THE UNSPEAKABLE ACTS OF ZINA PAVLOU
Chosen for BBC2’s BETWEEN THE COVERS Book Club
THEY SAY SHE’S A MURDERER
SHE SAYS NOTHING
A dark, addictive historical crime novel, inspired by the true story of the penultimate woman to be hanged in Britain
London, 1954. Accused of brutally murdering her daughter-in-law, Greek Cypriot grandmother, Zina Pavlou, sits in a police cell in Hampstead and awaits her fate. She speaks no English and can read and write no Greek.
A few miles away, after her shift at the glamorous Café de Paris, Eva Georgiou is roused in the early hours and summoned to her second job – as a translator for the Metropolitan Police. She’s appointed Zina’s official translator.
The proof against Zina is overwhelming, but Eva’s concern grows when she witnesses the woman’s erratic behaviour, and begins to wonder if she was in her right mind at the time of the murder. And if she should be facing a trial at the Old Bailey at all. Then Zina drops a bombshell – she’s been accused of murder once before, years ago in Cyprus.
Praise for The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou
‘An impressive novel…worthy of Sarah Waters.’
The Times
'Atmospheric and gripping...speaks so movingly about the experience of being an immigrant.'
Sarra Manning, Red Online
‘A hugely powerful book. Easily one of the best books you’ll read this year.’
Emma Christie, author of Find Her First
‘Tense. Moving. Morally complex. Zina Pavlou is wholly unforgettable.’
Rachel Rhys, author of Dangerous Crossing
‘A brilliantly crafted story of two women, Zina the accused and Eva her translator. So evocative of 1950s London and an absolute page-turner.’
Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
‘Loved this. Impossible not to feel desperately sympathetic for the accused as she waits to find out her fate at trial.’
Clare Whitfield, author of People of Abandoned Character
‘Prepare to become obsessed with Zina Pavlou! I was hooked from the start.’
Louise Mumford, author of The Hotel
‘A terrific reimagining of a historical true crime case, Eleni has a real knack for bringing the fifties back to life, mixing glamour and grime in perfect proportion to produce a gripping thriller.’
Trevor Wood, author of You Can Run
‘Storytelling of the highest order.’
Leonora Nattrass, author of Blue Water
‘This delves deep under the skin of a shocking domestic murder, unravelling characters and events in a gripping true-crime drama that kept me immersed throughout.’
Philippa East, author of I’ll Never Tell
