Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 7/17/2025 + 716 more book reviews

I was excited to revisit Corfu by reading A Death in Corfu by Emily Sullivan. I became familiar with the Greek island when I watched and loved the PBS Masterpiece drama The Durrells in Corfu, based on the nonfiction/memoirs of Gerald Durrell.

At first, I was shocked that this cozy historical mystery and the tv show had so many identical characters: British expat widowed mother, teen daughter, animal-collecting son mentored by a male neighbor, a cook who's a cranky older local woman who doesn't speak English, etc., etc. At one point, I wondered if the book was well-written fan fiction.

However, the novel forges its own path when Minnie Harper, the family matriarch, finds herself working as a typist for Stephen Dorian, a famous British mystery author staying at the villa next door. Then Minnie discovers the body of a young Greek woman who was murdered. The local officials don't seem to take that possibility very seriously, so Minnie and Stephen conduct their own investigation with a nail-biting conclusion.

Of the three novels I read in June that included Egyptian antiquities, I was most surprised that this one did. I liked the growth in Minnie and Stephen's connection - from strangers to employment to friends ... will it develop into more in future novels?

I enjoyed this for its plot, sense of place, and a reminder of a beloved tv show. I'll definitely check out the second book in the series.

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