Red Water
Jurica Pavicic
Translated by Matt Robinson
A woman disappears after a beach party, and the search for her reveals Croatia's complex history well beyond the fall of Communism.
Silva is beautiful and cheeky, she has many admirers; but the police investigation reveals a more complex young woman than her family knew—a high school student who dabbles in drugs and deals in heroin. But Silva’s brother loves her and stubbornly continues the search for her amid the upheavals of Croatian society. The following years will see the fall of communism and five long years of war. It will be almost 30 years till Silva’s fate is revealed.
"This finely engineered, haunting novel has been deservedly garlanded with awards.” ---Financial Times
“A brilliant cocktail of mystery and recent history, compellingly told."--Kirkus
“Listed among the best crime fiction of 2025 so far: Outstanding novel."--- Times/Sunday Times
Winner in Croatia of the Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Prize and the Fric Prize. In France, the Grand prix de la literature policière, the Prix Mystère de la critique, and the Prix Le Point.