In Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, detective Janina lives alone on the outskirts of a forest. Caring for several neighboring summer homes during the long Polish winters. When her neighbor, whom she has nicknamed Big Foot, dies, Janina begins speculating about his death. However, her disreputable appearance and strange manner cause others to ignore her theories as best they can. When others in the community die in more bizarre circumstances, only a few individuals stand by Janina’s comments, but they are unable to act on them. This mystery will take readers on a captivating journey through Janina’s unique inner life and creative thought processes. As the novel progresses, Janina’s background is revealed, and the person who emerges is far more complex to the image of the crazy recluse.
Kay Drache is a librarian at the Maple Grove Library.
