# Murder at the Table – A Comprehensive Summary

The novel "Murder at the Table" is a suspenseful and dramatic story set in an old manor house on the Vistula River. The host, Albert Rudzki, invites a group of friends and acquaintances to dinner, including Helena Markowska, an art critic; Jerzy Langer, a former police officer and private detective; the married couple Maria and Tadeusz Brzozowski; the young writer Igor Stankiewicz; and Kaja Rudzka, Albert's daughter. From the very first moments, the atmosphere at the manor is tense, and the guests' small gestures and glances arouse suspicion.

During dinner, a dramatic event occurs – Albert is murdered at the table. Each guest becomes a potential suspect, and Jerzy Langer immediately takes action to secure the crime scene and launch an investigation. During the interrogations, hidden secrets of the guests, as well as tensions and conflicts from the past, are revealed.

As the story unfolds, secrets from five years ago are revealed. Piotr, Albert's assistant, has mysteriously disappeared, and a letter left by Albert reveals that one of the guests was involved in the earlier events. The guests realize that the murderer has returned to complete his work.

In subsequent chapters, the novel develops into intense psychological tension and dramatic action. Night at the estate becomes an arena of shadows, crackling sounds, rustling sounds, and whispers. Jerzy Langer, utilizing his experience as a detective, leads the group through numerous traps and puzzles. The group tries to protect each other and survive, learning to cooperate and trust each other in extreme conditions.

In Chapter 12, a trap is set in the library, where Jerzy and the guests confront their first direct threat. Igor is caught, revealing that he was coerced into action by the real murderer, who had remained in the shadows for years. Thanks to Jerzy's strategy, the group gains an advantage over the intruder.

Chapters 13 and 14 bring the plot to a climax. In the library, the truth about the events of five years ago, the betrayal, the attempted murder of Piotr, and the murderer's hidden revenge, is revealed. A confrontation with the intruder results in his capture and the revelation of the motives that connected the past and the present.

In Chapter 15, the novel comes to an end. Dawn brings relief, and the entire group can breathe a sigh of relief. The truth is revealed, and each participant must face the consequences of the past. A night filled with fear, betrayal, and secrets gives way to the calm of morning, and life at the estate gradually returns to normal.

The novel's main themes include:

1. **Murder and Mystery** – the central plot point is the mysterious murder of Albert Rudzki, which triggers a cascade of events.

2. **Past and Present** – secrets from five years ago, including Piotr's disappearance, have a crucial impact on current events. 3. **Psychological Tension** – Fear, suspicion, and tension between the characters create an atmosphere of uncertainty and drama.

4. **Strategy and Detective Storytelling** – Jerzy Langer uses his skills to investigate and protect the guests.

5. **Confrontation with the Truth** – The climax is the revelation of the murderer, their motives, and all hidden secrets.

6. **Trust and Cooperation** – The characters learn to work together under extreme conditions to survive.

7. **Conclusion and Redemption** – The novel ends with the truth revealed, the murderer caught, and peace restored after a dramatic night.

"Murder at the Table" is a novel full of suspense, intrigue, dark secrets, and dramatic twists, where the past intertwines with the present, and the characters face their own fears and moral choices.