Mother of Sorrows

A masterful psychological mystery novel about the unbearable weight of maternal love, and the silences that shape a nation. In the quiet aftermath of Split's tourist season, the city is shaken by the brutal murder of 17-year-old Viktorija Zeba.

As the investigation unfolds, suspicion falls on Mario, a withdrawn young man whose mother, Katja, and sister, Ines, grapple with the possibility of his guilt. Katja's maternal instincts drive her to shield her son at all costs, while Ines is torn between loyalty and a quest for truth. Through the perspectives of Katja, Ines, and the diligent yet overlooked detective Zvone, Mother of Sorrows delves into the complexities of familial bonds, moral dilemmas, and the shadows of Croatia's past. Jurica Pavičić crafts a haunting narrative that intertwines personal tragedy with a portrait of a nation still healing from its historical wounds.

Mother of Sorrows follows on from the success of Pavičić’s Red Water published by Bitter Lemon in 2025. Red Water won the Grand prix de la literature policière, previously awarded to such writers as Mary Higgins Clark and Michael Connelly, the Prix Mystère de la critique, and the Prix Le Point. Red Water was thriller of the summer at the Financial Times and thriller of the year to date at the Times/Sunday Times.