It took me some time to read this book as I was traveling, but every time I picked it up, I was immediately transported to 1950s London. The main character, Zina Pavlou, is from Greece and has come to England to visit her son and his wife. However, things take a dark turn when Zina's daughter-in-law is found dead and Zina is charged with murder. My mind raced with questions – did she actually commit the crime, or was someone else involved? I had a few theories and became a detective myself. I sympathized deeply with Zina, as did her translator who also worked to solve the case.

What shocked me was that at the time, the law in England mandated execution by hanging for those found guilty of murder. This added an extra layer of tension to the story. What's more, this book is based on a true story, and the author, Eleni Kyriacou, did a fantastic job of adding a few extra twists to make it even more intense.

The ending of the book left me speechless as everything came to light, and it all made sense. This is a brilliant book! I want to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it kept me up at night.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this story of Zina and Eva. The plot is very well teased out and kept me guessing until the end. The book evokes 1950's London, the fog, the racist attitudes and the court/prison system and how Zina is treated. There are themes also about the harshness of poverty especially for women in Cyprus and the role religion plays. I also liked the length of the book. It wasn't overly long. The script was concise and the plot moved along at a nice pace. I will definitely look out for other work by this author.

•It is inspired by a true case and it’s brilliantly written. It’s twisted and it will keep you at edge. You will try to solve it but you will find yourself entangled in mystery, hidden truth and process of jurisdiction. It was such an emotional read and a gripping historical crime novel. Where the line becomes blur between fiction and facts.

•The author has splattered light upon gender inequality, class, discrimination, prejudice, different cultures and women’s right.

• I like the setting of 1950s London and odyssey of a Cypriot woman. And Eva’s role as a translator and delving in the mystery of Zina Pavlou and bringing up the issue of gender inequality.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher for giving me an opportunity to read this book and trusting me.

Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot grandmother staying with her son and his family in 1950’s London, is accused of brutally murdering her daughter-in-law. Barely speaking English and confused by the fact her family appear to have abandoned her in her hour of need, Zina has no-one to turn to – except her police-assigned interpreter, Eva Georgiou.


As Eva feels the weight of responsibility for Zina falling on her shoulders, she is herself battling with the loss of a baby and the widening gap in her marriage. Does she believe Zina’s protestations that she is innocent of this unspeakable act? And if so, can she help Zina, when no-one else seems willing to?


The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is a particularly strong novel, not just in the tight plotting and narrative, but on a bigger scale in the way it deals with the powerlessness of women against a male dominated social and economic landscape. Zina’s plight is compounded by the fact that she is not just as a woman; she is a foreigner of low social class and disadvantaged by her inability to speak or write English. We see how society, the media, and the judicial system are influenced by the fact that Zina is ‘not one of us’.


It's a deliciously crafted novel with a deft lightness of touch, yet it’s unafraid to delve into those bigger questions about racial prejudice, women’s rights, and social inequality. All this could come across as heavy going, but in fact, the novel succeeds in bringing all of these points sharply into mental focus, but without deviating from the engaging plot. So, it’s a wholly enjoyable read, with plenty of depth.


This is a recommended read from me – and I’ll certainly be checking out Eleni’s other work.


Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy!

Taking place in 1950's London, Zina is accused of a horrific murder she is adamant she didn't commit and she needs the help of Eva to translate and find the truth of what really happened.

Firstly this was written in such an addictive way you can't put it down and this is also based on the true crime story with some dramatization which makes this even more interesting to me. I also love that this touches on racism, cultural differences, class divide and more. With dual timelines, this keeps you guessing if Zina is really capable of murder.

Thank you to Netgalley, Eleni Kyriacou and Aria & Aries for a chance to read this arc.

The unspeakable acts of Zina Pavlou takes place in 1950’s London, based on a true crime story it follows the main character Zina as she is accused of a horrific crime.

Eleni’s writing produces wonderful, unforgettable characters and places. She touches on issues such as class divide, wealth and culture beautifully. The story keeps you questioning if Zina is really capable of what she’s been accused.

I couldn’t put it down - I had to finish it. 5 stars.