Sławek Gortych

The author of bestselling crime novels set in the Karkonosze Mountains, and a devoted lover of these peaks. From an early age, he has explored their secrets, legends, and history. By education and passion, he is also a dentist. In his spare time, he runs the blog "Zagubiony w Karkonoszach" (Lost in the Karkonosze). He draws inspiration for his writing from mountain hikes and conversations with local residents. 

His debut novel, The Mountain Shelter That Ceased to Exist, won the title of Book of the Year 2022 in the Debut category in Poland’s largest readers’ poll organized by the website lubimyczytac.pl. A year later, in the same competition, the continuation of the series, The Mountain Shelter That Endured, was named Book of the Year 2023 in the Crime, Sensation, Thriller category. Two years later, this success was repeated by The Mountain Shelter Shrouded in Darkness, which received the highest number of votes in the history of the poll. 

All three volumes of the Karkonosze Crime Series were also honored with the title of Best Mountain Book of the Year at the Mountain Literature Festival in Lądek-Zdrój in 2023 and 2024. In its justification, the jury emphasized that the novels break taboos surrounding the exploration of the postwar history of the Karkonosze Mountains, viewed through the Polish–German–Czech perspective of their inhabitants’ shared past. 

The author has also been awarded the Karkonosze Literary Prize, granted by a Polish–German jury for outstanding achievements in the fields of literature, culture, and the arts of Silesia, which particularly promote the spirit of humanism and mutual understanding. 

Fot. Tomasz Modrzejewski