Hotel Ukraine

An Arkady Renko Novel

By: Martin Cruz Smith

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Detective Arkady Renko—“one of the most compelling figures in modern fiction” (USA TODAY)—returns in this tense thriller set amid the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the latest installment of Martin Cruz Smith’s celebrated Arkady Renko series, the legendary Moscow investigator seeks to solve the murder of a diplomat as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wears on and the effects of Renko’s Parkinson’s Disease worsen. Helped by his lover, journalist Tatiana Petrovna, Renko traces the murder to a Russian paramilitary group aided by a government official who also used to be a romantic partner of Renko. Before long, those responsible for the killing look to similarly dispatch Arkady and Tatiana—all of it leading to a thrilling and action-packed climax. Hotel Ukraine upholds Martin Cruz Smith’s reputation as a master of modern detective fiction and Arkady Renko’s standing as one of the genre’s most complex protagonists.

Critic reviews

"Jeremy Bobb transports listeners to Russia during the early days of the invasion of Ukraine as Detective Arkady Renko investigates the brutal murder of a Russian minister of defense. Bobb’s strong narration, which is marked by authentic-sounding pronunciation and excellent timing, provides the perfect backdrop for this contemporary thriller, which exudes a distinct atmosphere of Putin’s Russia. He brings Renko to life as a believable, complex character who is facing numerous challenges, including hiding his Parkinson’s diagnosis from colleagues. Bobb also voices a diverse and compelling group of supporting characters. Although this is the final installment in the series, the author’s sharp plotting combined with Bobb’s superb narration makes it an enjoyable and engaging listen even for newcomers."

Classic Renko

Solid entry, especially considering the late author’s poor health while writing . Narrator was excellent, except for his continued mispronunciation of ‘Moscow’ despite the lead character being Russian and the story set mainly in Russia.

Good story. A fitting end for Arkady, and I am saddened by the passing of Martin Cruz Smith

I especially disliked the flat monotone of the narrator. I know Russians are thought of as laconic with flattened affect, but personifying that in the narrator was just empty.

We will miss him

Wish the original reader had read this book. Like the story and how it progressed.

Could be "ripped from the headlines."tely

The currency of the plot adds quite a measure of excitement and entraps the reader into believing that he/she is getting inside information on recent Russia/Ukraine conflict and its politics of influence. Unfortunately, the plot gets a bit thin toward the end, feels rushed and relies heavily on lengthly ecplanations.

Forever a hero

Gripping, entertaining, enlightening, factual, as are all Cruz's books. Arkady is always the hero who's humanity and vulnerability gives him the drive and courage to fight for justice. And win. This story brings to an end Cruz's string of deeply researched novels on subjects either taken for granted (e.g., Pearl Harbor, Los Alamos, Chernobyl) or obscure (e.g., Welsh slate miners, Lake Baikal, commercial fishing trawlers). Russia/USSR, Arkady Renko, is the thread he returned to in the end, the current state providing no shortage of omnipotent oligarchs and corrupt murderous strongmen as subject matter, landing now on the "special military action" in Ukraine. I, and many, will miss Martin Cruz-Smith. May he be soaring playfully with the Ravens now.