from recent headlines, referencing such world leaders as Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine,Vladimir Putin of Russia and former President Joe Biden of the U.S.
Al Arabiya
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Book Review: ‘Hotel Ukraine' Wraps Up Martin Cruz Smith's Detective Renko Book Series on a High
Arkady Renko now fumbles with his keys at the door as his Parkinson's disease gradually grows worse. The legendary Russian detective has struggled to keep his declining health a secret, but the worsening symptoms have become impossible to hide. Still, Renko is determined to crack the case of a Russian defense official mysteriously murdered in his Moscow hotel room as Russia's war on Ukraine rages. The murder takes place at the Hotel Ukraine, a well-known hotel in the heart of Moscow, one of the towering Stalin-era buildings known as the 'Seven Sisters.' Hotel Ukraine is the 11th and last installment in the popular Arkady Renko series by Martin Cruz Smith that he launched in 1981 with his blockbuster Gorky Park. Books like Red Square, Havana Bay, and Stalin's Ghost followed. We don't find out until we get to the acknowledgments at the book's end to learn that Smith, like Renko, has also been concealing a Parkinson's diagnosis for years until it was clear he had to step aside. The revelation is sure to sadden Smith's loyal fans who have followed the fictional detective's career from Moscow's Cold War days to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the rise of the Russian oligarchs. But the aficionados of the Renko novels will still have a gem in Smith's latest, which upholds Smith's reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn complex characters and a compelling plot. It's a fresh international detective tale with a backstory pulled straight from recent headlines referencing world leaders like presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Joe Biden of the US. It's also a well-informed personal look at how the worsening effects of Parkinson's can affect an individual, as Renko finds he can still drive and he can still talk on the phone, but he can't do both at the same time. When Renko's superiors discover his health problems, they place him on paid sick leave. But that doesn't stop the intrepid detective from continuing his investigation alongside his lover, journalist Tatiana Petrovna. Renko discovers a Russian military group was involved in the killing and is being helped on the sly by Marina Makarova, a government official and former lover who he is working with on the official probe. After a somewhat slow start, the action in the novel speeds up as the story advances and the end approaches with multiple twists and surprises. 'It is surprising to think that I have had Parkinson's for almost 30 years. For most of that time, I have been remarkably well,' Smith writes in the acknowledgments. 'But this disease takes no prisoners, and now I have finished my last book. There is only one Arkady, and I will miss him.'
