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Teodor Szacki #3
Rage
Bestselling Polish crime by award-winning author Zygmunt Miloszewski.
All eyes are on famous prosecutor Teodor Szacki when he investigates a skeleton discovered at a construction site in the idyllic Polish city of Olsztyn. Old bones come as no shock to anyone in this part of Poland, but it turns out these remains are fresh, the flesh chemically removed.
Szacki questions the dead man’s wife, only to be left with a suspicion she’s hiding something. Then another victim surfaces—a violent husband, alive but maimed—giving rise to a theory: someone’s targeting domestic abusers. And as new clues bring the murderer closer to those Szacki holds dear, he begins to understand the terrible rage that drives people to murder.
From acclaimed Polish crime writer Zygmunt Miloszewski comes a gritty, atmospheric page-turner that poses the question, what drives a sane man to kill?
All eyes are on famous prosecutor Teodor Szacki when he investigates a skeleton discovered at a construction site in the idyllic Polish city of Olsztyn. Old bones come as no shock to anyone in this part of Poland, but it turns out these remains are fresh, the flesh chemically removed.
Szacki questions the dead man’s wife, only to be left with a suspicion she’s hiding something. Then another victim surfaces—a violent husband, alive but maimed—giving rise to a theory: someone’s targeting domestic abusers. And as new clues bring the murderer closer to those Szacki holds dear, he begins to understand the terrible rage that drives people to murder.
From acclaimed Polish crime writer Zygmunt Miloszewski comes a gritty, atmospheric page-turner that poses the question, what drives a sane man to kill?
426 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2014
1201 people are currently reading
3493 people want to read
About the author
Zygmunt Miloszewski
30 books547 followersMiłoszewski began his career in journalism, at Super Express in the mid-1990s, where he specialized in court and crime reporting, and for several years he also had a column in Metropol. Since 2003 he has worked for Newsweek's Polish edition. His debut novel, the horror Domofon (Intercom), was published in 2005. In 2006 he published a children's adventure story, Viper Mountains, and a year later his second adult novel Uwikłanie (translated to English as Entanglement) came out, the first of the police procedural trilogy featuring State Prosecutor Teodor Szacki. Noted Polish author Jerzy Pilch gave an it enthusiastic review; Uwikłanie is a full-blooded crime story with a good plot and great contemporary social background.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
August 17, 2016
This is a translated Polish crime thriller set in the traffic riddled, foggy and freezing rain drenched city of Olsztyn. This is the last in a trilogy based on the Prosecutor Teodor Szacki, a Warsaw man still coming to terms with living in Olsztyn. It is the first that I have read and it worked reasonably well as a standalone. It gives us an insight of the Polish judicial system and how it works. Teodor is a resentful, cynical, cold, emotionally detached, and flawed character. He is human and understands that he makes mistakes even if others do not want to hear this from him. He is co-habiting with Zenia, his partner and his daughter from his first marriage, Hela. He does not find it easy to manage or negotiate his relationships with either Zenia or Hela.
Teodor works with his junior assistant, Edmund Falk, who is able and asked to work with Teodor. They are nicknamed The King of Stuffed Shirts and The Prince of Starched Collars. Teodor has never understood how those who have killed have described themselves as consumed with rage. He is set to become intimately acquainted with this rage himself in the warped and twisted case that he takes on.
A skeleton is discovered on a construction site. It is assumed that this is a long dead individual only for the autopsy to reveal that the victim was alive a week ago and gruesomely murdered by being drowned in lye, the constituent of drain cleaner. The manner of his death suggests a killer consumed by rage. In a further twist, it is discovered that the skeleton is not entirely his, but of multiple people. There are indications that someone or a group of people are hell bent on issuing their own brand of justice with regard to domestic violence. Teodor finds himself helplessly caught in a web as Hela is abducted. Teodor finds himself in a frantic race against time as he tries to desperately find Hela. Will he be in time?
A principled man who believes in the judicial system, Teodor finds himself in a place he did not expect to be. I thought this was a compelling and gripping mystery. I would have given it 5 stars but for the unconvincing ending which did not feel right. I imagine the author was in a hurry to put this series to bed. It is still a good read though and I recommend it. Thanks to Amazon Crossing for an ARC.
Teodor works with his junior assistant, Edmund Falk, who is able and asked to work with Teodor. They are nicknamed The King of Stuffed Shirts and The Prince of Starched Collars. Teodor has never understood how those who have killed have described themselves as consumed with rage. He is set to become intimately acquainted with this rage himself in the warped and twisted case that he takes on.
A skeleton is discovered on a construction site. It is assumed that this is a long dead individual only for the autopsy to reveal that the victim was alive a week ago and gruesomely murdered by being drowned in lye, the constituent of drain cleaner. The manner of his death suggests a killer consumed by rage. In a further twist, it is discovered that the skeleton is not entirely his, but of multiple people. There are indications that someone or a group of people are hell bent on issuing their own brand of justice with regard to domestic violence. Teodor finds himself helplessly caught in a web as Hela is abducted. Teodor finds himself in a frantic race against time as he tries to desperately find Hela. Will he be in time?
A principled man who believes in the judicial system, Teodor finds himself in a place he did not expect to be. I thought this was a compelling and gripping mystery. I would have given it 5 stars but for the unconvincing ending which did not feel right. I imagine the author was in a hurry to put this series to bed. It is still a good read though and I recommend it. Thanks to Amazon Crossing for an ARC.
November 29, 2019
Set in the Polish region of Warmia, in the scenic but cold and dreary city of Olsztyn, author Zygmunt Miloszewski describes a bizarre series of events leading to a confrontational showdown.
Prosecutor Teodor Szacki takes the leading detective role in what must be a procedurally divergent criminal system. This type of story most other places would have a police detective in the starring role, but here Miloszewski uses the crisp and stolid prosecutor as his hero. Cold and professionally aloof, Szacki is a man acting a part but is within a seething cauldron of rage. Miloszewski does a good job of casting his hero in circumstances where the tensions of his professional and family life combine to keep him of the edge in this taut thriller.
This reminded me cryptically of Greg Iles writing, with cool modern pop and news references setting boundaries around the action. Szacki and team go to investigate an uncovered skeleton, which is apparently of little news value in this region of historic German oppression. This begins to spiral into the weird when it is revealed that the skeleton is not decades old but was rather walking around the week before and he was the victim of a caustic and theatrical murder plot.
Miloszewski’s writing is bold and approachable, and his characterization is first rate. International murder mystery fans will want to read this as a change of pace.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review
Prosecutor Teodor Szacki takes the leading detective role in what must be a procedurally divergent criminal system. This type of story most other places would have a police detective in the starring role, but here Miloszewski uses the crisp and stolid prosecutor as his hero. Cold and professionally aloof, Szacki is a man acting a part but is within a seething cauldron of rage. Miloszewski does a good job of casting his hero in circumstances where the tensions of his professional and family life combine to keep him of the edge in this taut thriller.
This reminded me cryptically of Greg Iles writing, with cool modern pop and news references setting boundaries around the action. Szacki and team go to investigate an uncovered skeleton, which is apparently of little news value in this region of historic German oppression. This begins to spiral into the weird when it is revealed that the skeleton is not decades old but was rather walking around the week before and he was the victim of a caustic and theatrical murder plot.
Miloszewski’s writing is bold and approachable, and his characterization is first rate. International murder mystery fans will want to read this as a change of pace.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review
July 5, 2016
Worth a look ... but what is it with publishers and foreign serial authors? Or, was there a reason why Americans needed to meet the protagonist in the concluding installment of a trilogy??? But I digress.
As Kindle First options go - and it seemed to me that this month offered slim pickings, but to each his/her own - this was a gem. Quirky note: I found it perfect for airplane reading, unless of course, you're claustrophobic, in which case you're probably not reading on the plane anyway. Nice momentum and, particularly with a Kindle, it's easy to go back and search for earlier appearances of predator and prey if you forget a name (that you can't pronounce, so it's harder to remember) or simply get confused as the number of players increases.
Polish author Miloszewski has a good thing going - he's apparently quite popular in Poland - indeed, I read that he currently is the country's best selling author, and his translator, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, is more-than-sufficiently gifted, so the package holds together well. This is a fun crime and investigation mind-bender, set against a (very) foreign (not just non-domestic, but different, unusual, but not necessarily exotic) landscape, driven by a fundamentally non-American criminal justice/code/legal regime (which, frankly, for crime and legal readers, may be the most entertaining aspect), with generous dollops of deeply disturbing human behavioral pathologies, psychological drama, intrigue, as well as the obligatory coroner. Whether or not I liked the ending - OK, OK, I had my heart set on something completely different - Miloszewski kept me engaged until the final page.
But ... back to where I started. Why couldn't we have started with 1 of 3, rather than 3 of 3? OK, OK, nobody made me read the book, but still....
I'm inclined to recommend this to folks that enjoyed Nesbo's Harry Hole series, but I'll concede that the analogy is an imperfect one. Maybe Tana French too, but she's already in English, and, frankly, I think she's more lyrical (but that's just me). But still, that's a starting point. Heck, I could see John Grisham fans enjoying this, as the Polish roles of investigator, lawyer, prosecutor don't align nicely to American expectations/norms. And, arguably, there's more than a healthy dose of Stieg Larsson in this, minus, for the most part, the cyber/hacking angle. Like most of those offerings, this stuff isn't pretty, is rather brutal and graphic, and clearly is ill suited for before bedtime reading to kids.... Forewarned is forearmed.
To be clear, I'm not necessarily suggesting that this book is an obvious 4-star piece of literature. But give Miloszewski and Lloyd-Jones their due for something that's not only different from the conventional formula - painting with palette colored by an unfamiliar venue, player(s), and legal rubric - that also provids some good solid entertainment.
As Kindle First options go - and it seemed to me that this month offered slim pickings, but to each his/her own - this was a gem. Quirky note: I found it perfect for airplane reading, unless of course, you're claustrophobic, in which case you're probably not reading on the plane anyway. Nice momentum and, particularly with a Kindle, it's easy to go back and search for earlier appearances of predator and prey if you forget a name (that you can't pronounce, so it's harder to remember) or simply get confused as the number of players increases.
Polish author Miloszewski has a good thing going - he's apparently quite popular in Poland - indeed, I read that he currently is the country's best selling author, and his translator, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, is more-than-sufficiently gifted, so the package holds together well. This is a fun crime and investigation mind-bender, set against a (very) foreign (not just non-domestic, but different, unusual, but not necessarily exotic) landscape, driven by a fundamentally non-American criminal justice/code/legal regime (which, frankly, for crime and legal readers, may be the most entertaining aspect), with generous dollops of deeply disturbing human behavioral pathologies, psychological drama, intrigue, as well as the obligatory coroner. Whether or not I liked the ending - OK, OK, I had my heart set on something completely different - Miloszewski kept me engaged until the final page.
But ... back to where I started. Why couldn't we have started with 1 of 3, rather than 3 of 3? OK, OK, nobody made me read the book, but still....
I'm inclined to recommend this to folks that enjoyed Nesbo's Harry Hole series, but I'll concede that the analogy is an imperfect one. Maybe Tana French too, but she's already in English, and, frankly, I think she's more lyrical (but that's just me). But still, that's a starting point. Heck, I could see John Grisham fans enjoying this, as the Polish roles of investigator, lawyer, prosecutor don't align nicely to American expectations/norms. And, arguably, there's more than a healthy dose of Stieg Larsson in this, minus, for the most part, the cyber/hacking angle. Like most of those offerings, this stuff isn't pretty, is rather brutal and graphic, and clearly is ill suited for before bedtime reading to kids.... Forewarned is forearmed.
To be clear, I'm not necessarily suggesting that this book is an obvious 4-star piece of literature. But give Miloszewski and Lloyd-Jones their due for something that's not only different from the conventional formula - painting with palette colored by an unfamiliar venue, player(s), and legal rubric - that also provids some good solid entertainment.
August 25, 2020
This was my first polish translation and I did take me a good few chapters to get into the style of the writing, once I was in although I didn't find it unputdownable, I did kind of like it. It's an intriguing plot line that's for sure.
This is not your typical police procedure novel, it's much more grittier. I like a book that makes me want to vomit and this book ticked that box. It's a very visual and descriptive piece of writing, from the crimes that were committed and to use a phase from the author (or translator), a lot of 'demented sex'. As this is my first polish book I'm not sure if this is typical of their novels but it certainly opened my eyes!
This is the last book in a trilogy but actually it worked very well as a standalone.
Three stars, didn't love it, didn't hate it but I will certainly remember it.
This is not your typical police procedure novel, it's much more grittier. I like a book that makes me want to vomit and this book ticked that box. It's a very visual and descriptive piece of writing, from the crimes that were committed and to use a phase from the author (or translator), a lot of 'demented sex'. As this is my first polish book I'm not sure if this is typical of their novels but it certainly opened my eyes!
This is the last book in a trilogy but actually it worked very well as a standalone.
Three stars, didn't love it, didn't hate it but I will certainly remember it.
July 27, 2016
The last book in the trilogy takes place in Olsztyn, five years after the events in Sandomierz. Szacki is again bored with small-town unchallenging cases, frustrated with abnormally slow road traffic and tired of family quarrels between his daughter and his current girlfriend. He is also burdened with supervising an assisstant prosecutor who seems to slavisly follow all regulations. But then a pile of bones reveals a mystery and Szacki's months of ennui are definitely over.
The novel deals with the difficult issue of domestic violence, spousal and child abuse, both emotional and physical. The subject was already touched upon in Entanglement, when Szacki was deliberating on the fate of the woman who killed her husband, after suffering years of physical cruelty. Then family violence was shown as an everyday occurrence and part and parcel of the professional life of the prosecutor, though also a moment when Szacki shows a humane face and expresses mercy to the abused woman. It played then an episodic role in the plot, this time it's the main focus of the book; together with self-administered justice, taking revenge against abusers and those who condone it by ignoring the suffering of the abused or by not wanting to get involved in other people's troubles.
It's quite understandable why Zygmunt Miloszewski thinks that the trilogy is enough and wants to pursue new ideas and develop new characters and write other books apart from the Theodor Szacki series. What it's not why he wrote such an absurd ending to this dramatic and gritty procedural. The ending that is enigmatic, dubious and unconvincing, leaving many questions unanswered.
The novel deals with the difficult issue of domestic violence, spousal and child abuse, both emotional and physical. The subject was already touched upon in Entanglement, when Szacki was deliberating on the fate of the woman who killed her husband, after suffering years of physical cruelty. Then family violence was shown as an everyday occurrence and part and parcel of the professional life of the prosecutor, though also a moment when Szacki shows a humane face and expresses mercy to the abused woman. It played then an episodic role in the plot, this time it's the main focus of the book; together with self-administered justice, taking revenge against abusers and those who condone it by ignoring the suffering of the abused or by not wanting to get involved in other people's troubles.
It's quite understandable why Zygmunt Miloszewski thinks that the trilogy is enough and wants to pursue new ideas and develop new characters and write other books apart from the Theodor Szacki series. What it's not why he wrote such an absurd ending to this dramatic and gritty procedural. The ending that is enigmatic, dubious and unconvincing, leaving many questions unanswered.
October 2, 2015
Кінцівка змусила мене бігати по кімнаті і в розпачі тупати ногами. "Як, це все? Хочу далі!" Та що ж, автору видніше. У будь-якому разі вийшло дуже класно!
Зізнаюся, що до того читала тільки другу частину, тому думала, що третя буде десь на тому ж рівні. Але "Гнів" перевершив усі мої сподівання. Настільки захопливого детективу я вже давно не читала. Тим паче роман чудово пішов під осінню меланхолію. "...нудьга, нудьга, суцільна нудьга" — думає Теодор Шацький, нидіючи в провінційному Ольштині з непевною погодою. І люди оточують його такі ж похмурі. Чи є в цьому житті справедливість?
Сюжет переповідати не буду, зосереджуся на дрібничках. Сарказм і костюми, костюми і сарказм — пан прокурор у двох словах. Хочу побачити ту блакитну сорочку у фільмі.
Роман зачіпає дві цікаві теми: домашнє насильство та вбивство. Яскравим елементом для висвітлення першого слугують стосунки Шацького з власною донькою. Здається, ніби він ходить на межі від того, щоб зірватися, однак чоловік здатен тримати себе в руках, щоб до такого не опуститися. Навіть попри те, що "його батько і дід були сексистами" ) Момент з убивством ставить крапку в його житті прокурора і цій трилогії. А шкода. Так не хочеться прощатися з головним героєм ;(
Окрема подяка видавництву "Урбіно" та Божені Антоняк за чудове видання і переклад. Гарну роботу робите!
Зізнаюся, що до того читала тільки другу частину, тому думала, що третя буде десь на тому ж рівні. Але "Гнів" перевершив усі мої сподівання. Настільки захопливого детективу я вже давно не читала. Тим паче роман чудово пішов під осінню меланхолію. "...нудьга, нудьга, суцільна нудьга" — думає Теодор Шацький, нидіючи в провінційному Ольштині з непевною погодою. І люди оточують його такі ж похмурі. Чи є в цьому житті справедливість?
Сюжет переповідати не буду, зосереджуся на дрібничках. Сарказм і костюми, костюми і сарказм — пан прокурор у двох словах. Хочу побачити ту блакитну сорочку у фільмі.
Роман зачіпає дві цікаві теми: домашнє насильство та вбивство. Яскравим елементом для висвітлення першого слугують стосунки Шацького з власною донькою. Здається, ніби він ходить на межі від того, щоб зірватися, однак чоловік здатен тримати себе в руках, щоб до такого не опуститися. Навіть попри те, що "його батько і дід були сексистами" ) Момент з убивством ставить крапку в його житті прокурора і цій трилогії. А шкода. Так не хочеться прощатися з головним героєм ;(
Окрема подяка видавництву "Урбіно" та Божені Антоняк за чудове видання і переклад. Гарну роботу робите!
December 27, 2014
Najlepsza z całej trylogii. Mroczna, wciągająca, jak zwykle swietnie przygotowana merytorycznie. Będę tęskniła za Szackim.
November 1, 2014
Trochę mroczne. Końcówka raczej nie wprost: może celowo niejasna, może zbyt pospiesznie domknięta. Ale całość czyta się wartko, a opisy miasta są fajnym kontrapunktem głównego wątku.
April 6, 2020
Me parece, por lo menos curioso que el autor toque el tema de maltrato familiar considerando que ha presentado a su protagonista como un misógino desde la primera entrega, bueno, soy justa, en este libro particularmente le ha ido quitando un poco de eso, me parece a mí que quiere quitarle esa etiqueta a Szacki y es por eso que, en este libro lo lleva por otros derroteros.
Fue muy notorio para mi y aunque me ha gustado, creo que ningún ser humano cambia y menos a los casi 50 años de edad, no digo que Szacki sea un mal hombre, pero nunca me había caído particularmente bien y en esta ocasión lo he visto muy diferente a como lo pintan en los dos primeros libros.
Ahora, entrando en materia, de los tres libros, creo yo, este ha sido el más rebuscado en cuanto al crimen presentado, por un lado yo había sospechado casi desde el principio de quien era el asesino y no me equivoque, pero por otro lado, el autor le ha dado un giro a la historia, que ha estado bien, pero que tampoco sorprende porque de alguna manera nos prepara con anticipación para ese giro.
El libro me ha gustado, pero creo que de los tres que he leído, este es el que menos me ha gustado, creo que por lo inverosímil del caso y por la forma en que termina, ya veremos cómo se desarrolla todo en la siguiente entrega, en toda serie hay libros mejores que otros.
Por otro lado el estilo del autor, como siempre me gusta, aunque en esta ocasión sus capítulos han sido particularmente largos, según recuerdo en los otros dos libros no lo eran, aunque ¿quien sabe? tal vez ahora me han parecido más largos precisamente porque el libro no me ha gustado tanto como los anteriores.
Sigue en la misma línea de plantear los titulares de noticias al principio de los capítulos y eso me sigue pareciendo algo muy original.
El tema del maltrato intrafamiliar me parece que lo ha presentado de una manera muy realista, eso me ha gustado.
Habrá que esperar al siguiente libro
Fue muy notorio para mi y aunque me ha gustado, creo que ningún ser humano cambia y menos a los casi 50 años de edad, no digo que Szacki sea un mal hombre, pero nunca me había caído particularmente bien y en esta ocasión lo he visto muy diferente a como lo pintan en los dos primeros libros.
Ahora, entrando en materia, de los tres libros, creo yo, este ha sido el más rebuscado en cuanto al crimen presentado, por un lado yo había sospechado casi desde el principio de quien era el asesino y no me equivoque, pero por otro lado, el autor le ha dado un giro a la historia, que ha estado bien, pero que tampoco sorprende porque de alguna manera nos prepara con anticipación para ese giro.
El libro me ha gustado, pero creo que de los tres que he leído, este es el que menos me ha gustado, creo que por lo inverosímil del caso y por la forma en que termina, ya veremos cómo se desarrolla todo en la siguiente entrega, en toda serie hay libros mejores que otros.
Por otro lado el estilo del autor, como siempre me gusta, aunque en esta ocasión sus capítulos han sido particularmente largos, según recuerdo en los otros dos libros no lo eran, aunque ¿quien sabe? tal vez ahora me han parecido más largos precisamente porque el libro no me ha gustado tanto como los anteriores.
Sigue en la misma línea de plantear los titulares de noticias al principio de los capítulos y eso me sigue pareciendo algo muy original.
El tema del maltrato intrafamiliar me parece que lo ha presentado de una manera muy realista, eso me ha gustado.
Habrá que esperar al siguiente libro
July 19, 2016
I tore through this all day; I ended up reading it in bed after bedtime, fighting to stay awake because I was so close to the end, and...then the ending was convoluted and confusing and unsatisfying and inconclusive. I'm hoping Wikipedia has a detailed plot summary, because I just didn't GET it. Up until the ending, I was HOOKED, and now I just feel tired and let down and frustrated.
(Personal irk: the news reports throughout were utterly useless.)
Next day: okay, I've gone back and re-read the last 15% (~4 chapters), plus skipped around filling in some other blanks. Here's the synopsis of WHAT the HECK the ending of the book WAS. (Maybe I'd read it too fast initially, but I needed a simple summarized recap. Hope this helps future readers.)
Here There Be Spoilers:
Throughout the book, we have maybe a vaguely niggling feeling that something about the assistant prosecutor Falk isn't quite right (and personally, I think "maybe vaguely niggling" is even overstating it), but it's seriously not until the second-to-last chapter that it turns out that actually Falk was the mastermind behind -- apparently -- a whole BAND of people bent on vigilante justice for battered women, who have somehow remained 100% anonymous and unsuspected until this ONE, SINGLE skeleton was found at the beginning of the book. 'Kay, that's irritating. It's not so much a twist as it is a non sequitur.
Anyway, high schooler Wiktoria was "supposedly" the ringleader, but Falk had been pulling the strings behind the scenes, so she was just the dummy front. Then, when the Band of Merrie Vigilantes provoked Szacki into killing her, it was a glorified suicide on her part, and also served as a martyrdom for the Band, since it would remove any doubt anyone might have had that she was anything but a good little high schooler (since she'd tragically been murdered) and also erase any traceable connection to the rest of the Merrie Vigilantes. EXCEPT: Szacki KNOWS the whole story, and they have no plans to murder him to keep him from telling! On the contrary: they have blackmail material on him, showing him murdering Wiktoria; they want to use this tape to force him to be the new leader of the Merrie Band. Another EXCEPT: he doesn't CARE that they're blackmailing him, because he was going to turn himself in anyway, so what's it matter that they have the proof he killed Wiktoria?
Alright, so, he "agrees" to join them anyway, but sets up a massive sting operation instead, which'll enable the cops to pick up all the members of the Merrie Vigilantes at their, like, club meeting. But...Falk has out-thought him (because he's a criminal mastermind/sociopath), and the sting operation is a total bust. The story ends with Szacki waiting to be arrested, because he's going to admit to the police that yes, he killed Wiktoria. Falk has disappeared somewhere; "The saintly Falk, goddamn champion of justice and criminal genius rolled into one, would deny everything. And Szacki had nothing on him."
So...WHAT'S TO STOP SZACKI FROM TELLING EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ANYWAY?!?!?!?!?! Who CARES if he has proof? He's the head prosecutor; he can FIND more proof! He knows the who, what, where, when, why, AND how: so how the fuck is this a satisfying ending?!?!?!
(Personal irk: the news reports throughout were utterly useless.)
Next day: okay, I've gone back and re-read the last 15% (~4 chapters), plus skipped around filling in some other blanks. Here's the synopsis of WHAT the HECK the ending of the book WAS. (Maybe I'd read it too fast initially, but I needed a simple summarized recap. Hope this helps future readers.)
Here There Be Spoilers:
Throughout the book, we have maybe a vaguely niggling feeling that something about the assistant prosecutor Falk isn't quite right (and personally, I think "maybe vaguely niggling" is even overstating it), but it's seriously not until the second-to-last chapter that it turns out that actually Falk was the mastermind behind -- apparently -- a whole BAND of people bent on vigilante justice for battered women, who have somehow remained 100% anonymous and unsuspected until this ONE, SINGLE skeleton was found at the beginning of the book. 'Kay, that's irritating. It's not so much a twist as it is a non sequitur.
Anyway, high schooler Wiktoria was "supposedly" the ringleader, but Falk had been pulling the strings behind the scenes, so she was just the dummy front. Then, when the Band of Merrie Vigilantes provoked Szacki into killing her, it was a glorified suicide on her part, and also served as a martyrdom for the Band, since it would remove any doubt anyone might have had that she was anything but a good little high schooler (since she'd tragically been murdered) and also erase any traceable connection to the rest of the Merrie Vigilantes. EXCEPT: Szacki KNOWS the whole story, and they have no plans to murder him to keep him from telling! On the contrary: they have blackmail material on him, showing him murdering Wiktoria; they want to use this tape to force him to be the new leader of the Merrie Band. Another EXCEPT: he doesn't CARE that they're blackmailing him, because he was going to turn himself in anyway, so what's it matter that they have the proof he killed Wiktoria?
Alright, so, he "agrees" to join them anyway, but sets up a massive sting operation instead, which'll enable the cops to pick up all the members of the Merrie Vigilantes at their, like, club meeting. But...Falk has out-thought him (because he's a criminal mastermind/sociopath), and the sting operation is a total bust. The story ends with Szacki waiting to be arrested, because he's going to admit to the police that yes, he killed Wiktoria. Falk has disappeared somewhere; "The saintly Falk, goddamn champion of justice and criminal genius rolled into one, would deny everything. And Szacki had nothing on him."
So...WHAT'S TO STOP SZACKI FROM TELLING EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ANYWAY?!?!?!?!?! Who CARES if he has proof? He's the head prosecutor; he can FIND more proof! He knows the who, what, where, when, why, AND how: so how the fuck is this a satisfying ending?!?!?!
August 30, 2016
3.5 stars
This novel tells the tale of Teodor Szacki, an angry, tired, embittered polish prosecutor. Disenchanted by the provincial town in which he lives, frustrated by the women in his life, and run down by his job, suddenly he finds his world turned upside down when a skeleton is found in an old bunker. Initially assuming the skeleton to be a WWII remnant, everything changes when it's discovered that the remains are actually new. What follows is a journey into the dark world of domestic violence and violence against women, one with many twists and turns, and one with a resolution that is at once shocking and also somewhat underwhelming. It's even partially unbelievable, or perhaps too convenient, although the pieces all fit together rather seamlessly. Author Miloszewski, while perhaps not explaining the motivation of his characters as thoroughly as he could have, has created a world in which the characters, while occasionally not as fleshed out as they might have been, are all operating from their own unique set of motivations--and these motivations remain largely consistent throughout the course of the novel.
There were some questions that remained unresolved Rage that I would have preferred to see brought to completion. That's part of the reason for the less-than-stellar rating. The main reason, however, as I mentioned in a status update, is that the translation didn't thrill me. It seemed stiff in some parts, artless in others. It never devolved into bad prose, but definitely didn't live up to the expectations I had upon learning that the author is so well-respected. That said, I don't speak Polish and, as such, I have no point of comparison; this translation is all I will ever know of Rage. If I am placing the blame on the translator for authorly shortcomings, I apologize.
The constant references to Hollywood movies, however, which were heavy-handed and unnecessary, cannot be blamed on the translator.
Overall, I'm glad I read this novel. It kept my attention and I plowed through it. But thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read it, as I cannot imagine paying cover price for this novel. It just isn't quite strong enough.
This novel tells the tale of Teodor Szacki, an angry, tired, embittered polish prosecutor. Disenchanted by the provincial town in which he lives, frustrated by the women in his life, and run down by his job, suddenly he finds his world turned upside down when a skeleton is found in an old bunker. Initially assuming the skeleton to be a WWII remnant, everything changes when it's discovered that the remains are actually new. What follows is a journey into the dark world of domestic violence and violence against women, one with many twists and turns, and one with a resolution that is at once shocking and also somewhat underwhelming. It's even partially unbelievable, or perhaps too convenient, although the pieces all fit together rather seamlessly. Author Miloszewski, while perhaps not explaining the motivation of his characters as thoroughly as he could have, has created a world in which the characters, while occasionally not as fleshed out as they might have been, are all operating from their own unique set of motivations--and these motivations remain largely consistent throughout the course of the novel.
There were some questions that remained unresolved Rage that I would have preferred to see brought to completion. That's part of the reason for the less-than-stellar rating. The main reason, however, as I mentioned in a status update, is that the translation didn't thrill me. It seemed stiff in some parts, artless in others. It never devolved into bad prose, but definitely didn't live up to the expectations I had upon learning that the author is so well-respected. That said, I don't speak Polish and, as such, I have no point of comparison; this translation is all I will ever know of Rage. If I am placing the blame on the translator for authorly shortcomings, I apologize.
The constant references to Hollywood movies, however, which were heavy-handed and unnecessary, cannot be blamed on the translator.
Overall, I'm glad I read this novel. It kept my attention and I plowed through it. But thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read it, as I cannot imagine paying cover price for this novel. It just isn't quite strong enough.
December 12, 2014
Rewelacja!!! Począwszy od barwnego, soczystego języka ( mam wrażenie, że to chyba najzabawniejszy tom, przy tym jednocześnie i najmroczniejszy i najdojrzalszy), skończywszy na misternie skonstruowanej intrydze. Najlepsze w kryminałach o Szackim jest to, że intryga kryminalna jest dla autora jedynie pretekstem do ukazania polskiej rzeczywistości w pełnym świetle, w tym uwypuklenia tematów gorących społecznie. Tym razem Miłoszewski porusza kwestie przemocy domowej i znieczulicy społecznej z tym związanej,co należy zapewne traktować jako jego wkład w dyskusję publiczną na ten temat.
Jednak najciekawsza dla mnie w tym tomie jest warstwa psychologiczna, nienachalnie obecna obok intrygi. Czy każdy z nas może być zabójcą? Czy każdym z nas może targać gniew? Kiedy gniew służący jako moc twórcza przeistacza się w siłę niszczącą?
Poza tym, oczywiście jak zwykle smaczki - policjant nosi szlachetnie brzmiące nazwisko Bierut, lekarz patolog zaś Frankenstein. W tle lokalny patriotyzm i nie tylko lokalny brak wizji zagospodarowania przestrzennego. Plus nowi ciekawi bohaterowie
Wierzyć się nie chce, że to ostatnie spotkanie z Szackim. Trzeba jednak przyznać, że bardzo satysfakcjonujące.
Jednak najciekawsza dla mnie w tym tomie jest warstwa psychologiczna, nienachalnie obecna obok intrygi. Czy każdy z nas może być zabójcą? Czy każdym z nas może targać gniew? Kiedy gniew służący jako moc twórcza przeistacza się w siłę niszczącą?
Poza tym, oczywiście jak zwykle smaczki - policjant nosi szlachetnie brzmiące nazwisko Bierut, lekarz patolog zaś Frankenstein. W tle lokalny patriotyzm i nie tylko lokalny brak wizji zagospodarowania przestrzennego. Plus nowi ciekawi bohaterowie
Wierzyć się nie chce, że to ostatnie spotkanie z Szackim. Trzeba jednak przyznać, że bardzo satysfakcjonujące.
March 21, 2023
Другу книжку про прокурора Теодора Шацького я так і не знайшла, на жаль, тож вирішила прочитати заключний роман трилогії - "Гнів". В принципі, його можна читати як окрему історію. Взагалі, мені дуже подобається стиль Зиґмунта Мілошевського, класні детективи він пише, захопливі, похмурі, хоч і не без гумору. Єдине "але" - відкритий фінал мене відверто здивував, особливо враховуючи що цей роман завершує серію.
Сподіваюся, що колись мені вдасться прочитати і другу книжку про Шацького - "Зерно правди". Дуже сподіваюся!
Сподіваюся, що колись мені вдасться прочитати і другу книжку про Шацького - "Зерно правди". Дуже сподіваюся!
December 23, 2018
Libro duro, crítico, difícil de valorar
Un libro que comienza casi por el final. Una breve escena. Un asesinato.
Sigue la estructura de los libros anteriores. Una crónica con algunos hechos destacados y una crítica social antes de cada capítulo, dividido en varias partes.
La primera crónica, fechada en 2013, marca la trama de este libro: "las estadísticas dicen que el 60% de los polacos conoce al menos una familia en la que la mujer es víctima de la violencia y el 45% vive o ha vivido en una familia en la que ha habido este tipo de violencia; el 19% opina que no existe la violación dentro del matrimonio y el 11% piensa que golpear a la esposa o a la pareja no constituye un acto de violencia".
Quiero creer que en España tenemos una sociedad más avanzada, más igualitaria, más concienciada, ... , que los casos de violencia de género que trascienden a la opinión pública son casos aislados, pero no puedo evitar como persona, como mujer, enervarme y que me hierva la sangre. Por el hecho, las consecuencias y las condenas impuestas.
Comenzamos reencontrándonos con el fiel defensor de la ley, el fiscal Szacki, destinado en Olsztyn, su mirada crítica, su lenguaje descarnado y mordaz, que de vez en cuando nos despierta alguna sonrisa, teniendo que enfrentarse a un nuevo caso aparentemente sin trascendencia: el descubrimiento de un esqueleto.
Poco a poco este caso se va haciendo más complejo y con un ritmo ágil nos vemos sumergidos en la investigación.
Pero llega un momento en que se vuelve más reflexivo, aumentan las disertaciones, toma un carácter más personal y cambia el ritmo. Además hay un aparente desenlace previo, un giro, unas pinceladas, otro giro, otras pinceladas y un final un poco dejado a tu interpretación.
Es un libro difícil de valorar. Esa primera parte que es más o menos igual que los anteriores y es lo que me esperaba, me ha gustado mucho. La segunda parte más dura, reflexiva y personal también me ha gustado. Pero llega un punto a partir del cual no termina de convencerme cómo discurre el libro. Escenas muy cortas, poco desarrolladas, sin terminar de rematarlas.
Ante el caso más duro al que puede enfrentarse una persona ¿cómo son de firmes sus convicciones?, ¿cúal será su reacción?, ¿hasta dónde llegará?, ¿podrá controlar La ira ?, ¿y después...?
Es el libro más complejo de la serie del fiscal Szacki.
Valoración: 7,5/10
Lectura: diciembre 2018
Un libro que comienza casi por el final. Una breve escena. Un asesinato.
Sigue la estructura de los libros anteriores. Una crónica con algunos hechos destacados y una crítica social antes de cada capítulo, dividido en varias partes.
La primera crónica, fechada en 2013, marca la trama de este libro: "las estadísticas dicen que el 60% de los polacos conoce al menos una familia en la que la mujer es víctima de la violencia y el 45% vive o ha vivido en una familia en la que ha habido este tipo de violencia; el 19% opina que no existe la violación dentro del matrimonio y el 11% piensa que golpear a la esposa o a la pareja no constituye un acto de violencia".
Quiero creer que en España tenemos una sociedad más avanzada, más igualitaria, más concienciada, ... , que los casos de violencia de género que trascienden a la opinión pública son casos aislados, pero no puedo evitar como persona, como mujer, enervarme y que me hierva la sangre. Por el hecho, las consecuencias y las condenas impuestas.
Comenzamos reencontrándonos con el fiel defensor de la ley, el fiscal Szacki, destinado en Olsztyn, su mirada crítica, su lenguaje descarnado y mordaz, que de vez en cuando nos despierta alguna sonrisa, teniendo que enfrentarse a un nuevo caso aparentemente sin trascendencia: el descubrimiento de un esqueleto.
Poco a poco este caso se va haciendo más complejo y con un ritmo ágil nos vemos sumergidos en la investigación.
Pero llega un momento en que se vuelve más reflexivo, aumentan las disertaciones, toma un carácter más personal y cambia el ritmo. Además hay un aparente desenlace previo, un giro, unas pinceladas, otro giro, otras pinceladas y un final un poco dejado a tu interpretación.
Es un libro difícil de valorar. Esa primera parte que es más o menos igual que los anteriores y es lo que me esperaba, me ha gustado mucho. La segunda parte más dura, reflexiva y personal también me ha gustado. Pero llega un punto a partir del cual no termina de convencerme cómo discurre el libro. Escenas muy cortas, poco desarrolladas, sin terminar de rematarlas.
Ante el caso más duro al que puede enfrentarse una persona ¿cómo son de firmes sus convicciones?, ¿cúal será su reacción?, ¿hasta dónde llegará?, ¿podrá controlar La ira ?, ¿y después...?
Es el libro más complejo de la serie del fiscal Szacki.
Valoración: 7,5/10
Lectura: diciembre 2018
September 13, 2020
Ta część podobała mi się chyba najmniej. Wciąż jest to bardzo przyzwoita lektura, wciąż zabawa z konwencją a+, a umieszczenie akcji w paskudnym Olsztynie radowało niezmiennie, ale jednak ostatnie kilkadziesiąt stron trochę rozczarowuje.
November 16, 2014
Przeczytalam trzy czesciowy cykl o prokuraturze Szackim w ciagu dwoch tygodni. Wszytskie ksiazki byly dobre, ale nie da sie ukryc, ze "Gniew" jest najlepszy. Mam wrazenie, ze nie tylko glowny bohater sie postarzal, ale przede wszytskim Miloszewski dorosl jako pisarz. Na poczatku jego postac, to typowy bohater kryminalow. Inteligentny, troche cyniczn facet, z mocnym kregoslupem moralnym i czarnym poczuciem humoru. Czytalam kilka kobiecych opini, ze Szacki jest mizoginem. Dla mnie to byla raczej kryminalna konwencja. "Uwiklanie" bylo kryminalna zagadka, z lustracja w tle, za to "Ziarno prawdy" dotylo trudnych relacji polsko-zydowkich. "Gniew" jest dla mnie czyms wiecej. Czytajac musimy sie zmierzyc z tematem narodzin zbrodni (kto i w jakiej sytuacji jest zdolny do przestepstawa, czy jest to genetyczne, czy dziala jak wirus), a takze wladzy (skoro tak czesto narzekamy na wymiar sprawiedliwosci i nieskutecznosc organow panstwowych, to czy istnieje alternatywa). Nie bedzie juz wiecej ksiazek o Szackim, z jednej strony szkoda, bo dopiero co zaczelo robic sie ciekawie, ale z drugiej strony podziwiam autorow, ktorzy w odpowiednim momencie potrafia przerwac cykl.
March 7, 2024
Re-read in 2024: zdecydowanie jest to najlepszy Szacki.
Idealnie wyważona intryga, która wciąga i nie puszcza, nie za dużo nagmatwane, nie za mało, a i tak jest plot twist.
I jakże trafne spostrzeżenia nt. architektury, przestrzeni, społeczeństwa ma Szacki vel Miłoszewski!
PS Nadal uważam, że powinien powstać Szacki #4 [spoiler] (wychodzi) z pierdla. No ale ZM zapiera się, że nie, że schemat, że bycie niewolnikiem postaci bla bla bla. At least Bezcenny #3 się pisze.
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Czyta się świetnie, scena [spoiler] seksu oralnego porażająca, jeszcze bardziej scena z 3-letnim synkiem ofiary przemocy już nie tylko werbalnej i finansowej (swoją drogą wątek nie całkiem zamknięty, tzn. oprawca ukarany, ale co dalej z nim, nią i dzieckiem, czy wróciła do zdrowia, czy była uprzejma zemścić się na mężu jeszcze bardziej), takoż rozprawienia się z Najmanem. Wątek z córką - wszystko super, ale zakończenie? Pff. I że nie będzie więcej Teodora? Bez sensu.
Idealnie wyważona intryga, która wciąga i nie puszcza, nie za dużo nagmatwane, nie za mało, a i tak jest plot twist.
I jakże trafne spostrzeżenia nt. architektury, przestrzeni, społeczeństwa ma Szacki vel Miłoszewski!
PS Nadal uważam, że powinien powstać Szacki #4 [spoiler] (wychodzi) z pierdla. No ale ZM zapiera się, że nie, że schemat, że bycie niewolnikiem postaci bla bla bla. At least Bezcenny #3 się pisze.
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Czyta się świetnie, scena [spoiler] seksu oralnego porażająca, jeszcze bardziej scena z 3-letnim synkiem ofiary przemocy już nie tylko werbalnej i finansowej (swoją drogą wątek nie całkiem zamknięty, tzn. oprawca ukarany, ale co dalej z nim, nią i dzieckiem, czy wróciła do zdrowia, czy była uprzejma zemścić się na mężu jeszcze bardziej), takoż rozprawienia się z Najmanem. Wątek z córką - wszystko super, ale zakończenie? Pff. I że nie będzie więcej Teodora? Bez sensu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2020
Пожалуй, самая лучшая книжка из серии - точнее, могла бы ей стать, если бы автор, закрутив интригу, придумал, как из нее выпутаться. А он не придумал, поэтому финал получился в стиле WTF?!?!?! Учитывая, что это последняя часть трилогии, шанса понять, шоэтобыло, уже не представится.
Зато мы внезапно не просто избавились от сексизма, а развернулись прямо-таки на 180 градусов.
При этом у автора все-таки какие-то местами довольно странные представления о психологии, например, повторяемая во второй книжке из трех мысль о том, что жертвы сексуального насилия никогда не возвращаются к нормальной жизни. Безусловно, это ужасная травма, и ее надо лечить - психотерапией и т.д., но справиться с ней все-таки можно, незачем дополнительно стигматизировать жертв.
Зато мы внезапно не просто избавились от сексизма, а развернулись прямо-таки на 180 градусов.
При этом у автора все-таки какие-то местами довольно странные представления о психологии, например, повторяемая во второй книжке из трех мысль о том, что жертвы сексуального насилия никогда не возвращаются к нормальной жизни. Безусловно, это ужасная травма, и ее надо лечить - психотерапией и т.д., но справиться с ней все-таки можно, незачем дополнительно стигматизировать жертв.
April 18, 2017
Ostatni tom cyklu o Szackim zostawiłam sobie na przedwielkanocny, tygodniowy urlop i po przeczytaniu z końcem lutego poprzedniej książki, już nie mogłam doczekać się lektury. Nie wiedziałam, co mnie czeka i bardzo byłam zaskoczona, że akcja przeniosła się do Olsztyna. Olsztyna burego, zasnutego mgłą, odstraszającego niekończącą się marznącą mżawką i ciągle zakorkowanego.
Szacki mieszka w bliskim sąsiedztwie prokuratury ze swoją nową partnerką oraz córką. Helena wylądowała u ojca, gdy matka wyjechała z nowym partnerem na kontrakt do Azji. A życie Teodora z dwoma kobietami układa się dość burzliwie.
Ciąg dalszy: http://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.p...
Szacki mieszka w bliskim sąsiedztwie prokuratury ze swoją nową partnerką oraz córką. Helena wylądowała u ojca, gdy matka wyjechała z nowym partnerem na kontrakt do Azji. A życie Teodora z dwoma kobietami układa się dość burzliwie.
Ciąg dalszy: http://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.p...
March 23, 2015
Jest straszniej niż w "Ziarnie prawdy". I miejscami tętno skacze do 120. A gdy jedziesz metrem i patrzysz na ludzi siedzących naprzeciwko, to zastanawiasz się, ilu mężczyzn to damscy bokserzy a ile kobiet to ofiary "szorstkiej miłości".
October 19, 2014
Po lekturze tego tomu, to nawet jestem w stanie poprzeć autora w decyzji, że to już koniec cyklu o Szackim. Pojechał po bandzie :>
October 31, 2014
I regret that this is the last part ;( Topic of Frankenstein was great ;)
September 27, 2019
JAK TO SIĘ MOGŁO TAK SKOŃCZYĆ. Ja protestuję przeciwko temu zakończeniu.
Niech to szlag panie Miłoszewski, tak się nie robi.
Niech to szlag panie Miłoszewski, tak się nie robi.
January 8, 2019
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Teodor Szacki series, particularly the the last two. Miloszewski is a brilliant writer. He knows how to handle his audience and isn't afraid of speaking to us intelligently about serious issues which are relevant, not only in Poland but throughout our modern society. So many writers seem so threadbare in comparison.
Rage opens dramatically with a rather gruesome murder. As the story unfolds there are snatches of humour thrown in with some very dark deeds indeed. We accompany Szacki as he tries to piece things together and, during the process, are introduced to (what appear to be) peripheral issues. Almost half-way through the rules of the game change. The stupid thing is that it was predicted but you've only had a few moments to think about it and it's happened... Wham. And you think, "Damn, I should have seen that coming", but you didn't.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It leaves you floored, almost desolate.
In his acknowledgements, Miloszewski praises the work of his translator, Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Quite right too. It is the unsung, oft-forgotten work of these "writers' that opens up so much foreign literature to us. I would have hated to have missed this wonderful book.
Rage opens dramatically with a rather gruesome murder. As the story unfolds there are snatches of humour thrown in with some very dark deeds indeed. We accompany Szacki as he tries to piece things together and, during the process, are introduced to (what appear to be) peripheral issues. Almost half-way through the rules of the game change. The stupid thing is that it was predicted but you've only had a few moments to think about it and it's happened... Wham. And you think, "Damn, I should have seen that coming", but you didn't.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It leaves you floored, almost desolate.
In his acknowledgements, Miloszewski praises the work of his translator, Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Quite right too. It is the unsung, oft-forgotten work of these "writers' that opens up so much foreign literature to us. I would have hated to have missed this wonderful book.
November 22, 2017
Very good Polish noir.Open ending for more,possibly?I haven't read any of Miloszewski's previous thrillers,but I have seen two film adaptations. This crime novel is well written,gruesome and gripping-inventive murder and interesting plot!Would recommend to any fan of crime novels!
March 3, 2023
Kurcze to naprawde dobrze się czytało. To w ogóle jest książka kupiona w ramach randki w ciemno, więc nie czytalam poprzednich części i chyba przez to paru rzeczy nie zrozumialam, ale i tak uwazam ze autor mega fajnie pisze i jakby ten vibe Olsztyna jest cudny. Troche ta końcówka zostawila mnie z takim wtf, ale to mnie nawet zachecilo to przeczytania poprzednich części
April 25, 2023
4.25
Podobało mi się do samego końca, chociaż końcówki spodziewałam się innej. Mimo wszystko, bardzo dobrze napisana.
Podobało mi się do samego końca, chociaż końcówki spodziewałam się innej. Mimo wszystko, bardzo dobrze napisana.
November 27, 2023
мінус один бал через незрозумілий фінал. а загалом - хороший детектив, який зачіпає важку тему домашнього насильства.
July 6, 2025
Najlepsza z całej serii! Umiejętne wplecenie tematyki przemocy w rodzinie, niespodziewane zakończenie i błogie okoliczności czytania książki - no wszystko na plus.
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