The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou: The Dark and Addictive 2023 BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick That's Inspired by a True Crime Case

'Tense. Moving. Morally complex. Zina Pavlou is wholly unforgettable.' Rachel Rhys
'Hugely powerful... Easily one of the best books you'll read this year.' Emma Christie

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 Sara Collins, Eve Chase and Jessie Burton.

'A brilliantly crafted story of two women... and an absolute page-turner.' Louise Hare
'Immersive, gripping, authentic: the kind of historical fiction that has the reader looking up from the page, astonished to find themselves in the 21st Century.' Erin Kelly
'Chilling, gripping' Nikki Smith
'A masterclass on writing character - Zina and Eva will stay with me a long, long time.' Louise Fein
'A gripping true-crime drama... Kyriacou's complex, perceptive and moving narrative brings these devastating events vividly to life.' Philippa East
'Prepare to become obsessed with Zina Pavlou!' Louise Mumford
'You know those books where you read a bit and then you have to stop to do life stuff but the characters are still in your head and you can't wait to get back to it? This is one of those.' Frances Quinn
'Storytelling of the highest order... Really powerful.' Leonora Nattrass
'Eleni Kyriacou is a writer of immense talent... A captivating and important story written by an author at the top of her game.' Victoria Dowd
'Glamour and grime in perfect proportion to produce a gripping thriller.' Trevor Wood