Gorky ParkGorky Park
Score Classic
What it's about
Three bodies are found frozen in the snow of a Moscow amusement park, their faces and fingers removed.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and one of the ten best-selling books of 1981. It's also on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Polar Star
Child 44
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdGood to know
Its detective, Arkady Renko, returns in Polar Star.
By the numbers
- Readers22 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller45 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #433 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #729 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2327 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Martin Cruz Smith
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Crime and Punishment
The Pillars of the Earth
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Quick answers
Is Gorky Park worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and one of the ten best-selling books of 1981. It ranks #2,327 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Gorky Park about?
Three bodies are found frozen in the snow of a Moscow amusement park, their faces and fingers removed.
How long does it take to read Gorky Park?
About 11 hours (452 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Gorky Park?
If you liked it, try Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith, Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith or The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré.