Independence Square

Arkady Renko in Ukraine

By: Martin Cruz Smith

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Detective Arkaday Renko—“one of the most compelling figures in modern fiction” (USA TODAY)—risks his life when he heads to Ukraine shortly before the Russian invasion to find an anti-Putin activist who has mysteriously disappeared.

Martin Cruz Smith has written nine previous novels featuring Arkady Renko, one of modern detective fiction’s most popular characters. These novels, beginning with 1981’s international sensation Gorky Park, have collectively traced Russia's evolution over the last half-century. Now, with Independence Square, Smith focuses on the fraught and frenzied days leading up to Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.

It’s June 2021, and Arkady knows that Russia is preparing to invade and subsequently annex Ukraine as it did Crimea in 2014. He is, however, preoccupied with other grievances. His longtime lover, Tatiana Petrovna, has deserted him for her work as an investigative reporter. His corrupt boss has relegated him to a desk job. And he is having trouble with his dexterity and balance. A visit to his doctor reveals that these are symptoms for Parkinson’s Disease.

This is an ingenious autobiographical conceit, as Martin Cruz Smith has Parkinson’s, and is able through Arkady to movingly describe his own experience with the disease. Parkinson’s hasn’t stopped Smith from his work, and neither does it stop Arkady. Rather than dwell on his diagnosis, he throws himself into another case.

An acquaintance has asked him to find his daughter, Karina, an anti-Putin activist who has disappeared. In the course of the investigation, Arkady falls for Karina's roommate, Elena, a Tatar from Ukraine. The search leads them to Kyiv, where rumblings of an armed conflict grow louder. Later, in Crimea, Tatiana reemerges to complicate Arkady’s new romance. And as he gets closer to locating Karina, Arkady discovers something that threatens his life as well as the lives of both Elena and Tatiana.

Few fiction writers have better captured contemporary Russia with more insight or authenticity than Martin Cruz Smith. He does the same here for Ukraine and the events that preceded Russia’s invasion. Independence Square is a timely and a uniquely personal mystery novel-meets-political thriller by a master of the form.

©2023 Titanic Productions (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Jeremy Bobb provides an exceptional narration of Smith's latest Arkady Renko procedural...Bobb's performance embraces the audiobook's noir tone, providing a weathered, world-weary pacing to the proceedings while deftly handling the various Russian accents. He gives the characters both the requisite hardened outlook and heart." (AudioFile Magazine)

Series in decline

I own all the Renko books, 1st editions, 1st prints and signed. I'm not sure I'll buy this one in print. Story is ok, but thin. I kept waiting for this story to kick off and it never really did. At under 6 hours there just isn't enough content to keep your attention. If you look at the progression of this story line we start with books double in length hour and now under 6 hours........

This was one of my favorite book series until now.........I'm sure if there is another Renko book I'll buy it but I'm just sad to see the decline of this series and this character..........

On the plus side the narrator was great........

Oh well. Not as suspenseful as I hoped

Interesting!! I expected much more. Maybe with the next Martin Cruz Smith title. It is Right up to date given the Ukraine situation now.

Brought Russia to life

Brought Russia to life. The investigation of some murders but also about coping with life on a totalitarian state. Made contemporary by having the Ukraine as a pivotal setting.

Another solid Arkady Renko mystery

The novels seem to be getting shorter but the quality of characters, plots and stories continues to shine.

Disappointing

Reader was flat. Liked that storyline was current but found writing choppy and predictable. Have loved others in series so this was not up to par

Love this guy

Love the writer and Arcadi. I am so sad at the dis function in Russia. Love Russians and Tatars and Ukrainians but …

Worth a listen

Not the finest Renko novel but entertaining and very well narrated. No major gaps but lacks the suspense and twists of earlier novels.

Prefer other Narrators.

The narrator really influenced my enjoyment of the book. I strongly prefer the ones who did the earlier Renko titles.

This is solid Arkady Renko

Plot twists, David and Goliath, everything you’ve come to expect from our friend Arkady. Smith hasn’t lost his touch. Get this.

Short Minor Renko novel

Story is enjoyable, if brief. Always nice to visit with Arkady. Missing is the usual trial by immersion in bloody offal or disgusting chemicals or mauling by marauding bears, replaced by a minor confrontation with marine life. Leaves much unresolved, pointing to the next story (?). Narrator is very good, save for the constant mispronunciation of ‘Moscow’. ‘Mos-coe’ is in Russia, ‘Mos-cow’ is in Idaho