I love good historical fiction with a strong lead woman!
This is the sequel of A Zofia Turbotynska Mystery, the book takes place in Cracow, 1895, Zofia is a professor’s wife and socialite, she is always looking for doing something more than being at home, one day she was preparing the annual Easter festivities, and she receives the news that a young woman was raped and murdered, it turns out to be Karolin, her other maid. Then Zofia and her maid Franciszka investigate the murder with the police´s help.
I liked Zofia's personality, she is strong, not afraid to speak her mind, brave, and intelligent. The storyline was good, but there were some characters that I couldn't keep track of, they were a bit ambiguous for me, even though this is a good crime, historical fiction story.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book will be released o Mar 03, 2021

Bursting With Atmosphere.....
Where has Karolina disappeared to? Delving into the criminal underworld of Cracow, intrepid amateur sleuth and socialite Zofia is determined to find out. Bursting with atmosphere, colourful characters and laced with a dry wit this is an engaging read. Lovers of historical fiction will be sure to enjoy.

MY RATING: 3 STARS

This book took its time to reach the murderer or the reason behind the murder, but it was a gripping story; it is rich with Polish culture and cuts across various subjects. It tells you the story of a bourgeoisie Polish woman who becomes a detective to seek justice for her servant, who was raped and murdered in Cracow. This path leads her to the darker side of Cracow, which is filled with corruption.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading crime/historical/mystery fiction.

TRIGGERS: Murder, Raper, Blood, Incest, Trafficking.

Truly enjoyable historical mystery with a strong, charismatic female protagonist.

I jumped at the opportunity to read this book for two reasons: the first is my ever-curious Polish heritage and true love for the city of Cracow, and the second is the intriguing storyline.

The story takes place in Cracow in 1895 as Zofia and her maid Franciszka prepare for the traditional Easter celebration. The second maid, Karolina, is missing without a trace. Unfortunately, soon afterwards Karolina's body is found in a truly abhorrent state of violation, and since Zofia might be the only one to help the police solve the case, she delves deep into the city's shadiest districts, businesses and people despite her own high-class background as a prominent professor's wife.

I absolutely LOVED the atmosphere of this book created largely by the setting and its vivid descriptions. Since I know Cracow well, I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed walking along the streets of the late 19th century Cracow and recognize some of the areas, which look completely different today. But needless to say, anyone who hasn't been to the city will enjoy the atmospheric setting of a diverse European metropolis in such an interesting time in history.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book very fun and atmospheric. The book is set in 1895 Cracow, which is a time period I have yet to read about.
I didn't realize until half way through that this is actually the second book in a series. It's very easy to fall into this world and you don't need to have knowledge of the prior book before starting this one. I enjoyed the unique style of this book and how it included fun descriptions at the beginning of each chapter.
I loved Zofia's personality and her dynamic with the other characters.
This was a fun murder mystery book.

This witty, intriguing and twisty book was very interesting to read! It is set in 1895 Cracow (how I love reading about that era!) and is resplendent with crime, deceit and intrigue. This author duo has a fabulous sense of humour you are sure to enjoy.

Karolina, a servant, is found murdered and her boss, Zofia and her cook/maid Franciszka investigate with help from the police. Their search takes them all over and involve all classes of people from prostitutes to politicians. Upper class citizens find it difficult to use vocabulary which isn't fit for ladies' ears and sensibilities but Zofia casts this notion aside. Well captured by the authors in a funny way. The obliviousness of other characters is brilliant!

This book was different which I really appreciate. I was enchanted by the Cracow setting as well.

Historical Fiction readers will enjoy this riveting and fun read. Just know there are adult situations and language.

My sincere thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. Much appreciated.

**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review**
Karolina and the Torn Curtain by writing duo Maryla Szymiczkowa is a mystery novel set in the 1890s about Zofia Turbotyńska, the brilliant wife of a professor, and her journey in discovering the identity of her maid's killer.
The story is fun, exciting, and full of turns that leave one hooked and surprised, with magnetic characters and all the complications of 19th century society. The book reads like a classic, which greatly compliments the setting, but might sometimes be dull, and the short synopses at the start of every chapter leave you wondering what could possibly happen to lead to them. The story is fun and easily understandable without having read the first book in the series, which I plan to do as soon as possible.
This book is perfect for mystery and classics lovers from the ages of 16 and up, and it will leave you turning pages until late into the night.
My rating is 4/5 stars.