I remember musing at the end of my review for Peter Papathanious’s debut novel The Stoning that I would enjoy more of George Manolis. Looks like I’ve got my wish! And how!
An enigmatic prologue that seems to be steering the reader into believing that the worst has happened to Lefty, the titular ‘invisible’, leads into a reacquaintance with Manolis and the aboriginal Andrew Sparrow from The Stoning. An incident that profoundly affects Manolis sees him take some extended leave back in his native Greece and it is here, folks, that the story really starts!
We learn that Lefty, an old acquaintance of Manolis, has disappeared and his off grid life has made him impossible to trace for the local police. Manolis goes undercover to try and determine what has happened to the somewhat reprobate Lefty and in doing so uncovers a web of intrigue and some, frankly, eye-opening practices both inside and outside of the law. And I’ll say no more. I am determined to stay at the bottom of the spoiler of the year league table!
Papathanasiou is a natural storyteller. The plot and characters fuse together seamlessly, cemented by a well paced narrative that has the reader turning the pages trying to use the clues to piece together what has on might have happened. A generous catch of red herrings perplex Manolis and the reader alike as the truth seems to elude until almost the end. With skilful characterisations Manolis isn’t sure who to trust and neither was I. I think I suspected everyone except George, who can do no wrong in my eyes!
We’re treated to a Greece we may not recognise. No tourist tropes but a wilder, more perilous land with bears and snakes. It’s a slow, burning story, not a stylised, white knuckle ride thriller, it’s more real life in some ways. Manolis is challenged by his undercover status and it almost appears that he is gong to be unsuccessful in his quest for the truth. I suppose the conclusion and final denouement offers a more thriller/crime flavour for it has a twist hard to predict and the circumstances shifts the balance a little. I’ll admit I was a little bit “No way!
Was The Stoning a fluke success? No. Certainly not. Papathanasiou has the makings of a fine series here.He proves he’s not going to be slave to the formulaic by placing Manolis on a different continent in this second novel. He is not afraid to subtly explore some political and sociological issues. In The Stoning he asked us to consider the plight of refugees and indigenous people, gender and sexuality. In The Invisible he asks us to reflect again on the displacement of migrants from unacceptable regimes, political or economic, and he opens our eyes to some jawdropping practices from a, hopefully, older Greece.
I look forward to more from Mr. Papathanasiou . Thanks to Corinne Zifko at MacLehose Press for a copy of the book and the spot upon the blog tour.
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