In the first part, Juraj Hordubal returns to his home village of Kriva in Carpathian Ruthenia after eight years of working as a coal miner in America.

They are also motivated to do it as Hordubal's savings are big enough to ensure a convenient life for a long time.

Polana is found guilty of planning the murder and is sentenced to twelve years in prison in spite of being pregnant.

In the end, Polana's sinning is considered much more severe as she misused her husband's kindness and devotion and was unfaithful.

In The Encyclopedia of Literary Translation into English James Partridge writes: "The Weatheralls capture Juraj Hordubal’s colloquial and uneducated speech .

they find the appropriate language and stylistic register for the straight detective story and the courtroom drama following the novel’s events," while also praising the translators' accuracy and their ability to retain the rhythmic quality of the original Czech.