Characters

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The heart of Red Square beats with the steadfast pulse of Investigator Arkady Renko, a figure whose journey threads through the entire narrative. Smith fully embraces the richness a recurring protagonist offers, weaving Renko's storied past from Gorky Park (1981) and Polar Star (1989) into this tale. Renko first appeared as a gritty Soviet detective, unyielding in his quest to solve a triple murder in Moscow's Gorky Park, despite the dangerous political undercurrents that threatened high-ranking Party officials. His reward for such unwavering dedication? An exile to a factory ship adrift in the Bering Sea during the events of Polar Star, where his sharp investigative prowess began to mend his tarnished reputation. In Red Square, Renko returns to the transformed streets of Moscow. Though the once-mighty Party structure, an adversary in Gorky Park, now wanes under Gorbachev's reforms, Renko's investigation into the murder of a police informer once more pits him against his superiors. As he navigates these treacherous waters, he relies heavily on his cunning and resourcefulness. This time, however, the obstacles he faces are no longer rooted in political machinations but in the opportunism of those exploiting Moscow's new, volatile landscape. Regardless of whether he stands as a Soviet or Russian detective, Arkady Renko remains an indomitable presence, his nationality, psychology, investigative flair, and ethics ringing true with every turn of the page.

The other pivotal figures in Red Square are Irina and Stas, Russian expatriates forging new lives at Radio Liberty in Munich. Irina, the woman Renko fell for back in Gorky Park, was left behind in America, and now grapples with Arkady's unexpected return to her world in Munich. Yet, Arkady's persistence wears down her defiance in Berlin, rekindling old flames. Stas, introduced to Arkady for the first time, emerges as a more vividly portrayed character than the idealistic Irina. With an irreverent charm and a laid-back nature, he embodies the quintessential Russian spirit. Stas, too, finds his way back to Moscow; while Arkady and Irina stand united on the steps, Stas remains inside the White House, broadcasting vital messages. Meanwhile, Peter Schiller shines as the adept German lawman, bending the rules as necessity dictates.

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