Customer Reviews

Red Chameleon

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once more Porfiry Petrovich has gotten himself into trouble with his superiors. He is so high on the sh-t list that he'll need a parachute if he falls off. In this book there are three main crimes: Sasha is looking for a group that is stealing the cars of upper party members(including the car of Porfiry's new boss, the new deputy procurator); Karpo is looking for a sniper (using a WW2 rifle) who has killed a policeman; Porfiry is looking for the murderer of an 84 year old jewish man who took an old brass candlestick after the crime.

As those of us who have read the three previous books know, all of the investigations will insomeway be impacted by Rostnikov. The search for the murderer of the old man is the most interesting because it has to do with his old friends from before the revolution. One has become an actor, one emigrated to america and came back in the thirties, and one stayed on in the states and became a mafioso (though it's never stated).

Lurking behind all this is the fall-out from Rostnikov's failed blackmail scheme, of the KGB, in order to obtain exit-visas for him and his wife. She has lost her job and been unable to find another, and he has been demoted. But because he is such a good investigator, he is temporarily put on the cases of the stolen cars and the sniper. Porfiry proves his competance by solving all the crimes (as well as insuring that the deputy procurator's car comes back in pieces).

Strangley enough, that parachute that Porfiry needs shows up right at the end of the book (he has made a powerful though dangerous new friend). His new boss is sent to Leningrad, and it looks like the old deputy procurator will be coming back to work (at least part time). His life will seem to be getting a little bit better in the future...but, he can still screw it up if he tries.

Rostnikov is in the doghouse after his adventures of the first two novels in this series. He has a new boss who is, of course, a jerk. The powers that be have claimed his assistants for fairly glamourous cases: Karpo is seeking a weeping sniper and Sascha is trying to locate a car theft ring. Rostnikov is left with the "dregs" - the murder of an 84 year old Jewish man. The only clues -- one of the killers resembles a face in a 60 year old photo from the victim's youth and the killer took a brass candlestick.

Karpo and the sniper is an interesting story with a good ending. Rostnikov gets into the action on the car theft ring - a story that ends with high drama (Kaminsky's screenwriter past comes through). And then, the case of the murder is closed without a solution. Rostnikov, never one to leave things undone, keeps looking in the killing only to unveil a most interesting tale.

Overall, a solid third installment in the series. New readers are encouraged (strongly) to go back to the beginning (Death of a Dissident) as the evolution of the main characters is as much a part of the reading experience as is the solving of the crimes. And why read this series rather that the others? Half of what I like is simply the Moscow setting and learning about everyday life in 1980's Russia. The other half is that the main characters are really growing on me - Rostikov with his grit and intelligence; Karpo the stoic; and Sascha just trying to juggle his wife and mother.

A shame this author passed away about a year ago. I have read virtually all his books. Too bad more are not forthcoming.

Kaminsky is amazing with his Russian stories. He knows the history, politics, and expressions that make this book more of an adventure in history. I learn a great deal and enjoy the mysteries involved. Loved the book.

One thing I like about Kaminsky's Moscow mysteries is that the mystery, or mysteries, are not the prime focus. The prime focus is on the men and women involved. And on the great city of Moscow with all its dark corners and teeming population. I like the odd ball mix of personalities, from the highly ethical and likable Porfiry Rostnikov to the ardent nationalist Emil Karpo. And I like that it's far on the police procedural side of the spectrum. All the Inspector Rostnikov books I've read have been about a 4 star rating.