A wonderfully written story, you are immersed in to the lives of Zina Pavlou and Eva who is appointed as the translator when Zina is arrested. Although the story is about Zina, Eva was the standout character for me as she deals with the case details and getting attached to Zina.
You are kept guessing as to what really happened right to the very end.

One of my top books read in 2023.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou.

Somehow I missed that this was based on real events and didn’t discover this until the end.

I was a little disappointed, It felt a little slow and Zina and Eva often frustrated me with their decisions.

After having a look at other reviews it seems very well received so assume this one just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou is a powerful story inspired by a true crime case in the 50’s.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s such a fascinating story which is totally compelling and skillfully reimagined by Eleni. I thought it extremely clever building and telling the story around both Zina and Eva, her interpreter, and how their relationship effected both of them. It’s an unforgettable book, definitely in my top 3 reads this year.

A strange and disturbing story. More so when i realised it was based on a true story. Zina Pavlou is a 53 year old Greek Cypriot who moves to London in 1954 to live with her son Michalis and his German wife Hedy. Zina and Hedy clash from the off, so when Hedy is found brutally murdered Zina is arrested. As she doesn't speak English an interpreter is called in - and Eva becomes Zina's only friend and support. The case affects Eva so much. Zina is convinced she'll be found innocent and when she mentions something that happened in Cyprus when she was young Eva is shocked. Such a sad story. #netgalley #theunspeakableactsofzinapavlou

This compelling novel draws inspiration from the true account of the penultimate woman executed in England. Even without knowledge of its factual basis, the impactful narrative resonates with powerful themes. The author skillfully crafts well-rounded characters, portraying their flaws and good intentions, particularly evident in Eva’s character, and delicately navigating the fine line between sympathy, arrogance, and trauma in Zina’s portrayal.

The heartbreaking bias ingrained in the system, coupled with prejudice against a woman who lacks proficiency in English and struggles with literacy in her native language, is vividly depicted. The author adeptly portrays these challenges, both subtly and overtly, without coming across as preachy. Regrettably, the author’s note reveals that these elements closely align with the harsh realities documented in historical records.

Thanks to @headofzeus for giving me a spot on this blog tour and for my finished copy of the book!

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou


I was inspired to read this book after seeing it on the BBC 2 series of Beneath the Covers.
Based on a true story we learn that Zuma has been arrested for murder whilst visiting family in London in the 1950s.
What we do find out is that back then women were not treated well by the police , throw in that they are also ' foreign ' and it is doubly so .
I enjoyed finding out about Zina and her life and also the relationship that develops between her and Eve the translator brought in as Zina is not an English speaker.
It soon become apparent they both have problems, and a times it is very hard to work out who actually is the one who is in most need.

4.5 ★s
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is the second novel by award-winning British editor, journalist and author, Eleni Kyriacou. Eva Georgiou has lived in London for almost two decades, and been acting as an interpreter for the Metropolitan Police for five years by the time she is called in to interpret for a Greek Cypriot woman accused of murdering her daughter-in-law.

In late July 1954, fifty-three-year-old Zina Pavlou has been in England for a year, living, mostly, with her son Michalis, his wife, Hedy and their two children, eight-year-old Anna and baby Georgie. She is illiterate in her own tongue and has but a few words in English, but the friction between her and German-born Hedy is quickly apparent.

Zina is critical of practically every aspect of their lives: how they keep house, how they raise their children, their lack of devotion. Zina is angry at Hedy’s intolerance of her Greek customs, and numerous vocal altercations come to a head when Hedy insists that Zina returns to Cyprus. Not much later, while Michalis is at his evening job, Hedy is knocked unconscious with an ashpan, strangled with a scarf, then set alight. Some fairly strong evidence, and witness accounts, point to Zina’s guilt.

But guilty or not, Eva believes that Zina has the right to know what is happening to her, to be treated as a human being. It is her job to be impartial, although Zina is slow to trust this girl: “you’re just a woman, it’s the men who say what happens here”, and observes that “Everything they ask me is kneaded into Greek through an interpreter and whatever I reply she twists back into English….. Words are weapons here and she has so few.”

Warned not to get attached, Eva nonetheless is shocked at the prevailing attitude of the police, the prison wardens, the court officers, the press and the general public: all assume Zina’s guilt. Will she get a fair trial? “A coarse peasant woman who can’t even read and write her own language – let alone English – accused of killing her pretty, young daughter-in-law? No prizes for guessing which way the jury will go.”

Her son refuses to visit, Zina worries about her beloved granddaughter, and her Cypriot family have abandoned her. Eva finds herself befriending Zina, even though she is unlikely to be released. What especially disturbs her is Zina’s vague mention of a previous court appearance in Cyprus. With the relationship between Eva and her husband somewhat fraught, she finds herself confiding in the wrong person, to her later regret.

Kyriacou easily evokes her era and setting: the xenophobic, sexist mindset is well depicted: “She’d never met an English person yet who spoke Greek, but here it was again – the idea that all foreigners who said they didn’t speak English were lying. As if the thought itself was ridiculous.” Eva also notes: “if you can’t speak English here, you just don’t matter. And when you do learn it, and try to fit in, well. Then you can’t help but feel you’re giving away a small part of yourself.”

Ultimately, Eva is conflicted: “After all these months, she was no closer to knowing if the woman who lay in that cold, condemned cell was a ruthless killer or a victim herself.” Was Zina mad or just bad? Of the alternating twin narratives, Eva’s is believable, while Zina’s eventually comes across as likely unreliable.

The idea that, in such a widely-reported murder trial with a Greek Cypriot accused, no one in the public gallery understands Greek definitely requires the reader to don their disbelief suspenders, but the ending is credible and realistic. With the plot and many of the major details are based on a true case, this is compelling historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Aria & Aries.

"They have told so many lies about me. It's a terrible thing to be accused of a crime so dreadful. To be told every day that you're lying, when you're almost certain that you're not."

Eva Georgiou is a Greek interpreter for the police and the courts in London in 1954, when she is called up to interpret for a Greek Cypriot woman accused of the gruesome murder of her daughter-in-law. Zina Pavlou speaks little English but already the police have decided she is guilty. After all, her son said she is.

But, Eva isn't so sure. Zina loves her family, especially her son and granddaughter, Anna. Sure, she didn't get along with Hedy, her daughter-in-law, but does that mean she killed hit Hedy over the head, strangled her and set her body alight, like everyone says? All Eva knows is that everyone has already decided Zina should hang for the crime, and that isn't right. So, Eva decides she'll fight for Zina, and immerses herself in the case.

This book is based on the true story of an immigrant woman who was accused of killing her daughter-in-law, and the ensuing court case. It's a gripping tale, but I have to admit both main characters frustrated me. Zina didn't seem to want to help herself – yes, she was alone in a foreign country but she deliberately made life harder for herself in many ways. Similarly, Eva knows that she shouldn't become so embroiled in the case, that it won't end well but she allows her obsession to keep developing.

I was hoping for more of a crime fiction yarn than what I got. It felt more like a drama than a mystery. In parts, the book dragged and by the end, when the truth of what happened was finally revealed I wasn't as invested as I would have liked to be.

Zina Pavlou has been accused of murdering her daughter-in-law but having travelled to London from Cyprus, she barely speaks a word of English. To try and get to the bottom of what happened, the police bring in Ava to translate for Zina, a task which benefits the police but also means that Zina can be properly informed about her case and what will happen during her trial. Unlike most people, Ava is determined that Zina should be considered innocent until proven guilty and wants to help her to make sure she is treated fairly. Having been warned repeatedly to not get emotionally involved, Ava oversteps the mark and begins to keep conversations secret from the guards, altering letters and asking too many questions. The truth is that nobody except Zina knows what happened that night. Is she simply an easy target for the police or has she fooled Ava completely? Travelling backwards and forwards in time, Zina's story is gradually pieced together, but what consequences will this have for Zina, Ava and everyone else involved in the investigation...

I had seen a lot of coverage about this book, especially after the 'Between The Covers'' announcement, so I had really high expectations before starting. The story is very different to anything else I'd heard of - a historical crime fiction set in the 1950s, inspired by a true story and the main character's story told through a translator. On paper it sounded amazing, but being written in this unusual format, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the style. I didn't have to worry, after reading the first few chapters I was completely absorbed into the unlikely relationship which formed between Zina and Ava. It was fascinating and written so beautifully - I really felt like I was right there listening to the stories being translated back and forth.

The murder investigation was an interesting case in its own right, but when you add in the way that the events and stories being recounted by Zina were being passed onto the police via Ava's interpretation of them, it changed the book for me from being interesting to completely amazing. Despite the fact that many people felt that Zina was 100% guilty, Ava had so much responsibility for the way Zina's trial developed based on what she did or didn't say. If you then think about how much she was swayed by her own personal opinion and relationship with Zina, it throws up so many questions about the fairness of trials, bias and justice.

The characters are flawed but incredibly captivating and this leads to a really powerful story. A stand out in this book for me was the complicated family dynamic between Zina, her son Michalis and daughter-in-law Hedy. It was so raw, so real and the tension was almost unbearable. I really can't fault this book in any way and it will definitely be making an appearance in my Top 10 for 2023!

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this beaut, it’s out now and definitely worth the read!

Its 1954 in London. Zina, a Greek grandmother has been convicted of murdering her daughter in law. The evidence is stacked against her but did she do it?

Eva is hired as a translator in the case. Soon her relationship with Zina develops and her doubts about Zinas guilt creep in. Can she help Zina?

This fictionally story is based on true events (read the authors notes at the end). I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down. It gripped me from the start.
I loved Kyriacou’s writing, she made me love and feel sympathy for all the characters.

This might be one of the best books I’ve read this year! This isn’t your standard crime novel and Kyriacou’s take on this is superb! Brilliantly written 📚❤️

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and the author Eleni Kyriacou.
This book dragged for me, with characters that felt underdeveloped and an ending that felt unsatisfactory. Overall, it was just half-baked. It was intriguing to know that the story was based on real-life events, but left me wanting more. Not for me!

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is a historical crime fiction novel, written by Eleni Kyriacou, inspired by the story of the penultimate woman hanged in the United Kingdom. A novel that is a perfect example of how to write characters that will stay with you a long time after you have finished, in a setting that describes perfectly 1950s London and the prejudices experienced by immigrants and women.

Hedy Pavlou has been assassinated, and her mother-in-law, Zina, is charged with her murder; she protests her innocence, but with her rudimentary English, she's effectively silenced, feeling powerless in a situation than is outside of her control. Eva Georgiou is assigned as her translator, a job that for her is just an extra income; but the more she works with Zina, the more she's drawn close to her, seeing how she's abandoned by her family (the one in London or in Cyprus).
Parallel with the case development, we are told Zina's story and how her moving to living in London with her son Michaelis was far from what she expected, soon clashing with Hedy's manners and traditions; a relationship told from the POV of Zina, and which takes you to the level of asking yourself what really happened with Hedy.

Kyriacou weaves a gripping story, told from Eva's POV on one side, a story of loneliness which can be set in parallel to what Zina's lived when she came to London; Eva is extremely worried as Zina doesn't seem to be mentally okay, and might not understand the consequence of being found guilty.

We will be constantly revisiting the question about what if Zina is a murderer, or is just a victim of the prejudices suffered by many others in her situation? But the answer is not as simple as black or white, and the many shades of grey are what make of her a character that will stay with you for a long time; Kyriacou has written a story that makes all the way to your heart.

If you are in the mood for historical inspired crime, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is an excellent novel that you should totally give a try. A really enjoyable read which will provoke you to think a lot about the characters even after finishing.
4

Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot immigrant in London 1954, is accused of killing her daughter in law. She can't speak English or read/ write Greek so the Met enlists the help of Eva to work as a translator throughout the discovery and trial. Eva is determined to get Zina a fair trail despite the prejudices she already faces.

This story is told throughout the time leading up to Zinas trial with a few chapters sprinkled in between of the lead up to the night of the murder. Through these chapter we really get a feel for how much Zina and her daughter in law disliked each other and how it was impacting their family life in London. We also can feel the turmoil Eva feels while working as Zinas translator, knowing only too well the attitude and prejudices Zina will face simply for being an immigrant who doesn't speak English in London. This story is so complex that I felt myself really sympathising for a potential murderer at several parts throughout. I didn't realised until I had finished the book that it was based on a true story and after looking it up I feel the author did a great job and keeping the facts of the case true.

Ooooohhhhh this was very very good! The two women, Zina and Eva will stay with me, their personalities and their relationship which built up over time. It was only meant to be a job for Eva but compassion for Zina and wanting her to get a fair hearing compelled Eva to get involved and support a woman who has been accused of terrible terrible things. The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is an immersive and gripping read, it’s complex, powerful and a page turner. I was desperate to find out how it ends for Zina and her translator Eva, in places it was uncomfortable, the attitudes towards immigrants and women and the prejudices displayed. It’s dark, twisty and richly told, all the characters had their part, the past and present interwoven. This is inspired on a true crime story also which I immediately googled when I finished.

I was absolutely blown away by this &was stunned to find out it was based on a true story. I had no idea how the story was going to go until the very last page & enjoyed the tension.

I was engrossed by the characters of Zina & translator Eva. Both are complex women with difficult back stories, though their different generations mean that they have different experiences.

Zina has come to the UK to live with her youngest son and his family; from the outset there is a palpable tension between Zina and Hedy her daughter in law, with Michaelis, Zina's son, stuck in the middle. Sometimes he seemed spineless, other times I fully sympathised with how it must be for him caught between two women who wanted to be the most important part of his life.

He doesn't always come across well though, but then again none of them do, not Zina, Michaelis, Hedy, Eva or even her husband. Everyone of them is humanly flawed and real and my sympathies for them waxed and waned.

The story in and out of prison is claustrophobic and tense; you feel the walls close in on you in the scenes inside the prison cells. The same goes for life inside the family home, life in 1950s London was hard and dirty, and the author brings this to life brilliantly.

One of my books of the year.

This is an enticing narrative filled with complex characters who struggle with loyalty and morality. I was intrigued from the very start as we meet Eva and Zina, their dynamic is one that can be related somewhat to a maternal relationship with a daughter desperately trying to see the good. I was desperate to uncover the truth behind Hedy's death and the brutality of the murder. The shifts in time between the past and present help to create the impression of the story and build the characters and their motives.

I really appreciated this narrative ad how it not only showed the cultural differences between Zina and Hedy and then the influence that British society had on Michalis but also how they had been treated differently because of their culture. This book delved into the complexities of culture, race, language, age and gender all within three characters. By setting the book in the 1950s, it highlights the mistreatment of people in these marginalised groups and creates a voice and platform for them.

This is such an unusual story, very well written and utterly gripping. It’s set in 1950s London, and told mostly from the POV of the interpreter, who is employed by the police to assist them with a Greek Cypriot woman who has been accused of the gruesome murder of her daughter-in-law.
It is a very thought provoking study of the London police and judiciary at the time, and the awful assumptions made by them about the prisoner, Zina, simply because she speaks no English, is illiterate, and from a poor area of her homeland.
Her only ally is her interpreter Eva, who is so conflicted by her feeling of responsibility to Zina, that it badly affects her own personal life, and her judgement on occasion.
I only discovered at the end of the book that this novel is based very closely on a true story, which makes it even more disturbing and thought- provoking.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

The savage killing of Hedy Pavlou is an unspeakable act. The woman charged with her murder, her mother-in-law Zina Pavlou, protests her innocence but since she speaks almost no English she cannot be understood and is effectively silenced. She feels powerless but that’s a situation she’s experienced before in her life.

For Eva, the translator assigned to Zina’s case, initially the job is just some useful extra income. But increasingly she finds herself moved by Zina’s plight, abandoned by her son and her family back in Cyprus. Because Eva knows what it is to feel alone. Soon, merely translating the questions Zina is asked and Zina’s responses to them doesn’t seem enough, particularly as it becomes clear that Zina doesn’t really understand the consequences of being found guilty of the crime. Zina believes she is innocent and all the evidence to the contrary isn’t going to change her mind. So much so, that when offered a possible way out, she rejects it. Her sole wish is to be reunited with her granddaughter, Anna, the only person who has shown her any affection since she came to England.

Given Eva’s role is to speak on behalf of another, it’s ironic that her relationship with her husband, Jimmy, has descended into one in which thoughts and feelings are no longer expressed. Their long walks talking over plans for the future have fallen by the wayside and given way to meals eaten in virtual silence. Because of their different working patterns, they’ve become like ships that pass in the night with no opportunity to talk – to really talk – about the significant thing that has happened in their life. This is increasingly so as Eva becomes progressively more involved in Zina’s case. I found I became just as much invested in Eva’s and Jimmy’s story as I did in Zina’s.

The way the story unfolds means I found myself constantly revisiting the question posed in the book: is Zina a victim or a killer? Could it be possible for both to be true? When we eventually discover what happened on the night of the murder, I think I found my own answer to that question. Even when events earlier in Zina’s life are revealed, I believe you would have to possess a heart of stone not to be moved by the final chapters of the book.

Such is the gripping nature of the story, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is a book I could have easily devoured in a day if it weren’t for annoying things like having to eat and sleep. The fact that it’s inspired by a true story made it even more compelling, and ultimately tragic.

London, 1954 and Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot Yiayia (grandmother), waits in the custody of the Metropolitan police - she has been accused of the brutal murder of her daughter-in-law Heddy, with whom she was living alongside her son Michalis and their two children.

It’s true; there was tension between Hedy and Zina, and it seemed to be growing with each passing day. But with many cultural differences (Heddy is German) and both having limited ability to converse with the other, is that so surprising? Is it motive enough for murder?

Zina has very little English and becomes heavily reliant on Eva Georgiou, a Greek interpreter for the Met, who knows only too well how it feels to be voiceless as an immigrant woman.

Conversely, as Zina’s dependency increases, Eva’s obsession with the case deepens, and so does her bond with the accused murderer.

Whether victim or killer, Zina cannot speak up for herself. Her family effectively abandons her. She cannot work to clear her own name, which is all too convenient for some unsavoury characters. But how far will Eva go for a woman she barely knows?

The build-up to the crime and events within the family are interspersed through the narrative, but the story is predominantly focused on the observations and experiences of Zina’s interpreter

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is a propulsive thriller, made even more chilling as it’s based on a little known true crime (I’ll tell you no more for fear of spoilers).

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the story of these two women, who have both suffered many traumas over the years and for whom you cannot help but feel a strong emotional connection, though thoughts on guilt will sway as the book progresses.

Eleni Kyriacou writes cleverly, with pitch perfect dialect and including period details, which only helps to build authenticity (showing post-war British society and legal system, with all its prejudice and inequality), as the taut, morally complex plot increases in tension and vibrant complexity. Highly recommended reading! 5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. As always, this is an honest review.

This is a book that everyone should read, this is my top read of the year. I was glued to the pages, not knowing how this story was going to end. I had read it was based on a true story with some fiction added to it. But it is heartbreaking, I cried at parts and reading afterwards which parts were true and which was fiction didn’t make things much easier.

It’s 1953 Zina Pavlou has been invited to London by her son Michalis and his German wife Hedy, they want her to help with the housework and looking after the children. Zina is excited to meet her grandchildren especially the older one Annie the other is still a baby. But when she arrives things don’t go as well as planned. Zina cannot read or write Greek, and she speaks no English. Which means she can only communicate fully through her son. But she does try to learn words in English.

When one night Hedy is murdered, the only person that is looked at is Zina. But she claims she is innocent, she has no idea what has happened. Is she telling the truth?

Eva Georgiou is a translator the police ask her if she will translate the questioning they need to do with Zina. She agrees, but it’s not just the one time she translates Eva begins to care about Zina, she gets too close, she has no idea if she is guilty of what she is charged or not. But she is determined to be by her side and translate.

Despite both being Greek Zina and Eva’s lives have been so different. Zina had been married at 14, she had 5 children by 21 and a husband who cheated on her. As Eva gets to know her better she learns something from the past, but only a snippet not the full story and she keeps it to herself.

This story is heartbreaking in many ways, I felt such sympathy for Zina I had no idea if it was misplaced or not until the end. But even then life had been tough.

If you think of all the modern technology we have now DNA, crime Scene Analysis, psychiatrists, this case may have been solved quicker and the sentence would have been different.

Because someone cannot read or write doesn’t make them stupid, because they are not the most beautiful woman doesn’t make you stupid. Zina is only 53 but from the work she has done since 14 she may as well have been 73.

This is my top read of this year, I have read a number of books but none so far this year have stayed with me like this one. A book that makes you think, that brings out emotions in you. I was holding my breath as the court case came to an end. Gripped to know what was going to happen. The injustices of some of the trial.

The story is told gradually and jumps back and forth in time to when Zina was young, to when she arrived in London. Going back before the murder and before the murder gradually leading to the trial.

I found the whole story compelling reading and found myself looking up the real case after reading what the author had said which parts were fiction and which were fact.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HeadofZeus for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.