Ooh my I loved this book. I was immediately transported by the description of the island of Corfu and can understand why the MC does not want to leave the island (though some surprises are in store regarding that). The characters were charming and fascinating and worked so well together. Seeing how Mimi took care of her kids and supported whatever they wanted and needed warmed my heart. And then her venture into first typing for and then sleuthing with her new neighbor (despite his surly demeanor and the salacious gossip surrounding him) was fascinating. I fell for both of them and their banter was perfect. There was a surprising amount of spark and longing in this book, even against the mysterious and dangerous landscape. I was SHOCKED by the twists and turns and the many bombshells at the ending had my jaw dropped. The writing had the perfect balance and I already cannot wait for more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Sullivan for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Death on Corfu coming out April 29, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a fun start to the series. I really love faraway settings and islands! So that really added to the story for me. Cozy mysteries are really fun and I really enjoyed the characters. I loved the mystery author plot. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

(4.75 stars)

Thank you to Kensington Books for the free ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

A Death on Corfu is a historical, romantic cozy mystery set on the Greek island of - you guessed it, Corfu! - in 1898. It follows Minnie Harper, a British widow and mother of two who promised her late husband that she would stay in Corfu to raise their family. As the book begins, a mysterious writer named Mr. Dorian has moved into a home nearby, piquing Minnie's curiosity.

I enjoyed how Minnie and Mr. Dorian's initial interactions had a very Pride & Prejudice vibe. And later in the book there was a direct reference, which was fun! Despite getting off to a somewhat rough start Minnie ends up working for Mr. Dorian, typing up the handwritten manuscript of the next book in his series of mystery books. After the titular death occurs, Minnie and Mr. Dorian join forces to investigate when they notice the local police force's lackluster efforts. I'll leave my synopsis there to avoid spoilers!

As a cozy mystery, historical fiction, and romance reader, this book was right up my alley. The setting was charming, the plot was interesting, and I loved the simmering romantic tension between Minnie and Mr. Dorian. I also found the ending interesting and satisfying, leaving off with just enough of a cliffhanger to remind the reader that this is the first book in a new series. I also enjoyed how Minnie and Mr. Dorian's discussions about the structure of a mystery novel were a bit meta. It felt like a little wink from the author.

If you enjoy the genres I listed and the plot interests you, I highly recommend picking this one up! It came out last week, on April 29, so it's available now.

I'm not usually a big fan of historical mysteries, but the setting of Corfu caught my attention. I’m glad I read it. This was quite the enjoyable read. I love the setting the characters and the mystery. I would definitely read another book from this author in the future.

Minnie Harper widowed with two young children lives in Corfu. Bound by old customs she is careful of her position as a widow and her reputation amongst the gossipy expat population. When a young girl is found murdered, and the local police try to close the investigation, just arresting a vagrant for the murder Minnie and her new neighbour (a mystery murder writer of repute with a unsavory past) try to get justice of some kind for the girl.

Beautiful setting, varied characters and a mystery set in 1898 in a very insular community of British expatriates. I liked the cover too!

I don’t normally enjoy books written in 1st person but this book has been an exception to the rule! A fun cosy mystery set of the Greek island of Corfu. The story was absorbing and I enjoyed the interactions between the characters

A good start to a new series, A Death on Corfu takes place in 1898 and features widow Minnie Harper, raising her two children in Corfu as she promised her husband before he died. Minnie begins to work as a typist for mystery novelist Stephen Dorian, and together they investigate the death of a young Greek woman who worked in the house of a fellow British family. The author does a good job giving the main characters' back stories in preparation for future books in the series, and the mystery in this book is interesting enough. Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me so rounding up. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the eARC.

It is always exciting to start a new series, and the setting and time period were perfect!

Minnie is a widow left with 2 young children and is just trying to made a go of it. When a famous mystery writer comes to the island, she is hired by him to be a typist.

Of course there is a murder and Minnie is determined to find the killer. An intriguing journey of many surprises and red herrings to end in a surprise! Looking forward to more

Minnie Harper is a young widow living on Corfu with her eight-year-old son and fourteen-year-old daughter. The arrival of a famous mystery writer excites interest in the small community, but Minnie initially finds him rather boorish and the stories she hears about him don't improve her opinion of him. Nonetheless, when he offers her employment as a typist, with a work schedule that doesn't interfere with her parental responsibilities, Minnie leaps at the opportunity to earn some much-needed money. To her surprise, she begins to find him less annoying than she expected and his work more interesting. When a mystery falls into their laps, Minnie and Stephen team up to solve it, because the local law enforcement are determined to arrest someone whether or not he committed the crime.

To be honest, the Greek setting would have been enough to make me want to read this book, but the characters and story are really well done. Minnie is a likable character, as is Stephen (even when Minnie finds him obnoxious). I look forward to reading the next installments in this new series. #ADeathonCorfu #EmilySullivan #NetGalley @kensingtonbooks

I am a big fan of historical murder mysteries with slow-burn romantic subplots, like the Lady Emily mysteries or the Veronica Speedwell series, and Emily Sullivan’s A Death on Corfu is a worthy addition to the cannon!

I thought the setting and ambience were very immersive—I loved the vivid descriptions of the Greek countryside and the food—and the attention to character details and emotional interiority very compelling. The author did a great job matching the tone of late 19th century woman. Minnie doesn’t feel overly modern, as can sometimes happen with historical mysteries; rather she is a woman of her time, with the same concerns for proprieties and the same internalized expectations, but who is given the chance to explore different facets of her intelligence through the central mystery, and through her growing friendship with Mr. Dorian. He treats her as an equal and it is through that respect that we come to appreciate both characters.

While this is definitely a slow burn, mystery-centered plot, you can really see the author’s historical romance roots in how she builds captivating tension between the two amateur sleuths. They may get off on the wrong foot, but they quickly grow to appreciate each other through their work together. I am hopeful for more in this series so we can watch their relationship develop!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Emily Sullivan for the ARC!

Corfu (1899). Writer Stephen Dorian arrives on the island to finish his latest novel. Widow Minnie Harper is offered the position of typing the manuscript. When a neighbour's maid Daphne Costas, is murdered both Dorian and Minnie decide due to the incompetent police to investigate.
An entertaining and well-written historical cozy mystery with its interesting main characters. A good start to this new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Minnie Harper is a 33-year-old widowed mother of two, living on Corfu. In the four years since her husband's death, she's taken on odd jobs including as a typist. She's largely allowed herself to fade into the background, throwing her life into caring for her children and not seeking much of a social life. When Stephen Dorian, a handsome divorced mystery novelist moves in next door, she doesn't quite know what to make of him or the rumors that follow him, but he offers her good pay to type his manuscripts and she agrees. When a dead body turns up nearby, Minnie and Stephen are unsatisfied with the police investigation and take matters into their own hands.

I love Emily Sullivan's historical romances, so I was bound to love her historical mystery debut as well. This was fantastic. It's everything I want from a mystery: fast-paced with intrigue, an excellent setting, a dash of romance, and dead bodies. Where this shines for me is Sullivan's character work and ease of prose, a carryover from her romances. A Death on Corfu is the setup for a new series, and you can feel the arc for these new characters building already, and I'm eager for the next book in the series already!

Young widow Minnie Harper has been doing her best to honor her late husband’s wishes by continuing to raise their children in Greece. When Minnie discovers the body of a young servant girl and is convinced the police have the wrong suspect, she decides to investigate herself. With the help of her new employer the mysterious Mr. Dorian, the two work together on solving the case while ignoring the growing attraction between them. Minnie and Mr. Dorian slowly uncover clues that put them both in precarious positions. Can they discover the identity of the true killer before it’s too late?

It should be no surprise Emily Sullivan can write a smart and intriguing mystery as well romance. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Author, Emily Sullivan‘s foray into cozy historical mysteries is an overwhelming success in my opinion! Her first book in her new Minnie Harper mystery series, A Death on Corfu, combines a small town, mystery storyline with the quirky and fun vibes of PBS’s The Durrells in Corfu. (if you never watch the show – I highly recommend!)

In the series, Minnie Harper, a widow going on five years, an opportunity to up the manuscript for a visiting author on the aisle of Corfu shakes up her quiet life. Everything seems pretty standard as she works with mystery writer, Stephen Dorian, that is until they stumble upon a dead body, not that far from his rental… Minnie wants to see justice for the local woman who’s been murdered and Stephen can’t resist a mystery so they team up together to look deeper into this case and find themselves tangled up in a bigger mystery than they anticipated!

I enjoyed the mystery. They kept this book moving along, but I also really loved the character development of Minnie Harper coming to terms with her widowhood after five long years and rediscovering who she is and what she wants to do with herself and her family to move them out of the shadow of her husband‘s passing. And of course, since Emily Sullivan started off with historical romance, you know there’s some romantic tension between Minnie and Step! This one looks like it’s going to be one of those relationships that pushes and poles as more mysteries are solved in the series goes on, but I am eagerly anticipating seeing these two back together again in another adventure!

Thanks to Kensington Press for the e-book review copy.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher. A Death in Corfu is a fun mystery set on the Greek island of Corfu in 1898. Minnie Harper is focused on raising her two children on a limited budget after her husband died suddenly. Corfu has a small community of British ex-pats who frequently socialize although Minnie only participates on limited occasions. When the opportunity to act as a typist for well-known author Stephen Dorian who writes the Inspector Dumond series and is on Corfu to focus on finishing his newest book on the advice of his publisher. A bit gruff, at first Minnie finds Mr. Dorian to be a bit insufferable, but as the two get to know each other and investigate the death of the maid working in the house of the defacto leader of the British ex-pat community, she realizes that there is much more to him than the persona he presents to the rest of the world. I enjoyed the mystery and was surprised to learn that this was the author's first mystery as I thought it was very well done. At the beginning of the story, Minnie is focused on doing everything she can to raise her children according to the plans and dreams of her husband and so has remained on Corfu even though the lifestyle may not be ideal for her and the children. Like many mothers, she begins to realize that raising her kids has been her entire focus, but as they get older, she's more than just that identity. There are some nice teasers of potential plots in future titles so I'm very much hoping this is the beginning of a series and not just a one-off title.

I am always up for a good Agatha Christie style of book/read and this one didn't disappoint. Minnie Harper is the perfectly well formed character of this new series and I love her already. The setting in Greece is also wonderful as is the story itself. Minnie, having moved to Greece to reinvent herself (to a point) is offered a job with a grumpy author and then discovers a young maid has been murdered and of course she starts her own investigation.

The book is so easy to read and the mystery kept me intrigued and wanting to find out more. The relationship between Minnie and Stephen Dorian
Makes the story even better as they seem to work well together and they make an interesting pair. The writing is great, the characters are well formed and the setting, well wonderful.

A great first book of a new series and I now can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The island of Corfu was featured briefly in Emily Sullivan's romance series, so it was a pleasant surprise to see she was writing a historical cozy mystery set there. I love a historical cozy mystery, especially ones with slow burn romance in the background, so I was very pleased by this story. Minnie, our heroine, has been established on the island for many years after moving there with her husband, Oliver, who unfortunately passed a few years prior to the start of this story leaving her with two children, a now 14 year old Cleo and 8 year old Tommy. Mr. Dorian has come to Corfu to escape the gossip in England over his divorce and to finish the next book in his popular detective series. Minnie is enlisted to help Mr. Dorian type out his book and so starts their working relationship. After working with him for a bit, Minnie accidentally stumbles across a real dead body on the wooded path near his house, the maid of one of her friends. The rest of the book follows them trying to find her killer as the cops seem ready to just pin in on the local drifter. I really liked the mystery and how Minnie and Mr. Dorian worked together and apart to figure out what happened and why. They had some romantic tensions and their fair share of spats, but in the end, they were able to get the culprit. Surprisingly, I also really liked her kids and how they were integrated into the story. Sometimes kids in books just don't work for me, but they were fun. The community on the island was also really nice, everyone looking out for each other while at the same time being gossip city. I am really interested to see how the series progresses.
4.5 stars!

This was a very enjoyable book. The historical setting was described beautifully and the characters were likeable and well developed. The mystery intriguing and kept me guessing for a while though I was surprised it took Minnie longer than I expected to suspect the person responsible. It was left some what unfinished at the end that was somewhat unsatisfactory but hopefully will mean more books to come in the future. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Death on Corfu is an intriguing historical mystery book that is sure win over fans of Gerald Durrell's Corfu Trilogy.

In the seaside Grecian town of Corfu, ex-pat Minnie Harper lives in a house along with her two children, Tommy and Cleo. After her husband's demise, she continues to raise her two children in Corfu away from their relatives in England. Minnie, is an educated, single-mother who occasionally takes secretarial jobs. When her former boss and neighbor recommends her services to her new neighbor who happens to be a famous mystery writer, Minnie is reluctant but accepts considering the higher wage. As she is typing up the manuscript for her employer's new book, a real-life murder occurs on the beach nearby. Finding the work of the local police unsatisfactory, Minnie attempts to solve the case along with her employer, Mr. Dorian.

There are many things that I loved about this book, including the similarities of the children to the Durrell kids (Margo and Gerald). If the scenery isn't charming enough, there is also the intrigue of a murder where everyone is a potential suspect. As we follow along with Minnie's amateur sleuthing, we find that most of her neighbors are hiding secrets, so it's hard to deduce who the culprit is at first. This book is twisty and has a hint of a budding romance that was the cherry on top. Minnie and Mr. Dorian begin as foil characters but work well as a dynamic duo. Mr. Dorian is recovering from a tumultuous and highly publicized English divorce, whereas Minnie is still grieving over the loss of her beloved husband who died four years prior. My only regret is that I read it way too fast. I loved how the book ended on a romantic cliffhanger and is primed for a sequel. I am excited to read more from this series.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

3.75

For me, this book had a sort-of strike against it from the start. However, if you’ve never heard of the Durrells, you should enjoy this as the sweet historical mystery that it is. However, if you’ve read any of Gerald Durrell’s trilogy or watched the Durrells of Corfu, you would immediately recognize the similarities. True, this is decades earlier, and there are fewer kids and more English people on the island, but a widow staying in a site-unseen purchased house that is suffering from neglect due to the limited finances of a widowed mother is the first giveaway. Like Gerald Durrell, the youngest child Tommy is obsessed with abundance of flora and fauna on the island and forms a friendship with a local man who teaches him about the natural science. Several other things are reminiscent of the Durrells. Yes, there are many other things that are not, but that was put in my head from the start, overtaking control of my brain, leaving less room for absorbing the new story.

The story itself, a mystery, is very different however,. It’s not Sherlock Holmes— a character with whom this story’s famous author is sometimes compared—but is a nice one-off (I think) historical fiction murder. Unlike most of the Victorian murder mysteries, this is not very dark. Even with the shadow of another storyline, one cannot help but appreciate some of the descriptions of the island. What the other series doesn’t include is the mountains and steep dirt pathways that were frustrating even to this reader.

I think the story could have been developed more, especially the Mr. Dorian character and his dynamic with Mrs. Harper as his assistant and of course other elements of their relationship. I don’t think the book was particularly short though, so I’m not sure how much more of that would have fit in. The murderer wasn’t a total shock, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to solve things on your own with the things that are provided instead of the impossible solutions with under-shared clues like many other mysteries.

A fun read. Just know that you may have a Durrells in your mind throughout. If you don’t know them, read this first before you read or watch the series. Then you should definitely at least watch the series.

Thank you to Emily Sullivan, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing, for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.