In Soviet Russia, Communism Makes You

Title: Red Chameleon
Author: Stuart M. Kaminsky
Published: 1985
Pages: 228

Reading Time: September 13-September 16, 2009.

Plot Teaser:
"An old Jew's been shot in his bathtub." That's the message given Inspector Porfiry Rostnikov of the Moscow police. His investigation leads to a faded photograph, a missing candlestick, and a warning from the KGB to stop looking for the killer. Meanwhile, a sniper's taking deadly aim at Muscovites from a rooftop, and a car theft ring is sending Rostnikov's colleagues into the darkest parts of a secretive city. The three cases become a fascinating, suspense-filled journey into crime and punishment, Soviet style...and a ride into intrigue, dirty deals, and the faceless power that chooses who lives...and who dies.

How I Got It:
I remember buying this with four other bargain titles at Barone's Books in Stoney Creek, Ontario, probably some time in 2007 or early 2008. I believe it was part of a five books for one dollar deal. The Soviet angle peaked my interest, and I was interested in reading other murder mysteries after reading Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel, of all books.

The Review:
I picked this book up on a whim, knowing nothing about it, except that it was a Russian murder mystery. I have since found out that there are numerous books starring Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, with this being the third of a series. That could explain the feeling that I was missing something; there are numerous allusions to the past in this novel, and while it is readable as a stand-alone book, I likely would have gotten more enjoyment out of it if I had read the other novels.

The adventures of Inspector Rostnikov take place in Soviet Russia, and the world presented in this novel is complete with KGB intrigue, and some historical commentary on the lives of Jews during the Russian Revolution. I really enjoyed the stark and direct writing style, and Rostnikov is written as an incredibly likable, though crotchety old man. It is obvious that he is not very popular with the higher ups in the police force, as he has a tendency to push himself into situations where he is not wanted.

This book has three mysteries: one follows a sniper who is picking off policemen, one follows a ring of car thieves, and one follows the death of a man in his bathtub, and a mysterious candlestick. While the mysteries themselves are interesting enough, it is the way Kaminsky presents his world and this time period that make it so enjoyable. I felt utter despair for some of these characters, as they simply wanted to survive in the world. This sense of desolate living is painted in eloquent strokes by Kaminsky:

"Man proved himself, his worth, by accepting the weakness of the body and rising above it, not letting pain or emotion rule. Man, if he were to have dignity and meaning, had to rise above his animalism. An individual man was but a transient vessel. Mankind working together as a united organism had power and meaning."

The book has these little gems strewn throughout. Kaminsky captures the essence of life in a paranoid and almost animalistic Russia. His love for the subject matter is obvious, and his depiction of the realities of communism is nothing short of depressing. The final confrontation in particular eschews the smoke and mirrors of communist society, and the hidden powers of the nation.

The Verdict:
If you enjoy Soviet mysteries and political intrigue, Red Chameleon is a fine book to check out. If anything, I had a fun time imagining everything being spoken in a Soviet accent. I likely would have gotten more out of it had I read the other books in the series, though.

3.5/5

Next up:
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer.