Estonia by Avgust Demšar (Založba Pivec)

Estonia je zadnji del trilogije Vodnjaki, ki jo je Avgust Demšar (pravo ime Tomaž Zupančič) izdal pri založbi Pivec leta 2024. Roman je pred kratkim prejel glavno nagrado Krimifesta; nagrado pila za najboljši slovenski kriminalni roman iz let 2023 in 2024, kar potrjuje njegovo kakovost med več kot 55 naslovi.

Zgodbo je navdihnila Demšarjeva lastna izkušnja iz Talina, kjer je obiskal muzej tragične nesreče trajekta Estonia. Napetost gradi preplet preteklosti in sedanjosti: od brodoloma leta 1994 prek osamosvojitvene vojne do današnjih umorov v pohorski vasi Vodnjaki. 

Jeseni leta 1994 je slovenski par s triletno hčerko obiskal prijatelje na Švedskem. Mož in žena sta izkoristila priložnost, hčer pustila v skrbnem varstvu družine v Stockholmu in odšla na vikend izlet v Talin. V Stockholm sta se vračala s trajektom Estonia. A zgodil se je brodolom in oba sta za vedno izginila v mrzlem Baltskem morju. Triletno Ivo je posvojila švedska družina. Trideset let kasneje Iva še vedno čuti močno povezanost s Slovenijo, zato se z možem Mikaelom odločita za obnovo družinske hiše v pohorski vasici Vodnjaki. Med popravilom vodovoda na dvorišču delavci naletijo na vsaj trideset let staro truplo. Kriminalisti nimajo veliko upanja za razkritje preteklosti, a najdba pritegne upokojenega kriminalista Martina Vrenka.

Vrenko hitro ugotovi, da je bil pokojnik podoficir jugoslovanske vojske, umorjen v času slovenske osamosvojitvene vojne leta 1991, in da ga DNK povezuje z Ivo. V Vodnjake pride pokojnikov brat, profesor iz Črne gore, ki želi prevzeti posmrtne ostanke in si ogledati kraj smrti. Pretekli dogodki nato trčijo v sedanjost: v vasi se zgodi nov umor, sproži se uradna preiskava, Vrenko pa ostaja vpleten.

Odkritja postajajo vse bolj čudna. Je novi umor povezan z osamosvojitveno vojno, morda celo z brodolomom Estonie ali pa prihaja zlo od drugod? Ko izgine eden osumljencev in Ivin zakon zaide v krizo, Vrenko skuša razrešiti uganko.

Glavni junak, upokojeni kriminalist Martin Vrenko, ostaja privlačen lik, rad bi še delal, kar doda pristnost. Podpirajoči liki, kot sta Iva in njen mož ter brat žrtve iz Črne gore, bogatijo lokalni pohorski ambient z mednarodnimi pridihom. Demšar vešče umešča dogodke v slovensko okolje, podobno drugim njegovim detektivkam, a z unikatnim zasukom okoli zgodovinskih travm.

Avtorjev slog je suh, realističen in poln detajlov o preiskavah, kar daje ton resnične kriminalke brez nepotrebnega okrasa. To dela zgodbo verodostojno in privlačno za ljubitelje žanra. Knjiga tako izstopa po realistični povezavi zgodovine z današnjim dnem, brez pretirane senzacionalnosti.

Demšar v Estonii ohranja prednosti svojih romanov; napetost in lokalni kolorit.

4/5

English version

Estonia is the final part of the Vodnjaki trilogy, published by August Demšar (real name Tomaž Zupančič) through Pivec Publishing in 2024. The novel recently won the main Krimifest award, the "pila" prize for the best Slovenian crime novel of 2023 and 2024, confirming its quality among more than 55 titles.

The story was inspired by Demšar's own experience in Tallinn, where he visited the museum dedicated to the tragic Estonia ferry disaster. The tension arises from an intricate weave of past and present: from the 1994 shipwreck through the Slovenian independence war, culminating in recent murders in the Pohorje village of Vodnjaki.

In the autumn of 1994, a Slovenian couple with their three-year-old daughter visited friends in Sweden. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the husband and wife left their daughter in the care of family in Stockholm and went on a weekend trip to Tallinn. They were returning to Stockholm aboard the ferry Estonia when a shipwreck occurred, and both vanished forever in the icy Baltic Sea. Their daughter Iva was adopted by a Swedish family. Thirty years later, Iva still feels a strong connection to Slovenia, so with her husband Mikael, they decide to restore the family home in the Pohorje village of Vodnjaki. During plumbing repairs in the courtyard, workers uncover a corpse at least thirty years old. The police see little hope of solving the mystery, but the discovery draws retired detective Martin Vrenko into the case.

Vrenko quickly uncovers that the deceased was a non-commissioned officer in the Yugoslav army, murdered during the Slovenian independence war in 1991, and DNA links him to Iva. The victim’s brother, a professor from Montenegro, arrives in Vodnjaki seeking to retrieve the remains and visit the place of death. Past events collide with the present when another murder occurs in the village, triggering an official investigation, with Vrenko remaining involved.

The discoveries grow stranger: is the new murder connected to the independence war, perhaps even to the Estonia shipwreck, or does evil come from elsewhere? When one suspect disappears, and Iva’s marriage hits a crisis, Vrenko tries to unravel the mystery.

The main character, retired detective Martin Vrenko, remains an engaging figure who still wants to work, adding authenticity. Supporting characters, such as Iva, her husband, and the victim’s brother from Montenegro, enrich the local Pohorje setting with international touches. Demšar skillfully situates events in a Slovenian environment, similar to his other detective novels, but with a unique twist around historical traumas.

The author’s style is dry, realistic, and full of investigative detail, giving the tone of a genuine crime novel without unnecessary embellishment. This approach makes the story credible and appealing to genre fans. The book stands out for realistically linking history with the present day, avoiding sensationalism.

In Estonia, Demšar retains the strengths of his novels: suspense and vivid local color.