Death on the island

A historic hotel high above the sea, a private beach, and plenty of time to relax. For Justýna, it is the perfect opportunity to open another detective novel. Although her husband would appreciate it if she paid as much attention to him as she does to book mysteries – at least on holiday – he knows his wife all too well. Competing with stories is a losing battle. When a Czech author appears among the hotel guests, Justýna’s reader enthusiasm knows no bounds. However, a pleasant encounter is soon overshadowed by an unexpected death. The peaceful holiday takes on a completely different form, and Justýna suddenly has the chance to test everything her favourite books have taught her. Her husband does not share her passion, and his own search for the truth leads him all the way to the dangerous cliffs below the hotel. Yet reality does not follow the rules of detective fiction. And figuring out which seemingly insignificant details are worth paying attention to can be harder than guessing the killer in the final pages. This detective short story with a holiday atmosphere, gentle marital banter, and black humour invites you to a case where it pays to listen carefully. Winner of the Česká lupa detective story competition for 2025.