Victoria Hislop is a master storyteller and her books set in Greece take the reader on a very descriptive journey that make this story at great holiday read,
The main character Helena holidays at her grandparents house in Greece and becomes involved in her grandfathers collection of Greek artefacts, and how he came to obtain them. The story then moves on a pace when Helena meets Nick and becomes involved in an archaeological dig, many twists and turns later with Helena discovering that the looting of ancient artefacts has been going for many years leads the story in different directions.
This is as usual for all Victoria Hislop books a great read and am looking forward to the next one.

A wonderful book of all things Greek by Victoria Hislop. The story transports you through the life of Helena, whose mother, Mary, left her homeland at an early age and lived in England. As Helena grows up she holidays in Greece at her grandparents house during the summer. From these visits she builds a relationship, mainly with Dina the maid but also with her Grandmother to a degree. By chance Helena meets the dashing Nick and joins him on an archaeological dig in Greece. The story that follows is fast paced and interesting, its main subject being Greek artefacts and their theft. This, for me, was an absolute page turner of a story and I loved it to the very last page.

The Figurine is a long, light read, part beach read, part romance, part whodunit, part historical. Set mostly in Greece and mostly in the 1970's, the book makes you long to be in Greece, enjoying sunshine and sparkling seas, ancient sites and antiquities. I found it slow at first, with lengthy descriptions of young Helena, who is half Greek, half Scottish, visiting her Greek grandparents each summer and beginning to fall in love with Athens. The grandparents seem shadowy figures until much later in the book when the wheelings and dealings of her grandfather take an important part and some of the earlier incidents start to make more sense.

The historical events in the Greece of the 1940's and then the 1970's were eye-opening as I knew hardly anything about Greek history of the 20th century. And the whole question of the looting of ancient sites by those eager to make a fortune was also very interesting. It was enlightening to read about archaeological digs and the Bronze Age, about how the finds are treated and how the auction houses who sell them work. But it all raises vast questions about this whole area and perhaps deserves a more serious novel that goes deeper into the problems and implications. Who pays the price of this undercover trade and what lengths are people prepared to go to in order either to hold on to what is uncovered or to make a fortune from it.

The Figurine is an easy, if long read, just right for taking on holiday, especially if you're going to Greece.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Publishers for my ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect holiday read with its perfect sunshine setting and wonderful evocation of Greek life both in the city and on the islands. You can relax and enjoy because you soon realise that there's no real jeopardy, nobody is going to get hurt, and you can be pretty sure love will conquer all.
Victoria Hislop does a great job of conveying some quite complicated history around modern Greece while also educating us about the illegal trade in antiquities. It's clearly a very well researched story, and I enjoyed all of this.
I have to say the book made me want to head straight off to an idyllic Greek island for the rest of the summer.
However, I did find some of the writing a bit simplistic - everything is heavily signposted, there are no surprises, and nothing you have to work out or wonder about. There's no threat of danger or misfortune, you just know it will all work out and I would prefer not to have everything pointed out in such an obvious, almost child-like fashion.
Having said that I would recommend the book for a nice easy read when you don't want to be challenged, but you do want to sense a little Greek sunshine in your life.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Another incredibly readable novel from Victoria Hislop. An interesting look at the issue of the smuggling of antiquities, some of which are stolen from archaeological digs and the complicity of those in authority. Whether this is a topic which you already know a lot about, or something you’d like to know more about, Hislop’s research and passion for the subject shine through.

FROM THE COVER📚

Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors - and looters - alike. 

When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child, when Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship. Her remote, cruel grandfather was one of the regime's generals and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them?

Helena's desire to find answers about her heritage dovetails with a growing curiosity for archaeology, ignited by a summer spent with volunteers on a dig on an Aegean island. Their finds fuel her determination to protect the precious fragments recovered from the baked earth - and to understand the origins of her grandfather's collection.

Helena's attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather's actions sees her wrestle with the meaning of 'home', both in relation to looted objects of antiquity ... and herself.


REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️

-WARNING THIS BOOK SHOULD ONLY BE READ WHIST ON HOLIDAY IN GREECE- You will crave all the food, sun, sounds and smells the writer brings Greece alive in your mind so well that if you are not there in real life you will be gutted no matter where else you are in the world.
I have never wanted souvlaki so much in all my life.


After been given The Island by Mother on her return from Crete and enjoying it very much on my own Greek holiday.

So when I saw Victoria’s latest book I was interested to see if I would enjoy just as much, given I normally don’t read books of this genre. So thank you for giving me the chance to this ARC

First off I really liked the way book flowed though time as Helena grew up. I enjoyed the examination of what home means to people and the commentary on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures, it was a subject matter I have never really thought about it so found that interesting. I love how Greece and its amazing people are captured so well by the author, you can tell Greece is a place close to her heart.

The story itself is told through the eyes and life of Helena - a Greek / Scot -where at the age of eight she goes to stay with her mother’s parents in Athens. As annual visits continue, she begins to understand Greece isn’t quite all sunshine and baklava and her Grandfather is a man who is shaping Greece politically, which isn’t for the better.

There follows a series of events that have an impact on Helena’s future. Upon the death of her grandparents and following a holiday in Greece with her parents- tragedy falls upon Helena and the story moves onto her university years where she becomes involved in ‘holiday time ‘ archaeological digs. From this point , the story really takes off. The thefts and the market in stolen Greek artefacts from archaeological digs leads Helena into a world that she never expected and one that her late grandfather was part of.

I found the novel very long for what it was, throughout you are teased something bad is going to happen but it never really does. At the writing is flat and the characters did not come to life for me, in the same way Greece does, with clear ‘baddies’ and ‘goodies’ and not much in between which left the writing feel quite childish. Which was a shame given the important point I believe the author was trying to make.

All in all I thought the book was okay, I would have probably found it a better read on holiday. It’s an easy to follow simple and quite twee read. In all honestly I probably won’t read another of the authors books while liked the historical aspects I wasn’t into the family saga and romance. I like characters with nuance and who are explored deeply the characters were too 2D.

Fans of this writer will love it and if you are heading to Greece on your holidays pick it up at the airport but other than that I’d leave on the shelf.

I am a big fan of this author and couldn't wait to read her latest.
I absolutely loved it and loved `Helena the main character who had a Greek mother and a Scottish father.
An absorbing tale unfolds, when Helena who used to visit her grandparents in Athens as a child, inherits their apartment.
Hislop cleverly weaves Greek history, the brutality of the Colonels and the looting from archaeological sites, through the characters that Helena meets.
This story has it all - Greek food and music, greed, romance, betrayal and revenge.
Brilliant storytelling.

The figurine was a historical fiction novel with a spattering of romance.

I love this authors books as they are full of history language and culture of Greece and make you feel like you are actually there. Greece is definitely on my list of places I want to visit in the future after being introduced to the country through my reading.

This story explored the politics of
Greece in the 1970s and how they affected Helena and her family as well as the wider population of Greece and also uncovered the secrets surrounding her family when she is emptying her grandmothers apartment

I enjoyed reading about the history and importance of the Cycladic figurines which were something I was unaware of
Before.

This was a beautiful written and poignant read that I read in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down.

I always love to read Victoria Hislop's books so the chance to read The Figurine before its release couldn't be turned down.

The story follows Helena and her summers at her grandparents' place in Athens as a child. As she grows-up, she inherits the apartment only to uncover secrets of the past that she needs to find the answers to.

As I expected, the writing is detailed and captivating, with descriptions of Greek landscapes, food and culture oozing from the page. From central Athens to digs on smaller islands, the book will make readers yearn to be there.

We follow Helena from childhood through to adulthood and her mixture of Greek and Scottish heritage is well portrayed. The journey through the decades (the 60s to the 80s) also details the changes in Greek politics, as well as the looting of archaeological sites. As ever, Victoria's research is thorough and shines a light on situations faced in the past.

The Figurine is a rich and immersive read and one that will enchant and enlighten readers.

Victoria Hislop not only writes a wonderful story, her evocative descriptions of the Greek landscape bring to life the beauty of Greece as a whole. Her descriptions are so rich it takes little imagination to conjure up the sights, smells, people, culture and history of Athens and the Greek islands. The Figurine shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people and countries will pay to cling on to them. The Figurine is a captivating tale of one woman's quest to come to terms with her family's brutal past.


The Figurine shares the story of Helena, who is part Greek and part Scottish. As a young child, she spends her holidays with her mother’s parents in Athens. Her annual visits continue until the political turmoil of Greece in the 1970s and her grandparents passing. When emptying their lavish apartment, she finds evidence of her grandfather’s nefarious past. A past that’s shrouded in violence, corruption, looting, theft and illegal acquisition of Greek treasures. Helena’s attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather’s actions will take her on a journey that will captivate the reader.

Helena is an incredible character. We follow her journey from a young child to an adult. Her courage and determination to bring the looters to justice is to be admired. As I read more, I appreciated how Greece, once just a place to holiday, becomes an important part of Helena’s heritage, a place that feels like home. Before I read The Figurine, I knew very little about archaeological digs and artefacts, but reading this book, Hislop opened up a whole new world to me. The more I learnt, the more fascinated I became. I thought about signing up to a dig in the hope of finding a highly sought after Cycladic figurine! If you are looking for a book to escape the dreary weather, and you love historical fiction with a dose of romance thrown in, then I would happily recommend you read this beautifully told story.

Review will be posted to my blog and Instagram page nearer to publication date

Another fantastic, well researched novel from Victoria. It’s always exciting look when I start one of her novels as you become completely immersed in them. Set in Greece it delves into archaeological digs and the corruption that often surrounds them. Helena’s mother Mary was originally from Greece, but left because of her father- a general in a cruel military regime. Later in life Helena returns to her mother’s home town and uncovers the truth about her grandfather.

I loved this latest book from Victoria Hislop, once again reflecting her love for Greece and all things Greek. Our heroine Helena has a Greek mother and a Scottish father, but soon seems to have more affinity with her Greek heritage.

The book is set in the 60s, 70s and 80s and covers many topics, including politics and the looting/theft of antiquities. Helena gradually comes to understand her mother's reasons for leaving Greece when she was 18 and not wanting to return. Through visits to her grandparents Helena also comes to love Athens and the Greek islands, but not all of her relatives.

This is a wonderful and interesting read. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A really interesting read which covers the cruelty of the military dictatorship in Greece that ran from the late 1960s until it was overthrown in 1974. As well as that we get an idea of how prevalent the theft of Greek antiquities was at that time, and presumably still is. Helena was a child when she first started to go to stay with her grandparents, and knew there was something wrong but was too young to realise what it was exactly.

You can tell just how much Victoria Hislop loves Greece by the way this book is written. It also gives such a flavour of the place it makes you want to rush out and book a flight there. I loved the relationship Helena has with both both Greek and British friends, the love for her family and how her personality develops.Add in a bit of romance and you have the perfect holiday read, especially if your going to the Greek islands.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book. Captivating from start to finish. The story first piques your curiosity as to why a young girl would be travelling alone to visit her grandparents in Greece, but you begin to understand why as the story unfurls each Grecian summer. For me this book brought me a nostalgia for my own teenage experience of Athens and the Aegean Islands, but it has also given me an enhanced appreciation of the beautiful history, archeology and gorgeous Greek culture, juxtaposed, with the darker periods of Greek history such as civil war, military dictatorship, corruption and artefact theft. Most of all, the I love the way the author talks of the beauty of Greek language, which connects Helena the main protagonist with her mother, and which we as tourists sometimes don’t gain any understanding of before we leave those idyllic isles.

Once again, Victoria Hislop takes you on a wonderful journey to Greece and it´s people and culture. Wonderful descriptions of how life was in the early 70´s and how the dictator regime affected its citizens. She also takes you into the world of archeology and the treasures that Greece created and holds and the underworld of thieves and said treasure.

Great characters, great story, a fantastic summer read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities leading her to question how her grandfather came to “own” them and his she can make amends for his actions.
This is such a beautifully written and fascinating story about Greece and the acquisition of nation treasures, It is a totally absorbing read, just perfect for the summer holidays when you’re dreaming that you are perhaps, in Greece too…. A joy to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Review for early access to this immersive read.

Excellent read by Victoria Hislop. This book takes you to sun-drenched Greece and a summer dig.

Betrayal both by blood relatives and friends really brings this book to life. Helena's story of finding who she was and then to turn things around was neatly done.

The description of the areas and apartments really did take you there. Excellent read

I look forward to the next book Thank you Netgalley for letting me preread this book.

Throughout her childhood, Helena visited her Greek mother's homeland and holidayed with her maternal grandparents once a year.

At the time, Greece was suffering under a repressive military dictatorship, and Helena's grandfather - a distant man with a cruel streak - was closely affiliated with the regime. Being that close to the centre of power brought its own protection and privileges. But it was not until much later that Helena understood her mother's reasons for staying away from Greece for so many years.

Years later, after her grandparents pass away and Helena inherits their flat in Athens, she returns to claim her inheritance and revisit past memories. But what she hasn't bargained for is the discovery of a treasure trove of valuable objets d'art in her grandparents' home.

One particular item captures her imagination and ignites a firestorm of curiosity. From her own knowledge and her experience at an archaeological dig in the Aegean, Helena realises not only the value of the statue, but the implications of its presence too.

Suspicious of how her grandfather came to be in possession of these things and well aware of the thriving international trade in antiquities, she feels compelled to explore the origins of the items in her grandfather's collection.

But is Helena ready to find out the true story behind how her grandfather amassed his collection of treasures? And can she really make amends for his actions now?

This is an interesting story that raises many important issues around the ownership and handling of the art belonging to a particular culture. It also examines questions of family and identity that will be interesting to most readers.

Well done Victoria Hislop - a really enjoyable book! Beautifully written and an interesting and informative story about Ancient Greek artefacts with intrigue and, of course, romance, thrown in. Read it whilst sitting on a beach (Cornwallnot Greece sadly) and this is a perfect holiday book. Highly recommended.

This was AMAZING. I warmed to Helena and her lovely parents immediately and loved the descriptions of this young red head as she learnt about her culture in Athens with her grandma. It was fascinating to see her uncover the dark secrets behind her awful grandfather and I loved the tenacity she showed after the way she was treated by Nick. It was just so so great, I loved all the characters and I was fascinated by the history. I am sad I’ve finished it!