Judith Sullivan is a writer in London, originally from Baltimore. She is working on a crime series set in Paris. Fluent in French, she’s pretty good with English and has conversational Italian and German and 20+ years in Leeds improved her Yorkshire speak.
Well, the victim in this novel may not be found but this reviewer has sure discovered an author to follow.
Mroz, it would appear, is big in his native Poland but few of his books have been translated into English. Never Found, though might change that and in my view, it should. Twisty and pacy, this book was a joy to read despite the grim backdrop of one million women in Poland suffering domestic violence each year, per Mroz’ afterword.
Never Found is on the surface the story of Gen-Zer and Opole resident Damian Werner, whose fiancée Ewa vanished a decade prior after a horrific gang rape witnessed by Damian. Last seen, she had been dumped into a local river but no body was ever found. Since the loss of his one great love, Damian has drifted from Mcjob to Mcjob, spending his free time bemoaning his loss and playing video games with best mate Adam “Blitzer” Blicki. The police have proved useless but Damian cannot abandon his search nor can he move forward.
The contemporary plot kicks off when Blitz spots a message board with a posting of a photo of Ewa at a Foo Fighters gig. This kicks the adrift Damian into contacting local private investigators Kasandra and Robert Reimann to help determine if Ewa somehow survived the terrible ten-year-old events. We also get to read about the investigation from Kasandra’s perspective, which adds immediacy and urgency.
Mroz packs so many twists and turns into this 340-pager that revealing too many plot details might ruin others’ pleasure in this Polish Girl Goneski. Suffice to say that Damian’s doggedness and the competence of the Reimann agency lead to revelation upon counter revelation upon “Oh my Gosh, really?” moments. He keeps us guessing until the literal final page.
This author, who is not yet 40, has mastered the art of the wrong turn that leads to yet more detours. More important, he has taken on the cause of the battered wife specifically and all women violated and mistreated by men and built a strong story that keeps the reader reading. He doesn’t preach; he simply shares the godawful truth.
Wikipedia tells me some of Mroz’ many books have been televised by streaming services but he deserves to be read and translator Kaja Gucia merits plaudits for her sprightly language in bringing this book to the attention of British and Irish Readers.
Please sir, may we have some more.
Translated by Kaja Gucio
