Review of "Laid in Earth: A Josef Slonský Investigation" by Graham Brack

In this 6th book in the 'Josef Slonský Investigations' series, the Czech cop has a complex case on his hands. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Up until 1990 'The Red House' in Prague was used as an interrogation center by the StB - the Communist secret police in the former Czechoslovakia.



Arrestees brought to The Red House for questioning were beaten and tortured, and recalcitrant detainees were sometimes placed in a one square meter room "that could be filled with the contents of the bath and toilets above."🥵 With this kind of treatment, it's not surprising that the occasional prisoner died. That's the premise at the center of this story.

In current times, The Red House is used as a teacher training facility, and the grounds are tended by a gardener named Hanuš Himl. When Himl notices something odd about a plant bed he's been preparing, a word to Police Captain Josef Slonský leads to the discovery of a woman's body.



What's more, it appears that previous remains were removed to make space for the dead woman, and only a finger bone of the first victim is left.

Slonský thinks the first fatality was a casualty of the communist era, and the woman's murder was probably an act of revenge. To identify the current killer, Slonský needs to figure out who the original victim was.....which is very tricky without a body.

Both unlawful deaths - the one that occurred decades ago and the new one - are probed by Slonský's team, which is led by veteran detectives Lieutenant Kristýna Peiperová and Lieutenant Jan Navrátil.





Also on board are newbie officers Ivo Krob and Lucie Jernaková. As usual, Slonský also gets assistance from Desk Sergeant Mucha - who has an uncanny ability to locate files.....even hidden communist ones; and journalist Valentin - whose contacts and newspaper archives are useful.



As the investigation proceeds things get more complicated, especially when the cops delve into incidents that occurred long ago. Dark secrets of the communist era emerge, and officers from that era are questioned.



During the inquries, Slonský's mentee Navrátil comes up with a LOT of good ideas, and Slonský prides himself on being such a great instructor.

As always, Slonský keeps up his strength with frequent snacks of beer and sausage/ham rolls or coffee and pastries, and these scenes are a nice break from the more serious parts of the story.





Slonský's sarcastic - but good-natured - repartee with the pathologist Dr. Novak also draws a few smiles.

Novak: "It's a woman."
Slonský: "I guessed that. The bright red nail polish put me onto it."
Novak: "See? You're not a detective for nothing."

In the private lives of the detectives, Jernaková - who's had a difficult life - is happy to finally have a good job and a place to live; Krob and his wife are expecting a baby; and Peiperová and Navrátil are engaged.



As the wedding day approaches Slonský has to decide on a wedding gift, and he consults Dumpy Anna - the cook at the police canteen. Anna responds, "If you'll take my advice, the usual thing is rubbish. It's something they'll never use like an egg boiler or a fondue set. What they need is a good boot scraper." In the end, Slonský comes up with a great idea of his own. (Though a boot scraper is quite useful IMO. 😊)

The story builds to an exciting climax, and I feared for the lives of Slonsky's intrepid crew.

I like this series, and recommend it to mystery fans.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Graham Brack), and the publisher (Sapere Books) for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars