Grička vještica I: Tajna Krvavog mosta

The action takes place in Zagreb (Upper Town – Grič, Kaptol), Varaždin and Hrvatsko Zagorje at the end of the 18th century (around 1775), during the time of Austro-Hungarian rule, aristocratic intrigues and social tensions. The story begins on a dark stormy night when the miller Matijak, the carpenter Boltek and the blacksmith Klement hear rumors of a dead man under the Bloody Bridge at a mill on the Sava River. There they find the body of the murdered nobleman Mernay, pierced with a Venetian needle, wrapped in a cloak, with a parchment on his chest: “You are the first of nine to be punished, and your eight comrades will follow you.” The three crosses signify revenge.

At the center are the young heroes: the nobleman Anzelmo, brave and just, and the beautiful and brave Stanka (later the key figure of the entire cycle). They embark on daring adventures – hidden tunnels under Grič, castles, monasteries, underground corridors – to uncover who is behind a series of mysterious murders of nobles. Behind the crimes lie a conspiracy, revenge for old injustices, corruption among the elite and a conflict of interest.

The novel combines elements of a historical novel, a love story, a crime thriller and a Gothic horror: dark nights, storms, ghosts, secret rooms, masked killers, persecuted heroes. Zagorka skillfully describes 18th-century Zagreb – the Bloody Bridge, the Church of St. Mark, the Lotrščak Tower, the Patačić Palace, the Monastery of St. Clare – creating a vivid atmosphere of old Grič.

The work is known for its strong female characters (Stanka as a symbol of courage and independence), criticism of patriarchy and social injustices, and a tense plot full of twists and turns. It is considered a masterpiece of Croatian popular literature, ideal for lovers of adventures in a historical setting with a touch of mystery and romance.