The Invisible

On finishing Peter Papathanasiou’s first novel, The Stoning, I expressed the hope that his protagonist would return in a sequel. Variations of his original theme had been done before: the Outback setting and oppressive heat, a damaged policeman returning to his hometown to investigate a murder, racial and/or religious tensions and small-town dysfunction. But Papathanasiou nailed it with a sound and nonsense-free plot, great writing and good characterisations, as well as a satisfying and satisfactory story closure.

I got my wish with the return of Detective Sergeant George Manolis in a totally different role and setting. Manolis, now suffering from PTSD, is sent off on holiday after a police shooting. Although he was cleared, he was – and still is – very affected by the incident and in an attempt to clear his head goes to Greece, his ancestral home. The setting for The Invisible is a couple of Greek villages close to the borders with Albania and North Macedonia that run through lakes shared by these countries.

Stavros, a family friend, also a Greek-Australian now back living in Greece, mentions that a common friend, Lefty, is missing. Lefty, however, is not in “the system” and has no licence or other form of identification or documentation, making him invisible. Officialdom, including the police, could easily view this as a search for someone who doesn't exist. That is certainly one reason why the local police are doing little to find Lefty, but general laxity by officials is an obvious other factor.

George agrees to investigate, but on a secretive and unofficial basis. This includes searching homes while nearly all locals are attending church services. His identity as a policeman is unknown.

Lefty presents as either a good guy or a bad guy to different people, so it is not easy to work out an appropriate level of sympathy for him. He does a lot of unpaid work, including for Kosta who runs the local taverna. He also owes money to many locals. The prologue hints that he may have been involved in some form of illicit trade and had a falling out with the people he was meeting.

A number of scenarios are considered to explain Lefty’s disappearance: he might have drowned in the lakes, or been the subject of a hit and run given the mad driving in the villages, or possibly been attacked by wild animals in the local forests or even been murdered by a serial killer, despite there being no prior murders in the area. His history of debt is also examined, as are the people to whom money is owed. His illicit dealings come under scrutiny, too. And, of course, the mysterious powers of the local Romani people hint at some other possible explanations for his disappearance.

The cast of characters is colourful, but not overwhelming in number. Father Petros is the local priest with a fondness for whisky. Elias, who goes fishing with Lefty, is the local border guard with a healthy reputation for being unable to notice certain illegal activities. Sofia was Lefty's neighbour and the feud between them is stark and long-standing. Her helper is Zain, a Syrian refugee, who always acts in her defence. Zain is an illegal migrant and therefore a target for scrutiny. It is the same with Roze, an Albanian waitress at the taverna. Anna and Angelo are siblings, one of them committed to remaining a virgin due to an historic practice.

The area in which the book is set is rich in traditions and history, including conflicts. The civil war in Greece and its ramifications also get airtime. The kidnapping of children by both sides was a feature of the time too. Or to use the popular euphemism of today: the ‘evacuation’ of children.  

We get to see the quirks of village life with the eccentrics, small feuds, customs and legacies that assume some relevance within the plot. Even Nazi symbols survive in a couple of the houses. The nearby lakes, forests and wildlife add other dimensions to the story. Papathanasiou uses an interesting cast, geographical setting and historical influences to create scenarios in relating his tale.

From the policing point of view, I was disappointed that solutions came from elimination and not from any incremental progress made by Manolis or from any real clues he uncovered. At one point, Manolis gets a group of mongrel dogs to smell Lefty’s cap in the optimistic hope that they might lead him to Lefty. A dog does eventually lead him to the book’s only breakthrough clue, though. The sleuthing element is not what makes the book.

However, The Invisible took me to unexpected places, and by that measure, it emerges a winner.