Havana Bay

The body, what was left of it, was drifting in Havana Bay the morning Arkady arrived from Moscow.

The Cubans insisted that the body was his friend Pribluda, but Arkady wasn't so sure.

The Communist world has shrunk to Cuba. Havana is a city of empty stones and talking drums, Karl Marx and sharp machetes - not welcoming place if you're a Russian, particularly if you're a Russian investigating the death of another Russian.

But Arkady is used to being unpopular. He's even used to losing friends. "Havana Bay" is the fourth novel to feature Arkady Renko.

The previous three, "Gorky Park", "Polar Star", and "Red Square" are also available in Pan. "If there's more intoxicating and intriguing setting for a thriller than Moscow, Smith has found it in Havana.

Sheer class", - "Mirror". "I hope a copy of this top-notch thriller reaches Castro as he wises up to the mobsters currently at his gate", - "Independent". "As in "Gorky Park", Cruz Smith is outstanding on background.

The feel of Havana is sensuously rendered", - "Sunday Times".