Arkadiy Renko ex special investigator in Moscow has fallen on harder times. He's ended up on a trawler, the Polar Star. His colleagues aren't are of his background and when a murder transpires he starts to investigate.

I love the Renko series. He's a really down at heel cop who sails close to the wind, his father was a general in Stalins government so giving him some freedom where lesser men would be put away. Smith describes Moscow, Russia and the culture very well. If you like a detective series with a difference try these.