Title: AshesAuthor: Sergios Gakas
Translator: Anne-Marie Stanton-Ife
Publication: 2011/MacLehose Press (Quercus), Great Britain
Original Publication: 2007/ Kastaniotis Editions S.A., Athens (“ Στάχτες”)
ISBN #: 978-0-85705-016-8
# of pages: 309
Discovered via a blog review….but my notes on which one are incomplete!
Read in paper format
Also available in e-book format
Chronis Halkidis is a joint-smoking, cocaine-snorting
alcoholic police colonel in Athens who somehow manages to effectively head up
the Internal Affairs department of the national Hellenic Police. His devoted
team follows his lead when he takes on an arson investigation which is well
outside his mandate.
An African refugee, her young daughter and an old actor died
in the fire and a famous Greek actress was severely burned. Chronis was drawn
to the case when he learned the actress is a former lover, Sonia Varika. The
first complication in the case is another of the actress’s lovers, Simeon
Piertzovanis, the landlord and early suspect. Soon, Halkidis and Piertzonvanis are rather
reluctantly working together to shift through the web of corruption and
discover the truth. The action heats up when even Halkidis’s normally
supportive boss tells him to drop the case.
The story is told alternately by Halkidis and Piertzonvanis,
with some commentary from Sonia, a writing method that works surprisingly well.
Both men are interesting characters, with major weaknesses they keep rising
above. It is fascinating to watch the growing rapport between the rivals, one
that doesn’t quite become a friendship. Hearing Sonia’s voice, remembered by
the men and in her current state, reveals a siren who easily draws lovers to
her and just as easily sheds them. Halkidis’s torment at being continually thwarted
is mirrored by his growing reliance on cocaine.
The story is dark, revealing the seediest side of powerful
people and the lengths to which one must go to have any chance of beating them
at their own game. At a time when Greece is in crisis, this book sets the
atmosphere of a struggling city and country, set adrift by self-interested
power brokers. Despite the shortcomings of Halkidis and Piertzonvanis, you can’t
help but admire their determination to continue to the bitter end. Rating: (^_°)
Intriguing
Notable sentence: by Halkidis: “I stopped him, apologizing
meekly, explaining away my outburst as a consequence of exhaustion. I did not
think it wise to explain that coke sometimes made me oversensitive.”
The author is a Greek playwright and director. It was
difficult to find any further information about him and there do not seem to be
any other English translations of his books.
I lived in Athens for 4 years and my local bakery features in this book. It's the only one that has been translated into English I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteThat must have added a special feeling when you were reading the book, Sarah! Hopefully, more will be translated over time.
ReplyDeleteI think Gakas and Markaris are almost single-handedly creating a Greek noir genre - which seems very foreign to a people more naturally akin to Zorba's philosophy, but is perhaps not surprising given the current economic crisis. They are both first-class at portraying the corruption, ethical uncertainties and sheer hopelessness of current Greek society.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a review of Ashes myself, if you want to have a look at it.
http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2012/12/ashes/
And I wish my Greek were good enough to read more of these authors, as sadly, neither of them have been much translated into English.
Really enjoyed your review, Marina! Especially liked your comment about not judging by Anglo-Saxon standards because I struggled with that a bit. And thanks for introducing me to a new author (Markaris)!
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