The Diver

"A book you read in one breath and can’t put down. Personally, I experienced reading it as a dive. I felt myself sinking to the depths, travelling with the characters into the past, and then rising towards the light..."

"...Efstathiadis skilfully combines the conciseness required by the crime plot with poetic descriptions of places and emotions, without embellishing or detracting from the central story. Contrary to the current trend for voluminous books, he tells his story in 243 pages, from which not even the most capable editor could remove a single word."

"...Excellent writing, an imaginative plot, an unexpected development with many twists, and a lovable central character. A remarkable novel."

"...The author masterfully constructs the plot of his novel on every level, whilst it is worth noting that the flashbacks to the past are seamlessly integrated and serve their purpose in resolving the plot. Minos Efstathiadis presents us with a novel that reads in one breath, exceptional in every respect, and appealing to every reader."

"...Suspense, humour, horror, a dive into the past and the depths of the soul are some of the characteristics of the excellent noir novel, _The Diver_ by Minos Efstathiadis."

"...a complex novel, with clever twists and fine dialogue, which from its very first five pages can convince the reader not to put it down."

"...Minos Efstathiadis’s new novel ‘The Diver’ has all the ingredients of a classic European noir."

The Diver is among the best crime novels of 2018, according to Book Press and Hilda Papadimitriou.

"...This is a crime novel brimming with tension, twists, unanswered questions and dark truths that no one can bear when they come to light, let alone if they are personally involved in the case unfolding in this novel."

"...Minos Efstathiadis leads the police mystery down far more complex paths: those of individual responsibility, of History and its callings, of the nightmares that haunt the human conscience and lead to suicide. Man tries to play the director, but ultimately proves to be a puppet of a greater plot."

"...one of the finest noir novels I have read recently. A beautiful touch in the plot is its connection to Aeschylus’ tragedy ‘Agamemnon’. It may resemble an old-school detective novel up to the halfway point, but just before the finale it delivers its definitive answers with a dizzying escalation of Hitchcockian proportions that constitutes a breathless plunge into the horror of human (or non-human) nature."

"...Fiction, historical events and the linguistic style stand the test of time, and across the 243 densely packed pages of *The Diver*, the author comes out on top. Vivid imagery and unflagging interest: a delight to read!"

"...With a simple cover, dominated by the enigmatic figure of a mole against a grey background, and a title that fires the imagination, Minos Efstathiadis invites the reader to experience an autonomous dive into the turbulent waters of a grim story featuring enigmatic characters, atmospheric storytelling, high-tension suspense and a breath-taking finale."

"...Interwoven with intertextual references and functional enclosures, as additional touches to the noir canvas, The Diver succeeds in making a strong claim on the noir literary scene. What adds extra points to the final result is the story that Papas’s investigation brings to light; after all, that is where the core of the book’s original conception lies. A story that justifies the twists and turns leading to its revelation, and without which all this would likely have been devoid of meaning, a mere display of the author’s skills at the reader’s expense."

"...Minos Efstathiadis’s *The Diver* is a well-written, inspired book with a powerful, shocking ending. The ending really blew me away. In other words, the author achieves what he sets out to do: to unsettle, to keep the reader in suspense and to frighten them. It is a powerful thriller. Lovers of high-quality crime fiction should not let this book slip through their fingers. In a nutshell: If you’re looking for a good crime novel, a gritty noir, it’s worth seeking out *The Diver* and immersing yourself in the dark universe of Minos Efstathiadis’s characters. "

"...The descriptions of places and emotions are almost lyrical; the historical vignettes stand out for their focus on the human element; the portrayal of Greek drivers’ behaviour is sufficiently sarcastic. The most significant thing about this book, however, is how, whilst the murders and suicides are ultimately resolved, readers are left with a strong taste of horror in their mouths, throughout their entire bodies. It is a book that has the potential to excel in international markets. And I obviously recommend it unreservedly."

"...Reading the book, you feel as though you are shut away in a room with a view, but without windows. From the Hamburg of today to the Aigio of yesterday, and from the Aigio of today to the Hamburg of yesterday. In between, people’s stories — like shards of metal after an explosion — are flung far away and wait for the magnet that will draw them towards its core, which is none other than horror itself. How much can human nature endure? How much can it devise to wound, to bleed, to obliterate? This well has no bottom, nor any end."

5 songs that perfectly match Minos Efstathiadis’s new book.

"The author’s writing and language are exceptional. The fact that the book has been translated is proof that prose linked to the Greek countryside, if presented in the right, non-folkloric way, will certainly capture the interest of a foreign readership."

"...In 'The Diver', everything goes deeper, from the literary references to the historical ones, from the noir character itself to the horror. Everything goes a step further, both in plot and in the final aftertaste. And Efstathiadis sets the bar high for the rest of us; he writes a story that is hard to forget, and he does it well. So frustratingly well that you wonder what the next step will be, after a book like this."

"...With simple, almost austere and rigorous means, Minos Efstathiadis knows full well that the complex and intricate, the significant and enigmatic, are best expressed simply, and he does so exceptionally well. Presenting a myth and a modern tragedy in just 243 pages. Atmospheric and enigmatic, psychoanalytical and fiercely subversive, it fully justifies the title as an occupation order on the final two pages. Proving that the cycle of the Atreides concerns all eras and that memory is a deep, aching wound, that guilt weighs heavily and always strikes the most innocent."

– Eleni Gika, Fileleftheros

"...A ‘German-style’ crime novel that stands out from the crowd and captivates with its twists and turns. It is not just the plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat; it is also the fact that the author subverts the conventions of the genre, crafting a narrative that is both contemporary and classic. It all begins with a corpse and ends in chaos. That which lurks in the sunless recesses of the soul."

"...The Diver is a book for tough readers. For those who enjoy pure noir novels. A game with the past that will reveal the reality of absolute horror. The Diver’s subterranean breath will burst hotly upon you, within you. You will feel as though you are turning the cogs and setting an ancient nightmare in motion. When its light surfaces, it will tear you apart…”

"...The writing is so impressive, the plot so intriguing, that it makes you anxious not only about how the story unfolds, but also about the ending. You fear that the ending might not live up to the plot. But the ending is so different from what you expect and rises like a firework that the only thing it doesn’t do is disappoint the reader. It doesn’t really matter which of the mysteries are adequately explained and which are not. What matters is human nature. And that is what is primarily analysed."

"...At first glance, it is a crime novel, but in essence it is a tragedy crafted in the form of a novel. The novelist leads the detective mystery down far more complex paths: those of individual responsibility, of History and its callings, of the nightmares that haunt the human conscience and lead to suicide. And beyond that, various other fine crime writers have continued to emerge, writing with equal skill in two directions: the orthodox line of the mystery seeking a solution, and the renewed line of social criticism."

"...This is where Minos Efstathiadis’s literary merit lies. In this subversion of the conventions and language of the crime novel that we hinted at in the beginning, which he achieves through his human-centred perspective on Evil and his linguistic and narrative mastery, which does not remain on the surface of situations but delves into their dark depths, far surpassing the often perfunctory use of language found in most contemporary crime novels."

"...The central theme is blackmail and revenge, something that harks back to ancient tragedy and the myth of Agamemnon, which is the chronicle of a cold and patient revenge. The novel is set in Greece during the economic crisis, and Minos Efstathiadis comments on the ills afflicting this battered country, such as the Greek healthcare system, entrenched corruption and state paranoia, issues that preoccupy Greek crime writers today."

"...I loved the way Efstathiadis made them part of the story. Generally speaking, I was horrified, I got goosebumps, I was troubled, I questioned things, I thought. It was a book that completely captured my interest and I will find it very, very hard to forget."