The Unspeakable Acts Of Zina Pavlou by Eleni Kyriacou

 

Eva Georgiou is a Cypriot interpreter for the police in London, a side job she does to supplement her work as the hatcheck girl at a local club.  Her husband, Jimmy, works a night job so they often don't see much of each other and their marriage is strained after the loss of a baby.  But Eve never expected what she discovered when the police called her in to interpret.

Zina Pavlou is a tiny Cypriot woman, her five children grown and scattered.  She has lived in one Cyprus village her own life but her son has sent her the money to come for a visit.  Zina is hoping that the visit will turn into a permanent thing.  Her son is married to Hedy and has two children, a little girl named Anna and a new baby.

But things had not gone well and the fault lay depending on whom you spoke to.  Hedy says that Eva is overbearing and criticizes Hedy's housekeeping and how she raises her children.  Eva says that Hedy tries to keep her from the children and comes between Zina and her son.  Regardless of who is correct, Eva's son sides with his wife and they tell Zina that she must leave.  Soon after, Hedy is found dead, brutally murdered.

Zina is arrested but cannot communicate with the police.  Eva is brought in to interpret and she becomes fascinated with Zina and the case.  There are occasional hints that this might not be Zina's first murder and Eva believes that Zina has mental health issues.  Soon Eva is not translating faithfully but only telling the police the things that she believes make Zina look better.  Will Zina be found guilty?

Eleni Kyriacou is the daughter of Greek Cypriot parents who immigrated to London and married there.  The book reflects a true case, that of the penultimate woman to be hanged in Britain.  The reader will have sympathy for everyone in the book, for Zina whose life hasn't turned out like she expected, For Eva who is caught up in sympathy and for the son and his wife whose good act turned out much differently than they expected.  This book is recommended for mystery and multicultural readers.