Debut novels can be hit or miss as new authors often try to include everything and the kitchen sink in their stories. Pacing can be a particular problem, as is balancing exposition and action. Locating the most dramatic moments in the plot to show, rather than tell, can elevate a story into a compelling experience for the reader.
Historical fiction is one of the most popular genres, as it can illuminate the past in a more emotionally charged way than a history book can, while also drawing readers into the plot along with the fictional characters.
‘A Letter For Zorba: The Last Witness’ by Bill Thomas is a fine debut effort with an interesting cast of characters in a political thriller set in modern-day Greece, the year 2006 to be exact, where the wounds of the brutal military dictatorship remain far from healed.
“When American professor Nick Demosthenes returns to Greece to testify against a former military junta officer accused of orchestrating a deadly bombing in 1971 during the dictatorship, he believes he is simply honoring a promise made decades earlier,” as noted in the book’s description. “Instead, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of long-buried secrets, political betrayal, and deadly revenge.”
“Waiting for him is prosecutor Gina Lirakis, determined to uncover the truth that has remained hidden for more than 35 years. As witnesses begin to disappear and old enemies reemerge, Nick must confront the memories of forbidden love, resistance, and sacrifice that shaped his life— and decide how much he is willing to risk to finally expose the past.”
Set in Athens and on the island of Skiathos, ‘A Letter For Zorba: The Last Witness’ blends courtroom drama, international suspense, and historical fiction into a page-turner about courage, loyalty, and the enduring power of truth.
Greek words and phrases are scattered throughout the book while mentions of traditional Greek foods highlight the author’s attention to detail and will likely inspire readers to book a trip to Greece as soon as possible.
“This novel is ultimately about memory,” said Thomas. “It asks what happens when history is buried, when ordinary people are forced to carry extraordinary secrets, and whether justice can still be found decades after the crimes were committed.”
Thomas posted about the book on social media, noting that “the novel… was inspired by my attempt to hear the forbidden music of ‘Zorba the Greek’ composer Mikis Theodorakis while serving in the U.S. Navy during Greece’s military dictatorship— an experience that stayed with me for decades until it finally found its way into this novel.”
“Writing this book has been a long journey, and seeing it finally in print is something I don’t take for granted,” he added.
Bill Thomas’ previous creative work includes songwriting and filmmaking for Captain Kangaroo. He received a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Fellowship in Fiction and studied fiction writing at Salve Regina University. Thomas lives in Wickford, Rhode Island.
‘A Letter For Zorba: The Last Witness’ by Bill Thomas is available online in paperback and Kindle formats.
