The Unspeakable Acts Of Zina Pavlou

**Selected for BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club 2023** 'Tense. Moving. Morally complex. Zina Pavlou is wholly unforgettable.' RACHEL RHYS 'Impressive... worthy of Sarah Waters' THE TIMES 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 Erin Kelly, Sara Collins, and Jessie Burton. 'Eleni Kyriacou has drawn such a rich cast in this enthralling and wholly original novel. Utterly compelling.' CLARE MACKINTOSH 'Hugely powerful... Easily one of the best books you'll read this year' EMMA CHRISTIE 'A brilliantly crafted story of two women... and an absolute page-turner' LOUISE HARE 'Immersive, gripping, authentic' ERIN KELLY 'Chilling, gripping' NIKKI SMITH 'A tragic and compelling tale' GUARDIAN 'Zina and Eva will stay with me a long, long time' LOUISE FEIN 'Prepare to become obsessed with Zina Pavlou!' LOUISE MUMFORD

'Secrets and lies, poverty and elegance, old loyalties and new friendships all combine to make Eleni Kyriacou's debut novel a compelling page-turner' - Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift One of Woman & Home's Best Historical Fiction Reads of 2020 In a city of strangers, who can you trust? London, 1952. Dina Demetriou has travelled from Cyprus for a better life. She's certain that excitement, adventure and opportunity are out there, waiting - if only she knew where to look. Her passion for clothes and flair for sewing land her a job repairing the glittering costumes at the notorious Pelican Revue. It's here that she befriends the mysterious and beautiful Bebba. With her bleached-blonde hair and an appetite for mischief, Bebba is like no Greek Dina has ever met before. She guides Dina around the fashionable shops, bars and clubs of Soho, and Dina finally feels life has begun. But Bebba has a secret. And as thick smog brings the city to a standstill, the truth emerges with devastating results. Dina's new life now hangs by a thread. What will be left when the fog finally clears? And will Dina be willing to risk everything to protect her future? A story of friendship, family, love and loss set against the grimy and glittering streets of fifties Soho. For fans of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Rhys. Further praise for SHE CAME TO STAY: 'An atmospheric page-turner perfectly set in the smoke and glitter of a vanished world . . . gripping' - Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said/She Said 'Compelling and beautifully observed. Kyriacou brilliantly evokes the violence and the grime beneath the sequins and surface glamour of 1950s Soho' - Rachel Rhys, bestselling author of Dangerous Crossing 'I absolutely loved it. A gripping, enthralling story . . . I was completely engrossed' - Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request 'An absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and resilience' - Sarah Maine, bestselling author of Beyond the Wild River 'A gripping, evocative story . . . well researched and utterly convincing. A real gem of a book' - Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Lost Daughter 'An evocative page-turner full of memorable characters. A wonderful debut' - Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl Readers are loving SHE CAME TO STAY, too! 'I can highly recommend this book. You will be hooked from start to finish.' 5 STARS 'A cracking storyline packed with secrets, as well as unexpected twists and turns make this, cliche or no, a proper page-turner.' 5 STARS 'A brilliant read.' 5 STARS 'The plot moves quickly and is gripping. I didn't want to put the book down but then was sorry to leave the characters and their London haunts behind when I got to the end.' 5 STARS 'A really enjoyable read.' 5 STARS

The third novel from Eleni Kyriacou, author of BBC Between the Covers pick The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou. Hollywood, 1954. At night, the nurses let us watch a film. Before we're strapped to our beds and our screams turn to sleepy moans, movie stars fill the screen, and we're allowed a moment of make believe. Tonight, I see his name projected above the title on the opening credits. I know the actor on screen. Everyone knows him. But I know him. I know that he likes his martinis strong and his women weak. I know that he owns the world yet is terrified of losing it. I know what happened at the party that night, after the Oscars. And now it's time to tell everyone what he did. But first, I need to get out. A Beautiful Way to Die delves into the decadence and depravity of the early film industry from Hollywood to London. Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Babylon. Praise for Eleni Kyriacou: 'Impressive... worthy of Sarah Waters' THE TIMES 'Enthralling and wholly original' CLARE MACKINTOSH 'Immersive, gripping, authentic' ERIN KELLY 'Hugely powerful' EMMA CHRISTIE 'An absolute page-turner' LOUISE HARE 'Chilling, gripping' NIKKI SMITH 'Compelling' GUARDIAN

'The perfect mix of funny, poignant and heartwarming.' - Good Housekeeping 'Warm, witty but also heart-wrenching read' - Red Magazine 'This heart-warming and creative contemporary fiction is a story of unexpected self-discovery.' - Woman's Weekly 'Full of heart and depth.' - Prima Book of the Month 'Funny, heart-warming read - it made me laugh and cry' — Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party 'Eleanor Oliphant meets About a Boy' — Gillian Harvey 'A beautiful read full of heart and depth' — Nina Pottell, Prima Magazine 'An absolute joy' — Nancy Peach 'Brilliantly funny' — Louise Hare Swimming for Beginners will show you how a child can open your heart even if you aren't a mother. Loretta has her life under control. She's chasing a big promotion, she's marrying the "perfect man" and she has a flawless five-year plan. This plan does not include children. But when a complete stranger asks her to watch her six-year-old daughter in an airport and never returns, both their lives will be changed forever. A little human in fairy wings and sparkly cowgirl boots will turn Loretta's world upside down and maybe, just maybe, show her exactly what she's missing. Overflowing with humour and heartbreak, Nicola Gill takes us on a relatable journey of self-discovery through the power of a child's love. 'Brilliantly funny, incredibly touching and so relatable.'- Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City 'Please meet my new favourite book.' - Jessica Ryn, author of The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside 'Heartbreaking and life-affirming, an absolute must read' - Tim Ewins, author of We Are Animals

Named a Must Read by Ebony ∙ Boston Herald ∙ Book Riot ∙ Bookish ∙ Minneapolis Star-Tribune and more! A body falls from a town house window in Harlem, and it looks just like the newest singer at the Apollo...in this evocative, twisting new novel from the author of Miss Aldridge Regrets. Harlem, 1936: Lena Aldridge grew up in a cramped corner of London, hearing stories of the bright lights of Broadway. She always imagined that when she finally went to New York City, she’d be there with her father. But now he’s dead, and she’s newly arrived and alone, chasing a dream that has quickly dried up. When Will Goodman—the handsome musician she met on the crossing from England—offers for her to stay with his friends in Harlem, she agrees. She has nowhere else to go, and this will give her a chance to get to know Will better and see if she can find any trace of the family she might have remaining. Will’s friends welcome her with open arms, but just as Lena discovers the stories her father once told her were missing giant pieces of information, she also starts to realize the man she’s falling too fast and too hard for has secrets of his own. And they might just place a target on her back. Especially when she is drawn to the brightest stage in town.

A British Army veteran turned CIA agent races around the world to catch someone killing in his name in this action-packed thriller. Ryan Drake and his team are in hiding, having become sworn enemies of states and agencies around the world. But when a CIA operative and former adversary is killed in a car bomb attack, Drake is shocked to hear someone claiming responsibility using his name. Forced out of hiding by this mysterious new threat, Drake embarks alone on a dangerous and deadly search for answers; a journey that will take him from the slums of Rio to the deserts of Tunisia and the mountains of Afghanistan. But as the stranger’s insidious influence grows stronger, he begins to realize the key to unravelling the present lies in his own shadowy past. Following his trail of destruction, the team must fight to save Drake not only from a list of ruthless enemies, but even more urgently, from himself. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, David Baldacci, and Vince Flynn.

A stunning debut thriller, The Missing Girl by Jenny Quintana is a gripping novel full of twists and turns, and a desperate hunt to solve a decades-old mystery. Anna Flores was just a child when her adored teenage sister disappeared. Unable to deal with the pain, Anna took the first opportunity she had to run from her fractured family, eventually building a life for herself abroad. Now, thirty years on, her mother has died, and Anna must return home to sort through her possessions. In doing so, she has to confront the huge hole her sister's disappearance left in their lives, leaving just one question unanswered: what really happened to Gabriella? Because not knowing is worse than the truth. Isn’t it? 'A captivating mystery at heart but also a poignant study of grief, loss and the unbreakable bonds of family . . . A triumph.' – Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies.

WINNER OF THE FICTION PRIZE AT THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 'A terrific debut. Brave, unexpected... transfixing and captivating... full of hope, resilience and love.' THE SUNDAY TIMES "Holds the big within the small, the intimate within the epic" - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies 'A captivating read' THE SUN 'GORGEOUS and original and captivating' - Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Grown Ups 'A story that is powerfully familiar and yet utterly original.' - Afua Hirsch 'A captivating read... (a) beautiful, surprising novel' FABULOUS 'A novel that has stayed with me for weeks afterwards . . . Perceptive and unflinching' - Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist 'A quiet, piercing contemplation on what really matters when it comes to the end of the world. Strange and beautiful' - Abigail Dean, author of Girl A 'Beautiful and harrowing but also optimistic and extremely moving . . . a truly arresting depiction of an unlikely relationship' - Clover Stroud, author of The Wild Other 'I didn't want this book to end. It blew me away, and moved me beyond belief' - Bryony Gordon, author of Mad Girl EVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING. Ruth is ignoring the news. Like most people, she has relationship problems, job stress, friends and family who need her. Ruth has a life. But the news is about to catch up with Ruth, and her problems are going to be swept away...along with the rest of the world. Only when the comforts and complications of her old existence are gone, does Ruth finally realise how she might be able to live to the fullest.