The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep

May 29, 2017
Heighton’s (Afterlands) fascinating novel takes place largely in Varosha, the tourist quarter of the Cypriot town of Famagusta. The town was abandoned in 1974 when Turkish forces invaded and occupied it, but this story begins three decades later in the shadow of a different conflict. Following a traumatic military incident in Afghanistan, Elias Trifannis, a Canadian soldier who enlisted to please his dying Greek father, is shipped off to Cyprus for stress leave and therapy. A romantic night with a prominent journalist goes terribly wrong when Turkish soldiers, objecting to a relationship between a Turkish woman and someone they think is a Greek man, ambush them. Elias is rescued and then held captive by the villagers—a ragtag bunch hiding out, most presumed dead, in the ruins of Varosha. Elias’s arrival threatens the villagers’ safety, which was previously ensured by Kaya, a happy-go-lucky Turkish officer. He’s more concerned with his prowess on the tennis court than issues of military security, but a zealous young subordinate who wants to bring Kaya down starts prowling around Varosha, determined to prove that there are people living in the ruins. As this well-plotted novel draws to a tense conclusion, Heighton skillfully knits together the difficult history and politics of the region, military machinations, and the nuanced inner lives and relationships of Elias and the villagers. Agent: Martha Magor, McDermid Agency.

Starred review from March 15, 2017

A Canadian of Greek heritage who fought in Afghanistan, Elias "Trif" Trifannis is recuperating on Cyprus, which has been divided into Greek and Turkish sectors since war there in 1974. During a romantic encounter on the beach, Trif and a prominent Turkish journalist are attacked by Turkish soldiers. She is presumably killed while he flees into the "dead zone," which encompasses the abandoned Greek village of Varosha. There, he discovers a vibrant community of Greek Cypriots who live virtually unknown to the rest of the world but for Erkan Kaya, a Turkish colonel stationed nearby who turns a benevolent eye toward the villagers. Trif's return to the outside world would compromise Kaya and reveal the existence of the people who have rescued and cared for him. After several unsuccessful escape attempts, Trif ultimately bonds with his "captors" and becomes a part of the community, even falling in love with one of its members. VERDICT In scintillating prose and with masterly control of his plot and characters, poet and novelist Heighton (Afterlands) weaves a spellbinding tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal. This timely (press reports indicate that reunification talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are advancing) novel is highly recommended to all readers.--Edward B. Cone, New York

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.