Picture a pair of Polish storytellers weaving witty, retro mysteries set in the cobblestone streets of 19th-century Cracow—meet Maryla Szymiczkowa! This pseudonym hides the dynamic duo of Jacek Dehnel and Piotr Tarczyński, a married couple whose Zofia Turbotynska mystery series blends historical charm with sharp social satire. Their tales of a nosy professor’s wife solving crimes have captivated readers worldwide, earning accolades for their clever plots and vivid settings.
With a knack for blending humor, history, and homicide, Maryla Szymiczkowa has carved a unique niche in contemporary crime fiction. Let’s dive into the lives, works, and lasting impact of this literary partnership that’s as delightful as a Cracow café pastry.
The Making of Maryla Szymiczkowa
Jacek Dehnel, born in 1980, is a celebrated Polish poet, novelist, and translator with a passion for historical intrigue, evident in his blog on interwar crime tabloids. Piotr Tarczyński, born in 1983, brings his expertise as a historian and translator, steeped in Cracow’s cultural legacy. Together, they created Maryla Szymiczkowa, a fictional widow with a flair for pischinger pastries and a nod to Cracow’s bohemian past, inspired by venues like Piwnica pod Baranami. Their partnership, both personal and professional, thrives in Warsaw, where they craft stories that transport readers to a bygone era.
Maryla Szymiczkowa’s Unforgettable Stories
The Zofia Turbotynska mysteries, set in late 19th-century Cracow, star a sharp-witted professor’s wife who moonlights as an amateur sleuth. The series kicks off with Mrs. Mohr Goes Missing (2015), where Zofia unravels a disappearance in a charity home, blending Agatha Christie-esque plotting with feminist undertones. Karolina and the Torn Curtain (2016) sees Zofia diving into Cracow’s seedy underbelly after a maid’s murder, tackling themes of class and corruption.
Seans in the Egyptian House (2018) ups the ante with a spooky spiritualist séance gone deadly, while Death in Venice (2023) ties Zofia to a sensational wedding inspired by Wyspiański’s works. Their style—rich with historical detail, wry humor, and social commentary—paints Cracow as both a glittering cultural hub and a shadowy crime scene. Readers love the mix of cozy mystery vibes with gritty realism, earning praise from Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk for its “ingenious marriage of comedy and crime.”
Why Maryla Szymiczkowa Matters
Maryla Szymiczkowa’s mysteries do more than entertain—they resurrect Cracow’s past, spotlighting women’s roles in a patriarchal era through Zofia’s defiance of social norms. Their international success, with translations earning EBRD Literature Prize nominations, has put Polish crime fiction on the global map. By blending meticulous research with playful storytelling, Dehnel and Tarczyński inspire readers to explore history through a feminist lens, making their work a cultural bridge between Poland and the world.
- Pseudonym of: Jacek Dehnel (b. 1980) and Piotr Tarczyński (b. 1983)
- Key Works: Mrs. Mohr Goes Missing, Karolina and the Torn Curtain, Seans in the Egyptian House
- Awards: Krakowska Książka Miesiąca (2015), EBRD Literature Prize nominations (2020, 2022)
About Maryla Szymiczkowa
Ready to sleuth with Zofia? Grab Mrs. Mohr Goes Missing and step into Maryla Szymiczkowa’s deliciously witty world of retro crime!