What the Dead Man Said

Joanna Chmielewska is a real “queen” of the ironic detective genre: in Russia, this style became popular precisely because of her and influenced a whole galaxy of contemporary writers. Readers loved her books for their humor, lightness, and invigorating atmosphere—being with Pan(i) Joanna and her characters feels like friendship. However, her smart and subtle novels stand far above mere “humorous literature.” They are full of love and interest in life, zest and curiosity, and they never fail to lift your mood even on the most gloomy day. The most fantastic of all Chmielewska’s books! The heroine, Joanna, wins a large sum of money, but on that her luck ends: she is caught in a shootout, and a stranger dies in her arms—before dying, he whispers something strange. His dying words prove to be an extraordinarily valuable cipher, which criminals chase—and Joanna is kidnapped. Only her abductors will regret it greatly!