This one was a bit of a departure from the other Renko novels. This time, the mystery Arkady is investigating doesn't lead to an in-depth discussion of Russia, nor is it the grand conspiracy that has been the hallmark of the others in the series. Also, the story is split between what Arkady is investigating and what his chess-genius, semi-adopted son, Zhenya, is doing: helping a 15-year-old mother find her missing baby. It's this secondary plot that provides the glimpse into Russian society--that of the area surrounding the three main train stations in Moscow, mostly populated by street kids, immigrant workers, prostitutes, and trouble. Even this plot doesn't follow the typical Martin Cruz Smith mystery, as it's more of a run-from-the-villains than his classic whydunits (as opposed to the dreaded whodunits of lesser authors).

Two things struck me with this novel. One is that Smith is running out of things to write about Russia. The second is that Arkady is getting older, and Smith may be thinking of turning the focus over to Zhenya, which would certainly provide a different perspective on Russia.

The good news is "Three Stations" is better than "Stalin's Ghost". Unfortunately, it isn't as good as the rest of the Renko novels. I think it's time for Smith to write something else. He's written 3 in a row now, so perhaps it's time for something fresh. I'm guessing his Renko novels sell better, but he did such a good job with "Rose", and "December 6" was pretty good, too.