The Invisible

LikeThe Stoning, the new book shows [Papathanasiou's] ability to combine suspense, politics and lyrical descriptive writing -- Joan Smith * The Sunday Times *
This second Manolis thriller is a wonderful evocation of a little-known part of Europe with spectacular scenery and dangerous wildlife, not to mention equally dangerous Balkan criminals on the loose. Highly recommended. -- Myles McWeeney * Irish Independent *
Detective Sergeant George Manolis is a great new addition to the Australian crime scene -- Emma Viskic * award-winning author of the Caleb Zelic crime series *
A brilliant new name in Australian crime -- Cheryl Akle * Weekend Australian *
Papathanasiou writes unsparingly, confidently, and compellingly. * The Quietus *
Political crime fiction of the highest order -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *
The author effortlessly transports his reader to Southern Europe's borderlands, where a tragic past haunts the villages and towns, fuelling the mystery at the heart of the novel. This is first-rate crime fiction. -- Andrew Pippos * author of LUCKY'S, shortlisted for the 2021 Miles Franklin Award *
Marvellous . . . Exciting . . . A great read -- Mark Sanderson * The Times *
The Invisible continues an assured, propulsive and atmospheric new series that crime fiction fans will devour -- Sydney Morning Herald * Cameron Woodhead *
This story of a difficult investigation is an unusual and interesting contribution to the genre. -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *
A wonderful evocation of life in the region with spectacular scenery and fearsome wildlife and equally dangerous criminals. Highly recommended. -- Miles McWeeney * Irish Independent Gift Guide *
This second novel is very different from the first, a difference that reflects the range of Papathanasiou's talents. The narrative contains some lovely descriptive writing that evokes the beauty of this remote landscape. Students of ethnography are particularly likely to enjoy the setting, since it is at the junction of three cultures and three distinct histories that all feed into the development of the story -- Alison Booth * Canberra Times *
It's a fascinating and entirely effective replacement for the desert hellscape setting of Papathanasiou's debut, The Stoning, and he peoples the rugged landscape with plausible characters who each have their own reasons for preferring a life lived on the fringes of 21st-century society -- Angus Batey * The Quietus *
While the tone is very different to The Stoning, The Invisible is every bit as enjoyable and Papathanasiou is displaying his diverse talents early on in his career as a novelist -- Anne Cunningham * Meath Chronicle *
Papathanasiou adds considerably to the crime literature defined as Australian. He has his own individuality and represents a successful amalgam of Greek and Australian literature. The writing is vivid and atmospheric. The characters are superbly drawn. Papathanasiou doesn't pull any punches as he takes a clear-eyed look at hypocrisies old and new -- Ian Lipke * Queensland Reviewers Collective *
Gripping -- Lisa Howells * Crime Monthly *

Sumptuously written

-- Readings Monthly * Julia Jackson *
It has a lot more richness and meaning than your standard thriller. And the reader is seriously enlightened. It will stay with you -- Peter Donoughue * Booknotes *
A reflective story with solid characterisation. The pacing is gentle, but this perfectly evokes the setting and way of life. A socially and politically aware novel -- Jane Hunt * Waterstones *
An intriguing and tense thriller with a strong sense of place and well-drawn characters -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *
A true pageturner, with a highly satisfying ending -- A.N. Wilson * Tablet *