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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
2.5 stars because I cannot stand Zofia. Words cannot express how insufferable of a lead character she is. She is vain, hypocritical, bored to her detriment, and entitled. So very entitled. The story was heavily invested in gossip and an incredibly nosy character trait that Zofia took to without shame.
The world building on the other hand was enchanting. The translation really hammered home how beautiful the writing could be despite it surrounding an intolerable MC. The sequence describing the peacock feather going about town was delightful, and the setting was described in such a way that really placed you both in Cracow and in the time period as well, and I found the descriptions of the world to be my favourite part of the novel.
The mystery itself wasn’t anything special, but I did enjoy the narration itself, accents included, hence the bump up to 3 stars.
The world building on the other hand was enchanting. The translation really hammered home how beautiful the writing could be despite it surrounding an intolerable MC. The sequence describing the peacock feather going about town was delightful, and the setting was described in such a way that really placed you both in Cracow and in the time period as well, and I found the descriptions of the world to be my favourite part of the novel.
The mystery itself wasn’t anything special, but I did enjoy the narration itself, accents included, hence the bump up to 3 stars.
Męczyło mnie to niustanne mruganie do czytelnika I to, że fabuła ma tu mniejsze znaczenie niż opisy Krakowa.
Zofia Turbotynska is bored. As the wife of a professor in Cracow in 1893, she has certain gender and social expectations that she is at pains to exceed. She's also smart, energetic and, honestly, a busybody with no place to turn for intellectual stimulation. So when multiple residents of a local nursing home are found dead, Zofia is sure a murderer is on the premises and throws herself into investigating. Even though the local police department dismisses her discoveries, and her husband is blissfully clueless about what she does during the day, Zofia eagerly channels her intelligence and affinity for gossip into sleuthing. Set within the captivating atmosphere of Polish bourgeois society in the 1890s, this is an altogether entertaining and original whodunit. If Miss Marple were 40 years younger you'd have some idea of Zofia's determination and charm. This is the first of what are hopefully many Zofia Turbotynska mysteries!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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.
This was quite light and breezy read. I enjoyed the setting in 19th century Poland, which I haven't read much about before. I wouldn't say that it was at all spooky, as the blurb declares. Instead, I laughed and was delighted by some witty remarks. The illustrated cover is beautiful.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First Novel Prize Review #2 (thanks to The Center for Fiction and Mariner Books (HMH) for the completed copy in exchange for an honest review/pub date March 17, 2020):
I generally try to stick with a book, even if I’m not enjoying it right away; Mrs. Mohr Goes Missing is a case where that decision really paid off. Originally published in 2015 in Polish, the 2020 English-language version was translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones.
The novel—written by partners Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczynski, under the pseudonym Maryla Szymiczkowa—is a witty, cheeky Agatha Christie-style amateur detective procedural. The setting is 1890s Cracow, and our heroine is Zofia Turbotynska—the wife of Professor Ignacy Turbotynska. Zofia’s life involves being a homemaker, frequently firing “the help,” attempting to gain social recognition in the eyes of society’s wealthiest residents, and planning charity events for the poor: frankly, she’s bored to tears. What Zofia loves is reading Edgar Allan Poe detective stories and imagining her life being filled with dangerous intrigue and adventure. Then, lo and behold, she walks herself right into a real-life murder mystery.
Zofia has been planning an auction event at a nursing home for the wealthy when one of the residents dies under very suspicious circumstances. The woman’s body was hidden and found away from her bed, so Zofia can’t believe that foul play wasn’t involved. Going against the advice of the police, Zofia conducts her own elaborate investigation, secretly traveling to conduct interviews and forming a ramshackle research team, including her intelligent cook Franciszka and the nervous nun Sister Alojza.
If you think this plot sounds hokey, you’re right—it definitely is. But it’s also cute. Initially, I found Zofia insufferable and pretentious, but as the book goes on, she becomes much more relatable; she lashes out because her life lacks purpose, and she’s angry that her options—as a woman during this time period—are so limited. As someone who doesn’t regularly read these kinds of mysteries, I did find the plot a bit convoluted and difficult to follow at times. But I’d definitely recommend this novel to people who are fans of the historical amateur detective genre.
I generally try to stick with a book, even if I’m not enjoying it right away; Mrs. Mohr Goes Missing is a case where that decision really paid off. Originally published in 2015 in Polish, the 2020 English-language version was translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones.
The novel—written by partners Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczynski, under the pseudonym Maryla Szymiczkowa—is a witty, cheeky Agatha Christie-style amateur detective procedural. The setting is 1890s Cracow, and our heroine is Zofia Turbotynska—the wife of Professor Ignacy Turbotynska. Zofia’s life involves being a homemaker, frequently firing “the help,” attempting to gain social recognition in the eyes of society’s wealthiest residents, and planning charity events for the poor: frankly, she’s bored to tears. What Zofia loves is reading Edgar Allan Poe detective stories and imagining her life being filled with dangerous intrigue and adventure. Then, lo and behold, she walks herself right into a real-life murder mystery.
Zofia has been planning an auction event at a nursing home for the wealthy when one of the residents dies under very suspicious circumstances. The woman’s body was hidden and found away from her bed, so Zofia can’t believe that foul play wasn’t involved. Going against the advice of the police, Zofia conducts her own elaborate investigation, secretly traveling to conduct interviews and forming a ramshackle research team, including her intelligent cook Franciszka and the nervous nun Sister Alojza.
If you think this plot sounds hokey, you’re right—it definitely is. But it’s also cute. Initially, I found Zofia insufferable and pretentious, but as the book goes on, she becomes much more relatable; she lashes out because her life lacks purpose, and she’s angry that her options—as a woman during this time period—are so limited. As someone who doesn’t regularly read these kinds of mysteries, I did find the plot a bit convoluted and difficult to follow at times. But I’d definitely recommend this novel to people who are fans of the historical amateur detective genre.