Overview

• Smith died on July 11 at age 82, surrounded by family, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.
• Hotel Ukraine, released this week by Simon & Schuster, incorporates current geopolitical figures such as Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden in its narrative.
• His debut novel, Gorky Park, topped The New York Times fiction bestseller list in 1981 and was later adapted into a film starring William Hurt.
• The Arkady Renko series spanned four decades, charting Soviet and post-Soviet Russia through Smith’s firsthand research and journalistic experience.
• His accolades included the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master title, the Hammett Prize for Havana Bay and a Gold Dagger award for Gorky Park.