Title: A Death on Corfu
Author: Emily Sullivan
Year Published: 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery (Historical)
Setting: Corfu, Greece
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Death on Corfu: A Blurb
Minnie Harper is a widow living on Corfu with her two children, surrounded by a British expat group at the turn of the twentieth century. She’s still finding her way as a single parent, caught between upholding promises made shortly before her husband’s death and trying to adjust to her children’s growing independence.
Everything is shaken up when the Darcy-esque mystery writer, Stephen Dorian, moves into a nearby villa. Following a shaky first encounter, Minnie begins helping him type up his latest novel. However, the mystery becomes real when they find a nearby maid murdered. Unimpressed at the local police’s halfhearted attempts to solve the case, Minnie vows to do it herself. With Stephen by her side, she embarks on an adventure of her own to bring justice and peace back to their little town.
A Death on Corfu is the first in a cozy mystery series.
My Thoughts
I picked this book up because I’ve been on a spree of reading books set in Greece. There have been a few romances and several retellings of myths, but no mysteries up until now–especially not historical mysteries. Then, of course, there was the cover. I know that they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I feel like this one’s gorgeous illustrations really did do justice to the beautifully described setting and cozy vibes of this story. Kudos to the artist.
The contents of A Death on Corfu naturally lived up to the expectations, as well. While I was a little unsure of whether or not this was the first book in the series because of the amount of backstory given (it is, by the way, and the backstory does become relevant), I found myself quickly enjoying the story. At just over 200 pages, it was a quick read as well, and I finished it in two sittings.
The Story’s Bones
Minnie is your classical cozy mystery character: curious, a bit mousy, and shy. Stephen, or Mr. Dorian for most of the novel, is your typical curmudgeonly male protagonist, but it works for the novel, especially for the time period. The supporting characters also added nicely to the plot, and I liked the dynamic between Minnie and her children.
The historical details were also fun, and it was actually one of my favorite parts of the novel. I haven’t read many historical cozy mysteries as an adult, and it reminded me of the books that I loved as a child. Not sure why, but the American Girl Doll Samantha mysteries (specifically The Stolen Sapphire) were the ones that came to mind first. It basically felt like the adult version of that: fun, light, and easily resolved.
My Only Hangup
That was, perhaps, my only critique about the book. While still definitely enjoyable, the murderer was pretty obvious to me. There weren’t enough twists, turns, and compelling red herrings to make it a complex plot. I’ve read a lot of mysteries, so I guess the predictability happens at some point. In my opinion, the charming setting, interesting characters, and historical and cultural details more than made up for it.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this is an excellent book to escape with this summer. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants a lighthearted read filled with colorful descriptions, fun historical banter, and a scenic mystery. Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts!
Photo Credit: Pixabay
