Death of a dissident [Unknown Binding]

Stuart M Kaminsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1991

THE VICTIMS
An unscrupulous cab driver. The killer's own frightened wife. Most troublesome of all, an outspoken dissident, watched closely by the KGB, whose trial had been set for the very next day.
THE WEAPONS
A heavy iron-headed hammer. A rusty, antiquated sickle. And a broken vodka bottle.
THE COPS
Tkach, who seduces suspects into confessing with his apparent innocence. Karpo, a bit of a Tartar, a bit of a vampire, a stolid saint of the Soviet faith. And Rostnikov, their leader, who almost wishes the investigation won't turn out to be too simple. Before the case is over, Rostnikov will remember that wish and regret it.
"Stuart Kaminsky has created a sympathetic and engaging hero . . . ." -- The Cincinnati Post

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Ed McBain of Mother Russia" --Kirkus

"Nobody writes character-driven crime fiction better than Mr. Kaminsky" --Dallas Morning News --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Stuart Kaminsky first came to my attention when he won the Edgar Award for A COLD RED SUNRISE, one of his novels starring Russian police inspector Porfiry Rostnikov. And when I devoured that novel, I went back to read the earlier titles in the series. Stuart is extremely prolific -- writing other series, short stories, non-series thriller novels (some of which have been made into movies); but the Rostnikov novels are really something special, and they have inspired critical comparisons with Martin Cruz Smith's GORKY PARK. So if you liked Arkady Renko in that wonderful thriller, then I can definitely recommend the Rostnikov novels to you.

--Joe Blades, Associate Publisher --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 239 pages
• Publisher: Armchair Detective Library (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156287019X
• ISBN-13: 978-1562870195
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,515,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating window into 1980's Moscow, December 19, 2000

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Dissident (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first book in an outstanding series, April 30, 2000

By 

Mitchell Ayer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Dissident (Paperback)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Running on all cylinders right out of the gate, July 10, 2006

By 

Grey Wolffe "Zeb Kantrowitz" (North Waltham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Death of a Dissident (Inspctr Rostnikov) (Paperback)

Porfiry Rostnikov is a man of his time and country, a war hero, who has been a Moskow Detective for 18 years, he knows the score and the system. When he is called to find the murderer of a dissident he knows that he has to be careful in what he finds since the man has been under surveillance by the KGB.

Everyone agrees it would be better if they can find some one not involved with the party, or state security apparatas, to be the murderer and not have a political reason for doing it. It falls into their lap that one of his neighbors who is a taxi driver is the perfect fall guy. He may not have done this murder but he probably did one at sometime so it all evens out.

Even though he can't get his toilet fixed (our hero is busy teaching himself plumbing), he lucks out with the KGB, who thinking he has found a fall guy for them, bring his son Josef home from Afganistan, as a thank you. Unfortunately, they will have to bury the truth that the real murderer, is the son of a very powerful (black market) industrialist. But since he has also murdered his wife and some others, they will be able to quietly commit him to a psychiatric hospital and forget that the whole thing even happened.

Most interesting of all, is listening to the day to day troubles that people have with plumbing, housing, food; that make the people's paradise less than what Marx expected.