Martin Cruz Smith

Martin Cruz Smith (born Martin William Smith) was an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his Arkady Renko series, beginning with Gorky Park (1981). His work—noted for its meticulous research and atmospheric portrayals of Russia and other international settings—earned multiple honors and a large international readership. He began his career as a journalist and wrote numerous novels (including under pseudonyms) before achieving wide acclaim. Smith continued publishing into the 2020s, producing eleven Renko novels. He died in 2025.