Author, Kujtim Hajdari, Books and Coffee with Tamikio
Mystery of a Crime
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Hi, it’s nice to hear from you! I’m Tamikio, the Literary Traveler, and the creator of Books and Coffee with Tamikio. I’m thrilled to have you all join me. So, let’s chat!
Today it’s Books and Coffee with the author, Kujtim Hajdari.
Hi, Mrs. Tamikio. Nice to meet you, and thank you for inviting me to your chat, Books and Coffee with Tamikio. I like to talk with friends, especially when they are passionate about literature as you are. For me, talking about books around the coffee table is a special occasion to share my opinions with friends.
-Let’s warm up. What’s your favorite coffee or drink to start your day?
I usually start my day with a hot Italian espresso with a little milk or some cream, but given that this estate has got some hot, it’s also preferable, and an iced coffee for me these days.
- Wonderful! I never heard of Italian espresso. I bet it tastes delicious with cream or milk. I’ll have to try some soon.
Now tell us what’s your name and where you from?
My name is Kujtim Hajdari, but I write it with one middle name — one uppercase R. It comes from my father’s name (Refit), because there are many other people who share the same name Kujtim Hajdari in my country. I am from Albania, and for around 30 years I lived in Italy. In the last three years, I have been living in the USA as a permanent resident.
-Interesting, I didn’t know that many other people in your country have the same name as yours. Of course, I’m an American. I’ve never heard of your name before. So as far I’m concerned you are the first Kujtim Hajdari.
-I purchased a copy of your book titled Mysteries of a Crime. Tell us about your book.
First, thank you for your interest in my book and for buying it.
Mysteries of a Crime is a social detective novel set in a small town near a lake, where a murder investigation slowly reveals a much deeper human and social tragedy. On the surface, it is a crime story about who killed Orest and why. But beneath the surface, it is also a novel about grief, silence, prejudice, family pain, and justice.
The story follows Detective Indrit as he investigates two connected cases: the death of Julian, a young man lost to drugs, and the murder of Orest. As the investigation develops, the novel shows how a community can create guilt, how rumors can distort truth, and how hidden trauma can speak through children, especially through Rebeka, the mute daughter who becomes a silent witness.
-I currently have your book on my bookshelf arranged in the crime genres. I have arrangements on eight bookshelves in my home and I organized each shelf in categories such as crime, mystery, ghosts, and more. I definitely plan on reading your book for an awesome Want To Read.
-Who created your book cover? Why did you choose the image?
My book cover was created by me, and I am very satisfied with my work. The cover design was created to reflect the atmosphere of the novel — mystery, tension, the lake, and the emotional darkness beneath the story.
I chose that image because it reflects the atmosphere and symbolism of the novel. The lake, the fog, the trees, and the sense of hidden danger all represent the secrets buried beneath the surface of the town and the characters’ lives.
The image is not only decorative; it is connected to the novel’s meaning. In the story, the lake and the grove are places where tragedy, memory, and truth meet. So the cover had to suggest mystery, silence, and emotional depth before the reader even opens the book.
-Sounds intriguing! I will be reading it soon. I’m sure I’m in for a treat.
-Introduce the main character in your book. Are they the good or the bad guy?
The main character is Detective Indrit, who leads the investigation. He is not a simple “good guy” in the usual sense, because he is a complex human being with doubts, fatigue, and personal involvement. But he is definitely on the side of truth.
If we talk about the central dramatic character, Ava is also extremely important. She is not a traditional villain either. She is a grieving mother pushed to the edge by pain, loss, and anger. So in this book, I did not want to create purely good or bad characters. I wanted to show human beings who are morally complicated, shaped by suffering, fear, and choices.
-I tell you, I never asked this question chatting or interviewing an author, but in this case, I was compelled to do so. Why? I haven’t started reading your book yet. So I have no knowledge from the start whose is the good or bad character. But you stated something to light about your characters in your book at least I never thought of. There are no good or bad characters in some books, and there are no bad or good characters in other books. In your case based you characters’ personalities on human emotions as you just stated this may be something I’m willing to play with writing my next crime or thriller book. Just awesome.
-Tell us what was on your mind in the process of writing this book?
While writing this book, I was thinking about justice, silence, and the hidden pain people carry inside. I wanted to explore how a crime affects not only the victim and the suspect, but also families, children, and the whole community around them.
I was also interested in how difficult it is to see the truth in real life. People rush to judge, rumors spread quickly, and sometimes society chooses the easiest explanation instead of the real one. Through this novel, I wanted to show that a crime is never just one act — it is connected to grief, prejudice, social pressure, and human weakness.
Another important idea for me was the voice of the silent child, Rebeka. I wanted to show that even when someone cannot speak, they may still carry the strongest truth.
-I’m over here clapping my hands to this answer! It’s clear from your choice of explanations that your book is created on human emotions and reactions. There is something you said that stuck with me. Judgment. Rumors. It is one of the easiest reactions for humans to do is to rush to judgment and spreading rumors. Because most of the world is build on quick reactions and emotions to hearing something for the first time, mostly negative, it never fails us to jump to something bitter.
-For example, as people move on with their daily activities, when a person is waiting for a loved one or a friend to come from work, school, or a place that’s requires them to be there daily, the person that’s waiting for them is at home, lunch at cafe, on a vacation, and/or other places. The waiting person has no idea that the person they are waiting is a minute, an hour, or two hours late became they have gone missing. The first minutes and closest hours are critical for missing persons. And where does this judgment and rumors come in? From quick negative emotions.
-Share your special publications, awards, events, seminars, festivals, or anything you’ve done extraordinary with Mystery of a Crime.
I have published my book in English on Amazon so that many interested readers can have it. And these days I have also published it in Albanian in my country, Albania. For my book, several literary critics have written good reviews that show the artistic values, important problems, and the messages that my book conveys. I can remind you of the interview with journalist Turkia Loucif of El Massar El-Arabi, Algeria, with Dr. Basharat Khan of Lit Stream, India, and the review by Arben Iliazi, Albania, and Dr. H. Blery. In recent days, I submitted my book to two competitions. I hope that it will be appreciated.
-Certainly, I hope so as well. Sending good vibes to your hopes!
-Tell us where we can find your book.
You can find my book on Amazon by searching for ASIN: B0H61WRVW9 and my name.
-I would recommend readers to grab a copy of Mysteries of a Crime by Kujtim Hajdari with an R. At the beginning of the first chapter, even though I haven’t read it yet, I stole a quick at picking up keys words. I spotted some interesting ones!
-Well, it was sure a pleasure chatting with the author Kujtim Hajdari today! Thank you for sharing your book, thoughts, and adventure with Books and Coffee with Tamikio!
Thanks again; it was truly my pleasure to talk with you about these problems that I appreciate very much. I value your warm, friendly, and professional words, especially the questions, as interesting, helpful, and promotional for my creativity. Your long experience helps us teach and lead us toward the right horizon in the field of literature. God bless you, my respectable friend.