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 As the investigation unfolds, suspicion falls on Mario, a withdrawn young man whose mother, Katja, and sister, Ines, grapple with the possibility of his guilt.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