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Polar Star Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,584 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Don't miss the latest book in the Arkady Renko series, THE SIBERIAN DILEMMA by Martin Cruz Smith, ‘the master of the international thriller’ (New York Times) – available to order now!
AN ARKADY RENKO NOVEL: #2
'One of those writers that anyone who is serious about their craft views with respect bordering on awe' Val McDermid
'Makes tension rise through the page like a shark's fin’ Independent
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Arkady Renko, former Chief Investigator of the Moscow Town Prosecutor's Office, made too many enemies and lost the favour of his party. After a self-imposed exile in Siberia, Renko toils on the 'slime line' of a factory ship in the Bering Sea. But when an adventurous Georgian woman comes up with the day's catch, the signs of murder are undeniable. Up against the Soviet bureaucracy in a complex international web, Renko must again become the obsessed, dedicated cop he once was. And in doing so, he discovers much more than he bargained for . . .
Praise for Martin Cruz Smith
'The story drips with atmosphere and authenticity – a literary triumph' David Young, bestselling author of Stasi Child
'One of those writers that anyone who is serious about their craft views with respect bordering on awe' Val McDermid
‘Cleverly and intelligently told, The Girl from Venice is a truly riveting tale of love, mystery and rampant danger. I loved it’ Kate Furnivall, author of The Liberation
‘Smith not only constructs grittily realistic plots, he also has a gift for characterisation of which most thriller writers can only dream' Mail on Sunday
'Smith was among the first of a new generation of writers who made thrillers literary' Guardian
'Brilliantly worked, marvellously written . . . an imaginative triumph' Sunday Times
‘Martin Cruz Smith’s Renko novels are superb’ William Ryan, author of The Constant Soldier
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"Shunted off to a Soviet psychiatric hospital after Gorky Park (embarrassed the state, but son of a famous military father), former Inspector Arkady Renko manages to get sent to work on a Russian fishing/processing ship in the Bering sea, finding some peace on the "slime line" gutting and scaling. As usual, a body drops out of the nets--a young Georgian woman on bad terms with the Soviet authorities and Americans in Alaska. Arkady is called upon to redeem himself by wading into another diplomatically and emotionally charged situation, with the possibility of a return to civilization and a reunion with Irina."
— Margaret (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Stunning.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Gripping…absorbing.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“A book of heart-stopping suspense and intricate plotting but also a meticulously researched, ambitious literary work of great distinction.”
— Detroit News
Polar Star Listener Reviews
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" One of the best books of the Renko series by Cruz Smith, which makes it a very good book indeed. The characters are exquisitely drawn, the plot intricate and the dialogue faultless and it's read by the master, the late, great Frank Muller. Who could ask for more? "
— Miles Kirke, 12/8/2016 -
" this is the second one - really scary and intense... "
— Ellen, 2/7/2014 -
" slow; plodding; intricate and with a very different sense of life and humor "
— Tulsi, 2/6/2014 -
" A mystery with Arkady Renko as the main character, Polar Star was of interest to me because of its Soviet-era setting. It takes place on a fishing factory ship in waters off Siberia, close to Alaska. It is a completely isolated, foreign environment and rather forbidding, as well as overly male. It took some time for me to really establish a feel for the book (perhaps due to the male-dominated storyline), but I enjoyed the Soviet speak and the resolution. "
— Dina, 1/23/2014 -
" One of my favorite Renko stories. His first exile and on a Russian fish factory ship where Smith gives you a palpable sense of what that must mean for the body and the spirit. The mystery and investigation is also top notch with typical Renko twists and insights. One of those rare mysteries that I have enjoyed reading over again. "
— HBalikov, 1/13/2014 -
" An interesting venue for Arkady Renkos' latest murder investigation, in the middle of the Bering Sea aboard a Russian factory ship. I love this character and Martin Cruz Smith doesn't disappoint. "
— Michelle, 1/11/2014 -
" The sequel to "Gorky Park" was ok, though I thought not as good as its predecessor. There seemed to be a couple of loose threads as well as little hints that seemed to lead somewhere yet ended up dying into nothing. Still, an entertaining read. "
— Ashley, 1/6/2014 -
" Outstanding. Continues with many of the same characters that were in Gorky Park. "
— Denice, 1/1/2014 -
" I enjoyed this book. It is more than just a predictable mystery. It captures the era of Soviet Russia in the 80's. The characters are human, believable and fallable. "
— Vicki, 12/30/2013 -
" I really enjoy Martin Cruz Smith. I like the personalities and the adventure. In this book, he makes you feel the cold and the misery of working on a fish factory ship. "
— Sandra, 11/30/2013 -
" Probably my favorite Arkady Renko book, set on a factory ship in the Bering Sea. "
— Darcie, 11/22/2013 -
" A mystery set in exotic location (russian fishing boat in Bering sea). Was in a top five list in WSJ. Very good but not five stars. "
— Robert, 11/17/2013 -
" I'm becoming addicted to Martin Cruz Smith, I think. Thanks Chip! "
— Laura, 9/23/2013 -
" Excellent. Gripping, gritty, COLD! Renko is on a Russian fishing boat in the Bering Sea after being sent to Siberia for his activities in Gorky Park which I read years ago. Not sure why it took me all this time to read the second one. "
— Sandra, 2/10/2013 -
" Another great Arkady Renko book "
— Joseph, 2/2/2013 -
" yah is good program "
— yahya, 10/7/2012 -
" Loved the book. Gave it a 4 because it dragged a bit in places, but thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Tracy, 6/29/2012 -
" I'm totally into Russian espionage novels, and I might be a little in love with Arkady Renko, the thrilling protagonist of Martin Cruz Smith's Gorky Park, Polar Star and Stalin's Ghost. Next on my list is Arkady in Havana Bay. "
— Marieka, 5/12/2012 -
" One of the best Arkady Renko novels. "
— Susan, 4/8/2012 -
" A great example of its genre, although the ending was a little Tom Clancy for my taste. What really made this book for me was the sharp and sparse writing which subtly built the atmosphere. "
— Isis, 3/16/2012 -
" Enjoyable but a bit too long and obtuse at times. "
— Chas, 11/13/2011
About Martin Cruz Smith
Martin Cruz-Smith is the bestselling author of several novels. In 2019 he was named an Edgar Award Grand Master. He is a two-time winner of the Hammett Prize from the International Association of Crime Writers and winner of Britain’s Golden Dagger Award and and of the Premio Piemonte Giallo Internazionale.
About Frank Muller
Frank Muller (1951–2008) was an Audie Award–winning narrator. A classically trained actor, Frank appeared on both television and the stage. His credits include Hamlet, The Crucible, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, Law & Order, All My Children, and many, many more. In 1999 Frank was awarded the AudioFile Lifetime Achievement Award, the top honor in the audiobook community. He has also won twenty-three Earphones Awards.