Tajemnica domu Helclów

Śledztwa profesorowej Szczupaczyńskiej #1

by Maryla Szymiczkowa (Pseudonym), Jacek Dehnel, Piotr Tarczyński

Książka nominowana w Plebiscycie Książka Roku 2015 lubimyczytać.pl w kategorii Kryminał sensacja Thriller.
Literacka zagadka roku.
Profesorowa Szczupaczyńska ma tysiąc spraw na głowie. Musi pamiętać o pulardzie na obiad, nie zapomnieć kupić wina przeciwko cholerze, sprawdzić, czy nowa służąca dobrze wyczyściła srebra. I jednocześnie potwornie się nudzi. Kraków w 1893 roku nie obfituje w atrakcje.
Kiedy więc przypadkiem dowiaduje się, że w słynnym Domu Helclów zaginęła jedna z pensjonariuszek, zaczyna działać. Z wrodzoną dociekliwością – niektórzy mogliby ją nazwać wścibstwem – rozpoczyna śledztwo.
Kryminał „Tajemnica Domu Helclów” to zaskakujący pastisz literatury z epoki, który dowodzi, że w mieszczańskim świecie pani Dulskiej jest miejsce na sensacyjną aferę. Przekorna gra z konwencją, wyjątkowy styl, cięte dialogi i przewrotny portret Krakowa końca XIX wieku. Błyskotliwa powieść Szymiczkowej wdzięk klasycznego kryminału łączy z pyszną satyrą na dawno minioną epokę.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Poland, Historical, Audiobook

288 pages, ebook

First published July 13, 2015

About the author

Maryla Szymiczkowa, wdowa po prenumeratorze „Przekroju” w twardej oprawie, królowa pischingera, niegdysiejsza gwiazda Piwnicy pod Baranami i korektorka w „Tygodniku Powszechnym”. Dziś co niedzielę, po sumie w Mariackim, można ją spotkać na kawie u Noworola, a wieczorami w Nowej Prowincji.

Marylę Szymiczkową powołali do życia literaci:

Jacek Dehnel (ur. 1980) pisarz, poeta, tłumacz. Prowadzi bloga poświęconego międzywojennemu tabloidowi kryminalnemu „Tajny Detektyw”.

Piotr Tarczyński (ur. 1983) tłumacz, historyk, amerykanista. Krakus od pokoleń, od dziesięciu lat na emigracji w Warszawie.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a translated historical mystery from Maryla Szymiczkowa, a refreshing take in its historical European setting on the classic age of golden crime with a structure that echoes the likes of Christie, including the finale with its assembled cast of interested parties and suspects where the truth and a killer is revealed by the protagonist, 38 year old Zofia Turbotynskya. She is married to Ignacy, a university medical professor, whose career promotions have been engineered by the wily Zofia. Set in 1893 in the Poland and the city of Crakow of the time, a melting pot of diverse ethnicities, languages and religion that reflects the regional history and culture. It took me a little time to warm to the flawed Zofia, she engages in familial rivalries, determined to improve her position, a name dropper, with every intention of climbing the social ladder, in many ways this novel is a study in the social manners and class divisions of the time in this part of Europe.

Zofia writes poetry, which has yet to receive the public acclaim that she feels it deserves and is engaging in organising a charity raffle, seeking the patronage of elderly aristocratic women to raise her social and public profile in society. To this end she visits Helcel House, a retirement home run by Mother Zaleska. Zofia finds herself distracted by the disappearance of a judge's widow, Mrs Mohr, and is instrumental in the discovery of her body. This is just the beginning of the murders and disappearances at Helcel House, where investigating magistrate Klossowitz is dismissive of Zofia and her input. Aided by her cook, Franciszka, Zofia develops a taste for poking about in other peoples' business, whilst keeping her husband in the dark about what she is doing. She is a force of nature, with a talent for cajoling the truth from witnesses and suspects alike, not above engaging in underhand machinations, and making extensive use of her wide ranging social contacts to get to the complicated truth of the case.

The author includes some real life figures from this historical era, and does a stellar job of evoking the atmosphere of the period and the location with her rich descriptions of Crakow, its social and political class divisions, culture, religion and attitudes of women. The more I read of Zofia, the more I began to like her, sure there are times when she is distinctly unlikeable, but as a woman of the times, there were not many opportunities for women to make their mark or to develop their skills outside of the home. She begans to feel increasingly confident in what is a man's world as she begins to get results from all the efforts she expends on the case, although none of it is publicly acknowledged, and she is hiding her successes from Ignacy. This is a wonderfully quirky and entertaining read from Maryla Szymiczkowa, which I recommend highly to those looking for a slightly different take on the classic crime tradition with its unusual location of Crakow in the tail end of the 19th century. Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.

[fleurette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice surprise. When I started this book, I had some concerns. I haven't read too many historical mysteries and I don't really like funny books. I was also not sure if I would like the main character. Fortunately, it turned out that my fears were completely unfounded.

This book is advertised as a pastiche, and it probably is one to some extent. But it is not very obvious and I am not sure if non-Polish readers will notice it at all. But everyone will surely notice and appreciate the well-balanced humor used by the authors hiding under the pseudonym Maryla Szymiczkowa. I have a very specific taste for humor in my books. Few things really amuse me. I am all the more glad that I truly laughed a few times while reading this story.

Initially, I was afraid that I would not like the main character, Zofia Turbotyńska. She seemed quite unpleasant to me and exaggerated as a character. But fortunately I was wrong and I appreciated her complicated nature and penetrating mind pretty quickly. The authors should really be commended for creating such an ambiguous character. They allow us to get to know her ourselves, through the actions of Turbotyńska, without resorting to simple descriptions. Turbotyńska is a seemingly cold and sly woman, but you quickly discover her different face that even she may not be aware of. Her character is a very strong point of this book.

But the plot is also brilliant. I like the fast pace in my books and that's what I found here. The whole suspense plot begins at the very first chapter of the book. Moreover, it is really interesting and requires Zofia to be very acute. The plot shows the influence of Agatha Christie and the early authors of crime novels, which is not surprising since Zofia is a fan of this type of literature (of course, not the mistress of the crime story herself, because the novel takes place before Christie's works), but it is very positive. I was very satisfied with the ending.

It's a short but very nice story. I will certainly read another book in this series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The trouble with international mystery books is that so much depends on the translator. This was written in Polish and I don't think the translator did a particularly good job, not a bad job just not a particularly good one. Of course they weren't helped by the names of the characters either. Turbotynska, Zelenska and Sienkiewicz don't really roll off the American tongue.

I nearly gave up in frustration but I am glad I didn't. It was written like a Golden Age mystery set in 1893 in Cracow. Women are dying in a nursing home and bored housewife, Zofia Turbotynska, has experience in solving crime. She discovered her maid stealing sugar so she is ready to take on a murder investigation. It really was fun romp through the streets of etiquette in Cracow with funerals and cemetery maintenance taking high priority. There is even a big scene at the end where Zofia gathers all the suspects and the disbelieving police and unmasks the killer.

For a change of pace and a chance to learn about a different way of life, this is a fun mystery and Zofia is someone I enjoyed spending time with.

[Agnieszka T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wyśmienita powieść. Owszem, promocja zrobiła jej krzywdę, bo trudno ją nazwać "zagadką roku", ale tak pięknie zobrazowane charaktery i charakterki, Kraków z dawnych lat, z jego wszystkimi chyba cechami charakterystycznymi, te społeczne zależności i przepychanki, te cudowne szczegóły zarządzania domem, ale przede wszystkim - bohaterowie! Profesorowa to świetny przypadek, jej mąż pantoflarz dobroduszny, zakonnice, znajome, wszystko takie ciekawie odmalowane, bardzo mi się podoba!

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I was in the right head space for this novel, while it sounded very interesting I had issues getting invested in the story. It's a 3 stars for now but I might go back and try and read it again in a later day. But at the moment it was an okay read anywho

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often struggle with translated books (I don't know why, I just do) but this one I had no issues with.

Witty, adventurous and full of brilliant characters, this book kept me reading up into the night.

I loved the discriptions of Victorian life in Cracow and the incredible way this thrilling book took us through the investigation and especially the closing where Zofia brings the suspects and police together for the big reveal.

Grade A, four star read.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Throwing in the towel at page 24 - here are some examples of "sentences" that do my head in:

She owed her admission to Sister Alojza, a nurse at the refuge, whom she had come to know while organizing a charity tombola for the benefit of the girls' home run by the nuns.

At this early stage - couldn't it be enough just to have that first clause - "a nurse at the refuge"?

She is Zofia Turbotyńska - the almost 40 years old married woman, whom we are informed in the blurb will become detective and solve a case of murder. By the way Zofia first hears of the murder on page 94 which is just under a third of the book's length - I found out by flicking through. So, the first third is all set-up - and it's incredibly - groan - detailed. Here is the paragraph that killed me:

Just three stories high, but imposing with a tall cupola on top, the building stood as splendid as on that day in July three years earlier when his Eminence had consecrated the chapel. Zofia liked thinking back to that day when, still a humble doctor's wife, she had found herself among the great and good of the world (for her, Cracow was the entire world, though perhaps there was room in her heart for Vienna too). She felt as if she had climbed Mount Olympus - and indeed, as the congregation could only stand in the chapel doorway until the bishop and priests had performed the ceremony, the guests were led up a steep, narrow staircase to the organ gallery. And up there, close to the ceiling, close to the capital of the Corinthian columns, everyone was bathed in the golden glow emanating from the brand-new alters. In truth, Zofia had stood among the lower ranks -some girls from a refuge run by the nuns, and the craftsmen who had built this edifice -but there were some real gods and goddesses: city councilors, court advisors, distinguished countesses from the ladies' section of the Charitable Society, the great painters Juliusz Kossak and Jan Matejko, and above all His Excellency Count Tarnowski, president of the academy, a bearded, thunder-wielding Zeus -Cronos even, who as the man in charge of the Cracow Times, set the course for all that was dear to Zofia Turbotyńka's heart. Below, in the chapel, she could see Cardinal Dunajewski, Apollo-like in a golden-shining robe, shining with heavenly light to the strains of the cathedral choir. "His Eminence looked magnificent with the miter on his silver hair," she enthused towards Mrs Dutkiewicz and anyone willing to listen.

AWFUL WRITING!!!!

You might think - oh this is taken out of context. We don't know the lead in to this paragraph.

So the lead into this paragraph is that Zofia is visiting "the Ludwik and Anna Helcel House for the Poor, the seat of Cracow's newest and biggest Charitable Foundation," with her maidservant Franciszka, who wants to see her old mother. It's a house for the Poor - confused anyone - the chapel, the excellencies etc.

Warning also - this book is not written by Maryla Szymiczkowa, you might think a woman, no it is written by two men, youngish looking men - their joint photo is on the back cover of my edition.
Wow! the person who wrote the review that caught my attention, might have mentioned that - no?

If you happen to be Polish, and can cope with the difficult names of people, places, streets and buildings etc etc, which are endlessly repeated in full, you might like it, or in fact if you are a resident of Cracow and would like to know how your city looked in the year 1893 - you might find this fun. They (the publisher?) managed to get Olga Tokarczuk's name on the cover of my edition - she says "Ingenious." I think that could be interpreted in several ways - as in "how did you manage to write and get published such convoluted CRAP!"

[Jolanta (knygupė) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lenku Miss Marple, tik per daug istempta.
2.5*

[OLT · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Maryla Szymiczkowa is the pen name for the writing team of Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczynski. While they wrote this in Polish, it has been ably translated to English by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Originally published in 2015, this excellent 2019 translation to English maintains the quality and flavor of the original Polish, I believe.

This is a mystery taking place in 1893 Cracow. It's also social commentary, a clever comedy of manners. The writing is tongue-in-cheek, the humor is understated and clever, and the mystery is cozy in tone, almost an homage to the writing style of cozies of the first half of the 20th century.

I confess to not exactly liking the story at its beginning, perhaps mainly because I found the protagonist to be unappealing at first. But I found myself warming up to it quickly and appreciating its quirkiness.

The main character is Zofia Turbotynska, socialite housewife living an upper-class life, not exactly at the top-top of Cracow society, but always aspiring to getting up there. Snobby, social-climbing, superficial, and bored. Her husband is a medical doctor and university professor whose career she has been promoting since their marriage, because, let's face it, he's not as ambitious as she is. She spends her time networking to promote her husband's and her place in society, running their household efficiently, dressing and looking her very best, gossiping, and doing charity work.

When her charity work takes her to Helcel House, a nursing home run by nuns, she finds the place in a bit of disarray because one of the residents has gone missing: Mrs. Mohr. How could a little old lady with little mobility and few friends disappear?

Zofia sees this as an escape from her boredom. She's going to investigate. Not that anyone is encouraging her to do so, especially not the police or even the Helcel House's staff. And definitely not her husband. He must remain totally clueless about her new avocation. A woman's place is taking care of her home and her husband.

Mrs. Mohr's disappearance turns into something even more sinister and when there's another misadventure involving a second resident of the home, Zofia goes into full investigative mode. She manages to uncover quite a convoluted and complex mystery.

But more than a mystery, this is a charming historical/political/social commentary on 1890s Cracow. The author's preface explains concisely the backdrop of Poland's partitioning during that time by Russia, Prussia and Austria, and the story itself gives the reader insight into society there at the time.

This may not be a mystery for everyone. It's quite stylized, somewhat whimsical, comical and satirical. I ended up sympathizing with social-climbing Zofia, boxed in to her role as a woman in 1890s Europe, more intelligent than her husband but not allowed to show it, and finding an outlet for herself as an amateur sleuth. (But please don't tell her oblivious husband what she's up to. He won't twig on to it on his own and she's happier that way.)

[Teleseparatist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bardzo dowcipne, ciekawie napisane i znakomicie osadzone w smakowitych realiach (Tadeuszek! Skandale z Sienkiewiczem!). Mam słabość do postaci takich, jak Szczupaczyńska, a autorzy piszą o niej z empatią i sympatią. No i te wszystkie momenty, gdy Szczupaczyńska bez odrobiny wahania wyśmiewa podniosłą bogoojczyźnianość. Tak złośliwe i tak ładnie napisane. Ale chyba najbardziej cieszy mnie myśl, że kolejne tomy w zapowiedziach przeprowadzą nas przez historię do połowy XX wieku.

Jakby jeszcze nie było lekkiego powiewu snobizmu przekładającego się na klasowe stereotypy, to w ogóle byłoby pięknie.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to like here, it's got an impeccable sense of time and place, it's slyly funny and charming, and it's certainly a unique mystery that is almost cozy with all its trappings. I wanted to like it more than I did. I was also, be warned, in a bit of a slump and so not the most welcoming for a book like this one that tends to go on and on and on in its meanderings when I would just like to get to the story please. But should hit the spot for people looking for something old school in style.

[tomoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

trochę zaskoczenie, dużo zabawniejsza, niż się spodziewałam. ale ogólnie bardzo przyjemne, penie pokuszę się na następne części.

[Szaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wspaniała jest to książka, smaczki z epoki wyborne no i profesorowa jest fantastyczną postacią.

[Come Musica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maryla Szymiczkowa è lo pseudonimo della coppia, nel lavoro e nella vita, formata da Jacek Dehnel e Piotr Tarczyński. Dehnel è autore pluripremiato di numerosi libri, Tarczyński è traduttore e storico. Vivono entrambi a Varsavia e la serie con protagonista Zofia Rombotyńska è il loro primo progetto a quattro mani.

“La signora Mohr scompare” è
il primo capitolo di questa serie divertente e originale: la storia è ambientata nella Polonia di fine Ottocento e che, “al di là del raffinato intrattenimento in chiave investigativa che ci offre, affronta per di più questioni sempre attuali con sguardo ironico e dissacrante, dal pregiudizio di classe ai diritti delle donne, dalle disuguaglianze sociali alle ipocrisie dei benpensanti.”

La protagonista è Zofia Rombotynska, una donna sposata con Ignacy, un professore universitario che le deve molto, in fatto di avanzamento di carriera.
I due non hanno figli e Zofia non resiste nel mettersi in moto per investigare quando apprende della notizia della scomparsa della signora Mohr

“La signora Mohr, una donna rispettabile, molto tranquilla e devota, vedova di un giudice della Corte suprema. La sera prima le ho augurato la buonanotte e la mattina non c’era più, tutte le stanze della Casa sono state perlustrate… sparita nel nulla!”

Nel condurre le indagini si farà aiutare dalla fedele domestica e da una suora.
Se all’inizio il romanzo sembra un po’ piatto, poi la storia diventa sempre più avvincente e ricca di colpi di scena. Il bello è che si dovrà arrivare fino alla fine per capire chi sia il colpevole.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Mohr Goes Missing was written in 2015 by Maryla Szymiczkowa which is the pen name of writer/poet/translator Jacek Dehnel and his husband, translator/historian, Piotr Tarczynski. It was wonderfully translated from Polish in 2019 by Antonia Lloyd-James and I was excited to see that a sequel will be out in early 2021.

This story is the introduction of our heroine, up-and-coming sleuth, social climber, and charity organizer extraordinaire, Zofia Turbotynska. Written in the style of literature at the turn of the century and set in 1893 as well, it was the perfect mix of historical detail and imagined intrigue. Residents of Helcel House are going missing and turning up dead and no one seems to see the links excpet our dear Zofia. Thankfully, due to her persistence and Franciszka, the best maid and crime fighting partner, she is able to bring all things to a satisfactory conclusion.

So much of the witty repartee unknowingly put a smile on my face and I did even realize until my face starting aching. It was reminiscent of Agatha Christie but even more so of one of my favourite books The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters which also has a female heroine getting involved in others business. I definitely recommend it for a light and fun read. I mean, how can you go wrong with chapter titles such as "In which Zofia Turbotynska shows no interest in the digestive tract of the salamander, lurks in a gateway, and brings up topics at table that a woman of propriety should not discuss while eating catfish."

A note on the audiobook: Moira Quirk was an excellent choice and did a stupendous job with all the incredibly long names and bringing the story to life.

[Jamie Canaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great mystery, especially perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. Zofia Turbotynska is a 38-year-old woman living in 1893 Cracow, Poland. She’s married to a university professor who should thank her for all the help with his career, but she’s a woman living in a time when she can’t really do much, so she’s desperately bored. Until a woman goes missing from a nursing home and she decides to use her love of mystery novels and her intelligence to solve the case. Of course she can’t tell her husband or the mother superior in charge of the nursing home, so all of her questionings and sleuthing will be done in secret.

Turbotynska is a fun, witty, very opinionated character, and the book reads like a nod to Agatha Christie that is infused with interesting history!

(TW mentions infertility/ discussions of addiction/ past domestic abuse mentioned)

--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

The digital arc of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ website in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, how I wish I liked this novel. But from the very beginning my personal tastes didn't agree with the writing style which can either be attributed to the translation or the original novel, I have no idea. Also, I found the characters to be bland and the story was slow. The setting is luxurious, though, and if you like the writing, you will probably enjoy this book more than I did.

[Lobo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Panna Marple po polsku

Nie za bardzo wiem, co powiedzieć o kryminale Szymiczkowej, poza tym, że to przyjemna lektura, dobrze trzymająca się konwencji stworzonej przez Agathę Christie. Więcej tu plotek niż śledztwa, informacji wymuszanych i podsłuchanym niż dedukowanych, ale dzięki temu trzymamy się realiów epoki. Bo jakie możliwości śledcze miała krakowska matrona w roku śmierci Matejki niż wysłanie służącej na spytki? A ponieważ lubię to okropne babsko, jakim jest Jane Marple, polubiłam też Zofię Szczupaczyńską. Z całą jej doskonale odrysowaną polską, mieszczańską, peryferyjną mentalnością.
Poza tym powieść obfituje w ciekawostki historyczne, przedstawia zwyczaje krakowskiego mieszczaństwa pod zaborami, pojawia się nawet Boy-Żeleński jeszcze jako student medycyny, wspomina się pogrzeb Mickewicza i generalną słabość Krakowa do pogrzebów. Narracja jest podszyta złośliwymi przytakami, które dodają wszystkiemu smaczków. Nie powiem, żeby był to rewelacyjny kryminał z niesamowicie skomplikowaną zagadką czy przełomowa powieść historyczna bawiąca się konwencją na miarę "Imienia róży". Ale jest świetną rozrywką na dwa czy trzy zimne jesienne wieczory. Bo i pora taka horrorowi-kryminalna. Więc polecam.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Mrs. Mohr's disappearance from the local nun-run nursing home that is the catalyst for Mrs. Zofia Turbotyńska's transformation from bored housewife+social climber+aspiring poet to amateur detective.
Zofia proves unshakeable in her pursuit of Mrs. Mohr, and the truth around deaths at the nursing home. The local magistrate quickly, and incorrectly, decides who the culprits are, and dismisses Zofia's questions and concerns. Taking it upon herself, she turns her prodigious energy (now that she's achieved her goal of getting her husband his present position at the university and she has little else to do but hire and fire housemaids and devote herself to charitable efforts,) to finding out the truth. Which she does handily, corralling the nuns and her cook into helping her, and keeping her husband in the dark about her sleuthing activities.
Zofia is funny, slightly overbearing, sharp-tongued, smart and tenacious. I loved her, and much like the central character of the Wishtide series by Kate Saunders, I enjoyed spending time with her, even while I didn't really care that much about the mystery. (Which was interesting, and involved old grudges and violence, and revenge.) Zofia was a hoot, and I look forward to spending more time with her.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just to be clear, I love certain words, the way they sound, the way one’s mouth forms them.

“Requiem” is my favorite word ever.
But “Pastiche” runs a very close 2nd place.

Not to imply I read this book to be able to employ “pastiche” in a sentience, because that would not be my motivation, as my favorite words are spoken sounds.

However, this charming, spunky mystery set in Poland in the late years of the 20th century did bring “pastiche” to mind and then I said it aloud!

Reading this kept me on my toes following leads, manners, fashion trends, avoiding spousal suspicion and bossily questioning witnesses. The entire intrigue of this detective romp was an enjoyable diversion.

I especially enjoyed the headings or “Epigraphs” which were as long as poems, summaries which were tantalizing hooks to the next hodgepodge of events.

Yes, I am so grateful this book came in a treasure books “of books to read when it is late and you finished your current tome.” Thank you to creativity in gifting but also in the treasure books chosen!!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⇝ 3.5 stars

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery takes place in 1893 Krakow and is a translation from Polish to English. It's also a social, religious and political commentary. Zofia a social climbing housewife who’s bored and finds herself occupying her time organizing a charity raffle for children with tuberculosis. While asking for donations she stumbles upon Mrs Mohr’s disappearance and so begins a mystery. This is a clever comedy of manners with complex characters and descriptions that depict the time and place.

[Marta Duda-Gryc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetna! Rozkoszowałam się jednak przede wszystkim nie intrygą kryminalną, a detalami obyczajowymi i historycznymi, cracovianami i portretem pani w wieku balzakowskim, odkrywającej w swoim życiu nowe powołanie - detektywa à la Poirot.

[Melanie]

abandoned

[Kinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daję nawet nie pięć gwiazdek, ale pięć serduszek! Bawiłam się przebosko, od pierwszej do ostatniej strony. Od dawna miałam tę powieść na oku, a wizyta w Krakowie i kolejny tom krzyczący z wystaw księgarni stanowiły ostateczną motywację, by książkę kupić. Przed lekturą starałam się nie mieć zbyt wielkich nadziei - mało to jest słabych kryminałów i historyzujących powieści? - i tym większe było zaskoczenie, że jest tak dobrze. Literatura rozrywkowa najwyższej klasy. Uwielbiam tę prześmiewczość wszytą w narrację, to lekkie przymrużenie oka, które obnaża wady i przywary, i jednocześnie pozwala na to, żeby darzyć sympatią (krakowski) świat(ek) przedstawiony :) Polecam wszystkim i gorąco rekomenduję.

[Skyeofskynet · Rating 2 out of 5]

To się koszmarnie najpierw ciągnęło, choć potem rozkręciło, ale trochę z dupy też rozwiązało. Rozwiązanie zresztą ciekawe, ale co z tego, skoro większości tych informacji czytelnik nie odkrywa z bohaterką.
Doceniam za to jak raczej szanowana mieszczka wyłamuje się z monotonii swojego życia by zostać detektywką. Ale ja nie jestem fanką historycznych obyczajówek.
2,5 gwiazdki na start (byłyby trzy jakby Goodreads miało te swoje 6 gwiazdek, nie 5), ale sięgnęłam po drugi tom, który zapowiada się znacznie ciekawiej.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m using this copy in Polish to write a review of the translated book, “Mrs Mohr Goes Missing”. Hopefully, GR will post the listing for the book in English and I’ll transfer my review.

It’s not easy to appreciate a good translation of a book, until you’re faced with a bad one. In the case of “Mrs Mohr Goes Missing”, the book was written in Polish and then translated into English by the writing team of Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczynski. Translators are often like audio book narrators; if they’re not pitch perfect, the book experience for the reader/listener is degraded. Fortunately, the translation of this book gives the reader a fun and interesting read.

“Mrs Mohr Goes Missing” is set in Cracow, Poland in the mid-1890’s. The main character is Zofia Turbotynska, the wife of an anatomy professor at Jagiellonian University. There’s a certain degree of prestige in being the wife of a professor, but late 30’s Zofia is a smaller-town girl on the make in polite Polish society. She’s also bored and in her inveterate reading of murder mysteries, she has decided she wants to do a little investigating herself. Soon after, while doing charity work at Hecel House(a real charity home in Cracow) she becomes involved in several disappearances of residents.

Zofia puts her clever mind to work and after interviews and sleuthing, she discovers both the criminal and a lot of family secrets of residents. Most of secrets remain unsaid but the murderers are punished. And Zofia has found a new interest in life and perhaps a perked-up interest in her husband.

A good novel will teach a bit as it entertains the reader. The authors - and they write together under one name - make the city of Cracow into a city the reader may very much want to visit. Or, if you’ve been to Cracow - as I’ve been twice - you might feel a certain familiarity with the sights and people of the city. I doubt if they’ve changed much since the mid-1890’s. It’s a fun book with a sassy protagonist who knows how to find the truth. I think this book is the first of a series and I’ll looking forward to the next book.


For the publisher who may be reading this review, please note an error in timing on the top of page 240. The date of July 4th is given for an event, but the rest of the chapter takes place around All-saints Day in November. You might want to fix this in the final printed version.

[grosbeak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable satirical historical mystery set in 1890s Krakow. Zofia is an utterly awful, petty, self-important society matron and yet somehow also extremely endearing. Also I do appreciate a historical set in the late 19th century that revels in the hideously neo-gothic kitsch, sappy nationalist poetry, and competitively garish funeral styles. The mystery was pretty well-done (seemingly insignificant clues dropped early; a convincing red herring subplot), the side-characters were fun, and -- being shamefully ignorant of late Austro-Hungarian internal politics in any detail -- I found it incidentally very edifying about 19th century Polish history and nationalism within the crucible of the Austrian empire.

[Mitch Karunaratne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zofia is excellent. A woman who's at once desperate to fit in and be accepted into society and at the same time determine to not live in the shadow of her husband. She's a refreshing mix of Poiret and Columbo with a distinctly feminine sense of wiliness and world vision. I loved her admiration of Poe and the rich depiction of the class structure of nineteenth century Cracow. Historically interesting and a wonderfully concluded - it just takes a little brain power to keep up with the different countesses and baroness!

[micusiowo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Świetny, toczący się w Krakowie przełomu wieków kryminał. Dehnel w sposób doskonały oddaje wszystkie krakowsko-mieszczańskie przywary. Główna bohaterka Szczupaczyńska jest wspaniałym portretem dawnych matron, przechadzających się po linii A-B tylko po to, by być zauważoną. Przyjemność lektury.