The Return Of Lieutenant Boruvka

The Return of Lieutenant Boruvka (1990) – Josef Škvorecký (Faber and Faber)
Sold by Crappy Old Books – because good literature ages better than milk.

Lieutenant Boruvka is back — older, maybe wiser, but still caught in the philosophical fog of justice, truth, and Czech bureaucracy. In this final instalment, Škvorecký’s beloved detective finds himself embroiled in crimes that are more morally ambiguous than ever, all while dealing with the unrelenting absurdities of life under (and after) communism.

It’s murder mystery meets existential crisis, with a dash of deadpan humour and the kind of ironic introspection that only post-totalitarian malaise can provide. Think: Kafka with a badge, Camus with a notebook, or your uncle who used to be a cop but now just quietly drinks and reads poetry.

Paperback from Faber and Faber. Pages slightly yellowed, like all of us. Condition: Decently crappy.

Ex-library book from Borough of Brent Libraries Department.

Good condition all round, especially for an ex-library book. Hardback with protective plastic wrapping on dust cover.

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