A great cozy mystery, set in corfu! A widow and a new to the island man. Romance and Mystery. Who doesn’t love that? Perfect listen for a cozy day in!

I finally got around to listening to A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan, read by Siobhan Waring. This book is fantastic. The setting is Corfu in the early 20th century, and Minnie Harper, a widow, is raising her two children in the English expat community. Minnie is relatable, a woman who worries about her mothering and who is fluent in Greek. Minnie is smart and kind and flawed, but tries. She is hired by a dashing mystery author, Mr. Dorian, as a typist/secretary and they develop a friendship (or more?). A Greek girl on the island is found dead and Minnie and Mr. Dorian start investigating. This book reminds me of the Deanna Raybourn books and I really recommend it. Siobhan Waring’s narration is great and brings a lot of warmth and humor to the story. #minnieharper #minnieharpermysteries @tantoraudio @paperbacklady

"A Death on Corfu" presents a great start to a new series, and I'm looking forward to reading future installments in the Minnie Harper Mysteries.

Mrs. Harper is a widow raising two children on the isle of Corfu. Her husband had suddenly moved the family there shortly before his unexpected death and made her promise not to return to London if anything should ever happen to him. So, she has been making the best of things, taking on work as a typist when possible and raising her young son and teenage daughter the best she can on her own.

Mr. Dorian is the standoffish stranger who rented to house next door while he finishes writing his latest book. He has no interest in the local life and simply wants to be left alone to write, but since he's well on his way to missing his deadline, he hires Mrs. Harper to be his typist so he can focus more on the story.

Little do they know that their lives will become even more intertwined when a young maid from a mutual friend's house is found murdered at the bottom of the hill behind Mr. Dorian's house. Since the local authorities aren't really interested in finding the real killer, the pair take it upon themselves to track them down before they harm anyone else.

While I figured out who the murderer was much earlier than I'd hoped to, I really enjoy the characters, setting and interactions between the two main characters, and I look forward to seeing how things develop from here.

Thank you to Emily Sullivan, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

My first time reading Emily Sullivan was last fall with Duchess Material. I loved that series opener, so I was excited to read another book—also the first in a new series!—A Death on Corfu. Set on the Greek island of Corfu in 1898, it opens with Minnie Harper, the widowed mother of two. Despite her initial dislike of newcomer Stephen Dorian, a popular mystery author, she accepts his request for her to type up his latest manuscript. She could use the money, after all. But when a local servant girl is found murdered, and the police do virtually no actual investigation, Minnie and Stephen team up to solve the crime themselves.

What I Liked:
- Mystery with a dash of romance! My previous Emily Sullivan read was a historical romance with a dash of mystery; it ended with mention of a honeymoon on Corfu. So it was fun to read a book set on the same island, this time more mystery but with a clear romantic relationship starting to take form. Stephen Dorian is divorced and has a murky reputation; Minnie Harper lost her husband four years ago but remains a loving mother to her daughter and son. They might not get along at first, but there’s nothing like investigating murder together to make the heart grow fonder!
- Minnie’s kids. Ever since becoming a mom myself last year, I’ve been more zeroed in on books showcasing motherhood, especially to young children. Minnie is a single mom, and I loved her dynamic with her daughter Cleo and younger son Tommy. They add new dimension to her goals and actions throughout the book.
- He’s a mystery author! I loved that Stephen is a popular author of mystery novels. Even beyond his profession, he has an air of mystery around him, and he leans into that reclusive, grumpy writer characterization. This also makes him well suited to investigating murder in real life, too, as it turns out.
- Greece and Greek culture. The main characters are expats from England, but I enjoyed getting to know other Greek characters. Especially when Minnie and Stephen go on a day trip together, readers get a subtle sense of Greece in the late 19th century.

Audiobook:
Siobhan Waring does a superb job of narrating A Death on Corfu. It’s all from Minnie’s perspective, and her personality comes out in full force. I also enjoyed the Greek accents given to certain characters; it makes for a more immersive listen.

Final Thoughts
A Death on Corfu is an engaging historical mystery about family ties, English and Greek culture, and the rather meta aspect of a mystery author investigating murder. I loved following Minnie and Stephen around Corfu and the way the mystery unfolded. I also can’t wait to see what happens next (both with more crime solving and the romantic relationship) in future novels in the Minnie Harper Mystery series. Emily Sullivan is a writer I’m excited to read more of!

Emily Sullivan's A Death on Corfu (audiobook) plunges listeners into the sun-drenched yet shadowed world of Minnie Harper, a woman accustomed to putting everyone else first. Left to raise her two children alone on the Greek island of Corfu after her husband's sudden death, Minnie now faces a new chapter as her children seek their own independence. This newfound space prompts Minnie to consider what's next for her.

Her quiet life takes an intriguing turn with the arrival of Stephen Dorian, a famous mystery author escaping writer's block and scandal in a neighboring villa. Initially intrigued by the handsome Londoner, Minnie quickly finds him to be nothing more than a "boorish grump." Yet, to her surprise, Stephen offers her a well-paid job as his typist. Before she can fully regret her decision, Minnie uncovers a horrifying truth: a young maid has been murdered.

Unwilling to let the crime fade into obscurity, Minnie embarks on her own investigation, reluctantly accepting Stephen's assistance. As they delve into Corfu's hidden depths, their dangerous search for answers unearths unsettling questions not only about the killer, but also about her enigmatic employer-turned-confidant. Sullivan delivers a compelling mystery filled with twists, strong character development, and a vivid sense of place, making A Death on Corfu a captivating listen.

a lovely, cosy mystery

it's one of those, just-play-in-the-background audiobooks or just if you wish a quick cosy take-on-a-plane, or a holiday read.

a good novel if you just want to zone out and relax

An absolutely delightful cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the setting and the variety of characters. It's clear that we are being set up for a series of stories and I will definitely check out the future additions, however I will miss the island setting. The romantic set-up was good and the mystery was interesting. 4 out of 4 possible stars. This is a book at the top of it's genre.

Duchess Material was my first Sullivan and I greatly enjoyed it. I have her League of Scoundrels series in the TBR, thanks to a dear friend, and am looking forward to it. How could I then resist a historical mystery set on Corfu? Not possible, especially when at first listen, it reminded me of a beloved book, Gerald Durrell’s 1956 My Family and Other Animals. The resemblance stops at setting and Minnie’s nature-loving son with his Greek naturalist tutor, Mr. Papadopoulos; still, the vibe drew me in, but it’s wasn’t the only reason I enjoyed Sullivan’s foray into historical mystery with the promise of romance. Here are the blurbish deets to set us up:

Minnie Harper isn’t used to putting herself first. Not after she moved away from England only to be left raising two children alone on the Greek Island of Corfu following her husband’s unexpected death. But with her daughter begging to be sent to school abroad and her son grasping at his own independence, Minnie realizes she must prepare for the next stage of her life.

When famous mystery author Stephen Dorian settles into a neighboring villa to escape writer’s block and hidden scandals, she is intrigued at first by the handsome Londoner—until he proves to be nothing more than a boorish grump. Determined to avoid the man as much as possible, Minnie is shocked when he offers her a well-paid job as his typist.

But before Minnie can fully regret her decision to take the job, she makes a horrifying discovery that changes everything. A young maid has been murdered, and local authorities aren’t moving fast enough to bring justice to the terrible crime. Unwilling to allow the death to fade into obscurity like so many other women, Minnie launches an investigation of her own—and reluctantly accepts Stephen’s help. As she embarks on a dangerous search for answers that reveals another side of Corfu, unsettling questions take shape about her employer-turned-confidant and the culprit who just might do whatever it takes to strike again . . .

Truth be told, the banter and back-and-forth between Minnie and Stephen is what I enjoyed most about Sullivan’s mystery. The mystery-solution I guessed fairly early on, but I did appreciate its anti-classist stance. No spoilers! I also thought Minnie’s love for her deceased husband and yet her willingness to be attracted to another man, despite the good memories, was well done. Stephen himself isn’t grumpy for long. Once Minnie starts working for him, like the good romance writer that she is, Sullivan brings out the hero-material in him: gallant, despite his frequent referring to his working-class roots, gracious, funny, sexy in a dark and handsome way. And what was most fun was Sullivan’s nod to the mystery genre: as Minnie scoffs at genre fiction and then is caught up in Stephen’s narrative. She reads his series! I also liked Sullivan’s feminist message as Minnie becomes not Stephen’s typist, but his editor and how they work together to make a better book. Minnie also realizes, as she reassesses her single life, that her beloved husband adored her, but their life was conventional. He wouldn’t have discouraged work for her, but they lived a family life with conventional roles. Minnie herself wouldn’t have wanted anything more than what she had; she was happy and she acknowledges it. But, this, with Stephen, the banter, the collaboration, it’s new and pleasurable.

Nevertheless, there are weaknesses. For one, Minnie’s suspicions of Stephen, after everything she learns about him as they get to know one another, go on for too long and become “lady doth protest too much” annoying. Secondly, the novel had a bizarre structure: resolving the mystery about three-quarters of the way through and then launching into what I thought was a preview of the next book in the series, or an incredibly long epilogue? Lastly, the narration was passable, though the narrator’s Greek accents were “off”. Being of Greek origin myself, fake Greek accents never convince me, as I lived with the real thing for years, LOL… Still, an enjoyable series start given the romance promise and one I will follow as more books appear, I hope.

Emily Sullivan’s A Death on Corfu, narrated by Siobhan Waring, is produced by Tantor Audio. It released on April 29. I received an advance audio version, from Tantor Audio, via Netgalley. The above is my honest, AI-free opinion.

This was such a good palate cleanser, loved the light romance, intriguing but not graphic murder mystery. The food descriptions were probably my favourite parts of the book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC.

Emily Sullivan's first historical mystery novel was such a great read!
I loved the Corfu setting. Rich, immersive, and set in a fascinating time period that added a twist to the contemporary mysteries I usually read. From the boat ride to Naxos to the vivid food descriptions, I was ready to book a trip to Greece, minus the murder.

The mystery was clever and well-paced. I didn’t see the twist coming, which is rare, and the ending was very satisfying. I’ll definitely read more from Emily Sullivan and hope she keeps writing historical mysteries!

“The world judged women harshly.” And it still does 😑.

Living in Greece at the turn of the twentieth century, widow Minnie Harper struggles to find her place in a swiftly changing world. But when a local woman is murdered, her resolve is put to the test in a race to shed light on the truth . . .

A Death On Corfu is the first in the Minnie Harper Mystery series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a cozy mystery set at the turn of the twentieth century so it had that old world appeal to it. Minnie was a strong character which I appreciated given the timeframe of the story. Overall an enjoyable read!

This audiobook is GOLD. The accent is incredible to listen to and the narration is 10/10. So so good! I could listen to this narrator read me the phone book. Because of her I enjoyed the story so much!!

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and the author for the ALC.

I listened to the audiobook of A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan, which is the first book in the Minnie Harper Mystery series. It is set in the early 1900's on the island of Corfu, Greece. Although it is set in Greece, the primary characters are British, including widow Minnie Harper who is rearing her two children after the unexpected death of her husband a few years ago. The other main character is crime novelist Stephen Dorian who escapes London after a failed marriage. Stephen hires Minnie as a typist for his latest manuscript. Soon after, Minnie discovers the body of a local maid who was obviously murdered. Together Minnie and Dorian set out to find who murdered the young woman after the local police seem reluctant to investigate.

This is a good start for a new historical cozy mystery series and I look forward to listening to future installments. The narrator is Siobhan Waring, who is one of my favorites, as she always performs varying voices for all the characters and demonstrates emotions in all the right places. I've bumped up the rating by one star to reflect this.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, have a soft spot for Deanna Raybourn or Rhys Bowen, and were a fan of The Durrells in Corfu, this one’s worth checking out. It’s the first in the Minnie Harper Mysteries, and it’s a solid start.

Minnie, a widow raising two kids on Corfu, takes a job typing up a manuscript for visiting author Stephen Dorian. All’s calm until she finds the body of a young woman near his house—and the local police can’t be bothered. Minnie wants justice, Stephen’s curious, and together they start pulling at threads that unravel more than either expected.

The setting is lush, the characters fun, the mystery satisfying, and Siobhan Waring’s narration really elevates it. I’ll be back for the next one.

I listened to A Death on Corfu, so please keep that in mind when noting the stars given. It's historical fiction set at the turn of the twentieth century. I was not a fan of the narrator and struggled to stay invested in the story. That's probably a "me" thing, but take note if you need clear words for your brain to process.

The story was good, although the pace was slow. An older widow with two young kids on an island trying to figure out her new future, Minnie takes the job of typist for a well known author and then she becomes Jessica Fletcher trying to solve the crime. As an older woman myself, I always cheer when the character has some years to her, so that was a plus.

I would be interested in reading a paperback (lol, I said I was older), to see if the story hit different without the narrator.

A Death on Corfu marks a strong and charming start to the Minnie Harper Mystery series by Emily Sullivan. With its picturesque setting, endearing characters, and classic whodunit structure, this cozy mystery is an engaging read that sets the tone for what promises to be a delightful series. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

The story follows Minnie Harper, who relocated from England to the idyllic Greek island of Corfu with her husband to begin a new chapter of life. However, after his unexpected passing, Minnie spends the next few years settling into a quiet, solitary routine. Her world begins to shift again with the arrival of a new neighbor and the prospect of her daughter moving away, prompting Minnie to reassess her future and navigate the changes ahead.

What truly sets this mystery apart is its refreshing focus on older protagonists. The developing partnership between Minnie and her new companion is both heartwarming and believable—built not on contrived romance, but on mutual respect and shared curiosity. Their journey as amateur sleuths is filled with thoughtful dialogue, genuine teamwork, and a touch of humor.

I appreciated how the mystery unfolded with clarity and fairness. Many clues were presented to the reader along the way, which allowed me to piece together the culprit just ahead of the final reveal—an immensely satisfying experience. Rather than relying on withheld information or last-minute twists, Sullivan crafts a well-paced and cleverly constructed plot.

The audiobook narration by Siobhan Waring is another highlight. Her ability to give each character a distinct voice and cadence added depth and vibrancy to the story. Waring’s performance elevated the narrative and made for an especially enjoyable listening experience. I sincerely hope she continues as the voice of the series.

Overall, A Death on Corfu is a beautifully written and well-narrated cozy mystery with heart, humor, and intelligence. A must-read for fans of the genre.

Eeeeppp!!!! So excited about this new series! Love the exotic locale and the historical timeline. The author transported me to turn of the century Corfu with captivating descriptions full of luscious details. I so enjoy armchair traveling through my fiction!

Minnie is a widowed British ex-pat raising her two children in Greece. It’s mostly an idyllic life within a small but thriving British community. The children attend the village school while Minnie occasionally finds office work to help expenses. But when she accepts a job typing for a temperamental visiting author, the comforting rhythm of her days morph into a series of unexpected events that are both exhilarating and confusing.

Murder and mayhem ensue in true Agatha Christie fashion along with a dash of romance. Perfect balance between cozy details and the mystery plot with lots of red herrings to sort through. Loved puzzling out the clues right along with Minnie and Stephen, but mercy, that ending! A bit of a cliff hanger in Minnie’s personal life but a lovely set up for the next book in the series…at least I hope there’s a series because I need more! Sooner rather than later. Please!!

I enjoyed listening to Siobhan Waring’s excellent narration. Her animated portrayal of these characters is really well done – especially the sniping/banter between Minnie and Stephen! So much fun! As well as authentic dialects of both the Greek and British characters. A real pleasure to listen to.

My thanks to RBMedia and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

A slow, cozy mystery set on the island of Corfu. I enjoyed the characters and descriptions of life during the time period, although this might be too slow for some, and there is very little thrill/action. I enjoyed it and would read any followup books as the ending seemed to be left open for a series.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audio book, all opinions are my own.

I was interested in A Death on Corfu for its unique setting and historical time period. Emily Sullivan’s writing set the backdrop of early 20th-century Corfu and immersed me in the setting. The narrator, Siobhan Waring, further helped bring the characters and setting to life with her emotive narration. I’d describe the book as pleasant; it offers more of an atmospheric escape than a gripping mystery.

While I enjoyed the historical setting and the cozy mystery elements overall, the plot seemed to be lacking a bit of action and intrigue. At times the story felt a little slow and I found myself waiting for an extra twist or layer that never came. The mystery itself was fairly easy to guess from early on, which made the characters’ slow pace in reaching certain conclusions feel a bit inauthentic or unmatched to how they were portrayed otherwise. Or perhaps, it made the story feel almost pointless, like it could have been buttoned up much sooner.

The characters were likeable for the most part but it bothered me how the protagonist, Minnie, seemed to be scandalized by everything. While I see how this fits with the time period, I would have loved a bit more edge and spark to her character. Some of the other characters felt a bit one dimensional also. With that said, I appreciated that the ending didn’t feel formulaic and it made me think. The ending left me with a more positive impression of the book overall.

I enjoyed the narration overall and I think it added to the book. Siobhan Waring delivered the characters’ various emotions well and was able to distinguish between different characters without seeming overdone. One caveat to that is I found the accents used for the Greek characters slightly distracting. Also, Minnie’s voice was portrayed as very dainty, light and airy, which matched how she was written. However, it made me wonder if I would have perceived her as a stronger female lead or connected with her more if I read the book instead of listening.

I’d recommend this audiobook to listeners who enjoy cozy historical mysteries and armchair travel. The book is easy to follow, with a slower pace and logical time flow, so is great for listening during a commute or while getting mindless tasks done. While not particularly suspenseful or gripping, I still enjoyed listening to it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. ✨✨✨

#netgalley #ALC #ARC

A historical mystery with romance, I do not try to solve the mystery I just enjoyed the ride and was at the edge of my seat the whole time. Minnie and Stephan started off on the wrong foot then proceeded to fall slowly without realizing. I am really going to enjoyed the slow burn between these two MCs.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little bit of a slow start, but picked up. I am hoping this is part of a series by this author. It very much reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel in the format that it was presented.