Eleni Kyriacou is an award-winning editor, journalist and writer whose work spans broadsheets, glossy magazines and digital media. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Observer, Marie Claire, Grazia, Red and Stella, and she has edited two national magazines.
Born in London and raised in Greek Cyprus, Eleni is inspired by stories about displacement, identity, and those living on the margins.
Her debut novel, She Came To Stay, a historical thriller set in smog-filled 1950s Soho, was selected by Hachette's Future Bookshelf initiative, which supports underrepresented voices. Loosely inspired by her mother's migration from Cyprus to London, the novel explores what can happen when a hopeful journey takes a dangerous detour.
In 2023, she followed up with The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, a chilling true crime account based on a real-life murder case.
Kyriacou's latest novel, A Beautiful Way to Die (2025), blends the intrigue of classic noir with the raw edges of real-life Hollywood history. Set in 1953 at the glittering yet treacherous height of the studio system, the story follows two women: Ginny, a young actress on the rise, and Stella, a fading screen siren desperate to protect what's left of her fame.
One night, during an extravagant Oscar party, a violent crime occurs — one that the studios are desperate to keep quiet. As the women's fates intertwine, the novel peels back the layers of corruption, coercion, and silence that drove the golden age of old Hollywood.
Inspired by real-life studio scandals and the "fixers" who buried them, A Beautiful Way to Die draws on Kyriacou's love of noir cinema and extensive research, including Bette Davis, Ava Gardner, and Joan Collins biographies. The result is a darkly elegant mystery steeped in vintage glamour and hard truths — echoing the mood of films like Sunset Boulevard and L.A. Confidential.
Beyond her writing, Kyriacou mentors debut authors and works with Jericho Writers to help shape new voices in fiction.
Eleni Kyriacou lives in Ealing, West London.
Photo credit: www.elenikwriter.com
