Martin Cruz Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Cruz Smith
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Smith in 2011
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| Born | Martin William Smith November 3, 1942 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 2025 (aged 82) San Rafael, California, U.S. |
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| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA) |
| Period | 1970–2025 |
| Genre | Mystery Crime |
| Notable works | Gorky Park |
Martin Cruz Smith (born Martin William Smith; November 3, 1942 – July 11, 2025) was an American writer famous for his exciting mystery and suspense novels. Many of his stories took place in different countries or in the past. He was especially well-known for a series of ten books about a Russian detective named Arkady Renko. This character first appeared in the popular 1981 novel Gorky Park. His most recent books featuring Renko were Independence Square (2023) and Hotel Ukraine (2025).
Contents
About Martin Cruz Smith
Early Life and Education
Martin William Smith was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on November 3, 1942. His father, John Calhoun Smith, was a jazz musician. His mother, Louise Lopez, was a jazz singer, teacher, and worked to support Native American rights. She was also named Miss New Mexico in 1939.
Martin went to Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania. Later, he studied at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He earned a degree in creative writing in 1964. Martin had a diverse family background, including Pueblo, Spanish, Senecú del Sur, and Yaqui heritage.
His Writing Journey
Martin Cruz Smith started his career as a journalist from 1965 to 1969. In the early 1970s, he began writing fiction books. He wrote two Western novels in a series called "Slocum." These were published under a shared author name, Jake Logan. He also wrote three books for the popular Nick Carter series.
Smith also created a series of paperback books about a character called "The Inquisitor." This character was a special agent, similar to James Bond, who worked for the Vatican. He also wrote a science fiction novel called The Indians Won (1970). This book was one of the first widely published science fiction stories by a Native American writer.
His novel Canto for a Gypsy was nominated for an Edgar Award. This book featured a Romani art dealer in New York City named Roman Grey. Another book, Nightwing (1977), was also nominated for an Edgar Award. This book became very popular and was even made into a movie in 1979.
Famous Books and Awards
Martin Cruz Smith is most famous for his novels about the Russian investigator Arkady Renko. The first book in this series, Gorky Park, came out in 1981. Time magazine called it the "first thriller of the '80s." It quickly became a bestseller and won a Gold Dagger award from the British Crime Writers' Association.
Arkady Renko appeared in nine more novels by Smith. Gorky Park was a huge success, staying near the top of the New York Times bestseller list for many months. Another of his books, Polar Star, also reached the No. 1 spot on the bestseller list in 1989.
In the 1990s, Smith won the Dashiell Hammett Award twice. He won for his novel Rose in 1996 and again for Havana Bay in 1999. His books continued to be popular. In 2010, Three Stations also appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. His most recent novels about Arkady Renko are Independence Square (2023) and Hotel Ukraine (2025).
Why "Cruz"?
Martin Smith originally wrote under the name "Martin Smith." However, he found out there were other writers with the same name. His agent suggested he add a third name. He chose "Cruz," which was his paternal grandmother's last name. This helped his books stand out.
Personal Life
Martin Cruz Smith lived in San Rafael, California, with his family. He passed away on July 11, 2025, at the age of 82. He had been living in a senior community in San Rafael, California, and died from Parkinson's disease.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Cruz Smith para niños
