The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou

Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club 2023

'Tense. Moving. Morally complex. Zina Pavlou is wholly unforgettable.' Rachel Rhys
'Impressive... worthy of Sarah Waters' The Times

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 has drawn such a rich cast in this enthralling and wholly original novel. Utterly compelling.' Clare Mackintosh
'Immersive, gripping, authentic.' Erin Kelly
'Chilling, gripping.' Nikki Smith
'A tragic and compelling tale.' Guardian.