Books
The Missing Madonna
Kraków, 1992, the Polonia Instytut. When American professor SUSANNA SHEPHERD signed up for a year’s teaching appointment in Poland, she expected intellectual stimulation, exotic foods, a burgeoning romance with colleague CHRIS MICHAELS, and the splendor of Krakow’s famous “Golden Autumn.” Instead, she finds herself scuffing through a sea of crusty, pockmarked, liver-spotted leaves to work on her Polish in the language lab while her colleagues socialize at a local jazz club. None of that is enough to dim her excitement, though, a sentiment she shares with the visiting professor she meets briefly on the stairs. MAREK MAY is handsome, bright, and charming. A cool presence on a sweltering day. Two hours later, he’s dead. He’s been garroted, and Susanna is in a Polish holding cell, suspected of his murder.
Though forced to release Susanna due to lack of evidence, she remains Inspektor KUREK’s primary suspect, and he intends to see her imprisoned for her crimes. Susanna’s only recourse is to find Marek’s killer before Kurek can build—or fabricate—a case against her. To that end, she teams up with ANDY WILSON, a university student with connections in the American Consulate and the Policja. They will have to investigate Marek’s family, friends, and colleagues.
When Chris, whom she learns is Marek’s cousin, finds out Susanna has been prying into his family’s affairs, their tentative romance strains to the breaking point. His erratic response to the fraying relationship makes her realize how little she knows him. For the first time, she considers him a viable suspect and a possible danger to herself.
Despite Kurek’s continued harassment, Susanna pushes forward. With Andy’s help and encouragement, she discovers a possible connection to the Polish—or could it be Russian?—mob. A fatal car accident seems to have been meant for her. As she begins to uncover what she suspects is a smuggling operation, she is slashed by a stranger while on a field trip. All this violence intensifies her sense of danger. Is it connected to Marek, or have her investigations led her to stumble into a deadly encounter with even deadlier people? Sharing her fears with Andy, she confides that she wishes she had a “flick,” a switchblade. Something for self-defense.
Though she still suspects Marek’s family is directly involved, her suspicions of Chris are tempered when she witnesses his imminent abduction and is galvanized to save his life. Tensions between them ease to some extent, but she can’t bring herself to trust him fully.
When Susanna suspects smuggling, Interpol becomes interested in her plan to trap the culprits. She sets the plan into action and returns to her studies unprepared for the backlash.
The Missing Madonna
Kraków, 1992, the Polonia Instytut. When American professor SUSANNA SHEPHERD signed up for a year’s teaching appointment in Poland, she expected intellectual stimulation, exotic foods, a burgeoning romance with colleague CHRIS MICHAELS, and the splendor of Krakow’s famous “Golden Autumn.” Instead, she finds herself scuffing through a sea of crusty, pockmarked, liver-spotted leaves to work on her Polish in the language lab while her colleagues socialize at a local jazz club. None of that is enough to dim her excitement, though, a sentiment she shares with the visiting professor she meets briefly on the stairs. MAREK MAY is handsome, bright, and charming. A cool presence on a sweltering day. Two hours later, he’s dead. He’s been garroted, and Susanna is in a Polish holding cell, suspected of his murder.
Though forced to release Susanna due to lack of evidence, she remains Inspektor KUREK’s primary suspect, and he intends to see her imprisoned for her crimes. Susanna’s only recourse is to find Marek’s killer before Kurek can build—or fabricate—a case against her. To that end, she teams up with ANDY WILSON, a university student with connections in the American Consulate and the Policja. They will have to investigate Marek’s family, friends, and colleagues.
When Chris, whom she learns is Marek’s cousin, finds out Susanna has been prying into his family’s affairs, their tentative romance strains to the breaking point. His erratic response to the fraying relationship makes her realize how little she knows him. For the first time, she considers him a viable suspect and a possible danger to herself.
Despite Kurek’s continued harassment, Susanna pushes forward. With Andy’s help and encouragement, she discovers a possible connection to the Polish—or could it be Russian?—mob. A fatal car accident seems to have been meant for her. As she begins to uncover what she suspects is a smuggling operation, she is slashed by a stranger while on a field trip. All this violence intensifies her sense of danger. Is it connected to Marek, or have her investigations led her to stumble into a deadly encounter with even deadlier people? Sharing her fears with Andy, she confides that she wishes she had a “flick,” a switchblade. Something for self-defense.
Though she still suspects Marek’s family is directly involved, her suspicions of Chris are tempered when she witnesses his imminent abduction and is galvanized to save his life. Tensions between them ease to some extent, but she can’t bring herself to trust him fully.
When Susanna suspects smuggling, Interpol becomes interested in her plan to trap the culprits. She sets the plan into action and returns to her studies unprepared for the backlash.