louetta's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Sapere Books and the author for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The book was well written with a good plot and relatable characters. I wasn't aware this was book 2 in a series but still enjoyable.
The book was well written with a good plot and relatable characters. I wasn't aware this was book 2 in a series but still enjoyable.
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
5.0
Lieutenant Josef Slonsky receives a visit from retired police officer Edvard Holoubek about a case dating back to 1976. A young woman was brutally stabbed in her home and although the suspect hanged for the murder, Holoubek has always believed the man was framed. Although the Czech Republic is no longer under the Communist regime, Slonsky must still tread carefully when reopening this case. Someone wants this cold case to remain closed and will do whatever it takes to keep the truth from coming out.
This is the second book in the Josef Slonsky Investigations series, which is set in Prague, Czech Republic. I love this unique setting and enjoy the equally unique character of Slonsky. I love Slonsky's irreverent sense of humor and quick wit. His one lines remind me of another brilliant detective, Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse. Slonsky may give the appearance of caring more about his sausage and beer than his job, but he really cares about crime victims and will fight to get justice for them. Slonsky also loves his country and is happy the dark days of Communism are behind them. As Slonsky talks about what he remembers with his friends and the two young detectives he is mentoring, I learned a lot of about what things were like in Czechoslovakia in the fifties and sixties.
The investigation into what really happened to young Jana Valkova as well as who was behind the framing of an innocent man the subsequent cover-up is intriguing and leads to Slonksy, his partner Navratil, and new officer Peiperova finding themselves in more than one scary situation. There is a bit of a thriller mixed in with this well-written, entertaining police procedural. I was on the edge of my seat when a member of the team is in danger. Mixed in with the investigation of a very vicious murder from the past with a new murder as the unknown person behind the cover-up scrambles to cover his tracks is some lightness. I really enjoy the banter between Slonsky and Navratil, as well as between Slonsky and his boss Captain Lukas. I love the grown Slonsky shows as he realizes he enjoys being a mentor to both Navratil and Peiperova and how he handles the romantic relationship between the two young officers.
I was surprised by how the case concluded and couldn't have guessed the explanation into the complex chain of events that had occurred. Although I had read the first book in the series, this follow-up reads as a standalone. However, readers who start with this one and enjoy it will definitely want to go back and read the excellent debut in the series. I rate "Slaughter and Forgetting" 4.5 stars and highly recommend it to those who like police procedurals or just a good mystery in a setting unfamiliar to many readers. The author's note at the end says there will be a third book coming out soon, and I can't wait!
I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Josef Slonsky Investigations series, which is set in Prague, Czech Republic. I love this unique setting and enjoy the equally unique character of Slonsky. I love Slonsky's irreverent sense of humor and quick wit. His one lines remind me of another brilliant detective, Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse. Slonsky may give the appearance of caring more about his sausage and beer than his job, but he really cares about crime victims and will fight to get justice for them. Slonsky also loves his country and is happy the dark days of Communism are behind them. As Slonsky talks about what he remembers with his friends and the two young detectives he is mentoring, I learned a lot of about what things were like in Czechoslovakia in the fifties and sixties.
The investigation into what really happened to young Jana Valkova as well as who was behind the framing of an innocent man the subsequent cover-up is intriguing and leads to Slonksy, his partner Navratil, and new officer Peiperova finding themselves in more than one scary situation. There is a bit of a thriller mixed in with this well-written, entertaining police procedural. I was on the edge of my seat when a member of the team is in danger. Mixed in with the investigation of a very vicious murder from the past with a new murder as the unknown person behind the cover-up scrambles to cover his tracks is some lightness. I really enjoy the banter between Slonsky and Navratil, as well as between Slonsky and his boss Captain Lukas. I love the grown Slonsky shows as he realizes he enjoys being a mentor to both Navratil and Peiperova and how he handles the romantic relationship between the two young officers.
I was surprised by how the case concluded and couldn't have guessed the explanation into the complex chain of events that had occurred. Although I had read the first book in the series, this follow-up reads as a standalone. However, readers who start with this one and enjoy it will definitely want to go back and read the excellent debut in the series. I rate "Slaughter and Forgetting" 4.5 stars and highly recommend it to those who like police procedurals or just a good mystery in a setting unfamiliar to many readers. The author's note at the end says there will be a third book coming out soon, and I can't wait!
I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘I’ll tell you the story as I knew it. That doesn’t mean that it’s right, just that it’s what I heard or saw.’
Prague, Czech Republic. Edvard Holoubek, an elderly former detective, approaches Lieutenant Josef Slonský about a miscarriage of justice. Thirty years ago, Lubomir Bartoš was hanged for the murder of Jana Válková, a crime that Edvard Holoubek was certain that Lubomir Bartoš did not commit. Holoubek has information which he provides to Slonský. Slonský is not hopeful that he’ll be able to have the case reopened, until Holoubek is murdered in what could be a deliberate hit and run accident.
So, Slonský, his partner Navrátil and a new addition to the team, Peiperova, start to investigate.
Who murdered Jana Válková? Why was Lubomir Bartoš hanged for a murder he could not have committed? Those of us who’ve read the first book in the series just know that Slonský, appropriately fuelled with food and drink, will solve the case. Black humour, witty observations, and dogged investigation are all part of the Slonský style.
‘Always assume that I’m completely ignorant, then make it your job to ensure that I’m not ignorant.’
This is the second book in the Josef Slonský investigations series. I’m enjoying the characters and am finding the cases interesting. We learn a bit more about Slonský’s past in this novel, and both Peiperova and Navrátil are great additions to the team.
‘Actually, those of us who lived through Communism know that the past can be rewritten any number of times but your future depends on things you can’t change.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. I’ve since bought my own copy, and am looking forward to the third instalment.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Prague, Czech Republic. Edvard Holoubek, an elderly former detective, approaches Lieutenant Josef Slonský about a miscarriage of justice. Thirty years ago, Lubomir Bartoš was hanged for the murder of Jana Válková, a crime that Edvard Holoubek was certain that Lubomir Bartoš did not commit. Holoubek has information which he provides to Slonský. Slonský is not hopeful that he’ll be able to have the case reopened, until Holoubek is murdered in what could be a deliberate hit and run accident.
So, Slonský, his partner Navrátil and a new addition to the team, Peiperova, start to investigate.
Who murdered Jana Válková? Why was Lubomir Bartoš hanged for a murder he could not have committed? Those of us who’ve read the first book in the series just know that Slonský, appropriately fuelled with food and drink, will solve the case. Black humour, witty observations, and dogged investigation are all part of the Slonský style.
‘Always assume that I’m completely ignorant, then make it your job to ensure that I’m not ignorant.’
This is the second book in the Josef Slonský investigations series. I’m enjoying the characters and am finding the cases interesting. We learn a bit more about Slonský’s past in this novel, and both Peiperova and Navrátil are great additions to the team.
‘Actually, those of us who lived through Communism know that the past can be rewritten any number of times but your future depends on things you can’t change.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. I’ve since bought my own copy, and am looking forward to the third instalment.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
martyfried's review against another edition
5.0
I liked the first book of this series a lot, but didn't remember how much until I read this one, which I liked even more; unfortunately, I can't give it more than 5 stars, or I would. The humor is great, the mysteries are interesting, and the people are likable. I can't believe it's not more popular than it is. It must be that people think a book that takes place in Czechoslovakia can't be that interesting, or maybe it's just too hard to spell.
Lt. Josef Slonský seems like he would not be a very good policeman, but it would be a mistake. It's true that he's been stuck at the same level for years, but that's because he's already where he wants to be. His main worry is being forced to retire, something his captain knows and uses it to yank his chain at the beginning of the book by calling him in to talk about retirement. But he ends up telling him he hopes he won't retire soon because he's needed, and Slonský acts disappointed but is secretly overjoyed.
He seems to spend a lot of time drinking beer and eating sausages or pastry. He believes vegetables are something to be avoided, and fruit drinks are poisonous. But he says you need to keep yourself well fed to do good work, and he does manage to come through, so I guess he's entitled.
This book is about a cold case, a 30 year old murder of a young woman. An old, retired policeman asks Slonský to look into it for him. It happened back when the Communists were in charge, and some things were hard to question. So when a young man was hanged for a crime committed while he was in prison, nobody questioned this. Meanwhile, the real killers were never caught. And apparently, there is still a lot of interest in keeping it that way.
Slonský is advised by his friend, a reporter, not to take the case. If he doesn't solve it, he'll be called to task for wasting time; if he does solve it, the headline will only be that the police took 30 years to solve the murder. But he takes it, and it gets pretty complicated.
There were many laugh-out-loud exchanges throughout this story, along with a bit of reality here and there. The only negative I can think of is that there are not enough books left in the series, although there is another series from this author that I'm hoping will be good.
Lt. Josef Slonský seems like he would not be a very good policeman, but it would be a mistake. It's true that he's been stuck at the same level for years, but that's because he's already where he wants to be. His main worry is being forced to retire, something his captain knows and uses it to yank his chain at the beginning of the book by calling him in to talk about retirement. But he ends up telling him he hopes he won't retire soon because he's needed, and Slonský acts disappointed but is secretly overjoyed.
He seems to spend a lot of time drinking beer and eating sausages or pastry. He believes vegetables are something to be avoided, and fruit drinks are poisonous. But he says you need to keep yourself well fed to do good work, and he does manage to come through, so I guess he's entitled.
This book is about a cold case, a 30 year old murder of a young woman. An old, retired policeman asks Slonský to look into it for him. It happened back when the Communists were in charge, and some things were hard to question. So when a young man was hanged for a crime committed while he was in prison, nobody questioned this. Meanwhile, the real killers were never caught. And apparently, there is still a lot of interest in keeping it that way.
Slonský is advised by his friend, a reporter, not to take the case. If he doesn't solve it, he'll be called to task for wasting time; if he does solve it, the headline will only be that the police took 30 years to solve the murder. But he takes it, and it gets pretty complicated.
There were many laugh-out-loud exchanges throughout this story, along with a bit of reality here and there. The only negative I can think of is that there are not enough books left in the series, although there is another series from this author that I'm hoping will be good.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
Holoubek, ex-police officer, approaches Lt Slonsky concerning a 30 year old case. Where he knows that the man charged and hanged for the crime of the murder of Jana Valkova was innocent. He would like Slonsky to investigate.
Very enjoyable and interesting mystery. A well-written story with well-developed and likeable characters. I look forward to the next in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Very enjoyable and interesting mystery. A well-written story with well-developed and likeable characters. I look forward to the next in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
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