Having read Gorky Park and Polar Star back to back, I didn’t know if I had the mental stamina to embark on another rollercoaster ride with Arkady Renko. The thought of another unrelenting page turner was exciting, yet exhausting.

However, the day after finishing Polar Star found me right back at the bookstore. But could I endure another string of sleepless nights completely absorbed in another couldn’t put it down page turner? I figured I just read a couple of chapters and then get some sleep. Of course I didn’t count on how quickly, in the hands of a master storyteller, one can be hopelessly ensnared. Like a junkie, I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading until my alarm clock, quite rudely, let me know it was time to go to work.

What I’ve enjoyed most about the Arkady Renko novels, is the author’s ability to make the protagonist seem so real that after I’ve finished one, I find Arkady Renko constantly cruising through my thoughts. This installment wasn’t much different.

In Red Square, Arkady Renko goes after the ghost of his past only to find that the future he had concocted in his mind all these years, in no way mirrored his current reality. I strongly recommend these novels are read in the order in which they were written. Pick up the first one now, if you haven’t yet done so, and get ready to be swept away.

WARNING: If you’re suffering from chest pain, shortness of breath, or stress put the book down and step away from the bookshelf. I repeat: STEP AWAY FROM THE BOOKSHELF.

But if you’re like me, and you like sharp turns, big hills, and free falling, get ready to sail out into the Bearing sea on the Polar Star and be enthralled by this stomach lurching, white-knuckle gripping, page turning, heart throbbing experience.

If you didn’t already come to love Arkady Renko in Gorky Park, you will in this novel. The author, mercilessly takes you along with Renko on a series of unpredictable and shocking twists and turns that are sure to keep your heart rate up and your stomach churning.

If you don’t already own it be sure to pick up this couldn’t put it down winner and let it sweep you away in its story telling magic.

The Faithful Spy is one of the best books I have read in a long time. This is Alex Berenson’s first novel and the first of his works I have read. For it being the author’s first effort it is an amazing accomplishment. His mastery of storytelling concepts is stronger than that many of today’s bestselling authors.

From the opening sequences this novel was a couldn’t put it down rollercoaster ride. The in-depth detail and the breathtaking realism of some of the scenes were so well done I felt like I was actually there. The book is amazingly well researched. Some details are so precise I can’t imagine how the author knew them. I would’ve of thought he made the stuff up if I hadn’t received formal training in some of these subjects. His knowledge of the military and wartime Afghanistan and Iraq is also first class. I was so impressed, that I found myself deeply disappointed when he has some guy in a scene put on a shirt with handcuffs on. (Berenson buddy, come on. Not possible. At all.) Great book though. Buy it, open it, devour it.

At a time the international spy thriller was considered a dead genre, here comes Daniel Silva and changes all the rules.  This is an outstanding spy thriller featuring Gabriel Allon, the sometimes art restorer sometimes Israeli agent.

It won’t take long for you to fall in love with Gabriel. Silva has managed to create a fully fleshed out, believable, deeply human  character, that is at once troubled by his past but at the same time committed to what he does regardless of the price his soul must pay.

Get ready for a thrill jaunt through two continents you won’t soon forget. And if you enjoy this modern masterpiece there’s no need worrying about it ending, there are many more books in this series just as good.

This is by far one of the most enjoyable books ever written. There are not many novels one could be comfortable reading over and over again. This is one of those. I have myself read it four times and plan to read it again in the near future.

I recommend this novel to anyone, regardless of what type of genre you enjoy reading most.

Martin Cruz Smith displays true genius in his portrayal of Arkady Renko. Arkady is the head of Homicide in Moscow during an era when communism was deeply entrenched Russia.  Towards the end of this book you’ll find yourself slowing down hoping and praying it won’t end just yet.