Scan barcode
kcfromaustcrime's review
5.0
The second George Manolis novel sees him flying from Australia to Greece on an extended holiday after a turbulent time. Recently divorced, mourning the death of his much loved father, Manolis returns to the place of his father's birth - the Prespes region which straddles the borders of Greece, Albania and North Macedonia (read the author's acknowledgements for more about this rather sensitive region and his approach) - and the tiny village of Glikonero. It's a chance to reconnect with his father through his homeland, and fulfil a promise to deliver an heirloom set of komboloi. It means Manolis can catch up with his own friends including Stavros returned to Greece to live after a childhood in Australia, and maybe track down a long lost aunt.
But he returns to find the old friend he's particularly keen to catch up with - Lefty (Lefteris), has vanished. Lefty's lived his life under the radar which hasn't helped anybody to find him now - undocumented, almost vagrant, a loveable rascal who knows the hills and the borderlands very well, he hasn't been above a bit of smuggling and illegal movement in the past. Manolis sets out to find his old friend, by setting himself up as a labourer in the village, doing some work on the shack that Lefty has been living in (which Stavros owns), hunting for a man who, in the words of the local police "doesn't want to exist, let alone be found".
What was particularly interesting for a reader who loved the sense of Australian place and sensibilities in THE STONING, was that feeling again - this time for Greece, and the Prespes region in particular. The culture, the environment, and the sensibility of this place came alive in this novel, with Manolis roaming the area through woods, onto snake infested islands, around the lake that the small town is set beside. His thinking is that Lefty may have fallen into a mineshaft, or a cave, been attacked by a wild bear or wolf, or one of his black market forays could have gone awry. Of course he could also have drowned, been shot by a hunter, annoyed his elderly neighbour just one time too many, or simply walked away from his life to start again somewhere else. With a character like Lefty it's hard to know where to start looking, and it's only after some serious digging in his cottage do some clues appear - a toolbox stuffed with euros, forged passports and a bag full of weapons.
Along the way, Manolis learns much about the small village and the area his father came from. The culture is quintessentially Greek, with traditions and beliefs that go way back. These mingle with those of nearby neighbours, the Romani that move through the area, and the way that the village is ageing, dying off with no young people to carry on. Profoundly affected by war and its aftermath. Papathanasiou very poignantly spins the story of Lefty's disappearance into a complicated carpet of official corruption, the tradition of sworn virgins, mass removal of children following the civil war and the treatment of disabled children.
The resolution, when it comes, tumbles into place as a combination of everything, all the sadder for it, all the more moving because of it.
It's one of those series that I suspect readers will come to initially for the sense of place, but increasingly the way that George Manolis interacts with the place he's in, the people he come across, and the way he sees the world is going to be the thing that draws us back.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/invisible-peter-papathanasiou
But he returns to find the old friend he's particularly keen to catch up with - Lefty (Lefteris), has vanished. Lefty's lived his life under the radar which hasn't helped anybody to find him now - undocumented, almost vagrant, a loveable rascal who knows the hills and the borderlands very well, he hasn't been above a bit of smuggling and illegal movement in the past. Manolis sets out to find his old friend, by setting himself up as a labourer in the village, doing some work on the shack that Lefty has been living in (which Stavros owns), hunting for a man who, in the words of the local police "doesn't want to exist, let alone be found".
What was particularly interesting for a reader who loved the sense of Australian place and sensibilities in THE STONING, was that feeling again - this time for Greece, and the Prespes region in particular. The culture, the environment, and the sensibility of this place came alive in this novel, with Manolis roaming the area through woods, onto snake infested islands, around the lake that the small town is set beside. His thinking is that Lefty may have fallen into a mineshaft, or a cave, been attacked by a wild bear or wolf, or one of his black market forays could have gone awry. Of course he could also have drowned, been shot by a hunter, annoyed his elderly neighbour just one time too many, or simply walked away from his life to start again somewhere else. With a character like Lefty it's hard to know where to start looking, and it's only after some serious digging in his cottage do some clues appear - a toolbox stuffed with euros, forged passports and a bag full of weapons.
Along the way, Manolis learns much about the small village and the area his father came from. The culture is quintessentially Greek, with traditions and beliefs that go way back. These mingle with those of nearby neighbours, the Romani that move through the area, and the way that the village is ageing, dying off with no young people to carry on. Profoundly affected by war and its aftermath. Papathanasiou very poignantly spins the story of Lefty's disappearance into a complicated carpet of official corruption, the tradition of sworn virgins, mass removal of children following the civil war and the treatment of disabled children.
The resolution, when it comes, tumbles into place as a combination of everything, all the sadder for it, all the more moving because of it.
It's one of those series that I suspect readers will come to initially for the sense of place, but increasingly the way that George Manolis interacts with the place he's in, the people he come across, and the way he sees the world is going to be the thing that draws us back.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/invisible-peter-papathanasiou
noveldeelights's review
3.0
I was incredibly impressed with this author’s debut ‘The Stoning‘ a while back and was really looking forward to more. It all started incredibly well, with the reintroduction of Sparrow which put a smile on my face, and an exciting raid. The latter unfortunately didn’t end so well and DS Manolis has been diagnosed with suffering from PTSD and has kindly been asked to take a long vacation. Manolis decides to go back to his roots, to the Prespes region in Greece, where his father emigrated from. Upon his arrival, he learns of the disappearance of a man known as Lefty. Lefty is what they call an invisible. Someone who lives without a shred of paperwork. And also someone who is of little interest to the local police. How do you even look for a man who doesn’t exist?
Well, apparently Manolis doesn’t know either and this is where I’m sad to say ‘The Invisible‘ started to lose me. It felt like I was on holiday myself. It’s all rather calm and laid-back. There’s a lot of food and drinking. What you’d maybe expect from a break in Greece. But that also means, a severe lack of tension and suspense that I so desperately need in my crime fiction.
Lefty’s disappearance seems extremely secondary in the storyline. It’s a mystery that needs solving but I almost completely forgot about it at some point as Manolis is far more interested in the lifestyle, his heritage and maybe possibly finding a trace of his aunt Poppy. That said, Papathanasiou really brings Greece to life with delightfully vivid descriptions of the landscape, the smells and the sounds.
Just like in ‘The Stoning‘, Papathanasiou lays bare some of the worst things humanity has to offer. Some of the topics make for uncomfortable reading, some are thought-provoking. There is more than one way to be invisible, after-all. While these villages may look all idyllic from the outside, they often hide secrets, feuds and conflicts. There is also a certain undeniable sense that this way of life is dying out. More than anything though, where are all the children?
I think I kind of understood what the author was trying to do, but I also feel the story became a little too bogged down by an abundance of historical information. This region of Greece is not a good place to be. It has a very turbulent history, there’s a lot of poverty and it’s geographical position makes it rather dangerous. This also lends itself to plenty of myths and legends, passed on from generation to generation. Or could there possibly be some tiny sliver of truth to these tales?
I find it hard to determine how I feel about ‘The Invisible‘. It was most definitely informative and educational. I feel I’ve learned a lot about the Prespes region and its people. However, I look for a bit more than that in my crime fiction. I didn’t find the story to be compelling, or tense, or thrilling. In an odd sort of way, it almost feels like an interlude of some sort. True, Manolis needed this break and maybe I would have felt differently if the mystery element had featured more. As it is though, I’ve been left somewhat underwhelmed. Still, based on ‘The Stoning‘, I’m giving Papathanasiou the benefit of the doubt and I’ll be right here for more of Manolis with the next book in the series.
Well, apparently Manolis doesn’t know either and this is where I’m sad to say ‘The Invisible‘ started to lose me. It felt like I was on holiday myself. It’s all rather calm and laid-back. There’s a lot of food and drinking. What you’d maybe expect from a break in Greece. But that also means, a severe lack of tension and suspense that I so desperately need in my crime fiction.
Lefty’s disappearance seems extremely secondary in the storyline. It’s a mystery that needs solving but I almost completely forgot about it at some point as Manolis is far more interested in the lifestyle, his heritage and maybe possibly finding a trace of his aunt Poppy. That said, Papathanasiou really brings Greece to life with delightfully vivid descriptions of the landscape, the smells and the sounds.
Just like in ‘The Stoning‘, Papathanasiou lays bare some of the worst things humanity has to offer. Some of the topics make for uncomfortable reading, some are thought-provoking. There is more than one way to be invisible, after-all. While these villages may look all idyllic from the outside, they often hide secrets, feuds and conflicts. There is also a certain undeniable sense that this way of life is dying out. More than anything though, where are all the children?
I think I kind of understood what the author was trying to do, but I also feel the story became a little too bogged down by an abundance of historical information. This region of Greece is not a good place to be. It has a very turbulent history, there’s a lot of poverty and it’s geographical position makes it rather dangerous. This also lends itself to plenty of myths and legends, passed on from generation to generation. Or could there possibly be some tiny sliver of truth to these tales?
I find it hard to determine how I feel about ‘The Invisible‘. It was most definitely informative and educational. I feel I’ve learned a lot about the Prespes region and its people. However, I look for a bit more than that in my crime fiction. I didn’t find the story to be compelling, or tense, or thrilling. In an odd sort of way, it almost feels like an interlude of some sort. True, Manolis needed this break and maybe I would have felt differently if the mystery element had featured more. As it is though, I’ve been left somewhat underwhelmed. Still, based on ‘The Stoning‘, I’m giving Papathanasiou the benefit of the doubt and I’ll be right here for more of Manolis with the next book in the series.
annarella's review
4.0
I think this book pace reminds me of the Mediterranean life pace: take it easy an slow. I enjoy it and found the plot fascinating and unusual.
Well written and realistic.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well written and realistic.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
thebooktrail88's review
4.0
Discover the locations in the novel
This book has one of the most fascinating settings and locations that I have come across in a long while. We are taken to an area where the author has a really keen and unique insight. It’s the border of Greece, Macedonia and Albania and it’s a fascinating region I’ve never read about before. Not in a crime novel at least!
This place has some stories to tell. Peter evokes the culture and history, the way of living, the flora and fauna and of course the legends too.
The first book in this series, The Stoning, was firmly set in Australia. Taking DS George Manolis out of his adoptive country back to his original one was a genius idea. It brought up so many complex and interweaving emotions, stories and complexities. George heads ‘ back home’ for a holiday following the events of book one but to be fair, it’s not much of a holiday. Poor man. He’d have been better of staying in Cobb.
However, for the reader, be happy that the author has a dark streak and likes to torture his characters. George travels to the Prespes region where life seems to have stayed still. It’s a bit like that village in Stephen King’s The Dome where no one can get in or out. George, trapped here for a while, becomes involved in an investigation to find someone who has gone missing.
That’s where the title comes in – The Invisible – which is anyone who is an illegal, with no paperwork and no identity. The authorities don’t care. This is a part of the world where history, borders, divisions and legends make it a fractured and dangerous place. Great place for a novel though! The author has done wonders to bring this region to the fore. There’s so much detail – smuggling, war, criminals, legends and the struggles of the people outlined here but you never feel overwhelmed by it all. Peter P is one skilled author.
More...