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A review by saltygalreads
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou
5.0
Summary: Zina came to London from Cyprus to live with her son, his wife, and their two young children. Now the 53 year-old grandmother is accused of brutally murdering her daughter-in-law and sits in prison awaiting her trial. Everyone seems to have already decided that she is guilty and they treat her accordingly. Zina understands very little English and doesn't speak the language, so she is assigned an interpreter to help her understand what is happening. Eva begins working with Zina, and although Zina is difficult and prickly, Eva feels a deep empathy for her. Eva becomes increasingly immersed in Zina's case and life - her only friend when everyone else deserts her. But is Zina a victim of circumstances, a calculating murderer, or just violently insane?
Thoughts: While this novel is a work of fiction, it is closely based on the true story of Styllou Christofi who murdered her German-born daughter-in-law in 1954. I was somewhat surprised to find that this was an emotional read for me. Zina's character was formed in an insular and impoverished Greek village where they settled their own matters without police intervention. Zina is illiterate and was never provided any education, married off as a child at 14 and has five children by the time she is twenty. The author does a masterful job of presenting Zina as a complete and complex character. She is loving, gentle and hardworking, but she is also volatile, judgmental and ruthless.
Kyriacou exposes the ugliness of racism, discrimination and misogyny in this gripping novel. Zina is a homely grandmother with no education and a difficult personality. Did public opinion and the justice system fail to exercise any compassion for her because she was an outsider and an object of contempt and derision? Even if the accused is actually guilty, are we capable of still feeling some compassion and understanding for them? Eva is also a fascinating character, who fulfils her duties with empathy and insight. She becomes overly-involved with Zina's case and suffers as it reaches the inevitable conclusion.
This is a meaningful and thoughtful read. Sending a sincere thanks to the lovely Sam Baker @theothersambaker and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury Publishing for the copy which I have gratefully added to my collection.
Thoughts: While this novel is a work of fiction, it is closely based on the true story of Styllou Christofi who murdered her German-born daughter-in-law in 1954. I was somewhat surprised to find that this was an emotional read for me. Zina's character was formed in an insular and impoverished Greek village where they settled their own matters without police intervention. Zina is illiterate and was never provided any education, married off as a child at 14 and has five children by the time she is twenty. The author does a masterful job of presenting Zina as a complete and complex character. She is loving, gentle and hardworking, but she is also volatile, judgmental and ruthless.
Kyriacou exposes the ugliness of racism, discrimination and misogyny in this gripping novel. Zina is a homely grandmother with no education and a difficult personality. Did public opinion and the justice system fail to exercise any compassion for her because she was an outsider and an object of contempt and derision? Even if the accused is actually guilty, are we capable of still feeling some compassion and understanding for them? Eva is also a fascinating character, who fulfils her duties with empathy and insight. She becomes overly-involved with Zina's case and suffers as it reaches the inevitable conclusion.
This is a meaningful and thoughtful read. Sending a sincere thanks to the lovely Sam Baker @theothersambaker and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury Publishing for the copy which I have gratefully added to my collection.