Does Noir mean the murder method has to be disgusting? Does it mean bringing a variety of torture methods into the story? Does it mean creating characters who are not likeable?

I read that Miloszewski gives a good feeling of place, that place being Warsaw. But it seemed to me that the place could have been anywhere -- Stockholm, Copenhagen, Budapest, Berlin, San Franciso.

I read about half the book but couldn't get myself to go on. ( )

This is a second title by Miloszewski that I had pleasure reading, and again, it turned out to be a great and captivating read.
“Uwikłanie” is taking place in Warsaw, where a patient is suddenly found dead shortly after taking part in an unusual group psychotherapy session. Interviewing other patients, the therapist, the man’s family and coworkers brings little to none clarity and a lot of frustration. Digging in people’s past finally brings the main character, prosecutor Szacki, the answers he’s looking for, but also forces him to compromise his values in order to protect his family.
All in all, a very good read. ( )

Good enough writing, but only 2 stars only because of the absolutely LUDICROUS crux on which hangs the whole plot, the 'the frightening power of certain esoteric therapeutic methods.' Shame. ( )

1.5 / 5

DNF at 46%.

I wanted to like this, and while the story was certainly interesting, the translation left me hanging. The writing was a bit... choppy? I'm not sure exactly what it was, only that it gave me a headache to read and so I couldn't make myself continue.

Bumped up half a star (lord I wish GR allowed half star ratings) for the intriguing plot. ( )

In the aftermath of a "family constellation" group therapy retreat, one of the participants is found dead with a skewer through his eye. Public prosecutor Tedor Szacki is called to investigate. If you like to see how law enforcement and investigation works in other countries, as I do, on this point Miloszewski's novel doesn't disappoint, for in Poland, according to this book, it is the prosecutor who investigates (with the police doing the grunt work, it seems). The investigation and exploration of the constellation group therapy approach is intriguing, as is the digging into Poland's past history under Communist rule. The book is more in line with the style of a police procedural than that of a thriller.

On the negative side, besides my personal difficulties keeping the Polish names straight (not the book's fault), and some discussions of other in progress cases that I found distracting, I found Tedor Szacki a less likeable, or not very sympathetic character. Perhaps he would have been more sympathetic if every encounter with a woman had not been one of thorough objectification (enough for me to notice, and be both uncomfortable and annoyed by it). Maybe Poland is a bit regressive, or maybe I shouldn't have read this particular book during the last months the 2016 US election season.

I have the next two books in this series and am debating whether to continue. The fact that there is a debate in my mind means there is something worthy in this volume.... ( )