Who are you gonna call? Witkac! – review of the book “Shamanic blues” by Aneta Jadowska

Piotr Duszyński, from the moment he learned that his mental and physical condition is influenced by his magical abilities, tries to find himself in his new role. Being a shaman involves many unusual responsibilities and situations, from talking to random ghosts about who killed them when starting them, and ending with quite complicated exorcisms. Everyone, however, carries a cross, so Piotr, called by his relatives Witkacy, tries not to complain and to swim with the magical current.

The past likes to jump out of the closet

Witkacy had one deep and true love in his life, which ended unpleasantly, and the man feels the effects of his broken heart over the years. Life, however, likes to write interesting scenarios, so one day none other than Konstancja, an ex-sweetheart who needs help in solving the sudden death in the neonatal unit, stands at the shaman’s door. The situation quickly turns out to be much more complicated than it seems at first glance, which is why a one-time visit turns into a longer cooperation. Witkacy himself, despite difficulties in discovering who is murdering this time, uses the opportunity to stay with Konstancja, not expecting that the woman will provide him with another surprise that will bring even more chaos into the man’s life.

Dark, stuffy, but with a claw

Shamanic blues turned out to be another interesting novel by Aneta Jadowska. The author has curiously outlined the figure of Witkacy, who is similar in character and behavior to detectives straight from movies or noir books . A man practically does not know what a dream is, he burns with power, bribes ghosts with a slivovitz, and in addition he is characterized by a sharp tongue and a strong moral backbone. He is much more subdued than Dora or Katia, so his stories are calmer and their climate is heavier. I must admit that the title fantastically reflects the spirit of this book, because it is the old blues songs that are perfect for the background of the described events.

Of course, there are other characters in the novel as well. The aforementioned Konstancja falls into Witkacy’s life and stays there for a while (her person is a pleasant complement to Piotr’s features and behavior), and Katia and Dora engage in the second adventure described in the pages of Shamanic blues . The guardian spirit, who is at once a vulture, and at other times a handsome blonde, who decides to connect his fate with those of Witkacy, is certainly noteworthy. The duo’s dialogues definitely bring a smile to the face (mainly due to the great directness of the vulture). We do not learn much about the possibilities and past of the guardian, so we can probably count on the development of this character in the next volumes.

Once upon a time, nobody cared about such matters

The plot of the book contains three things. The first concerns dying infants, but with the following traces, it leads self-proclaimed detectives to a dark event in the past, and most interestingly, I would be able to believe that, taking the paranormal plot away, it could have happened somewhere. Subsequent traces, as well as the behavior and motivations of people involved in mysterious situations, are presented in many details, so at times a person feels as if he is reading a criminal chronicle. The case of babies is a powerful opening that smoothly turns into a lighter story about the consequences of human loneliness. Recent events are somewhat related to Dora Wilk’s plots, so knowing her hexalogue will allow you to better understand many contexts, although it is not required.

A shaman perfect for the beginning of autumn

Although Witkacy’s adventures are characterized by a denser atmosphere, they are as addictive as those about Dora, and the beginner shaman definitely arouses our sympathy. Looking with a male eye on the hardships of life with ghosts and phantoms, sprinkled with ironic texts and funny dialogues, is a perfect mix for the upcoming autumn evenings. However, remember to have salt and holy water somewhere close to you while reading, because if you pull yourself in, even the slightest unexpected tap at home can make you think: Is this some kind of ghost?