Independence Square

 This is the 10^th novel in the Arkaday Renko series. I first read Smith’s novel Red Square nearly 10 years ago when I was going to have my first trip to Moscow, but for some reason that is now hard to fathom, I panned that particular novel. On the other hand, nearly a year ago, I read the first novel in this series entitled Gorky Park, and that was a great detective story that took place under the frightening reign of Putin, and there were major forces to deal with when any blame on Putin or his cronies was suggested by the facts Renko was uncovering. The 10^th book, Independence Square, which happens to be the central square in Kyiv, is on par with Gorky Park.

 Renko was troubled by the desertion of his longtime live-in girlfriend Tatiana and by a boss who was corrupt and more interested in toeing the line of Putin’s wishes than in actually solving a case. Meanwhile, Renko also had the early onset symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease which challenged his stamina to continue his investigation. It was an underworld crime figure who asked Renko to track down his daughter who had disappeared. Even though Renko knew that Putin was about to invade Ukraine, he followed her trail which took him to Kyiv just as the Russian assault on that city was beginning.

 

This is a very timely detective story which takes in one of the most dangerous areas of the world at the present time. I think the portrayal of Russia and Ukraine are pretty accurate, and this novel gets my strongest recommendation.