Another sumptuous stylistic, linguistic and narrative feast from Petr Stančík, this time with Inspector Lavabo in the lead role.

Literary fiction  |  English sample translation available

The central character in this “spiritual” detectivesque story is the cynical inspector Libor Lavabo, who is trying to solve the case of twelve incinerated rhinoceroses and one night-watchman at a firm processing rhino horns. However, the investigation gradually expands to encompass Goethe’s secret diary, the battle between the secret societies of Neptunia and Plutonia for control of the world, the crazy Chief Inspector Marhanová and a combined interpretation of Jan Preisler’s paintings. The message will lead Lavabo into the heart of the extinct volcano of Chamber Hill in Western Bohemia. Part detective story, part conspiracy novel, and above all a fun, tongue-in-cheek and witty stylistic feast of wordplay.

Petr Stančík (1968) entered the world of literature under the pseudonym Odillo Stradický ze Strdic; since 2007 he has been publishing under his real name. His work for adult readers includes the tale of the first Czech superhero Pérák (The Spring Man, 2008) and the gastronomic/pornographic/philosophical thriller Mlýn na mumie (Mummy Mill, 2014), for which he was awarded the 2015 Magnesia Litera Award. His books for children include the juvenile horror story Mrkev ho vcucla pod zem (A Carrot Sucked Him Underground, 2013) and a series of tales about Chrujda the badger. He also wrote the historical monograph Kaple Božího Těla a Krve a Bratrstvo obruče s kladivem (The Chapel of the Body and Blood of Christ and the Brotherhood of the Hoop and Hammer, 2015) about the defunct Temple of Solomon in the centre of Prague’s Old Town.