Canto for a Gypsy

Roman Grey #2

by Martin Cruz Smith

Antique dealer and gypsy Roman Grey is picked to guard the royal crown of Hungary during an exhibition at St. Patrick's Cathedral. While guarding it from those who would take it, he uncovers a century's old secret about the crown.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Detective

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Martin Cruz Smith (AKA Simon Quinn, Nick Carter, Jake Logan, and Martin Quinn) was an American writer of mystery and suspense fiction, mostly in an international or historical setting. He was best known for his 11-book series featuring Russian investigator Arkady Renko, who was introduced in 1981 with Gorky Park and appeared in Independence Square (2023) and Hotel Ukraine (2025). [Wikipedia]

Reviews

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hidden gem from Smith, his first series, two books long. The protagonist lives on the edge of Roman culture in New York City and consults with/assists the police with special problems. Here, the sacred Hungarian crown of St. Stephen is to be displayed in a church before it is returned to the Communist regime in Hungary. Communists, anti-communists, and thieving gypsies all are vying to steal, protect, or destroy it, and Roman, our protagonist, has to sort them out.
A good mystery with fascinating characters and culture and oh-so-well written, which is the biggest thing.

[Linda Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Martin Cruz Smith, and apparently not his best, but I really enjoyed it & will definitely read more of his work! This was his 2nd novel, written 30 years ago, with dozens of best sellers since then. The characters were well drawn, the mystery mysterious. It was not only a page turner, but for me educational. . . who knew there were gypsys (Roms) in NYC, let alone their history & contributions to culture? Not I.

[David]

In its own way, the issue here reminds me of William Gaddis's Wyatt Gwyon, although there's not much in common between this book and The Recognitions. They do share the whole question of whether there is actually anything legitimate in the art world or if it's all forgery. I can't help but feeling that Cruz Smith is a little obsessed in these early novels with showing how much he knows about the Romany. Some of it seems essential to the plot; much of it less so. Levels of reversal in this novel work quite well. It's also fun when the protagonist comes into contact with other kinds of racism and prejudice.

[Liz de Chastel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this book up at La Charm Hotel in Hoi An. The story would make a good movie but a bit clunky as a novel. Good distraction from the outside heat and humidity.

[Therese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Canto for a Gypsy is a very early MCS offering. The convoluted plot shows he was trying to find his writing "feet." The Holy Crown of Saint Stephen does exist, it is a Hungarian historical and religious artifact. The characters in the book were drawn to tired old stereotypes, the Irish cops, the token Jewish detective, the Irish Cardinal of Saint Patricks's Cathedral, Roma/gypsies seemingly trapped in amber, Roumanians to further confuse things, an ex-Nazi art thief, if a Nazi can ever be said to be "ex," Hungarian "dissidents" who want the Crown in order to keep it from the Communist government. Acrobatic high-wire pretend priests swinging high up in the Gothic ceilings of Saint Patrick's. The circus-like "mittel Europe" flavor of the book did not ring true for me, alas. Two stars.

[Mia Emslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Interesting.. Fast moving. Involved priceless crown, St Patrick's Cathedral, Catholic bishops, gypsies.. of course. You immediately like the main characters. Listened to it while traveling.. Good choice.

[Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read, not as exciting or as gripping as some of his other novels but none the less worth a look at.

[Phil Lawless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early MCS, without a lot of the introspection of his Renko novels. Still, it was interesting to follow the Rom details.

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot involving Hungarians , gypsies and New York. However rather plodding tale about crowns , Catholics and criminals .

[Berry Muhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the *other* Smith novels...not set in Russia, nor in Japan, and not involving Arkady Renko or the eve of a world war. The characters are a bit murkier and more distant than what you might be used to, so you can't get into them to the same degree. (This is evidently a calculated move on the part of Smith, since he's writing mostly about the closed-off Romany culture.) But the story is an engaging mystery, replete with twists and turns, and it relies on Smith's renowned eye for other cultures and times past. You may find yourself afterward pulling up some Wikipedia entries for historical background, in order to separate fact from fiction, but either way, you're likely to learn something along the way.

[WittysLagoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal review for memory jog...
The Martin Cruz Smith books that I really really liked are: Rose and Stallion Gate. Already bores me....his tired cynicism tires me

This is the second Roman Gry book, and I am about to do a time shift and read the first but you get what you get from libraries.

A thriller with a dive into Romany culture, and a mystery...involving the Magyars, the Nazis, the Catholic Church and New Yorks finest.

The story and twists revolves around the return of the 11th Century Crown of the King of Hungary to the nation, and its false copy and the theft by ex Nazi art thief.

As adventure and mystery, it's a thriller, and Roman Gry as antique dealer, art forger, and all round Gypsy leader, is a fine anti hero.

[Dan Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early Smith, his second 'Gypsy' book, preceding "Gorky Park' and the other fine novels to come.
Here he does not sin at length; "Canto' is less than 200 pages. But Smith (before he used the 'Cruz') keeps things tight and plausible, with plenty of background on gypsy culture, Hungarian history and mysterious sleight of hand. All revolves around the jeweled Crown which must be returned to Europe after it is displayed to American eyes. In the event of a theft, much diplomatic discord will ensue. Smith's hero, the Gypsy antiques dealer Roman, gets roped into the mix and subsequently saves the day.
Recommended.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was introduced to antiques dealer and gypsy Roman Grey, I thought "aha!", a character that may hook me as Daniel Silva's art restorer and intelligence agent Gabriel Allon has. But it wasn't meant to be. There just isn't enough given for me to get attached to Roman, and unfortunately, the plot seemed to simply go on and on for no good reason. I felt that Smith was filling pages in many spots. Moving on, but I have read 4 other novels by Smith that I adore, so I will continue to seek his writing.

[David Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read about a dozen of this author’s novels, and this one is the most confusing and least satisfying of them all. There is far too much background about gypsies and their language. I found it impossible to keep the “team” members straight, and finally wrote out a dramatis personae to use as a cheat sheet. I expected a mystery and well and, while there is a theft involved, this book is hardly predominantly a mystery. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read this after having read so many of his novels or I might have been discouraged from continuing to read his works.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good action packed novel with a lot of historical details.

At first I had a problem getting into the story but that only lasted for the first 15 or so pages. Once I got a grip on the story I have to say that this author loves the less is more paradigm. This seriously made the reading flow amazingly fast and fluent. It takes a real talent to make a story to flow when your being sparse with words. I have two other books by this author and i have already bumped them up on my tbr list.

[Diogenes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining and exciting heist tale. addictingly hard to put down. Gypsy lore and culture are at the heart of this New York adventure. Nothing like Smith's bestselling Russian detective Renko series, this earlier work (1970s) is timeless; other than references to when eastern Europe was under communist control, this caper could just as well happen today.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this novel somewhere in a box during the 2020 Pandemic. This thriller written in 1972 is an enjoyable read. Martin Cruz Smith brings together a Gypsy art dealer, a Jewish cop, an Irish-American Cardinal, representatives from the Hungarian government, and a Nazi. The pace is quick, the history is interesting, and there are some good twists and turns.

[F Pessayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always one of the best

It is a real story . Well built. Well phrased. The dialogues are just right. The historical background is well researched. What else to say ? This is a book .

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and loved the first book, (Gypsy in Amber) moved on to book two, LOVED it too - I wish author hadn't stopped the series, but the ending was good, and I guess it's ok ;-) It was fun to actually hold a book, as these were not available for download.

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Good story rather disjointedly told.

[Marshall Emm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dated.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun easy read.

[Rachel Karas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea. Couldn't quite follow the intrigue/plot, which I think was a combo of it being hard to follow and my not really caring.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Margaret Goodlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. Most interesting to me was all the information it had on gypsies, as the hero of the book is one. The plot is so-so.

[Catherine Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there were more than two books in this series!

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping little mystery tale with lots of interesting historical detail thrown in to leaven the sauce. Fascinating.

[Haley Kilgour]

Dnf’ed at page 69.

I honestly just didn’t care about the story or the characters. And the plot just seemed to jump between characters unnecessarily.

[Nial · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but not good. A bit better than the first book at least!