Great

Arkady Renko vuelve a trabajar como detective de la policía de Moscú. Mientras investiga unos asesinatos que podrían implicar a dos de los detectives más prestigiosos de Moscú: Isakov y Urman; Arkadi es enviado a investigar la supuesta aparición del fantasma de Stalin en el metro, caso en el que, al parecer, también estarían implicados Isakov y Urman. En el escenario de estas apariciones, Arkady encuentra a un hombre, asesinado por una mujer, que en el momento de los hechos estaba borracha y que repite sin cesar "me han quitado el dragón". Tras estas apariciones misteriosas, Arkady descubre que están conectadas con un partido político y que esconden datos de lo que realmente pasó en Chechenia.

This one isn't totally fabulous, but I love Arkady and it was still a treat nonetheless.

A Ural motorcycle figures into the story modestly, along with it's modestly interesting background; wiki which see.

The very next day, I see one the street.
The very next day. ( )

Martin Cruz Smith forces so many historical themes, plot turns, and cardboard characters into Stalin's Ghost that the book is both confusing and a little tedious. Though there is some evocative and/or witty description, the book is a weak effort. ( )

1950's Russia — good — small world, corrupt, etc. man of few words all cryptic "Red Dragon" Carpets loose ends — Eva — still alive
Isakov — mystery past college drop-out still @

Investigator Arkady Renko, the pariah of the Moscow prosecutor’s office, has been assigned the thankless job of investigating a new phenomenon: late-night subway riders report seeing the ghost of Joseph Stalin on the platform of the Chistye Prudy Metro station. The illusion seems part political hocus-pocus and also part wishful thinking, for among many Russians Stalin is again popular; the bloody dictator can boast a two-to-one approval rating. Decidedly better than that of Renko, whose lover, Eva, has left him for Detective Nikolai Isakov, a charismatic veteran of the civil war in Chechnya, a hero of the far right and, Renko suspects, a killer for hire. The cases entwine, and Renko’s quests become a personal inquiry fueled by jealousy.