Jurica Pavičić is a Croatian journalist and author whose crime fiction plays out against the recent turbulent history of Croatia, from communism to capitalism, the breakup of Yugoslavia and the changes that affect the towns on the Dalmatian coast. Two of his novels so far have been translated into English and are published by Bitter Lemon.
Jurica's latest translated crime novel Mother of Sorrows is published on the 25th of June 2026.
Describe your latest book in one sentence.
My latest book translated in English - Mother of Sorrows - is a story of mother and sister who have reasons to believe that their son/brother could be perpetrator of the gruesome rape and murder the whole city is talking about. The city I am refering is Split, the capital of the Croatian South, the biggest city on the Dalmatian coast where I have lived all my life. Beside two female characters, I follow a police investigator who realizes who commited a murder, but cannot prove it. My novel discusses a topic of loyalty. Who are we supposed to be loyal to - a written law, abstract principles of justice and society, or to the bonds of blood, family and tribe? For me and not just me, that's the crucial ideological divide - not only in the Balkans, but particularly in the Balkans. Therefore I think that it's also a political crime novel, although there is nothing overtly political in it: no war crimes, crook ministers, corruption or similar.
What soundtrack do you suggest readers should listen to while they read your latest book?
Nick Cave, Murder Ballads. Or Franks Wild Years by Tom Waits. Or Toma Bebić, marvelous 70s singer/songwriter from Split.
What's next?
In English, don't know yet- I hope, the next book would come out in 2027, and that book could possibly be my last year's crime novel Mouth Full of Sea. In Croatia, I am about to release my next novel. It's in the phase of final polishing, it should be out in November. The title is Atentator („Assassinator“). It's a story about a murder of the fallen, discredited mid-level politician. We follow the police investigation, and the perpetrator with his methods and motives. I was very much inspired by Fred Zinnemann's film Jackal.
What was the first book you remember reading?
Easy answer. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne. Children's literary culture in former Yugoslavia had two most important pillars. One was Jules Verne, another the German adventure novel writer Karl May.
Please list your top five all-time favourite books (any genre)
- Edith's Diary or This Sweet Sickness -Patricia Highsmith
- Raymond Carver's short stories, any collection of them.
- Abaddón, el exterminador, Ernesto Sabato.
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, John Le Carre
- The Notebook Trilogy, Agota Kristof.
What is the most underrated crime novel, and why does it deserve more attention?
Generally, any novel which is not Anglosaxon, French or Scandinavian. And it's not like that just in Britain, but in Croatia also. Readers of crime novels should search new territories, look for good books from places like Greece or Serbia or Poland. There are some.
The Gumshoe Dude sneaks into your latest story while you’re not looking. What is he doing there?
He is cycling uphill through the longest mountain road in Croatia. It's a 23 kilometer long road which connects the sea-level and beach in Makarska with the second highest peak in Croatia, Saint George (Sveti Jure) on the mountain Biokovo (1,762 meters). The murderer in my just-finished book is a cyclist who uses a bicycle as an escape tool.
And now for the quick questions:
Top book on your TBR (to-be-read)
Flesh by David Szalay. I liked his book All That Man Is, I hear that this one is superb too.
Poirot or Rebus?
Rebus, for sure. I am not an avid reader of old-fashioned armchair detective novels. I prefer a bit of the thriller touch.
Keyboard or pen?
Keyboard. The longest sentence I've written by hand in last 10 years was a Saturday shopping grocery list.
Audio or E-book?
None. Paper.
If you turn on the radio now, what station is playing?
The third program of the Croatian public broadcaster, that's the cultural channel with mainly classics.
And finally, your writing beverage of choice?
When I write- nothing. Once I'm finished, a not very dry white wine.
Questions ©Bonnie Burke-Patel and Anneli Meeder; Responses ©Jurica Pavičić
