Book info

• Title The Messenger of Athens
• Author Anne Zouroudi
• Year 2007
• Genre Mystery

When the battered body of a young woman is discovered on a remote Greek island, the local police are quick to dismiss her death as an accident. Then a well-dressed stranger arrives - uninvited - from Athens, announcing his intention to investigate further. His methods are unorthodox, and he brings his own mystery into the web of dark secrets and lies. Who has sent him? On whose authority is he acting? And how does he know of dramas played out decades ago?

Thoughts

I made one thwarted attempt at reading this, but was determined to give it a second go and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed the story, although it was a hard read - lonely and sad, with only a little glimpse of positivity right near the very end. The writing was exquisite, however, the kind of prose that makes you feel the atmosphere - the cold and warmth, the anger and the joy.

The characters were beautifully written. They were mysterious and not very often pleasant, but still homely in a way. The story, an investigation into a murder on a claustrophobic Greek island, was good, winding its way around the island, weaving through time and perspective, until reaching a satisfying, if slightly depressing, conclusion.

Rating: 4 / 5