Moscow Police Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov returns in another book in the Edgar Award-winning series--this time putting himself in league with members of the Russian Mafia, who feel that the murders of two of their own are related to new gang wars.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Stuart M. Kaminsky won an Edgar for A Cold Red Sunrise, the fourth book in his deliciously mordant series about Moscow cop Porfiry Rostnikov, and number 12, The Dog Who Bit a Policeman, might be even better. Rostnikov, a one-legged inspector who lifts weights and sleeps in a black T-shirt emblazoned with "The Truth Is Out There" in white letters, is one of the most engaging and relevant characters in recent crime fiction, a sharp and caring policeman as well as the perfect tour guide to a changing (that is, disintegrating) Russia. Now working in the Office of Special Investigation under a corrupt but efficient boss known as the Yak, Rostnikov has been promoted and promised full support "if one or more of the varied criminal organizations and the confused state bureaucracy attempted to impede the performance of his duties. Up to now, the Yak had been as good as his word and had successfully bought the loyalty of Rostnikov and his staff." That staff, as rich as in a work by Gogol, includes a mad pathologist who talks to cadavers; an obsessive detective called Emil Karpo, "the Vampire," who spends "all his waking hours relentlessly pursuing criminals from both the past and present"; and Rostnikov's son Iosef, a failed actor/playwright and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. While Porfiry and Karpo try to head off a war between two Mafia leaders, Iosef and his partner are looking into the latest disappearance of a popular, Yeltsinesque politician with a drinking problem. Another pair of detectives pose as Ukrainian high rollers to infiltrate a burgeoning business in illegal dogfights--hence the possibly ungrammatical (shouldn't it be "The Dog That..." rather than "The Dog Who..."?) but definitely appropriate title for this beautifully researched and energetically written story. --Dick Adler
From Publishers Weekly
One of the most prolific mystery writers working today, Kaminsky is also one of the best, as he demonstrates in this 12th installment of his deliciously mordant series about Moscow cop Porfiry Rostnikov. Rostnikov, a weight-lifting, one-legged inspector, is a sharp and caring policeman, as well as the perfect tour guide to a changingAi.e., disintegratingARussia. Now working in the Office of Special Investigation under a corrupt but efficient boss known as the Yak, Rostnikov has been promoted and promised full support "if one or more of the varied criminal organizations and the confused state bureaucracy attempted to impede the performance of his duties." To this point, the Yak has held on to the allegiance of Rostnikov and his staff, which includes a mad pathologist who talks to cadavers; an obsessive detective called Emil Karpo, "the Vampire," who spends "all his waking hours relentlessly pursuing criminals from both the past and present"; and Rostnikov's son Iosef, a failed actor/playwright and veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan. While Rostnikov and Karpo try to head off a war between two Mafia leaders, Iosef and his partner are looking into the latest disappearance of a popular, Yeltsin-esque politician with a drinking problem. Another pair of detectives pose as Ukrainian high-rollers to infiltrate a burgeoning business in illegal dogfightsAhence the title for this beautifully researched and energetically written story. Kaminsky won an Edgar for A Cold Red Sunrise, the fourth book in the series. This effort is even better.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rostinikov, the philosophical detective. Thumb's up!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Dog Who Bit a Policeman (Inspector Rostnikov Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Stuart Kaminsky's characters are so real that I welcome their return as I wowuld an old and dear friend. Life never seems to get easier in post-communist Russia, and crime still runs rampant, but our team of detectives (the only ones in the police department seemingly incorruptible) plod slowly along until the crimes are solved. Each character has his or her style, but my favorite, is Inspector Porfity Rostnikov -- philospher, master detective, sometime psychologist, lover of fine music, weight lifter, husband, father and friend. Intrigued with American mystery books (Ed McBain is his favorite writer), he has the uncanny ability to tap into criminal minds to solve the crimes. This is a definite read for lovers of intelligent mystery books with interesting quirky characters.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rostnikov, the philosophical detective. Thumb's up!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Dog Who Bit a Policeman (Inspector Rostnikov Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Stuart Kaminsky's characters are so real that I welcome their return as I would an old and dear friend. Life never seems to get easier in post-communist Russia, and crime still runs rampant, but our team of detectives (the only ones in the police department seemingly incorruptible) plod slowly along until the crimes are solved. Each character has his/her own style, but my favorite, is Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov -- philospher, master detective, solver of problems, lover of fine music, weight lifter, husband, father and friend. Intrigued with American mysteries (Ed McBain novels), he has the uncanny ability to tap into the minds of criminals to solve the crimes. This is a definite read for lovers of intelligent mystery books with interesting quirky characters.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kaminsky Stays in Top Form,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Dog Who Bit a Policeman (Inspector Rostnikov Mysteries) (Hardcover)
In his 13th Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov adventure, author Stuart Kaminsky once again takes us inside the "new" Russia with a realism that is at times stark, amusing, tragic, and even romantic. Kaminsky has the unique ability to write of modern day Russia with a "feel" that is at once real and compelling. The Curtain has fallen on the political system of the Soviet Union and out of the depths of the ashes rises not the Phoenix but a complex, confusing, and dangerous atmosphere that indeed is alarming to its citizens, who, naturally, long for breaths of freedom. Who will rule out of this rubble is the mystery! The collapse of communism merely has opened up another evil--organized crime. However, enter Inspector Rostnikov and his team of crime fighters of the Moscow police.. Throughout the series, readers have come to respect the wily, one-legged Inspector (known as "The Washtub," due to his weightlifting in his freetime), who is a realist at heart, yet both a sentimentalist and a romanticist. In "The Dog Who Bit A Policeman," Rostnikov's squad faces the destructive forces of two Mafia gangs, hell- bent to kill each other and to control the country, one precinct at a time. Kaminsky's books always carry parallel campaigns and Sasha Tkach and Elena Timofeyeva are assigned to hound out the perpetrators of illegal dog fighting, a fast rising and highly profitable "business." Elena's romantic interests with Rostnikov's policeman son continue to expand while the "Vampire" Emile Karpo's task follows more the political line of crime fighting. He and the Inspector try to solve a series of gang-related murders but which also involve high level political figures. Kaminsky has the ability to invoke the power of description and episode of modern Moscow and of the feelings of the general Muscovite. One doesn't have to know first-hand Mother Russia to appreciate this series as the author's ability to bring out the landscape and atmosphere is outstanding and noteworthy. For a great mystery read, this series, and especially this book, is superb. Dos vidanya!
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