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Martin Cruz Smith, the acclaimed best-selling mystery novelist known for his Moscow investigator Arkady Renko series, has died at the age of 82. His publisher, Simon & Schuster, announced his death on Friday. Smith, who revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson’s disease, a condition he also gave to his protagonist, released his final Renko novel, “Hotel Ukraine,” on July 8th.
Smith was celebrated for his storytelling and his insightful portrayals of modern Russia, frequently enough drawing from his own extensive travel experiences and interrogations by customs officials. His work, including the iconic “Gorky Park,” which topped bestseller lists and was adapted into a film, was praised for its complex characters and compelling plots. “Gorky Park” was particularly impactful for its depiction of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.He received numerous accolades, including being named a “grand master” by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for “havana Bay,” and a Gold Dagger award for “Gorky Park.”
Born Martin William Smith, he began his career as a journalist before achieving literary success.Beyond the Renko series,Smith also wrote science fiction,Westerns,and other mystery novels,sometimes under pseudonyms. His Renko novels frequently enough reflected the changing political landscape of Russia, from the collapse of the Soviet Union to more recent events like the invasion of Ukraine, which influenced his final book.
Martin Cruz Smith is survived by his brother, Jack Smith, and his wife, Emily Smith.
