Death on the Adriatic

by Georgina Stewart

In the picturesque Slovenian seaside resort of Koper, on the Adriatic shore, a body is found in a lonely, rocky spot on a coastal path. When it is identified as that of a police inspector, Ivan Furlan, his brother is arrested without further investigation, since it is well known that the brothers had fallen out over inherited property.
Then a whistle-blower sends an anonymous message to headquarters in the capital, Ljubljana, asking for urgent assistance to prevent a miscarriage of justice, and Petra Vidmar, the youngest serving female police inspector in the Slovenian police, is despatched to sort things out.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

384 pages, Hardcover

Published March 6, 2025

About the author

Georgina Stewart studied History at the University of Cambridge, specialising in medieval Europe. After resigning from her job, she spent a year living on the Slovenian coast, where she wrote the first draft of what would become Death on the Adriatic. She likes ruined castles, baking, and walking in the mountains with her fiancé.

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of the police procedural/detective story is a packed and busy community; Georgina Stewart has ventured into a new territory for English readers by setting her new series on the Slovenian coast where she has resided.

Following the murder of a detective and a whistle blowing communication to the Ljubljana police HQ, Petra Vidmar is requested to go to the seaside town of Koper to investigate .

Accompanied by young detective Aleš Koren- the protégé of the murdered detective-they set out to find the truth.

The first in a series is very much about setting the groundwork for future books and the atmosphere of the Slovenian coast and its proximity to its Italian and Croatian neighbours is established .

Vidmar has been selected to join Interpol - a bit more back story about her would have been good but this will probably arise in future books- she is very much blank canvas at this stage especially in relation to her career and personal life.

Death on the Adriatic is a solid crime story and for those readers who enjoy Donna Leon and Phillip Gwynne Jones - whose books are set in near by Venice - then a new Adriatic coastal police story might pique their interest. There is a nod to Montalbano and with an English teacher in the mix -it will be interesting to see how the characters develop. A good start to a promising series.

[Ajda Naklada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ob pešpoti med Koprom in Izolo sprehajalec na plaži najde umorjenega inšpektorja Furlana s policijske postaje v Kopru. Ekipa umor hitro razreši - osumljenec je jasen - pokojnikov brat, s katerim sta bila v sporu. A nekdo s postaje v Ljubljano pošlje anonimno sporočilo, da niso prijeli pravega storilca in, da več kot očitno nekdo želi nekaj prikriti. Primer je dodeljen najmlajši detektivki v Sloveniji, Petri Vidmar, ki se spogleduje z mednarodno kariero, pred morebitno selitvijo pa se odpravi v Koper, da bi raziskala, če je v obtožbah in namigovanjih in sporočila tudi kaj resnice.

Knjigo sem videla pri nekaj bralkah, katerih mnenje res cenim in ker so jo vse pohvalile, sem tudi sama z veseljem posegla po njej. Priznati moram, da je Smrt na Jadranu vrsta kriminalke, ki ni najbolj po mojem okusu, saj glavna tema niso krvni delikti (čeprav se začne z umorom), ampak se ukvarja z veliko druge kriminalitete, ki meni osebno ni tako zelo zanimiva. Glavna junakinja ima jasen cilj in se tudi zelo trudi biti strokovna in objektivna, kar je zagotovo drugače od mnogo drugih kriminalk, v katerih se preiskave odvijajo velikokrat precej po domače in v skladu s čustvi in občutki preiskovalcev. Avtorica je eno leto živela na slovenski Obali in jo očitno tudi vzljubila, saj je knjiga polna opisov obalnih krajev, hrane, običajev tamkajšnjih prebivalcev ... Zdi se mi, da smo Slovenci vedno veseli, ko se nas opazi in omeni, ta knjiga pa je prava hvalnica Obali in verjamem, da poboža vsako slovensko dušo.

Nisem prepričana, ali so kriva visoka pričakovanja, veliko število prebranih kriminalk ali pa neroden prevod, ampak knjiga se mi je zdela precej povprečna. Skozi prvo polovico sem se prebijala precej s težavo, potem pa se je tempo vendarle malo dvignil in mi je branje lažje steklo. Se pa še vedno sprašujem o nekaterih slogovnih odločitvah. Še nikoli si ni toliko ljudi sesalo zobe, žvečilo ustnice, besede dozdevno pa tudi še nisem tolikokrat prebrala, kot v tej knjigi. Odločitve avtorice ali izgubljeno s prevodom?

[VT · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novel written by a native English writer, sittuated at the picturesque Slovenian coast was such an amazing experience to read through. I spent almost 4 years living at Slovenian coast and this book brought me back to the times when I was exploring the amazing nature, architecture, and food of this small Slovenian region.
A murder of local police officer is investigated by an outsider, police officer lent to the local team from the capital city. It's a classically written novel, and I can easily compare Georgina Stewart's style with the classic crime novels of A. Christie or P. D. James, focusing more on the deciphering the crime. I love reading it, it was a page turner with just the right pace of the story, and while I wanted to find out how it ends, I didn't want it to finish (if that makes sense).

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been really looking forward to reading Death on the Adriatic, since it appeared it would be taking me through towns and places of my childhood on the Slovenian coast, and I wasn't disappointed! I enjoyed immensely following the young and bright inspector Petra Vidmar on her crime investigation mission in the beautiful coastal scenery I've known forever.
Beside the turns and twists linked to the mysterious murder of a senior police inspector and hidden crime activity in the border region of our small country, the story is an appealing invitation to the Slovenian coast and its nicely depicted particularities, from landscapes and architecture to people's habits and gastronomy.
I particularly appreciated the lead female protagonist, not only because the majority of books in the crime genre feature male investigators, but because Petra Vidmar's character is really perfectly shaped, with her sharp observations and deductions as well as with her doubts and hesitations, ambitions, emotions, weaknesses and self-examination.
There are many elements in the book that would merit to be mentioned, but I prefer not to unveil more details.
Just perhaps the jellyfish, which I dislike in reality, but which pop up here and there in the book from the apparently gentle waves of the Adriatic. 🙂
So, if you're searching for a nice, a bit cosy book in which you follow the search of potential murderer while feeling kind of on a holiday, this is a right one to grab and to dip in! For an even more authentic experience, let accompany the read by a glass of a good wine, possibly malvazija!

Well done, @georginastewartauthor, congratulations! We're waiting for more books to come!

[Anne Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and thank you to Constable / Little Brown Book Group for sending me a copy of this novel before its release.

It's the title that made me want to read it: I like detective novels and the Adriatic Sea is beautiful so this novel had everything to please me. We meet Petra, a policewoman from Ljubljana, who is sent to Koper, a small tourist town on the coast to investigate the death of a policeman. The investigation is really well conducted, full of twists and turns. Beware of appearances while reading, you have been warned!

I loved wandering around Koper and its surroundings, the descriptions are really dreamy. The small typical and picturesque villages, the wine bar ''La medusa'' where you can taste wines from small local producers, the café terraces, the views of the coast that looks like the Cote d'Azur while eating a burek (the spinach ones are my favorite!)

Petra is really endearing, for a policewoman, she has a lot of intuition and even if she sometimes makes errors of judgment, she managed to complete this investigation brilliantly. I hope that this novel will be the first in a series, because I would really like to find her in other investigations. And then, it must also be said that I really hope for a love story between Petra and Doug (who I fell in love with while reading!)

Finally, I really liked the file at the end of the book that explains the history of Slovenia, the particularities of the language and how to pronounce the words that were scattered throughout the story. It was very enriching and it really makes you want to visit the country.

[Mirjana (Mirjana_bere) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death on the Adriatic is a debut novel by Georgina Stewart, a typical whodunit. What is untypical in this crime story is that while being written by a British author the events are taking place at Slovenian Adriatic coast.

At the beginning, of course, a crime is committed, a local police inspector is found murdered. While there is a suspect being imprisoned, a whistleblower from a local police sends a message to Ljubljana being very much in doubt that justice would otherwise not be served. This is the reason that Ljubljana police inspector Petra Vidmar is, much against her wishes, sent to the Adriatic coast to assist the case.

While it is not easy to put the book down, it is not written in a typical page turner fashion with ultra short chapters. The reader is presented with both the detective thinking process and the description of the geography and local habits, which for a non Slovenian reader may not be known, while a Slovenian one will still enjoy them. I also liked that the author chose to use some Slovenian words, for instance for police ranks, local foods and greetings, making it more local, more pristine.

I hope it's the first in a series of novels, at least I think a solid basis for this was made with enough description of the background of some of the characters to make the reader interested into looking in their future. I would love to read the next one!

[iza · Rating 3 out of 5]

ne glede na to, kako intenzivno v kopru se dogaja zgodba, bo vedno piran na platnici

[Nicolette Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut book from a new author did not disappoint. I am not someone who usually reads murder mysteries, but I have to say the entire time I was reading this I was fully engrossed. The author transports you to Koper and the Slovenian coast with detailed descriptions of the town and people. From start to finish, the pacing of this book was incredible. Just as the reader gets settled in the story, Stewart drops a new piece of information that makes your heart leap.

This is a perfect beach-read for someone who loves crime or someone who wants to dip their toe into the genre. The characters are likable, a good dose of humor and action speckled throughout, a unique and immersive setting and culture, what isn’t to like? A commendable effort for a first novel that delivers on all fronts. I cannot wait to read what comes next!

[Dóra Dózsai · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so refreshing to read this! I loved the description of the scenery, which I can assure you by living here - is very accurate. This is the perfect springtime crime read to set the mood for a summer vacation on the coast. Beautifully written!

[Mana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Death on the Adriatic" takes us to Koper, Slovenia, where the breathtaking coastline of the Adriatic Sea becomes the setting for a twisted tale of murder, secrets, and heartache. This contrast sets up an engrossing whodunit, diving deep into themes like loss, betrayal, and the tangled webs we weave in our relationships.

We follow a relentless investigator as they untangle a web of lies and hidden agendas, which draws us into a story that's both suspenseful and emotionally moving. Stewart expertly brings together personal stories and bigger societal problems, making the investigation more than just about cracking the case—it's also about figuring out how everyone's connected and what they've been through.

The mood is intense and vivid. Stewart paints a picture of Koper's stunning scenery so well that it feels like you're right there, watching the sun-kissed beaches and crystal-clear waters clash with the dark reality of crime. Emotions run high as suspicions grow and relationships are tested, and the characters are complex, each one bringing their own troubled past into the mix, making their interactions and motivations richer.

Stewart's writing is engaging, with sharp dialogue and insightful observations that bring the characters to life. Although some plot twists might be a little predictable, the book still pulls you in.

As someone from Slovenia, I felt a personal connection to the locations mentioned in the book and was thrilled that the author was inspired by their beauty. But I also found myself getting frustrated with the Slovenian words and the descriptions of the police ranks—these felt unnecessary and disrupted the flow of the crime novel for me. Still, that unique writing style with foreign words might inspire someone to visit our country—who knows?

[Mark taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


Death on the Adriatic by Georgina Stewart is a police procedural set on the coast of Slovenia,

The story is set around Petra Vidmar, the youngest serving female police inspector, who is called to investigate the murder of a senior police officer, after a letter sent by a whistleblower.

What Petra finds is either in the coastal town of Koper is either a family dispute or something bigger.

Police procedurals are a fairly crowded market, in the mystery genre, so is Death on the Adriatic by Georgina Stewart, one to read or avoid.

Firstly we have the setting which for a majority of readers will be out of the ordinary with the setting of a small town in slovenia on the Adriatic coast, (a big selling point if you go by the name of the book)

While the writer Georgina Stewart is not from the area she did live there for a few years. While the setting is an exotic location, The writer does make use of the difference with the location to give the story a twist of what would have been if the novel was set in the UK.

The Main detective Petra seems to be a well rounded character with enough of a back story that you start to really get to know her as the writer drops bits of information about her throughout the novel.

Added to his the other police officers and locals that Petra meet while she is investigating the murder really does give the story some depth and may even give enough for this to be the first in a series.

As for the investigation itself this was your standard police procedural crime fiction novel which had enough twists throughout the book to keep you guessing. Although some things were either too much of a coincidence or could have been done slightly different to make a more engaging read.

Having said that, I understand the choices that Georgina Stewart made with the story.

All in all if you enjoy police procedural novels then Death on the Adriatic is well worth reading.

[Lorraine Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death on the Adriatic by Georgina Stewart is an engaging police procedural set on the stunning yet haunting coast of Slovenia. The novel follows Inspector Petra Vidmar, a sharp, no-nonsense investigator, who is called in to investigate the murder of a fellow inspector. What begins as a straightforward case quickly unravels into something much darker, as Petra uncovers a complex network of secrets, assumptions and corruption.

Stewart does an excellent job of using the Adriatic coastline as more than just a backdrop, weaving the picturesque landscape of coastal towns into the fabric of the investigation. The setting feels alive and immersive, with the contrast between the serene beauty of the region and the chilling murder at its heart adding a layer of intrigue.

Inspector Petra Vidmar is an outstanding protagonist—intelligent, tenacious, and empathetic, as Petra digs deeper into the murder, her determination to uncover the truth is balanced by her own personal doubts, making her a multi-dimensional and relatable character.

The murder mystery itself is well-paced, with plenty of leads to keep the reader engaged. Stewart builds suspense effectively, leading Petra down a winding path where every new clue opens up more questions. The tension gradually intensifies, and the stakes rise, as the investigation begins to reveal a more disturbing conspiracy that puts Petra in an increasingly perilous situation.

Petra’s interactions with her colleagues and suspects are well-written and Death on the Adriatic is an absorbing and atmospheric read, with a strong, well-crafted central mystery and a memorable, relatable protagonist. Georgina Stewart has created an intriguing start to what could be a captivating series, and I look forward to seeing more of Inspector Petra Vidmar’s investigative journey.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable murder mystery.
I love mystery stories that have a strong setting and give me a real sense of place and Death on the Adriatic certainly ticked that box. Georgina Stewart’s murder mystery is firmly rooted in the Slovenian coast line and I loved the details of its geography and history that were dropped into the story.
Petra Vidmar, a young female detective is an engaging heroine. Initially resentful of being despatched to the small of town of Koper, she is determined to sort things out quickly and return to her home in Ljubljana. Obviously things don’t work out quite as planned and her investigation becomes far more far-reaching than she could have imagined.
I enjoyed the mystery and especially liked the fact that all of the characters had a human side to them. It’s very easy to portray the villains of the story in an almost comic book manner but here, you could feel a certain amount of sympathy for all of them.
I can very easily see this becoming a series and would happily read more about Petra and her colleagues.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Group, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Slovenia, I found this debut novel more interesting for the location than the story. The mystery itself is a bit underwhelming. A police inspector is found dead in the seaside resort of Koper and Petra Vidmar is dispatched to investigate after an anonymous message to police HQ claims the wrong man has been arrested. Petra is a high-flyer, waiting to hear if her application to join Interpol has been successful, but she’s young and relatively inexperienced. Working with the dead man’s young police colleague, Petra has to uncover the crime the victim was working to solve in his own time. The main characters are reasonably well-drawn, as are the locations, so it’s easy to read but there’s not much tension or suspense. It looks as if this is the first of a series, so maybe the mystery element will be better with the next book.
Review by: Cornish Eskimo, Oundle Crime

[Sandy Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got the impression that the author wanted to show the reader how much they knew about the Adriatic and insisted on demonstrating it on every page. Adding Slovenian police ranks didn’t do anything for the narrative and the ending gave the impression that the author was hoping that this would be the first in a series of books. If it is, I’ll not be reading any more. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

[Abigail Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who lives in Slovenia, I found this book extra special. It was very well-written, especially for a debut book. The author really paints a picture, and lays out the scene. I enjoyed the Slovene peppered throughout, and the character development was good. I hope this is, in fact, the beginning of a series, and would love to read more of Petra Vidmar's adventures!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

liked the psychic character

[Tanja Šterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

To sem pa res morala prebrati. Kriminalka britanske avtorice, ki je nekaj časa živela na slovenski obali. Tam se zgodi umor policista in iz Ljubljane pride inšpektorica Petra Vidmar, da bi pomagala najti morilca in ugotoviti, kaj se je zgodilo.

Na začetku me je zgodba pritegnila, tam nekje na polovici pa me je avtorica žal izgubila. Zdelo se mi je preveč dolgovezno, preveč podrobnosti (koliko tortic lahko poje inšpektorica? Moramo res vedeti za sestavo vsake od njih?), začela sem mešati imena in se dolgočasiti. Priznam, da je morda za to deloma kriv tudi jezik - moja angleščina ni na zelo visokem nivoju in če je jezik prezapleten ali dogajanje preveč podrobno opisano, se začnem dolgočasiti in mi pozornost popusti.

Vidi se, da Stewartova okolje dobro pozna. Lepo je vključila lokalne posebnosti, dvojezičnost, ... V besedilu je pustila nekaj slovenskih besed (inšpektorica, gospa, svetnik, ... ), kar je morda privlačno za angleškega bralca. Na koncu je dodala obširen opis naše države, posebej obalnega področja, in posebnosti izgovarjave slovenskih in italijanskih besed. Verjamem, da je podatek, da se je Slovenija pridružila Natu leta 1992 zgolj naključni lapsus. Ostale stvari so opisane korektno in so gotovo zanimive za neslovenskega bralca.

Sama kriminalka pa ... ni me posebej pritegnila. Saj pravim, malo preveč razvlečena, z obveznim soočenjem kriminalcev in policistov na koncu, nekaj akcije in razlag dogajanja med njimi.
Upam na slovenski prevod. Ker me zanima, če bi bilo moje mnenje kaj drugačno, če bi brala v svojem maternem jeziku.
(P.s.: Prevod je že na moji polici, ko ga preberem, bom dopolnila svoje vtise.)