A local woman is found dead in a Central Bohemian village after a festival. A young nurse is puzzled by the sudden disappearance of her best friend and finds herself drawn into a far-reaching tangle of mystery involving people she thought she knew. Old people and children in the village start whispering about the “waterman,” a mythological being who lives in ponds and pools, drowns his victims, and keeps their souls. Tereza Bartošová brings together insightful observations of life in contemporary Central Europe, a credible police procedural, and hints of Czech folklore in a gripping, fast-paced novel that builds on the attractions of regional atmosphere and history while remaining accessible to wide readerships.

Published in 2023 by Motto Publishers in the Czech Republic.
304 pages / 13 x 20 cm