Set in Croatia in June 2013, the prequel to The Uneasy Silence follows Emir ‘Eddy’ Muravic, a young Detective Sergeant with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), as he takes long service leave to visit his family in the former Yugoslav state. Eddy’s holiday is abruptly cut short when Avigail Iversen, an Australian backpacker, is found dead in Krka National Park, Dalmatia. As the daughter of Australia’s Attorney General, her death becomes a political flashpoint, forcing Eddy to navigate a delicate investigation in a country grappling with its fascist past, the scars of its recent homeland war, and its inauguration as a member state of the European Union.
Complicating matters further, Eddy is joined by Interpol Liaison Officer Sasha Jankovic, who, by coincidence, is of Serbian descent. Together, they must overcome cultural and linguistic challenges, as well as centuries-old ethnic rivalries, to unravel the mystery behind Avigail’s death. As they delve deeper, they encounter shadowy figures and confront the dark legacy of an ex-communist state.
Can Eddy and Sasha set aside the weight of history to uncover the truth about the young Australian backpacker’s tragic end?