Mother of Sorrows

Name: Mother of Sorrows
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ISBN: 9781916725317

Jurica Pavicic

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English

Bitter Lemon Press
25 June 2026

Crime & Mystery

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As the investigation unfolds, suspicion falls on Mario, a withdrawn young man whose mother, Katja, and sister, Ines, grapple with the possibility of his guilt.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 Pavii 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 Pavii's Red Water

published by Bitter Lemon in 2025. Red Water won the Grand prix de la literature policiere, previously awarded to such writers as Mary Higgins Clark and Michael Connelly, the Prix Mystere 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.

By: Jurica Pavicic
Imprint: Bitter Lemon Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
ISBN: 9781916725317
ISBN 10: 1916725317
Pages: 370
Publication Date: 25 June 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Jurica Pavii (born 1965) is a Croatian writer, scriptwriter, and journalist, living in Split. He has written seven novels, two collections of short stories and essays. His work has been translated into five languages. Red Water was his first novel to be translated into English. Matt Robinson, born in the UK in 1978, lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Formerly a foreign correspondent with Reuters, he now works as a freelance editor and literary translator. He translated Red Water for Bitter Lemon Press.

Reviews for Mother of Sorrows

Mater Dolorosa""A powerful and haunting novel of family and guilt."" - Le Monde""A lingering family tragedy impossible to forget."" - Le Figaro Magazine""Sensitive, intelligent, and devastating."" - France Inter""A noir novel of rare elegance."" - Benzine MagazineRed Water""This finely engineered, haunting novel has been deservedly garlanded with awards."" --Financial Times ""Among the best crime fiction of 2025 so far: an outstanding novel.""--Times/Sunday Times""A brilliant cocktail of mystery and recent history, compellingly told.""--Kirkus Reviews