The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou: The dark and addictive 2023 BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick that's inspired by true-crime events

*Provided by The Reading Agency and Head of Zeus*
Interesting book set in an interesting time and easy to follow and read. Thought provoking subject matter and enjoyable read. Unfortunately the characters lacked depth and would have enjoyed more detailed psychological profiling of the alleged double murderer.

Review 1
My group were lucky enough to get a copy of the book. I enjoy fiction and true crime so I was excited to read the book and I wasn't disappointed. The book is set amongst the Greek diaspora of 1950s London and this setting is not one we regularly read about and it was interesting to get lost in. I thought it was a deftly dealt with book that mixes genres well: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller and Crime.

Review 2
Zina Pavlou is accused of killing her daughter-in-law. She is represented and treated as this old peasant woman that barely speaks English but as a reader you get an insight into her perspective and story. It was a good page turner.

Review 3
This is a good book to discuss. It was intriguing for us as the story is based on real events and this knowledge whilst reading really added an additional layer to my enjoyment. This book rests on the evidence of a Greek Cypriot women and what she conveys to the translator. She is accused of murdering her daughter in law. The relationship between translator and prisoner was what kept me hooked.

Review 4
The novel is well written and structured, capturing with picture perfect clarity 1950’s London and the entrenched prejudices against immigrants, class and women. It is interesting to think about the nuances and that there may be a lot more behind brutal crimes especially those reported on in the 1950s.

Review 5
This is a tough and thought-provoking book. It is based on a true story which is heart breaking and has me gripped throughout. Definitely one for crime fans!

I loved it!!
Very well written.
Her narratives take you to the place and time as if you there. Understanding the emotions, wanting to know the next step.

WOW! An absolute roller coaster of a book. Fascinating that it bears roots in historical true-crime.

Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou
“A real page turner, you won’t be able to put it down, and the story will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.
The fictional story is based on the true story of Zina Pavlou – a Greek Cypriot who came to England to be with her family, but the visit didn’t go as she had dreamed it would, and tragedy occurs when her daughter in law is murdered and Zina is blamed.
The author takes you on the journey of Zina and Eva – Zina is a proud woman, who sadly cannot read or write in her own language, and who is also unable to understand English. You really feel her confusion as to what is happening when she has to go to trial for murder. No-one is listening to her, and when they say she must have been insane to carry out this horrific act, Zina will not agree to a plea of insanity.
Eva is young, and trying to make money being an interpreter for the police as and when needed. She’s helped before but for more petty crimes – this is her biggest challenge yet. She’s told not to become attached to Zina, but no-one else is there for Zina so she does her upmost for her, and has hope that she will be proven innocent, even thought the odds are against and she’s likely to be found guilty.
The story brings out so many emotions when you are reading it – tabloid prejudice, a broken system, moral conflict, and Zina is seen by everyone as guilty unless proven innocent.
I would recommend everyone to try this book – you won’t be disappointed.

It is not often that I am so moved by a novel but this book certainly took me by surprise. It is a beautifully written story of two incredible women brought together in brutal circumstances. Both strong in so many ways and yet so vulnerable in their weaknesses. I found myself being transported into situations that broke my heart for everyone involved.

This story highlighted to me the importance of clear communication (the sad frustrations we need to contend with when we do not spend that extra minute or two to clarify); how hurtful and damaging our judgements can be; how vital empathy is in our world... (no one can guess what someone else has had to endure) and that kindness does not need to cost much....(it can be a written message, a squeeze of a shoulder or a smile) but how desperately our world needs more kindness and empathy as much today as in Zina's and Eva's time.

Being an immigrant myself, albeit a native English speaker, I felt a deeper connection to this story and a greater sympathy towards all immigrants whose first language is not English. We are, firstly and most importantly, all humans. A brilliant book that I am very grateful to have read.

This is certainly a gripping read. The sort of book you don’t want to put down, but I found it an emotionally hard book to read. Even so very compelling, within a few chapters I really didn’t want to read the last few chapters. Why, because this is a novel based on a true story about the last but one woman to be hanged. So I just knew no matter what, I had to read it right through and I am glad I did!
The story was so gripping and challenging. Yet, at the same time so sensitively written. Nearly all the way through I found myself questioning if Zina was really guilty, or innocent and wrongly convicted.
I was surprised to find that my sympathies rested with the defendant and the translator. I wondered why I felt so little for the victim, who did die in a most horrendous manner. In some ways she is portrayed as quite a nice German woman who has some difficulties in getting along with her Mother in Law. However the book and the actual events happened shortly after the end of the second world war and misplaced ill feelings towards German nationals was still very strong.

The book explores themes about prejudice's and the power of language. How not knowing a foreign language can lead to your becoming vulnerable and voiceless. Treated as a stupid’ person. Yet you feel those who display their ignorance and prejudice are the ones who have a poor grasp of their own language and understanding of humanity. Illiteracy is seen as a slur on someone’s character without any consideration about the person’s reasons for not being able to read or write either in their own language or the language of the country they have now chosen to live in. The author writes, ‘the fact that she doesn’t speak English…- as if that’s a crime in itself’.

In the same portion of the book there’s a challenging powerful statement which sadly still stands true in some parts today. ‘They say they want us to come here but they really want us with our food and language and our ideas. They just want obedient workers. People who’ll try to be English, who want to be like them.’
There are interesting questions about how both Eva and Zina find past and present grief’s intermingled and influencing their present emotions and responses to reality.

I have never realised before, how difficult it must be for a police translator. They have to hear the most horrific things and really take in every detail and then repeat it in the defendant’s own language. So in away they have to hear these awful things twice and yet still stay unmoved and impartial. The novel really has you understanding and empathising with people in these very difficult roles. You feel for Eva and the effect the job had on her husband and friends.

Also there are lots of teaser clues that keep you questioning about Zina’s guilt and the actions of the other characters. For example her Son and the questions that don’t seem to be put about his alibi’s.
So there is plenty to keep you guessing and amateur sleuthing.

The chapter I most appreciated was the last chapter. After going through some gruelling emotions following the reading of the trial and the various events around it. You could feel quite sad. It’s strange how the translator Eva is repeatedly told not to get emotionally involved or attached and yet I certainly felt like that by the final chapters. So I was grateful that the last chapter is set in the year after Zina’s death. Certainly, in away it lifts the mood, but continues the stories of most of the characters and how they picked up their lives. It seems that good things have become to blossom. Certainly Eva has found a new way to use her literacy skills and put them to good use.

I also appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book, in which she explains what is fact and what is fiction. It’s interesting to see how closely this novel relates the true story of Styllou Pantopiou Christofi who murdered her German born daughter in law.
This book feels like an important book to read and will make you ask important questions. There are some interesting questions at the back of the book for a readers group but pertinent for every reader. To say I enjoyed it is a bit inappropriate given the subject. However I am glad I read it and in away feel I have benefited from following the story both as a novel and being made aware of the true story behind this novel. I hope that Eleni, the author will have many more similar stories to share and make us think about important aspects of life and humanity.

Loved this book. Based on a true story, the book managed to lead us into the lives of Zena and Eleni and allow us insight into how it must feel to come up against a justice system tipped against non-English speakers. The slow development of the relationship between the two women was beautifully crafted and peripheral relationships were also believable and well thought out.