The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou

About the book

**Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club 2023**

'Tense. Moving. Morally complex. Zina Pavlou is wholly unforgettable.' Rachel Rhys
'Hugely powerful... Easily one of the best books you'll read this year.' Emma Christie

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.

'A brilliantly crafted story of two women... and an absolute page-turner' Louise Hare
'Immersive, gripping, authentic' Erin Kelly
'Chilling, gripping' Nikki Smith
'Zina and Eva will stay with me a long, long time' Louise Fein
'A gripping true-crime drama... Kyriacou's complex, perceptive and moving narrative brings these devastating events vividly to life' Philippa East
'Prepare to become obsessed with Zina Pavlou!' Louise Mumford
'Storytelling of the highest order... Really powerful' Leonora Nattrass
'Eleni Kyriacou is a writer of immense talent... A captivating and important story written by an author at the top of her game' Victoria Dowd
'A terrific re-imagining of a historical true crime case... A gripping thriller' Trevor Wood