''Zone Defence'' (original title: 'Amyna Zonis'') is a fresh and engaging Greek crime television series, based on the titular novel by the guru of the genre, Petros Markaris. This is another book with Inspector Kostas Haritos as the main protagonist who is investigating two seemingly unrelated homicides, one of a low-grade referee, Sotiris Petroulias and that of an Athens known mafioso, Ntinos Koustas.
The two plotlines slowly merge into one and in the end, the reader understands how everything is linked with everything in this truly absorbing crime story, set in contemporary Athens which is perfectly outlined by the experienced author. There are plenty of twists and turns and a rather surprising (?) finale that satisfies even the most demanding reader.
In my opinion ''Zone Defence'' together with ''Late Nigh News'' (another novel by Markaris) stand on the top of today's Greek crime television productions. The performances are of high standard, starring Minas Hatzisavvas as Inspector Haritos, along with other well-known Greek actors such as Antonis Kafetzopoulos who portrays convincingly the gangster and suppressing family man, Ntinos Koustas, a murder victim with a lot of secrets and skeletons in his closet.
If you want to delve in Greek crime fiction, ''Zone Defence'' would be the perfect initiation novel for you and, for Greek readers, it is highly recommended to watch this show too.