1954, Eva is called upon to act as a translator when a Greek Cypriot woman is arrested on suspicion of murdering her daughter in law. Zina is relying on Eva to help her but will her translation help the prosecution or defence?
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is based on a true crime story (don’t search in case of spoilers!)
Zina has travelled from her home country to England to live with her son and his family. There is instant conflict with her daughter in law and a few months later Zina is accused of her murder. Eva earns extra money acting as a translator for the police and is quickly immersed in Zina’s case.
I was swept up in the story of these two women. My emotions were mixed and evolved over the course of the book. Zina is put in an awkward situation as culture and family clash. The evidence against her is damning but she has been treated badly by her family. I felt sorry for her although her stubbornness added to her problems. The police want a quick conviction so are not seeking other suspects or motives. Eva has personal issues at home as well as her increasingly emotional involvement with Zina’s case.
The book is written in the present day to show Zina and Eva meeting and then Zina’s experiences in the recent past to show the lead up to the murder. The 1950s was brought to life vividly and the attitudes of the period underpinned the plot effectively. I thought that the author has researched the era and the case thoroughly to bring the characters and their situations to life.
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is a fascinating historical crime drama.
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou
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.
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. Follow her on and www.elenikwriter.com
