Customer Reviews

The Dog Who Bit a Policeman (Inspector Rostnikov Mysteries)

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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.

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.

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!

I always thought that no author could rival Martin Cruz Smith when it came to writing Russian mysteries. But Stuart Kaminsky's Porfiry Rostnikov series certainly comes close. I just finished The Dog Who Bit a Policeman, and so far, it's the best of the bunch that I've read thus far.

As post-Soviet Russia moves into a state of greater lawlessness, groups of Russian Mafia are vying for control. Things are getting out of hand and more and more people (innocent and otherwise) are being killed. Chief Inspector Rostnikov and his assistant, Emil Karpo, are trying to keep the conflict between two rival groups from escalating to an all out war. Another group of Mafia is running regular dog fights, and Sasha Tkach and Elena Timofeyeva go undercover in a very dangerous operation to infiltrate this brutal and deadly enterprise. Meanwhile, Rostnikov's son, Iosef (who is now a policeman) is working to find a Moscow government official who has gone missing. In between, the central characters must also deal with a host of other issues. Rostnikov's wife, Sara, has apparently had a relapse of a brain tumor and needs further surgery. Iosef and Elena have started dating, and Iosef wants Elena to marry him. Sasha's wife, Maya, is fed up with the brooding Sasha and is threatening to leave. Corruption is still very much evident, even among police officials. And there is not enough money, goods or food for most of the Russian population.

I listened to this book on tape (unabridged) on a long trip, and it was suspenseful enough to keep me on the edge of my seat for approximately 11 hours. My only minor complaint was that hearing it on tape, it was difficult to keep the characters straight at the beginning. My only other recommendation would be to read the Rostnikov series in order. Since the personal lives of the characters continue to evolve with each book, it would make for better continuity. Still, a Kaminsky book, in any order, is better than most mysteries out there today.

Once again we find Porfiry Petrovich and his intrepid crew (augmented now by his son Iosef) deep into the criminal mafias in the 'new' Moskow. Sasha has been sent undercover the underworld of dog fighting, with Elena Timfoyeva along as his girlfriend/prostitute. Iosef and Arkady Zelach are sent to look for a 'yelsinesque' politician whose power in the Duma can prevent the passing of some pending problem legislation. Porfiry and the Vampire (Emil Karpov) are looking into the killing of a mafia lieutenant that could set off an all out war between the Chechian and Tartar mafias.

As always, Porfiry is called on to work on other important matters at the same time. He knows that something is wrong with Sarah, and that she has been seen her cousin Leon the doctor who has cared for her brain tumor. At the same time Sasha's mother (Lydia Tkach) has come to beg Porfiry to put Sasha (who seems to be losing his personal control) on a desk job before he gets himself killed. Maya has told Lydia that she is leaving and taking the children to Kiev. Iosef continues to pursue Elena, and has once or twice again asked her to marry him, at one point she's ready to say yes when they are interrupted.

Readers of he series know that everything will turn out all right in the end and Porfiry will be able to make a deal with the Yak for some favor. What is interesting is that we find out that Zelach has another talent, that he is able to kick a soccer ball over half a field and land it where he wants (he even impresses a professional coach).

Once again, Kaminsky has done a phenomenal job in evoking the sociological changes that were occurring in Russia (in 1998) as people were trying to adjust to the end of the Soviet Union.

You wonder how he can keep going on at this level of quality in character, plot, sense of place and narrative drive. I love pretty much every book in the Rostnikov series. He's not Arkady Renko, but there is only one of those, and who knows whether Martin Cruz Smith will ever be able to do another.