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.

British expat Minnie Harper is settled into her quiet life on the Greek Island of Corfu. Prior to his death, her husband asked her to remain on the island with their kids, and she’s been holding onto that promise.

But it’s the turn of the twentieth century, and Minnie’s life and the world at large are about to change. Her daughter is begging to attend school in Britain; her son is growing more and more everyday; and a famous, rather handsome, and recently divorced mystery author has just moved in next door.

Minnie Harper and Stephen Dorian don’t make the best first impressions on each other, and yet he still reaches out and offers her a job as a typist transcribing his written manuscript for his next novel.

When a maid is found dead near both of their homes and the authorities don’t appear to be putting their resources into truly solving the case, Minnie and Stephen launch an investigation of their own.

It’s like Stephen’s arrival and the investigation wake Minnie back up. She’s living again, not just existing.

It’s a historical cozy mystery with the sloooooow burn beginnings of a romance brewing. Forced proximity! The baring of forearms! A day trip that unexpectedly becomes an overnight excursion! I look forward to seeing their romantic arc develop over the course of the series.

Some of my very favorite parts include Minnie’s scandalized—and distracted—reactions to Stephen’s state of undress related to their social class in that time period—please see the aformentioned forearms—and all the little details that add up to unravel the mystery and reveal the party responsible for the murder. (Cue dramatic reveal music.)

Siobhan Waring’s narration is fitting for this story. If you’ve listened to historical mysteries or historical romance novels before, the style should be familiar to you. With consistent British and Greek accents for the cast of characters, it’s an enjoyable listen that will transport you to the Greek Isles at the turn of the twentieth century along with Minnie and Stephen.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Tantor Audio. All review opinions are my own.

If you have a mystery, you need to drop more clues. Also, like nothing happened? I know it is supposed to be cozy, but I still need to be entertained.

This is NOT a romance.
It did feature an older female widow with young children.

Everyone raved about the setting and this could have taken place in a small village in England and I don’t think much would have changed.
I also think much more could have done to make this more clearly a historical piece.

Perhaps cozy mysteries are not for me because I am clearly an outlier here.

Audiobook arc gifted publisher.

This was so much fun. Minnie and Stephen were great characters to follow and I'm obsessed with their budding romance. I loved the setting of the Greek islands. It was summery and fresh and really lent itself to both the romance and the mystery. Speaking of the mystery, it was nicely constructed and had me guessing for a while as to who the culprit was. I also really liked the historical elements. The British community in Greece is not something I've read about before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this historical cozy mystery, and I can't wait for book two to come out!

Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for my audio arc!

Minnie moved away from her British roots … with her husband, to Greece, in order to give the children a better place to grow up…and spread their wings.
But that all changed when he died… and now she must raise them alone, and with little money.
This is all taking place in the late 1800’s.

When a well known mystery writer moves in to the house next door, Minnie is intrigued. But then she realizes that he might not be all she thinks he’s cracked up to be… And then, when a friend’s maid goes missing… and is later found dead by Millie, well…she needs to get to the bottom of this. She cannot leave it in the hands of the incapable police…

She has taken a well paying job with Mr. Dorian…to help with his typing, if he can get over his writers block… But in the meantime the two of them set out to find out just what happened to poor Daphne (the maid) …. who is becoming more and more interesting with all they find out AFTER her death!

And as time goes on the stakes seem to get higher and higher… and the more intertwined they get with the case, the closer the two of them come to death! And, I never saw that ending coming!! 😮😮😮

#ADeathOnCorfu by #EmilySullivan and narrated nicely by #ShiobanWaring.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

**** This has JUST BEEN RELEASED!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!! ****

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and & #TantorAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Minnie Harper has lived on the island of corfu since her husbands retirement. But after his unexpected death, she is trying to figure out who she is while raising two children by herself. Not long after she accepts a job as an author’s typist, a local maid is found murdered. With the police not moving fast enough to solve the crime, Minnie takes it upon herself to try and figure what happened.

This is the first book in a new series. Pretty cute. Felt like the book was paced pretty well. Always like it when the crime happens pretty early on rather than setting it up for most of the book and then you gotta rush to find the murderer. Definitely feels like there will be others in the series so there’s room for more character development. Didn’t feel like too much this go around. Just getting used to who the characters are. The narrator did a really good job! Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC!