There is no point in introducing Joanna Chmielewska to our reader in detail: this star of Polish literature has been exciting the souls of lovers of a good ironic detective story for a whole decade. Her books are universal, as they are designed for a variety of tastes. Both the undemanding mass reader and the elite intelligentsia increase their vitality by following the dizzying and unimaginably comic adventures of Khmelevskaya’s heroes. “Novel of the Century” is one of Khmelevskaya’s best works. The events take place in Poland in the 70s. The heroine of the novel, Joanna, by force of circumstances finds herself drawn into a major scam involving the export of art and jewelry abroad. The intricacies of the plot, its unexpected twists, and unconventional love intrigue force you to follow the adventures of the heroine, literally crawling on the edge of your chair. Fans of “strong” detective stories will not find in the novel the piles of horror, impressive bloody scenes, cruelty, and obsessive eroticism that are familiar from other examples of the genre. But the book will be appreciated and loved by everyone who likes exciting adventures, subtle humor and a cheerful, bright heroine. A rare phenomenon - good prose and a good detective story.