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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Professional Social Climber Zofia Turbotynska pushes against her role as a wife and home maker (in what felt like a natural, historically appropriate way! She's not just a contemporary feminist implant!)
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.
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.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A delightful read! I really enjoyed the witty, humorous, somewhat sarcastic tone, which reminded me somewhat of Jane Austen, definitely a positive, and Zofia was a very entertaining main character; I love how clear-eyed the narrative is about her negatives, but also that it embraces her positive character traits too. All the details about historical Cracow were really interesting and I enjoyed the depth of the time and place that this book created, as well as how the murder mystery tied into that time and place.
A charming little cozy mystery, and an interesting glimpse of Polish culture at the turn of the last century.
This is the first book in a historical series in Cracow. I knew nothing of this area which caused me to find the first half of this book a chore trying to place myself in the context. It was not badly written but the personality of Zofia did not emerge thru the background until the last half of the book. The exact moment she became a person to me was when she was having her recently washed hair brushed by her maid, Franciska told her that her husband was concerned she was spending so much time at the retirement place Hecnel House because she was going to send him there and her response was to hurry and have marital relations with him. The overbearing matron starts to show her street smarts and her softer side after that. I look forward to a followup in this series.
mysterious
medium-paced
I was listening to the audiobook and it didn't suit this content heavy book (filled with historical details) and the narrator didn't suit me either. So, I plan to read the physical book someday.
This is a delightful historical mystery set in late-19th century Poland. Our protagonist is a socialite, married to a university professor, who discovers she has a penchant for detective work (oh, the dangers of reading too many novels!). There were some sections that dragged, where my attention started to wander, but my love for Zofia kept me going. It’s a fantastic ending, and Zofia’s big reveal is an entertaining performance, worthy of any Golden Age Mystery drawing room.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated