“The Extinction of Irena Rey” by Jennifer Croft

I approached “The Extinction of Irena Rey” with high anticipation. A debut novel by the preeminent, award-winning translator, Jennifer Croft, about a Nobel-prize worthy author and an intimate group of translators, set on the edge of the mystical, primeval, haunted Bialowieza Forest World Heritage Site. What more could you ask? Sometimes a highly awaited novel disappoints. “The Extinction of Irena Rey ‘’ does the opposite.

Croft weaves a tale that combines secrets about the art (and drama) of translation with a beguiling literary mystery with twists and turns throughout. The characters are wonderfully drawn. The mood is complex. Every moment feels like you are safe at the hands of a master. The meta-fictional narrative is sophisticated with a blend of hyper-realism and magic. The humor is subtle and witty. There are photos that must be studied and footnotes that must be read.

“The Extinction of Irena Rey” is simply delightful. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the eARC.