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THEY HAVE TOLD SO MANY LIES ABOUT ME.
London, 1954. Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot grandmother, waits quietly in the custody of the Metropolitan police. She can't speak their language, but she understands what their wary looks mean: she has been accused of the brutal murder of her daughter-in-law.
Eva Georgiou, Greek interpreter for the Met, knows how it feels to be voiceless as an immigrant woman. While she works as Zina’s translator, her obsession with the case deepens, and so too does her bond with the accused murderer.
Zina can’t speak for herself. She can’t clear her own name. All she can do is wait for the world to decide...
IS SHE A VICTIM? OR IS SHE A KILLER?
A compelling historical crime novel set in the Greek diaspora of 1950s London – that's inspired by a true story – The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, Sara Collins, and Jessie Burton.
I must express my sincere apologies to Eleni Kyriacou, Head of Zeus and Rachel Gilbey from Rachel's Random Resources for sharing my review a day late. Unfortunately, my daughter has been ill and I spent the day in hospital with her yesterday. Many thanks for sending me a copy of the book and inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou was inspired by the real life case of Styllou Pantopiou Christofi who stood trial for the murder of her daughter-in-law, Hella Dorothea Christofis. The author's notes at the end explain just how much of the story mirrors this little-known case but I would recommend not reading ahead or looking up any details until after finishing the book, if you wish to avoid any spoilers.
The book opens with a first-person prologue as a woman accused of a terrible crime waits; for the questions to stop, for her visitors who never arrive, for the officials to decide when she goes to court, and eventually to hear whether she will be set free or hanged. She notes that she must also wait for the verdict to be translated by her interpreter who will translate everything for her from English into Greek, and so this girl will know everything before she does. Despite her circumstances, it is clear that she is a proud woman who might be poor and uneducated but considers herself respected in her village and objects to being called mad.
The woman is, of course, 53-year old Zina Pavlou and although the subsequent pages are told in the third person, her sense of self is emphasised throughout the book. However, in spite of her protestations, the evidence that she brutally killed her daughter-in-law, Hedy, seems to be damning. Interspersed between the chapters which depict what takes place following her accusation and leading up to the court case, are scenes which detail the deteriorating relationship between the two women, as seen through her eyes. How unreliable her perspective may be is undetermined but the effect of her presence on the household and particularly on Hedy is undeniable. Could she be both a loving grandmother and a critical, interfering mother-in-law who would take extreme measures if her relationship with her beloved Anna was under threat?
Her quick temper and disagreeable attitude means she doesn't naturally garner sympathy and yet Eva Georgiou, the young woman employed by the Met as a Greek interpreter is increasingly drawn to her. The subplot which follows Eva's own problems is intriguing and as her conflicted emotions and heartbreak are gradually disclosed, it becomes clearer why, although believing her almost certainly guilty, she grows so obsessed with Zina, even to the detriment of her already troubled marriage. Eleni Kyriacou presents her with some thought-provoking moral quandaries but despite her mistakes and whether the reader agrees or not with the choices she makes, her compassionate nature is never in doubt.
Although they are both Greek Cypriot, the differences between the two women are initially more obvious, however, alongside the compulsive courtroom storyline is a fascinating exploration of language and communication. Eleni Kyriacou examines the power of words – and therefore the overwhelming sense of frustration at having to rely on somebody else to explain and impart on your behalf. What remains unsaid, through guilt, fear or mercy, is just as important in this engrossing, empathetic character-driven novel. Meanwhile, societal attitudes of the time are also feature throughout, with the treatment of women, especially somebody considered older and uneducated, and the othering of foreigners – even those who have seemingly successfully assimilated – feels particularly relevant.
The first part of the book is slower paced but Eleni Kyriacou's immersively constructed storyline, with its vibrant sense of time and place, ensures the tense courtroom passages and the scenes after the verdict has been announced becomes even more impactful. The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou superbly melds real-life tragedy with riveting fiction; moving, thoughtfully nuanced historical crime fiction at its best, I thoroughly recommend it.
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is published by Aries, Head of Zeus imprint. It can be purchased from their website, bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones, Kobo, Amazon or your favourite independent bookshop.
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Eleni Kyriacou is an award-winning editor and journalist. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, Grazia, and Red, among others. She’s the daughter of Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and her debut novel, She Came To Stay, was published in 2020. Her latest novel, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, is inspired by the true-crime story of Hella Dorothea Christofis' murder.
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