“Settling Accounts” by Iwona Kienzler

I read the book thanks to the author's courtesy. 

Thank you!

 

Published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

London ⁎ Cambridge ⁎ New York ⁎ Sharjah

Original title: Uppgőrelser på Gotland

Two daughters of a prominent Swedish politician head to Alanya on the Turkish Riviera for a holiday, accompanied by the elder daughter’s boyfriend. In the picturesque resort, they befriend a charming young man who takes a special interest in the younger sister. But idyllic vacations never last. The elder sister and her boyfriend mysteriously vanish, and days later, their bodies are discovered. The murder of a politician’s daughter and her partner shocks the nation, but the crime goes unsolved for years. That is, until the younger sister comes face-to-face with the killer. Meanwhile, their father – a well-known Swedish figure – refuses to wait for justice. Investigators Klaudia Jassem and Erik Lindberg are drawn into a complex case that unfolds into not just a double, but a quadruple murder. Blending political intrigue, social commentary on contemporary Sweden, and a gripping romantic subplot, this thriller will captivate readers from start to finish. How far would you go to protect your family? With twists that linger long after the final page, this novel promises to ignite discussion and leave a lasting impression.

Settling Accounts by Iwona Kienzler – a Polish writer best known to Polish readers for her historical biographies and series of books about the British Royal Family – is a gripping crime novel that masterfully combines suspense with an excellent description of the setting. In addition, it is a story that is intriguing on the one hand and sophisticated on the other. The daughters of a well-known Swedish politician enjoy the beauty of sun-bathed Alanya, only to be suddenly thrown into a world of darkness and mystery when their holiday proves tragic in its consequences. The juxtaposition of the idyllic holiday atmosphere with unexplained deaths and successive disappearances is striking and sets the scene for a plot-complicated thriller.

The individual characters are brilliantly created, especially the sisters, whose relationships with each other are put to the test by dramatic events. The tragic end of the older sister and the ensuing chaos not only act as a catalyst for the narrative, but also underline how quickly one's world can be turned upside down, which is palpably felt throughout the novel. Jan Wetterberg, a devastated father, becomes the embodiment of parental desperation as he sets out to find truth and justice, which – as a thriller read – demonstrates the author's remarkable ability to create emotionally resonant characters.

The shift of the narrative from Turkey to Gotland adds another fascinating layer to the story, creating a sense of dislocation and intrigue. The author makes excellent use of her experiences gained during her time on Gotland, adding colour and depth to the setting while hinting at the darker aspects of the place. The island, often associated with opulence, is a stark contrast to the mysteries hiding there, making for a fascinating backdrop to the unfolding story.

Iwona Kienzler's writing is crisp and engaging, making the reader fall into a web of intrigue from which it is difficult to escape. The twists and turns keep the viewer hooked, and the investigative duo of Klaudia Jassem and Erik Lindberg provide a familiar but effective framework for the detective genre. Their pursuit of the truth brings a sense of suspense to the plot, especially when it intertwines with Wetterberg's personal vendetta.

While the novel touches on themes of loss, guilt and the search for answers, it also prompts readers to reflect on the consequences of unsolved mysteries – the ever-present shadows of the past. Iwona Kienzler deftly navigates these themes without overshadowing the plot, allowing the story to unfold at a pace that keeps readers engaged until the final page.

In short, Settling Accounts is an exceptional crime novel that demonstrates Iwona Kienzler's talent for creating complex plots with richly detailed character descriptions and atmospheric settings. It is a story that resonates on many levels, balancing personal grief with a relentless pursuit of justice. Intended for fans of the genre and those looking for an engaging read, it firmly establishes the author's position as a notable voice in contemporary crime fiction.

In 2023, the novel was originally published in Swedish, while it is now premiering in English. This year, the book was also published in Polish by the Polish Publishing House LIRA. So if you would like to read my review in Polish, please click here.

Agnes Anne Rose

translator, essayist, journalist, author

 

 

"Charlotte Brontë and her sleeping sisters" Eryk Ostrowski

Eryk Ostrowski is an expert in literature and a great authority as far as Brontë's sisters' work is concerned. His vast knowledge in this subject has resulted in the first Polish monography titled Charlotte Brontë and her sleeping sisters. This book is a very meticulous research, which is pleasurable not only in a literary way, but also visually, with numerous photographs, manuscripts and paintings included in the story. And the story itself is very intriguing.

Everyone with a basic literary education knows that there were three Brontë sisters : Charlotte, Emily and Anne. Charlotte is known for such works as Jane Eyre, The Professor and Shirley, Emily for Wuthering Heights and the youngest Anne for Agnes Grey. By looking at the artistic heritage the oldest, Charlotte, seems to have been the most fertile in her literary endavours. This can be supported by the vast collection of her juvenilla, poems and, of course, novels. Ostrowski moves a step further to claim that maybe it was Charlotte, who was the only writer in the family? What if Emily and Anne were gracefully endowed with talents by their older sister? Given the financial and marital status of those poor vicar's daughters, this idea seems to be justified.

The author looks deeply into the parish's half-closed door to present a picture of impoverished siblings, who escape into their imaginary worlds: Branwell and Charlotte into Angria and Emily and Anne into Gondal. Some may think that the life in Haworth was idyllic and calm, whereas in reality it was filled with sorrow and grief. And death. First Mrs. Bronte passed away from cancer, than two of her oldest daughters. Charlotte embraced that sadness, which later echoed in her works. Ostrowski pictures Charlotte as a very intelligent and insightful woman, reaching far beyond her time. She was stronger than she might have appeared at the first glance and it was proved that she was more comfortable in the company of men: her brother, father, professor, publisher. Despite her "manly" features in one sphere she was just as delicate as every  woman of her own time: love and affection.

Ostrowski attempts to solve the mystery of one of the greatest female writers of the XIX century, but I believe it is no longer possible. He can speculate, imagine, retell, but he does it in such an enthralling way that I am willing to accompany him in this journey. However the answers remain unseen, it is a great pleasure to immerse oneself in this thorough and exquisite research which is Charlotte Brontë and her sleeping sisters.

Will you dare to find out what happened in Lake Falls?

The vampire motif has been used in contemporary literature in almost every possible way. Unfortunately, in the majority of books which are currently published the image of blood drinkers is far away from Dracula or Nosferatu. A gentle, delicate boy, apparently dangerous but only to some extent, losing his head for a sensitive teenage girl is not the kind of vampire that I can accept. That’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading What happened in Lake Falls by Artur K. Dormann so much. You won’t find there another Edward Cullen but a man who doesn’t forget his real nature of a dangerous predator.

The book begins rather typical. The protagonist Victoria wants to start a new chapter in her life. After a tough divorce with the emotionally unstable husband, she decides to hide in a small town called Lake Falls, nestled in the middle of vast forests. She moves into an old house with her eight-year-old daughter Kat and after the local doctor retires, she takes over his medical practice. Everything seems to fall into place. Not for long though. Kat starts to feel worse and worse and the diagnosis is merciless – a brain tumor that can’t be operated on. When Victoria starts to lose her hope, she meets a stranger who offers to cure her child. But she will have to pay for that much more than she expects.

It isn’t difficult to guess that the mysterious man who appears in Vic’s living room at late night is a vampire. However, he has nothing in common with Twilight’s glittering teen boy, El’lar is a real old-school blood drinker – ruthless and arrogant but at the same time charming and seductive. No woman can resist his appeal, except Vic. At this moment you may find it a little bit well-worn but it isn’t so. Nothing in this novel is obvious and clear.

Dormann plays with readers the same way like a cat plays with a mouse, letting us believe we already know how the story will end and suddenly turning the plot upside down. More or less in the middle of the book I let myself smile with slight irony that I had already seen right through the author’s idea but that was a huge mistake. The ending surprised me so much that I know it for sure – I will never take anything in Dormann’s books for granted.

Apart from the vampire motif, the novel touches a much more important issue and makes us ask the question – what is a mother able to do to save her child? Sell her soul? Sacrifice the lives of other people, including her friends, if that is necessary? And even if she does so, can we really condemn her? I have significant doubts.

What happened in Lake Falls includes everything that a good modern gothic novel should have – dusky atmosphere, some sex scenes, interesting characters, a powerful demon and unexpected twists in the plot. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated with vampires.

"The Good Child" Roma Ligocka

The Girl in the Red Coat was a debut novel by the Polish writer Roma Ligocka. It was a spectacular success, as the story of a little girl surviving through the Holocaust was a real tearjerker. Her newest novel The Good Child proves that the World War II was not the only trauma that the writer had to cope with.

Adolescence is always the time of great turmoil. The 12-year-old Roma lives only with her mother, since the rest of the family had died. The girl struggles to find her way through the new world, which she does not understand. She is a Jew but she does not have to hide anymore. She goes to school, she has her dreams and interests. Nonetheless she is still full of fear about the only parent that has left, her mother Teofila.

The Good Child is a very intimate autobiography. The author uses fragments of her grandmother's diary. These pre-war notes helped young Roma to survive through hard times, because they depicted a different, forgotten world, in which her family used to live. It is visible in her mother's inability to adjust to the new reality, as she once used to be a spoiled daughter living in the world of glamorous parties and luxuries. Roma is the victim of her mother's frustration.

The mother-daughter relationship is full of intense emotions. Roma is constantly worried about her suicidal mother. The older woman sees Roma as a lunatic hidden in her own reality. Her mother's affair with a married man only makes things worse. Roma is paranoid, she starts to read her mother's letters, she eavesdrops every conversation. Eating and physical contact repulse her. And she still remains alone.

It is difficult for me to evaluate Roma Ligocka's novel. It is as difficult as to criticize someone's experiences. Roma did not choose her fate, first as a war child, later as an abandoned teenager. Thanks to painting and writing she has found her identity , but she will probably run away for the rest of her life. In this sad, very personal story there is some place for hope. The Good Child enabled the author to leave the past behind and see the relationship with her mother from a new perspective. I truly hope that she did.

Roma Ligocka (born Rominka Liebling, 13 November 1938 in Kraków, Poland) is a Polish costume designer, writer, and painter. Her novel The Girl in the Red Coat was inspired by Steven Spielberg's movie Schindler's List. After watching the movie she recognized herself as a Jewish child that wore a red coat. (Source: wikipedia.pl)

History needs to be re-written all the time...

Interview with Eva Stachniak 

by Agnes A. Rose

Eva Stachniak was born in Wrocław (Poland). She moved to Canada in 1981 on an English scholarship to McGill University. In 1988 she defended her doctoral thesis. Between 1984 and 1986 she worked for Radio Canada International (the Polish Section in Montreal), writing and producing radio programs about Canada. Until 2007 she taught English and humanities courses at Sheridan College. Her first short story was “Marble Heroes”, but her debut novel was “Necessary Lies”. In 2000 the book won Amazon.com/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Her international bestseller about Catherine the Great – “The Winter Palace” – made Eva Stachniak great popularity in the world. In March of 2014 the author published her second Catherine the Great novel. Now she lives in Toronto and works on her books.

Agnes A. Rose: Thank you very much for your accepting my invitation to this interview. At the beginning I would like to congratulate you on your second novel about Catherine the Great. Could you tell us why you decided to create the story exactly about this Russian Empress?

Eva Stachniak: Thank you so much. Why Catherine? In the Poland of my childhood Catherine was not a likeable character. I had an image of her as ruthless and hypocritical, hated rather than admired. I’m not disputing the historical accuracy of this image – Poles, Ottoman Turks; Ukrainian Cossacks all had very good reasons to be less than enthusiastic about Russian imperial policy. But the truth is that I knew very little about her then.

When I was writing Garden of Venus, I had to include Catherine the Great in a few scenes. Stanislaw August grapples with his memories of her when he meets Sophie Potocka and Sophie herself has been received by Catherine in St. Petersburg. To write these scenes I started researching her, and slowly a more complex and nuanced picture of her had emerged. I read her memoirs, her letters and one of her Western biographies. In the end, this is what brought about my fascination with this extraordinary monarch, even if I still do not accept or condone all of Catherine’s political decisions. 

Agnes A. Rose: How did you prepare for writing this kind of novel? I mean doing your research.

Eva Stachniak: I read biographies of all my major characters; I read their memoirs, if they left any, and letters. I also talked to historians, and anyone who could shed light on any aspect of my characters’ lives. A doctor to whom I described Catherine’s symptoms diagnosed her with diabetes, a detail not mentioned by her biographers.

I always try to travel to places I write about because I need to position myself in the physical space where I set my novels. In St. Petersburg I walked all over the oldest part of the city, from the Winter Palace to the Nevsky Prospect, from the Vasilyevsky Island to the Peter and Paul Fortress, along the Embankment. I visited other suburban palaces where Catherine the Great lived – Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo – and where her traces are still very much visible.

I also visited museums and art exhibits, looking for pictorial representation of life in 18^th century Russia. I searched for the details of ordinary lives, a dog’s collar, and the shape of a pitcher or flower vase, a child’s toy.

Agnes A. Rose: Which of the two parts of the story about Catherine the Great was more difficult to create? Why?

Eva Stachniak: The second one. Empress of the Night is written from Catherine’s point of view. Catherine can be an exasperating heroine, powerful, not always likeable, but always fascinating. I needed to approach her from the outside in The Winter Palace before I could try seeing the world through her eyes. But when I finally began writing in her voice, she was quite forthcoming…

Agnes A. Rose: When did you first decide that you wanted to be the author? And why did you choose to write historical fiction?

Eva Stachniak: I always wanted to write, ever since I realized that books I loved so much as a child had been imagined and written by human beings, but I took a long time to actually write fiction. I was an academic for many years, emigrated to Canada in 1981 where I continued to work on my PhD thesis and only began writing fiction in 1994. I needed that time to find my subject matter, to realize that fiction, not academic writing, is my true passion.

Historical fiction just happened. I’m not sure I’ll always write novels set in the past, but history is my passion, so it was a natural decision. And the fact that Polish and Eastern European stories have had a hard time penetrating into the Western consciousness. I want to work with these stories for they are part of my inheritance….

Agnes A. Rose: A few weeks ago I read “Garden of Venus”. This is the story about Sophie, the Countess Potocki. What inspired you to describe her extraordinary life?

Eva Stachniak: I found Jerzy Lojek’s biography of Sophie in a Canadian library and I could not put it down. Sophie was an immigrant to the 18^th century Poland and I love exploring the perceptions of immigrants. She was also a very intriguing woman, able to break through the barrier of class at a time when a young woman without money and family support could easily become a casualty. In addition her story took me to Ukraine and to the court of Stanislaw August for whom I have a soft spot. All of it contributed to the desire to write about her.

Agnes A. Rose: Your first novel won Amazon.com/Books in Canada First Novel Award. I think it is a great honour. Did you expect such a success while writing your debut novel?

Eva Stachniak: No, I didn’t. First novels are hard. No one knows about you yet, no readers wait for your books. I was very happy to have been nominated for the award, as it meant reviews in major Canadian newspapers. When I won, I was both astonished and delighted. My competition was stiff, and so it was, indeed, a great honour.

Agnes A. Rose: You are also the author of the book about one of the most famous love affairs of Romanticism era. I mean Delfina Potocka and Zygmunt Krasiński – the Polish poet. Could you tell us a little bit about this novel? 

Eva Stachniak: Dissonance, so far, has only had its Polish edition in a wonderful translation of Anna Przedpełska-Trzeciakowska. This is a very special novel for me, probably my most Polish one, for it touches upon Polish romantic myths. It tells the story of a very torturous love triangle, a great romantic poet, his muse/lover, and his wife, all three entangled in psychological games that draw us into the very nature of Polish romanticism. The story is told from several points of view, the poet’s, the lover’s and the wife’s… and a few other characters who interact with them.

I’m planning to have its English-language version published before too long, but the novel needs some revisions and so far the two Catherine novels were absorbing me entirely.

Agnes A. Rose: I think that your female characters are strong women pursuing their goal at any cost. Some of them have a very particular impact on men’s decisions concerning the country. Do you think that historical women in positions of power were better politicians than men?

Eva Stachniak: There were so many more male politicians in history that any generalization is bound to be stretched. For centuries, only truly exceptional women were successful enough to claim power for themselves – so no wonder that they were usually better. The question still remains if they ruled differently than men. In many ways they had to. Catherine the Great could not lead her army to battles; she had to rely on Potemkin to do it for her. But – of course – she could control Russia through other means.

Agnes A. Rose: In my opinion Polish history is very interesting and rich in different events or individuals. Have you ever thought about writing a book concerning one of the Polish royal dynasties such as the Piasts or Jagiellonians?

Eva Stachniak: I don’t really plan that much ahead. I agree with you that Polish history is extremely interesting and – especially in the West – not known that much if at all. But in my case a book always finds me. Something has to happen to grab my attention, make me want to resolve something for myself. So far the 18^th century was as far as I went back in history, because for me this is when the modern era began.

Agnes A. Rose: If you could choose three individuals from the past and take out them to dinner, who would that be?

Eva Stachniak: Catherine the Great, definitely. I have a lot of questions to ask her…though I am sure she would answer them the way it suited her. Bronislava Nijinska, for she is my latest inspiration and fascination. And, Delfina Potocka, the Romantic muse to Zygmunt Krasiński and Chopin. I am not sure how they would react to one another, but I would have a great time.

Agnes A. Rose: Do you have your favourite authors? Do you read your fellow writers’ books?

Eva Stachniak: I read all the time, trying to read both in English and in Polish. My favourite authors change all the time, so here are my latest: Hilary Mantel and her historical novels about Thomas Cromwell are my delight and a model I am trying to dissect. Penelope Fitzgerald whose historical novels follow a very different path – they are very short, and yet saturated with the ideas, perceptions and everyday texture of the past.

My favourite Polish writer is Olga Tokarczuk – I fell in love with her Prawiek i inne czasy (Primeval and Other Times) many, many years ago and have been her faithful admirer ever since.

Agnes A. Rose: Are there any other areas of history or historical figures you would like to write about in your future novels?

Eva Stachniak: My next novel will be about dancers from the Imperial Theatre: Bronislava Nijinska and her famous brother Vaslav. I have already begun researching ballet and the émigré milieu of Paris, Berlin, and London in the 20s and 30s. Beyond them, I don’t know yet. Something will grab me…I am sure.

Agnes A. Rose: What do you hope your readers take away from your work?

Eva Stachniak: A sense that history needs to be re-written all the time, from many differing points of view. That we can learn from the past, that what had happened is our heritage, universal, human. That stories from the lands we may not know much about enrich our understanding of the human nature.

Agnes A. Rose: Are you going to visit Poland to meet your fans in your homeland? What would you like to tell them?

Eva Stachniak: Yes. As soon as the Polish translation of Empress of the Night is published I will travel to Poland for a book tour. I have already met readers who read The Winter Palace, and I am hoping to have many interesting conversations about Catherine the Great and my two very different novels about her. I’m looking forward to this trip very much. And I would like my Polish readers to know that every time I come to Poland always feel I have come home.

Agnes A. Rose: Could you tell us about your current project or projects?

Eva Stachniak: As I already mentioned I am drawn to the imperial dancers. The Nijinskis, brother and sister, are particularly interesting because of their complicated identity. They were born in Russia of Polish parents, they spoke Polish at home but they were educated in Russian and identified with the Russian artistic community. They also spent most of their creative years in the West. I like to reflect on all these connections, search for their meanings.

Agnes A. Rose: Thank you so much for this interview. I wish you further success in your writing. We are looking forward to your next novel soon.

Eva Stachniak: Thank you, Agnes. It was a pleasure.

If you want to read this interview in Polish, please click here

Clever story about a bomb

Polish Publisher: E-BOOKOWO
Będzin 2014
Translated by Nina Wagner
E-BOOK

Any kind of conflicts – military or between people – is very often incongruous. We usually find out about it only after some time when we cool down and begin to make their analysis. Marcin Brzostowski describes these senseless and illogical causes of conflicts in a rather unusual way in his novel titled “Sweet Bomb Silly”. The title of the book indicates that while reading it can be very explosive. If you want to see whether it is true, you have to read this book. The storyline does not give readers a clear answer to the questions about some of the issues. It is up to each individual reader to decide how they will be perceived by the readers. In my opinion this is one of those clever books which are not so easily forgotten and which encourage the readers to reflect.

I have already found out several times that the volume of the book – in the traditional version or as an e-book – is not evidence of its quality. Because after all you can write a story using hundreds pages and really write about anything. You can also create a short story with a deep and meaningful moral which will be in the memory of the readers for a long time. Marcin Brzostowski chose the second option and created an original story where the main character is… a bomb. The air force S6-X02 series bomb called “Silly” is not as silly as her name could indicate. This is a very resolute and curious bomb which loses her best friend in quite dramatic circumstances. Silly’s best friend was a K8-0 series hand grenade. Both Silly and her companion were brought to life in the Bombs and Grenades Factory ltd. in Czernievo. Since their “birth” they are soldiers, and their purpose is to participate in the armed conflicted. Silly orphaned by the friend is the first year group soldier of the intelligent army of mass destruction.

The bomb works almost as a man. She has hands, feet, eyes and of course her own unique brain and even feels hungry like any normal person. But this is not only the fighting hunger. Silly is extremely proud of its destination. The bomb considers herself a soldier who sooner or later will be killed in the battle. If you want to imagine Silly, you can identify the bomb with a classic cartoon character. Although our Silly is a soldier, she does not really know much about the war. Her knowledge is based only on what the bomb learned during the training. Certainly Silly does not see what is happening in the army between people who command it. Silly cannot understand many things, but the lack of knowledge is not troublesome for her. The bomb asks a lot of different questions. At a certain moment our sweet Silly is implicated in the showdown between the two opposing armies that try to fight each other. How does our resolute bomb behave in this situation? Does she come out unscathed from this conflict?

Now I should write the standard sentence that most readers repeat: “Generally I do not read e-books, but this time I like it very much.” Yes, that’s right. I do not read e-books as often as I would like to read, but not because of their poor quality or something, but because of the lack of the e-book reader. However, I am sure that the quality of e-books is not worse than the quality of traditional paper books. I think that it is high time we began to overturn this stereotype and stop thinking that e-books are much more worse than paper books. Nowadays many respected authors also publish their novels both as traditional books and electronic ones.

Talking about “Sweet Bomb Silly”, as I mentioned above, I think that Marcin Brzostowski created a really original fictional story. While reading any book I pay special attention not only to the technical side, but first of all to the uniqueness of the idea and the storyline. And what can I say? I like our Silly. The bomb really gives the impression of a much more wiser than people who command the army. She sees many issues completely different than people do it. While reading this book we can smile from time to time, but under the sense of humour the author hides the bitter truth about the people and their doings, and generally about the world around us. Many issues taken by people do not make sense to only satisfy their own ambitions or to fulfill some ridiculous desires. This kind of absurdity about making various decisions accompanies by the reader practically during the whole time of the book reading. 

Marcin Brzostowski’s book is by no means strictly a war novel as some of the readers may think. In my opinion this book is a rather science fiction novel with the elements of psychology. I think that anyone who would like to read this small volume of the novel will not be disappointed and first of all from the very first pages will feel sympathy for the main character. Because it is really impossible not to like Silly. 

If you want to download this e-book, please click here 

Destiny is hidden in your dreams

Agnieszka Lingas-Łoniewska

Szósty

(The Sixth)

Polish Publisher: REPLIKA

Zakrzewo 2012

On the sixth day God created man – a man and a woman

On the sixth day… I will take your life because I am your god

Have you ever thought what role in your life the destiny plays? Does it even exist? Or maybe one day people created the word “destiny” to avoid responsibility for managing their own fate?

Inspector Martin Langer does not certainly believe either in destiny or in dreams until he finds out that somewhere there is someone who planned his life carefully. At the time, when we meet Martin, the man is thirty-two years old. He is the chief of the Criminal Investigation Group of Silesia. All his attention is focused only on his job. He also lives in an unhappy relationship with a younger model – Angela. The girl is interested only in herself. For her the most important thing is her job. This situation is very similar to Martin’s one. She does not seem to be interested in her boyfriend’s life at all. Angela is a so-called “young lady from a good family”. Angela’s father is a millionaire who tries to fulfill all her desires while Martin’s life has never spoiled him and he had to achieve everyhthing on his own. So, such a relationship may not be successful.

One day while jogging Martin loses his consciousness. He is taken to the hospital with a diagnosis of pectoris. His condition is quite serious, but not life-threatening. Langer’s elder brother – Michael and his wife are watching at Martin’s bed all the time. At the time of the fall, Inspector Langer suffered from a serious head injury. That is why now he is unconscious and staying in ICU.

On the next bed there is a man, Jack Szymczak. He is also unconscious, but his doctors do not give even the slightest chance of survival. Returning from the short honeymoon, both he and his wife involved in a serious road accident. To save Alice, Jack sacrificed himself. He preferred not to survive a collision with a lorry than lose his Ali. Although he is dying, he is not going to cease to care about her.

Six years later Martin Langer is no longer the head of the Silesian section of the Investigation Group of Silesia, but now he stands on its head. Still the work is the most important thing for him. Despite the warnings of doctors, Martin is still working intensively. His relationship with Angela continuous, but over the years, nothing has changed between them. Furthermore, Martin is haunted by dreams about the unknown woman who every time when she comes to him, says the same sentence: “I have been waiting for you, Martin”. The woman has light hair and beautiful green eyes.

Now Inspector Langer works on a very difficult case. He tries to find a serial killer who is prowling in Silesia. His victims are green-eyed blondes. He abducts the women and then kills them on the sixth day after the abduction.

In this way a senior midshipman, Alice Szymczak appears in Martin’s life. The woman is a police profiler, whose task is to create a psychological portrait of the killer. When Martin meets Alice for the first time, he is sure that the woman, standing in  front of him, is the same that he can see in his dreams. At this moment his consciousness is reaching the meaning of these strange hallucinations which have been visiting him for many years. As you know, it began when he was lying in the hispital. And thus the mad race against time to save another green-eyed blonde from death begins. Apart from that the passionate feeling also breaks out between Alice and Martin. However, both are convinced that their acquaintance is not incidental, they do not give vent to their passions at once.

If you want to know what will happen to this police couple and whether Martin will manage to save his beloved against the death from hands of the psychopath, you must absolutely read The Sixth! Certainly you will not find out about it reading my review.

The Sixth is the first novel of Agnes Lingas-Loniewska I read. I remember that I was waiting for that moment for a long time. I do not regret any moments I spent with this book. As a reader, I received everything what I expected. The novel kept me in suspense from the first page. I still wondered what would happen next and who would be a real psychopath who brutally murdered green-eyed blondes. Unfortunately, I was unable to predict the real killer, so this fact means that the plot of the novel is constructed fantastically. Think, if the reader knows who is the murder after reading a few chapters, what sense is to read next ones? In this situation the novel would be very boring. It this case it is not! We can only guess who is a psychopath but we have to wait for the final solution of this mistery until the end of the book. In addition, the action is still rushing forward. It is very dynamic, which makes that the readers have the impression that they are participating in it with the book characters. The author uses easy and fluent language. This fact causes that the book is read very well. The reader is not tired and he/she does not have to wonder what the author meant while writing. In this book there is no shortage of vulgar words but these are not used by chance. You must know that if you want to show the reality of a specific human environment, sometimes you might need to use some vulgar words. It is normal, so we should not be upset because of that.

Once Terence said: “I am a human being, I consider nothing that is human alien to me” (Homo sum; humani nihil a me alienum puto). While reading The Sixth I often thought about this sentence. Why? Because I observed that most Polish writers are afraid of describing sex scenes in their books. Sometimes they do not decide to do it even where this kind of scenes are needed. I am sure that Agnes Lingas-Loniewska does not belong to the group like this. I think that it is one of her books’ advantage. Thanks to it, the story is very authentic and described in a professional way.

Finishing I would like to add that in my opinion The Sixth is the perfect thriller which should be filmed one day. I hope it will happen soon. You must know that The Sixth is not the only book of Agnes Lingas-Loniewska. The author is very talented and she releases the new book in short periods of time. So, I hope that one day someone will translate each of her novel into English.

The last attempts to rescue Poland

Renata Czarnecka

Pod sztandarem miłości. Rok 1794

 (Under the Banner of Love - 1794) 

 Published by ŚWIAT KSIĄŻKI

Warsaw 2012

Everyone, who knows Polish history very well, realizes that the Republic of Poland was occupied even before its second partition. This military-occupation of foreign powers and the rule of Targowica became extremely difficult for the country, and therefore the population very quickly began to manifest their dissatisfaction and rebel against that situation, trying conspiracies against the occupier. The second partition of Poland was probably the bloodiest event of all three partitions.

What brought that memorable year 1794? Well, in March, the national uprising against Russia and Prussia broke out. The revolt was commanded by General Thaddeus Kosciusko. However, the king Stanislaw August Poniatowski did not support the struggle of the people, in order to get out from under the yoke of the occupier. In return, on March 19 the monarch sent a letter to prince Josef Poniatowski, which considered his scared duty “to keep the Russians”. That was not all. When he learned about the nature of the activities of Thaddeus Kosciusko, he immediately recognized him as a rebel, whom he, as an ally of Russia, must combat all forces. In response, on April 2, the king placed his signature on the document against the uprising, which was prepared by the Department of Justice of the Permanent Council. In that document Stanislaw August Poniatowski strongly condemned the French Revolution, while his people were calling to abandon and strongly warning against the belief in the help of France.

As a result of hostilities between the army and the people of Warsaw and the Russian garrison occupation on 17-18 April 1794 was captured Russian Embassy and seized the documents, which were irrefutable evidence of treason. They certified that people, who were the nearest setting of the king, took salary from Tsarina Catherine II. From that moment the king became a hostage of insurgents and locked himself in the castle.

However, those fights were just the beginning. The bloodiest ones took place at the time when the troops, led by Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, enetred Warsaw. The memorable onslaught of Prague reflected echoes among the people of Warsaw for a long time.

This is the historical background of the events which take place in the novel of Renata Czarnecka entitled “Pod sztandarem miłości. Rok 1794” (Under the Banner of Love – 1794). The novel is the second part of the story told in the book: “Pożegnanie z ojczyzną. Rok 1793” (Farewell to Homeland - 1793). The reader enters the salons along with former Warsaw aristocracy again. Once again we are invited to the palace of the Radzivill and Czartoryski families. We also meet the representatives of the Potocki and Lubomirski families. However, just as in the previous part of this story, here on the foreground also the Duchess, Helena Radzivill, extends. She is heard as the loudest woman. Her voice is re-echoed in the palace walls, and the heels of her shoes clatter on the marble floors. She is so real that we can even smell her perfume and hear the rustle of her elegant dresses.

Despite the riots in the streets of Warsaw and the danger of loss of life, which may reach to the end, the Radzivills still remain faithful to Catherine II. Helena still trembles so that none of her family gives a bad word at her warmest friend that in her opinion is the Empress. But is that friendship as strong from the Empress? Probably not, because since after the cancellation of Ambassador Jacob Johann Sievers from Warsaw, Regina of Vilnius has done everything what is possible to sneak in favor of his successor and thus regain the trust of Catherine II. She is still thinking about the preferred edition for the husband of her daughter, Christine, and she knows that only the Empress is able to help her. Of course, as in real life, not everything is going her way. She has a large family and consequently there is a risk that not all of its members will share her opinion. As in the previous part of this story, so here the aristocracy is trying to live a normal life, though they also think about issues which are very important for their country. For obvious reasons the Radzivills are sympathetic with the Russians and they mainly invite them to their palace.

Besides Helena Radzivill, the reader also meet another woman, who is equally strong as the Duchess. Her name is the Countess Maria Naryshkin (Czatwertynska). She is not only the nearest friend of Helena Radzivill but also a wife of a Russian. This last fact makes her still trembles for her safety. Maria is also a very beautiful woman, so it is not surprising that she falls into the eye of a Russian officer, who is by no means her husband. Will this love for the married woman in the end meet? Or can bloody unrest in the country make it remains only a dream?

Renata Czarnecka again made ​​something extraordinary. Well, she created a difficult novel in terms of historical background, but on the other hand it is so addictive that it is impossible to break away from it. Confusing political issues intertwined here with everyday life of the heroes. A reader is well aware what a character feels and what he or she intends to do. Not only Helena Radzivill gives the impression of a woman of flesh and blood. This happens in the case of each character we meet in the pages of the book. When the author writes that behind the window of the Radzivills’ palace the thunderstorm has been unleashed, in fact it is. The reader also hears the sound of thunder, the big drops of rain hitting the window frames and quick steps of one of the Duchy’s sons, who has just pulled up in front of the palace in a carriage. On the other hand, when you wander the streets of Warsaw, almost with your own eyes, you can see the crowds of townspeople who are eager for the blood of the traitors.

In front of our eyes the gallows are growing and we can feel the fear of those who are led to execution. Together with Maria Naryshkin and Helena Radzivill the reader can hear the roar of cannon and the clash of arms. We see the bloody people and we catch the ear of their moans, when death is near. The author uses a kind of simple words, but they are chosen in such a way that at some point, the reader loses all sense of reality.

In this book there are also some scenes of humor, while the overall theme of the novel is serious. This fact undoubtedly varies the plot of the novel. Thus, the readers will find in this book everything that should have a well-constructed novel, which perfectly created characters, feelings of self-preservation tearing them, love, friendship, betrayal, and linguistic situation, and because it is a historical novel, not lacking in it images from Polish history painted with wards perfectly. The author took care of the smallest detail, of course, in so far as permitted by the volume of the book. The additional advantage are well-constructed dialogues.

Needless to say that I am very impressed with this novel, like Renata Czarnecka's other books I have read. However, in this case there is even difficult historical background that the author coped fantastically. Just this fact suggests that I decided to raise scores of this novel, because I realize how much work it costs to write such a book. I fear, however, that the word "revelation" is not enough to express this novel phenomenon. In this context, "outstanding" fits much more.