In this 5th book in the 'Josef Slonský' international thriller series, the detective investigates the death of a young girl. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Newly promoted Captain Josef Slonský of the Czech Criminal Police has two main interests in life: solving his cases and filling his stomach - usually with beer and sausages or coffee and pastries.
Slonský's team has been severely depleted because of transfers and suspensions, but he still has three detectives, including Jan Navrátil - his personal protégé. Slonský also gets part-time assistance from his former officer, Kristýna Peiperová - who's been temporarily seconded to Colonel Urban, the Director of Criminal Police.
It so happens that Navrátil and Peiperová are engaged to be married, and Slonský feels he has to keep a close eye on them, to forestall excessive canoodling on the job. 💞
Slonský knows he needs to supplement his detective ranks - and increase the number of women on his squad - so he uses innovative (and sneaky) techniques to get exactly who he wants. Slonský's maneuvers in this regard are quite entertaining, as are his frequent stops at canteens and cafes, where he (constantly) 'replenishes his energy.'
Slonsky needs good cops because he has an especially troubling case. The body of a ten-year-old girl, showing signs of long term sexual abuse, has been fished out of the Vlatava River.
DNA evidence shows that this is a girl who disappeared seven years ago, when she was three-years-old. The toddler vanished from her nursery school at dismissal time - while her mother was waiting out front to pick her up.
Slonský learns that the original investigation of the girl's disappearance was shoddy at best, and the nursery school director was more interested in covering her butt than helping the police.
While Slonský and his crew are investigating the case of the dead girl - which includes a probe into her original disappearance - Slonský gives himself an additional job. Slonský's been expecting to get Officer Kristýna Peiperová back for good when Colonel Urban is promoted to Director of Police for the Czech Republic. However, it's starting to look like a different administrator - with important government connections - will get the job. So Slonský recruits some police buddies to help him rectify the situation. Once again, Slonský's clever strategies are on display.
Slonský and his detectives have to interview people all over Czechoslovakia to solve their homicide case, and they learn some disturbing things along the way.....but they're successful in the end. We also get a peek into the personal lives of the main characters, which adds to the book's interest.
This is a fun suspense novel, with an interesting setting and an engaging lead detective. Fans of humorous mysteries would probably enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Graham Brack), and the publisher (Sapere Books) for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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