This May, the guest of the Reading Club of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki is author Giota Kontogeorgopoulou, who will present her novel "Shabbat", published by Bell.

"Shabbat" is an atmospheric, gripping crime novel set in the city of Ioannina and closely linked to its Romaniote Jewish community.

Joining the discussion will be Dr. Xenia Eleftheriou, Scientific Director and Curator of the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki, who will speak about this community and its deportation by the Nazis. Selected excerpts from the book will be read by the composer and performer Iro (Lechouriti).

A few words about the author
Giota Kontogeorgopoulou was born in Patras. She studied History and Archaeology at the University of Ioannina and Journalism in Athens. She has worked as a journalist for newspapers, television and radio stations, magazines, and online media in Ioannina, Athens, and Patras, as well as in the field of political communication. She is currently the editor-in-chief of the news portal thebest.gr.

She has written lyrics and texts for ten theatrical and musical performances (Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras, Patras – European Capital of Culture, Ithaki Theatre, among others). In 2020, her novel “The Smell of the Sea Urchin” was published by Okeanis Editions, and in Autumn 2023 her latest novel “Shabbat” was published by Bell Editions.

She is also the author of the book “Stories of Catering in 20th Century Patras” and the Historical Calendar of the Patras Trade Association (published by To Dónti).

She is a member of the Journalists’ Union of the Daily Newspapers of the Peloponnese, Epirus and the Islands.

A few words about the book
How is the violent deportation of the Jews of Ioannina by the Nazis in 1944 connected to the disappearance of a 25-year-old university student in the city today? And how does a group of friends formed in a bookstore within the walls of the Ioannina castle become entangled in a dark story of lies, buried secrets, and... murder?

“Shabbat” is an atmospheric, gripping crime novel that skillfully moves between past and present, old and new values. A powerful story about the force of concealment, prejudice, and power.