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Minnie Harper #2
A Murder in Marylebone
After over a decade away, widowed mother of two Minnie Harper has left sunny Greece and returned to her native England at the turn of the 20th century—just as a cloud of suspicion falls over her younger sister in this cozy historical mystery for fans of Jessica Fellowes, Tasha Alexander, Deanna Raybourn, Rhys Bowen, and the PBS series The Durrells in Corfu.
The world is changing at the dawn of the 20th century, but respectable English families still dread a public scandal. So Minnie agrees to accompany her reckless sister, Delia, for a night on the town with her Bohemian friends. The evening involves a raucous house party, a visit to a fortune-teller, and an encounter with a flirtatious baron, but none of that unsettles Minnie more than running into Stephen Dorian, her former employer in Corfu, who stirs in her a mix of resentment and attraction.
Soon after, Delia discovers the body of her rumored beau in his own home, and Minnie insists on playing by the rules and informing the police. After all, fleeing the scene could suggest Delia is guilty of more than an improper late-night rendezvous . . .
When the sisters return to the townhouse, their parents, dreading the threat of gossip, insist that Minnie help clear Delia’s name. Her discreet investigation will take her back into Delia’s decadent circle and have her crossing paths again with the baron—a collector of antiques—and the infuriating Stephen Dorian. But her new social life is soon overshadowed by dangerous intrigue that leads her to question even her own past . . .
The world is changing at the dawn of the 20th century, but respectable English families still dread a public scandal. So Minnie agrees to accompany her reckless sister, Delia, for a night on the town with her Bohemian friends. The evening involves a raucous house party, a visit to a fortune-teller, and an encounter with a flirtatious baron, but none of that unsettles Minnie more than running into Stephen Dorian, her former employer in Corfu, who stirs in her a mix of resentment and attraction.
Soon after, Delia discovers the body of her rumored beau in his own home, and Minnie insists on playing by the rules and informing the police. After all, fleeing the scene could suggest Delia is guilty of more than an improper late-night rendezvous . . .
When the sisters return to the townhouse, their parents, dreading the threat of gossip, insist that Minnie help clear Delia’s name. Her discreet investigation will take her back into Delia’s decadent circle and have her crossing paths again with the baron—a collector of antiques—and the infuriating Stephen Dorian. But her new social life is soon overshadowed by dangerous intrigue that leads her to question even her own past . . .
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2026
About the author
Emily Sullivan
7 books371 followersEmily Sullivan is an award-winning author of historical romance and mysteries set in the late Victorian period. Her books have received multiple starred reviews from trade journals including Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and have been praised by The New York Public Library, Bookpage, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed, among others.
She lives in New England with her family, where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women.
She lives in New England with her family, where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 30, 2026
A Murder in Marylebone by Emily Sullivan
Minnie Harper series #2. Historical cozy mystery. Best read in series order.
Minnie Harper has returned to England with her two children. Her husband passed more than a year ago and while she has questions about their initial reasons for moving to Corfu, she’s now willing to move so her daughter can attend a proper school.
Minnie accompanies her sister Delia to a party for propriety sake and later that night, Delia’s beau is found dead. Minnie calls the police and ends up doing her own investigation when Delia appears to be the main suspect. She gets help from her former employer on Corfu, writer Stephen Dorian, who she is both delighted to see again, as well as mad at him for the way things ended between them.
The police seem more competent in England than on Corfu, but Minnie is still running rings around them all in asking the right questions.
But asking those questions has also put her in the spotlight of the killer.
Interesting storyline with Minnie being almost ten years older than her naïve sister and leading totally different lives. Being on Corfu for so many years, Minnie has forgone many of society strict rules. They simply didn’t work on the tiny island. Back in England, she has to conform, at least for the most part, to get entry to the various people and parties and get answers for her sister.
It was amusing that tho Minnie and Stephen worked together for months and are now back together investigating this current murder, that she continues to call him Mr. Dorian throughout the full story.
I loved the in-depth characterization of her children and ailing father.
Good mystery. Better characters.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Minnie Harper series #2. Historical cozy mystery. Best read in series order.
Minnie Harper has returned to England with her two children. Her husband passed more than a year ago and while she has questions about their initial reasons for moving to Corfu, she’s now willing to move so her daughter can attend a proper school.
Minnie accompanies her sister Delia to a party for propriety sake and later that night, Delia’s beau is found dead. Minnie calls the police and ends up doing her own investigation when Delia appears to be the main suspect. She gets help from her former employer on Corfu, writer Stephen Dorian, who she is both delighted to see again, as well as mad at him for the way things ended between them.
The police seem more competent in England than on Corfu, but Minnie is still running rings around them all in asking the right questions.
But asking those questions has also put her in the spotlight of the killer.
Interesting storyline with Minnie being almost ten years older than her naïve sister and leading totally different lives. Being on Corfu for so many years, Minnie has forgone many of society strict rules. They simply didn’t work on the tiny island. Back in England, she has to conform, at least for the most part, to get entry to the various people and parties and get answers for her sister.
It was amusing that tho Minnie and Stephen worked together for months and are now back together investigating this current murder, that she continues to call him Mr. Dorian throughout the full story.
I loved the in-depth characterization of her children and ailing father.
Good mystery. Better characters.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
February 22, 2026
I have fallen for Minnie Harper! Though she has experienced personal tragedy and has many responsibilities, she also manages to have a sense of humor and be a sweet mother, sister, and friend. Stephen Dorian, the tortured writer who used a home next door to Minnie in the first book, is back and we also get to meet his brother, an inspector at Scotland Yard.
The cast of characters expands seamlessly - adding seven characters (not even counting butlers and housekeepers) doesn’t feel chaotic at all.
This second book in the series (oddly, these books don’t seem to be marketed as a series) picks up with Minnie back in London, having dropped her teenaged daughter at school. We get to meet Minnie’s siblings, her sister-in-law, and her parents. Sweet Tommy, her son, serves as the conduit to get Minnie and Stephen together for outings, further stoking the flames of attraction between them.
Of course, there’s also a murder. Minnie’s sister, Delia, discovers her fiancé dead and Minnie investigates to exonerate her sister. Stephen joins in, of course.
The story arc about Minnie’s late husband concludes in this book in a very satisfying way!
The slow burn romance is a wonderful aspect of this series. Minnie and Stephen will obviously wind up together eventually, but it’s fun to watch them come together and then dance away from each other.
I can’t wait for the next installment!
The cast of characters expands seamlessly - adding seven characters (not even counting butlers and housekeepers) doesn’t feel chaotic at all.
This second book in the series (oddly, these books don’t seem to be marketed as a series) picks up with Minnie back in London, having dropped her teenaged daughter at school. We get to meet Minnie’s siblings, her sister-in-law, and her parents. Sweet Tommy, her son, serves as the conduit to get Minnie and Stephen together for outings, further stoking the flames of attraction between them.
Of course, there’s also a murder. Minnie’s sister, Delia, discovers her fiancé dead and Minnie investigates to exonerate her sister. Stephen joins in, of course.
The story arc about Minnie’s late husband concludes in this book in a very satisfying way!
The slow burn romance is a wonderful aspect of this series. Minnie and Stephen will obviously wind up together eventually, but it’s fun to watch them come together and then dance away from each other.
I can’t wait for the next installment!
April 28, 2026
You probably all know by now that we love Emily Sullivan's books, so it wasn't a surprise that we both adored A Murder in Marylebone. Minnie and her kids are in London for this installment instead of Corfu, where Minnie still owns their house. After teaming up with mystery writer Stephen Dorian to investigate a murder in A Death on Corfu, Minnie thought that the two of them had formed a connection. But then, after a few digs about Minnie's late husband, Stephen just ... left. Oh no, wouldn't it be just awful if Stephen happened to be in London and ran into Minnie after a party where she's looking REALLY good? (oops)
We both enjoy HistMyst, but our very favorites are those with an important underlying romantic relationship, like this series. Sure, we want to find out whodunnit, but our true focus is on how the mystery will bring our favorite characters together. It's like an even slower burn slow burn that spans several books.
The other thing this book (and Emily Sullivan in general, let's be honest) does really well is the character development. Minnie is a "mature" character (she's in her 30s), but she's only now beginning to reevaluate formative moments in her life: a new perspective on not just her marriage but her familial relationships. Dorian also might seem to be self-assured and arrogant, but he's hiding a well of insecurity. And even secondary characters, like Minnie's sister or Dorian's brother, are complex and intriguing.
What it all boils down to is that we loved this book both on its own merits and as a continuation from book one that has lots of promises for more books in the series! (And Laine may have some theories about the upcoming hurdles for Dorian and Minnie to face together!)
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
We both enjoy HistMyst, but our very favorites are those with an important underlying romantic relationship, like this series. Sure, we want to find out whodunnit, but our true focus is on how the mystery will bring our favorite characters together. It's like an even slower burn slow burn that spans several books.
The other thing this book (and Emily Sullivan in general, let's be honest) does really well is the character development. Minnie is a "mature" character (she's in her 30s), but she's only now beginning to reevaluate formative moments in her life: a new perspective on not just her marriage but her familial relationships. Dorian also might seem to be self-assured and arrogant, but he's hiding a well of insecurity. And even secondary characters, like Minnie's sister or Dorian's brother, are complex and intriguing.
What it all boils down to is that we loved this book both on its own merits and as a continuation from book one that has lots of promises for more books in the series! (And Laine may have some theories about the upcoming hurdles for Dorian and Minnie to face together!)
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
May 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
If you liked the first book, you'll probably enjoy this one. I'd also say you could probably get away with jumping in here since Minnie reflects enough on the previous book that you get most of the essential information, but I recommend reading them in order.
I missed the Corfu setting, since I read a lot of historical fiction located around London already, but it was nice to get a good look at the rest of Minnie's family. They are a mix of personalities that still feel like they would come from the same home.
I said in my review of the first book that I didn't particularly care for Stephen Dorian, and I think he's improved here. I was much more exasperated with Minnie. I found myself very often thinking "Minnie, is now really the time?" like, a man just died, maybe focus on that. Your sister is going through it. Your daughter is newly enrolled in boarding school. Your son is meeting family he never got to know before. There's a lot of important stuff going on that could use the attention you're spending on being flustered about Stephen, being preoccupied with your looks, and trying to figure out what your long dead husband was up to.
We get some answers to the questions from the first book, which was satisfying. Despite my complaints about Minnie, I do plan to continue with the series and I enjoy Emily Sullivan's writing in general.
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Dementia
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
If you liked the first book, you'll probably enjoy this one. I'd also say you could probably get away with jumping in here since Minnie reflects enough on the previous book that you get most of the essential information, but I recommend reading them in order.
I missed the Corfu setting, since I read a lot of historical fiction located around London already, but it was nice to get a good look at the rest of Minnie's family. They are a mix of personalities that still feel like they would come from the same home.
I said in my review of the first book that I didn't particularly care for Stephen Dorian, and I think he's improved here. I was much more exasperated with Minnie. I found myself very often thinking "Minnie, is now really the time?" like, a man just died, maybe focus on that. Your sister is going through it. Your daughter is newly enrolled in boarding school. Your son is meeting family he never got to know before. There's a lot of important stuff going on that could use the attention you're spending on being flustered about Stephen, being preoccupied with your looks, and trying to figure out what your long dead husband was up to.
We get some answers to the questions from the first book, which was satisfying. Despite my complaints about Minnie, I do plan to continue with the series and I enjoy Emily Sullivan's writing in general.
Content Warnings:
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Dementia
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
May 13, 2026
4.5⭐️
Widow Minnie Harper has returned to London from Corfu in order to set her daughter up at school. As she settles in with her and reconnects with her parents and sister, she is asked by her mother to keep an eye on her sister who has been keeping questionable company…
That doesn’t end well, when her Delia’s secret beau turns up dead and, Minnie finds herself in the middle of the investigation in order to clear her sister’s name!
As if Minnie isn’t busy enough, she finds herself reconnecting with her old Corfu acquaintance/ almost love interest, the infamous writer, Mr. Dorian! After parting in unsavoury way under terms- Minnie is surprised to find Dorian also linked to the case and offering to help her investigate!
I had such a fun time reuniting with not only many and her kids, but Stephen Dorian as well! Emily Sullivan does an amazing job creating such lively and vibrant characters that are so easy to invest your time in. I found myself caring about Delia‘s prospects and at the same time hoping for a reconciliation between Minnie and Dorian. Emily is truly one of those authors who’s moved from her historical romance roots into the historical fiction. Genre seamlessly. Her mystery kept me on my toes, but still felt plausible enough for a regular lady to be still poking her nose in the investigation. Her pairing of Minnie and Dorian is excellent, and I absolutely adore how Dorian respects her autonomy and seeks out her point of view.
Overall, this was a fun book, that definitely has me looking forward to the next murder, whether it be on the sunny Shores of Corfu or the rainy streets of London- either way I know Minnie and Dorian will put their will they/won’t they relationship aside and focus on the case!
Widow Minnie Harper has returned to London from Corfu in order to set her daughter up at school. As she settles in with her and reconnects with her parents and sister, she is asked by her mother to keep an eye on her sister who has been keeping questionable company…
That doesn’t end well, when her Delia’s secret beau turns up dead and, Minnie finds herself in the middle of the investigation in order to clear her sister’s name!
As if Minnie isn’t busy enough, she finds herself reconnecting with her old Corfu acquaintance/ almost love interest, the infamous writer, Mr. Dorian! After parting in unsavoury way under terms- Minnie is surprised to find Dorian also linked to the case and offering to help her investigate!
I had such a fun time reuniting with not only many and her kids, but Stephen Dorian as well! Emily Sullivan does an amazing job creating such lively and vibrant characters that are so easy to invest your time in. I found myself caring about Delia‘s prospects and at the same time hoping for a reconciliation between Minnie and Dorian. Emily is truly one of those authors who’s moved from her historical romance roots into the historical fiction. Genre seamlessly. Her mystery kept me on my toes, but still felt plausible enough for a regular lady to be still poking her nose in the investigation. Her pairing of Minnie and Dorian is excellent, and I absolutely adore how Dorian respects her autonomy and seeks out her point of view.
Overall, this was a fun book, that definitely has me looking forward to the next murder, whether it be on the sunny Shores of Corfu or the rainy streets of London- either way I know Minnie and Dorian will put their will they/won’t they relationship aside and focus on the case!
December 1, 2025
I was a little sad that this one was set in London, bc I loved the Corfu setting of the first book in the series. But I really enjoyed it! Minnie is coming into her own, and it was great to find out more of the backstory of her family and her late husband Oliver’s family.
May 8, 2026
I wasn’t sure how this series would fare when Minnie went back to London. But it held up. And I think the change of scenery and new characters add interest. I hope we get to meet Aunt Agatha in book 3.
April 28, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. It’s exactly the kind of story I love: an engaging historical mystery layered with a subtle, well-developed romance. The slow-burn dynamic between the characters adds so much tension and depth without overshadowing the central investigation. The investigation itself kept me hooked the whole time, and the balance between plot and relationship made it hard to put down.
A really strong second book, and definitely a satisfying read for fans of historical mysteries with a romantic edge.
Thank you to Netgalley for this eArc.
A really strong second book, and definitely a satisfying read for fans of historical mysteries with a romantic edge.
Thank you to Netgalley for this eArc.
February 13, 2026
5 BIG STARS FOR MINNIE HARPER AND STEPHEN DORIAN!!!
I think at this point everyone knows I absolutely adore Emily Sullivans stories. I think she’s doing incredible work in the historical romance space and she continues that work in the historical mystery space.
Half way through A Death on Corfu I had to immediately request this arc and I quite literally leaped when I got approved and I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint.
We follow Minnie as she’s back in London with her family after leaving Corfu. There, she is reacquainted with her sister Delia who is an artist. Minnie acts as chaperone for Delia and her suitor Charles, and off they go to a party. While there she bumps into none other than Mr Stephen Dorian, the neighbour and author who had employed her as a typist in Corfu. And when I tell you that their reunion is ANGSTY AND DELICIOUS I MEAN IT!!! Obviously things go down and somehow Charles ends up murdered in his home at the end of the night. And our murder mystery takes legs…
The mystery kept me on my toes throughout. The side characters kept me guessing on who the perpetrator could be and the slowburn romance kept me giddy and excited to see where my two favourites were gonna go next.
The romance. Ugh I could literally scream about these two at the top of my lungs. Emily is such a wonderful romance writer and the tension and yearning she injected into this story was absolutely insane. I love them so so much and the ending has me excited for Minnie Harper 3!!
I’m being so serious when I say I need Emily to give me 100 more Minnie Harper mysteries. I will never get sick of reading about her.
thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me the arc.
Release date: 28th of April 2026.
I think at this point everyone knows I absolutely adore Emily Sullivans stories. I think she’s doing incredible work in the historical romance space and she continues that work in the historical mystery space.
Half way through A Death on Corfu I had to immediately request this arc and I quite literally leaped when I got approved and I’m happy to report that it didn’t disappoint.
We follow Minnie as she’s back in London with her family after leaving Corfu. There, she is reacquainted with her sister Delia who is an artist. Minnie acts as chaperone for Delia and her suitor Charles, and off they go to a party. While there she bumps into none other than Mr Stephen Dorian, the neighbour and author who had employed her as a typist in Corfu. And when I tell you that their reunion is ANGSTY AND DELICIOUS I MEAN IT!!! Obviously things go down and somehow Charles ends up murdered in his home at the end of the night. And our murder mystery takes legs…
The mystery kept me on my toes throughout. The side characters kept me guessing on who the perpetrator could be and the slowburn romance kept me giddy and excited to see where my two favourites were gonna go next.
The romance. Ugh I could literally scream about these two at the top of my lungs. Emily is such a wonderful romance writer and the tension and yearning she injected into this story was absolutely insane. I love them so so much and the ending has me excited for Minnie Harper 3!!
I’m being so serious when I say I need Emily to give me 100 more Minnie Harper mysteries. I will never get sick of reading about her.
thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me the arc.
Release date: 28th of April 2026.
November 23, 2025
That gorgeous cover drew me and the intriguing cozy mystery with roots in Greece and England at the turn of the 20th century kept me pinned to the page. Histfic mystery fans will be entranced, as I was!
March 3, 2026
I missed book one, but had no trouble jumping in with Minnie and her family situation. I liked her and sympathized with her immediately. But some of the other threads will be better enjoyed if you read that first book.
A fun cozy, but I needed more clues along the way. A lot of the plot unfolds with characters willingly talking to Minnie and not her detecting much. The big climax is a confession/villain monologue.
Given her other books, I expected a more romantic tension, even for a slow burn. There’s lots of one-sided curiosity that could almost be yearning, but for the first third we don’t even see her interact with Dorian. Maybe all of that was developed in book one and those readers will enjoy this more than I could. There’s also an interconnected mystery about Minne’s first husband that was established in book one.
Be sure you want the mystery and not a HEA if you pick up this one. But I’m optimistic about both for Book 3.
3.5 stars rounded up because I couldn’t put it down. I received an arc from NetGalley
A fun cozy, but I needed more clues along the way. A lot of the plot unfolds with characters willingly talking to Minnie and not her detecting much. The big climax is a confession/villain monologue.
Given her other books, I expected a more romantic tension, even for a slow burn. There’s lots of one-sided curiosity that could almost be yearning, but for the first third we don’t even see her interact with Dorian. Maybe all of that was developed in book one and those readers will enjoy this more than I could. There’s also an interconnected mystery about Minne’s first husband that was established in book one.
Be sure you want the mystery and not a HEA if you pick up this one. But I’m optimistic about both for Book 3.
3.5 stars rounded up because I couldn’t put it down. I received an arc from NetGalley
May 18, 2026
Oh this series gets better and better. I just love Minnie so much! She is sassy and smart and caring and brave. I also really loved getting to know her family and seeing that they are maybe not as stiff and judgmental as we had previously thought. I especially enjoyed seeing her and her younger sister bond and have fun (before tragedy strikes). Of course I adored the banter between Minnie and Dorian - it kept the story light and fun even in the face of danger. I love how you can tell how he needs to protect her, but also wants to let her keep her autonomy. I do miss Corfu and hope to return there in the next book (ESPECIALLY after that ending!) I was shocked and satisfied by the mystery and loved all the twists and gentle sleuthing.
Note: I really adore the audiobook narration! The perfect amount of sass and fun.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: I really adore the audiobook narration! The perfect amount of sass and fun.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.
May 12, 2026
(4.5 stars)
Thanks to Kensington Books for my gifted physical and digital ARCs!
A MURDER IN MARYLEBONE is the second delightful installment in Emily Sullivan's Minnie Harper series. Minnie is a widow, mother of two, and amateur sleuth. The series takes place in the late 1890s. The first book, A DEATH ON CORFU takes place in Corfu, as the title suggests. For this second book, Minnie has returned to England at least temporarily to transition her daughter to boarding school. She's also reunited with her parents and siblings after a long stretch in Corfu. Minnie accompanies her sister Delia on some social engagements, but before she knows it Delia's gentleman friend has been murdered. Minnie fears her sister will be caught up as a suspect and, since she doesn't trust the police, she decides once again that she needs to do some investigation of her own to clear her sister's name.
Meanwhile, Minnie once again runs into Mr. Dorian, a mystery author she first met in Corfu. While Minnie and Mr. Dorian connected and some sparks certainly flew, their interactions on Corfu ended abruptly. Plus, Mr. Dorian lobbed out some accusations about Minnie's late husband, which left her reeling and questioning everything she thought she knew. In addition to the murder investigation, this book follows Minnie as she tries to learn the truth about matters her husband may have kept hidden from her before his death.
Much like the first book, I loved the tone and genre blend of A Murder in Marylebone. It's such a lovely mix of a historical cozy mystery with the perfect dash of romance, flirtation, and tension between Minnie and Mr. Dorian. Surprisingly enough, I actually had some suspicions that proved correct (that rarely happens to me). While I do advise reading the first book before this one for the best experience, I'd highly recommend both books to readers looking for a historical cozy mystery with endearing characters and a bit of romance to boot. I will continue following Minnie's adventures as long as Emily Sullivan continues to write about them!
Thanks to Kensington Books for my gifted physical and digital ARCs!
A MURDER IN MARYLEBONE is the second delightful installment in Emily Sullivan's Minnie Harper series. Minnie is a widow, mother of two, and amateur sleuth. The series takes place in the late 1890s. The first book, A DEATH ON CORFU takes place in Corfu, as the title suggests. For this second book, Minnie has returned to England at least temporarily to transition her daughter to boarding school. She's also reunited with her parents and siblings after a long stretch in Corfu. Minnie accompanies her sister Delia on some social engagements, but before she knows it Delia's gentleman friend has been murdered. Minnie fears her sister will be caught up as a suspect and, since she doesn't trust the police, she decides once again that she needs to do some investigation of her own to clear her sister's name.
Meanwhile, Minnie once again runs into Mr. Dorian, a mystery author she first met in Corfu. While Minnie and Mr. Dorian connected and some sparks certainly flew, their interactions on Corfu ended abruptly. Plus, Mr. Dorian lobbed out some accusations about Minnie's late husband, which left her reeling and questioning everything she thought she knew. In addition to the murder investigation, this book follows Minnie as she tries to learn the truth about matters her husband may have kept hidden from her before his death.
Much like the first book, I loved the tone and genre blend of A Murder in Marylebone. It's such a lovely mix of a historical cozy mystery with the perfect dash of romance, flirtation, and tension between Minnie and Mr. Dorian. Surprisingly enough, I actually had some suspicions that proved correct (that rarely happens to me). While I do advise reading the first book before this one for the best experience, I'd highly recommend both books to readers looking for a historical cozy mystery with endearing characters and a bit of romance to boot. I will continue following Minnie's adventures as long as Emily Sullivan continues to write about them!
May 20, 2026
I'm enjoying this Regency historical romance murder mystery involving a young widow with a son who is tasked with saving her younger sister's reputation when she discovers a dead body. Unique settings, a mystery that kept me guessing and a memorable cast of characters. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Martha Waters and Alexandra Vasti.
May 5, 2026
Minnie Harper is back in England with her two children and surprised to discover how her parents and siblings have changed. When her younger sister Delia becomes dangerously entangled in a murder investigation, Minnie comes to the rescue. With the help of Mr. Stephen Dorian, the murder mystery author who might be more than a friend.
A great mystery! Well-drawn characters in an interesting setting at the turn of the nineteenth century. Lots of twists and a satisfying conclusion that had me swooning.
Dear Gentle Readers, this cozy mystery series is for you.
A great mystery! Well-drawn characters in an interesting setting at the turn of the nineteenth century. Lots of twists and a satisfying conclusion that had me swooning.
Dear Gentle Readers, this cozy mystery series is for you.
May 8, 2026
Ahh! I love love loved this second installment in Minnie Harper's story! Can't wait for the next one.
May 2, 2026
Excellent!
Probably the best books I've read in some time. I enjoyed first in this series and couldn't wait for book two, which didn't disappoint. H and h are a little more "mature" and as an older reader that is refreshing. I do not mean to say the main characters are ancient, just a change from typical very young characters. Murder mystery is well developed and attention to description of period is as well. Highly recommend!
Probably the best books I've read in some time. I enjoyed first in this series and couldn't wait for book two, which didn't disappoint. H and h are a little more "mature" and as an older reader that is refreshing. I do not mean to say the main characters are ancient, just a change from typical very young characters. Murder mystery is well developed and attention to description of period is as well. Highly recommend!
April 29, 2026
This series is becoming a favorite of mine! “A Murder in Marylebone” was even more fun than “A Death in Corfu.” I am convinced that there’s truly nothing better than a slow burn romance combined with a cozy mystery. This installment brings Minnie Harper and her two children back to London for her daughter’s school. The enticing mystery begins when Minnie has a night away with her sister, attending a gallery and a party at the estate of a Baron. This story has an immersive setting, captivating family dynamics, a complex murder, and a swoony romance with the return of Mr. Dorian.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
May 5, 2026
This is Maisie Dobbs light. Similar vibes, but not as literary and it was a delight.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Murder in Marylebone is the second book in a delightful new mystery series by Emily Sullivan, featuring Minnie Harper, a widow in her thirties with two children, in the late 1890s. The first book took place on Corfu, where Minnie had lived with her husband, Oliver, until his sudden death. She had promised him that she would stay on Corfu and raise their children there, but in the previous book her daughter, fourteen-year-old Cleo, decided to go to school in England with the hope of attending Girton College, Cambridge (one of the first colleges for women), just like Minnie did. And so, Minnie and her son, eight-year-old Tommy, who is a budding natural scientist, return to London to be closer to her.
In the previous book, Minnie had worked as a typist for Stephen Dorian, a famous mystery author, who had temporarily taken up residence in a house near hers on Corfu. They got off to a bad start with each other. At their first meeting, Minnie overheard Stephen making a disparaging remark about her at a party, in a scene that’s very reminiscent of Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s first meeting in Pride and Prejudice. In fact, the relationship between Minnie and Stephen, which is the central one in the first book, A Death on Corfu, often parallels that of Elizabeth and Darcy. In fact, as I was reading it, I kept imagining Colin Firth in the role of Stephen, even though I know he would be much too old for it now. But, unlike in Pride and Prejudice, there is no happy ending for the couple, at least in the first book. In fact, they part on bad terms, as Stephen accuses Minnie’s late husband of selling Greek antiquities on the black market, then leaves Corfu without saying goodbye.
Now that Minnie is back in London, she is staying at the home of her Aunt Agatha (yes, really!) while her aunt is traveling on the continent. She is reacquainted with her family, with mixed feelings. Minnie is delighted that they will meet Tommy, and Tommy is just as delighted to meet his cousins, but Minnie has not seen her family since her marriage, fifteen years previously, and she and her parents were never close. Her mother is just as emotionally distant as ever, and she has never approved of Minnie’s choice to get an education and to live on Corfu. Sadly, Minnie’s father has had a bad fall, which no one bothered to tell her about, and he is slowly losing his memory. He does have some lucid moments, though, and he warns Minnie of danger, but she doesn’t know if he is in his right mind or not when he issues his warning.
Minnie’s favorite sibling is her brother Samuel, who lives in India. Her oldest brother, Jack, is a Member of Parliament who is concerned mostly with his political career and wants to avoid any stains on the family’s reputation that might ruin it. He and his wife, Dolly, seem to be two of a kind at first, but Dolly eventually proves to be a friend to Minnie. Minnie’s sister, Delia, the youngest in the family, is a talented artist. She invites Minnie to a gallery opening where her painting will be exhibited.
Although Minnie never cared for London’s social whirl, she is glad to attend the opening, if only to get better acquainted with her sister, who was just a child when Minnie left England. She meets Delia’s bohemian artist friends, as well as Charles Pearson, the young man with whom Delia is in love. Charles deals in antiques as a hobby, and he and Delia keep their relationship a secret from her upper-class parents, who wouldn’t approve of Charles as a husband for their daughter.
Minnie, Delia, and Charles go on from the gallery opening to a more raucous party at the home of a baron, Lord Linden, who is an enthusiast for Greek antiquities and who flirts with Minnie. And then, to Minnie’s dismay, Stephen shows up at the party—with a beautiful woman on his arm. Stephen has a scandalous reputation because of his divorce, the details of which we don’t know for certain. Since he left Corfu, the newspapers have reported on his activities, always going to parties with different women, and Minnie admits she is hurt by what she hears. Of course, it is an awkward encounter. They are obviously still attracted to each other, but don’t know how to get past what happened on Corfu.
A fortune teller warns Minnie to beware of a man in her life, but Minnie doesn’t know if she means Stephen or the baron. Then the fortune teller tells Delia that Charles is already married. She is devastated, and they decide to leave the party early. After Minnie goes to bed, Delia decides to confront Charles at his home, only to find him murdered. She goes back home to get Minnie, and Minnie calls the police, using a telephone, which she had never used before and has to figure out.
The detective inspector assigned to the case is none other than Stephen’s estranged brother. Delia, as the one who found the body, immediately becomes the prime suspect, especially after the police hear that she had wanted to marry Charles, but had just found out he was already married. Minnie, of course, does not believe her sister is guilty and decides to investigate on her own, especially after her experience on Corfu, when the police didn’t care much about finding the murderer. Her family also want to clear Delia’s name, but they are more concerned about their reputation than about justice.
Minnie suspects that the murder is connected to Charles’ trade in antiquities, and she also wonders if there is also a link to her late husband’s activities. She hopes her investigation will clear her husband’s name, but she’s also afraid Stephen’s accusations will be confirmed. Minnie realizes, though, that she needs to set aside her fears so she can find the murderer and save her sister. She and Stephen team up once again, as he doesn’t trust his brother to find the killer. There are many occasions in which they come close to telling each other how they really feel, only to be interrupted.
The investigation takes them into the world of the illegal antiquities trade, as they attend a private auction, hoping the killer will be there. Not to give too much away, but things do not go according to plan. I have to say, one thing that disappointed me a little in this novel was how the killer is discovered. It’s basically a lucky guess by Minnie and not based on deductive reasoning or examination of clues. And I figured out relatively early who the murderer was, unlike the previous novel, where I didn’t guess until close to the end. Part of the problem was that there was a limited number of suspects, once Delia was ruled out, and I never really suspected her in the first place.
This does not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, though. At first, I missed the Greek setting, which was one of the things I loved most about the first book, but Sullivan writes well about late 19th century London, which is a changing world. The characters travel by carriage and hansom cab, but their world also includes new inventions like the telephone. The first book has been described as a romance with a mystery in it (not surprisingly, since the author wrote historical romances before beginning this series). This one is better described as a mystery with a slow-burning romance in it.
Minnie is a wonderful character, and she prefers the freedom of life on Corfu to the stifling world of her upper-class family. She and Stephen make a great couple, even if their relationship doesn’t develop as quickly in this book as I would like. There is a resolution to the plot thread about Minnie’s late husband’s activities, but I will not say if it is the one Minnie would have wanted or not. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book, whether Minnie stays in London or goes back to Corfu. There is also a hint that the third book might have a different setting altogether. I wonder if this will be a series like Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Jane Wunderly mysteries, with a new setting for each book.
I would recommend this book to fans of Neubauer, even though her series takes place later, in the 1920s. There is something of a similar setup, with the main character as a young widow who finds a new love interest far from home. I also recommend Sullivan’s books to fans of Tasha Alexander and Dianne Freeman. Minnie and Stephen are characters with whom I am looking forward to spending a long time, and I hope there will be many more books about their adventures.
In the previous book, Minnie had worked as a typist for Stephen Dorian, a famous mystery author, who had temporarily taken up residence in a house near hers on Corfu. They got off to a bad start with each other. At their first meeting, Minnie overheard Stephen making a disparaging remark about her at a party, in a scene that’s very reminiscent of Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s first meeting in Pride and Prejudice. In fact, the relationship between Minnie and Stephen, which is the central one in the first book, A Death on Corfu, often parallels that of Elizabeth and Darcy. In fact, as I was reading it, I kept imagining Colin Firth in the role of Stephen, even though I know he would be much too old for it now. But, unlike in Pride and Prejudice, there is no happy ending for the couple, at least in the first book. In fact, they part on bad terms, as Stephen accuses Minnie’s late husband of selling Greek antiquities on the black market, then leaves Corfu without saying goodbye.
Now that Minnie is back in London, she is staying at the home of her Aunt Agatha (yes, really!) while her aunt is traveling on the continent. She is reacquainted with her family, with mixed feelings. Minnie is delighted that they will meet Tommy, and Tommy is just as delighted to meet his cousins, but Minnie has not seen her family since her marriage, fifteen years previously, and she and her parents were never close. Her mother is just as emotionally distant as ever, and she has never approved of Minnie’s choice to get an education and to live on Corfu. Sadly, Minnie’s father has had a bad fall, which no one bothered to tell her about, and he is slowly losing his memory. He does have some lucid moments, though, and he warns Minnie of danger, but she doesn’t know if he is in his right mind or not when he issues his warning.
Minnie’s favorite sibling is her brother Samuel, who lives in India. Her oldest brother, Jack, is a Member of Parliament who is concerned mostly with his political career and wants to avoid any stains on the family’s reputation that might ruin it. He and his wife, Dolly, seem to be two of a kind at first, but Dolly eventually proves to be a friend to Minnie. Minnie’s sister, Delia, the youngest in the family, is a talented artist. She invites Minnie to a gallery opening where her painting will be exhibited.
Although Minnie never cared for London’s social whirl, she is glad to attend the opening, if only to get better acquainted with her sister, who was just a child when Minnie left England. She meets Delia’s bohemian artist friends, as well as Charles Pearson, the young man with whom Delia is in love. Charles deals in antiques as a hobby, and he and Delia keep their relationship a secret from her upper-class parents, who wouldn’t approve of Charles as a husband for their daughter.
Minnie, Delia, and Charles go on from the gallery opening to a more raucous party at the home of a baron, Lord Linden, who is an enthusiast for Greek antiquities and who flirts with Minnie. And then, to Minnie’s dismay, Stephen shows up at the party—with a beautiful woman on his arm. Stephen has a scandalous reputation because of his divorce, the details of which we don’t know for certain. Since he left Corfu, the newspapers have reported on his activities, always going to parties with different women, and Minnie admits she is hurt by what she hears. Of course, it is an awkward encounter. They are obviously still attracted to each other, but don’t know how to get past what happened on Corfu.
A fortune teller warns Minnie to beware of a man in her life, but Minnie doesn’t know if she means Stephen or the baron. Then the fortune teller tells Delia that Charles is already married. She is devastated, and they decide to leave the party early. After Minnie goes to bed, Delia decides to confront Charles at his home, only to find him murdered. She goes back home to get Minnie, and Minnie calls the police, using a telephone, which she had never used before and has to figure out.
The detective inspector assigned to the case is none other than Stephen’s estranged brother. Delia, as the one who found the body, immediately becomes the prime suspect, especially after the police hear that she had wanted to marry Charles, but had just found out he was already married. Minnie, of course, does not believe her sister is guilty and decides to investigate on her own, especially after her experience on Corfu, when the police didn’t care much about finding the murderer. Her family also want to clear Delia’s name, but they are more concerned about their reputation than about justice.
Minnie suspects that the murder is connected to Charles’ trade in antiquities, and she also wonders if there is also a link to her late husband’s activities. She hopes her investigation will clear her husband’s name, but she’s also afraid Stephen’s accusations will be confirmed. Minnie realizes, though, that she needs to set aside her fears so she can find the murderer and save her sister. She and Stephen team up once again, as he doesn’t trust his brother to find the killer. There are many occasions in which they come close to telling each other how they really feel, only to be interrupted.
The investigation takes them into the world of the illegal antiquities trade, as they attend a private auction, hoping the killer will be there. Not to give too much away, but things do not go according to plan. I have to say, one thing that disappointed me a little in this novel was how the killer is discovered. It’s basically a lucky guess by Minnie and not based on deductive reasoning or examination of clues. And I figured out relatively early who the murderer was, unlike the previous novel, where I didn’t guess until close to the end. Part of the problem was that there was a limited number of suspects, once Delia was ruled out, and I never really suspected her in the first place.
This does not detract from my enjoyment of the novel, though. At first, I missed the Greek setting, which was one of the things I loved most about the first book, but Sullivan writes well about late 19th century London, which is a changing world. The characters travel by carriage and hansom cab, but their world also includes new inventions like the telephone. The first book has been described as a romance with a mystery in it (not surprisingly, since the author wrote historical romances before beginning this series). This one is better described as a mystery with a slow-burning romance in it.
Minnie is a wonderful character, and she prefers the freedom of life on Corfu to the stifling world of her upper-class family. She and Stephen make a great couple, even if their relationship doesn’t develop as quickly in this book as I would like. There is a resolution to the plot thread about Minnie’s late husband’s activities, but I will not say if it is the one Minnie would have wanted or not. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book, whether Minnie stays in London or goes back to Corfu. There is also a hint that the third book might have a different setting altogether. I wonder if this will be a series like Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Jane Wunderly mysteries, with a new setting for each book.
I would recommend this book to fans of Neubauer, even though her series takes place later, in the 1920s. There is something of a similar setup, with the main character as a young widow who finds a new love interest far from home. I also recommend Sullivan’s books to fans of Tasha Alexander and Dianne Freeman. Minnie and Stephen are characters with whom I am looking forward to spending a long time, and I hope there will be many more books about their adventures.
March 9, 2026
Foggy London streets, a clever heroine with something to prove, and a murder mystery I didn’t actually solve? Bravo!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily Sullivan’s writing has such a beautiful cadence—rich, immersive, and effortlessly atmospheric. From the very first page, Sullivan makes you feel like you are in good hands. The late Victorian setting wraps around you like a velvet cloak: dark, cozy, and unmistakably British. Think corsets, carriage lamps, foggy London streets, and secrets waiting in the shadows-type vibes.
A Murder in Marylebone, the second book in the Minnie Harper series, brings Minnie, now a widow, back to London with her two children after years in Greece. Despite losing her husband and various other hardships she’s endured, Minnie retains a sense of optimism I find admirable, and a quick wit / charm than make her feel familiar. I simply adore this tenacious FMC! She’s a Victorian baddie!
I loved seeing Minnie step even more into her independence—though Stephen Dorian clearly has no intention of leaving her orbit anytime soon. And folks, I’m not mad about it. When a murder connects them both, they’re drawn together again in pursuit of the truth, and the slow burn between them is definitely burning🔥I would have loved even more, but I understand the pacing is deliberate and I’m desperate to see where it goes🤤
The mystery itself genuinely surprised me. I thought I had the “whodunnit” figured out… and I absolutely did not. Nearing the end had my heart racing, and the takedown of the murderer was deeply satisfying after that twist nearly gave me a heart attack. I love getting genuinely surprised!
It’s safe to say I’m completely hooked on Minnie and officially counting the days to the next installment of the series🔎!
Thank you to Emily Sullivan, Netgalley, and Kensington Books for this book in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily Sullivan’s writing has such a beautiful cadence—rich, immersive, and effortlessly atmospheric. From the very first page, Sullivan makes you feel like you are in good hands. The late Victorian setting wraps around you like a velvet cloak: dark, cozy, and unmistakably British. Think corsets, carriage lamps, foggy London streets, and secrets waiting in the shadows-type vibes.
A Murder in Marylebone, the second book in the Minnie Harper series, brings Minnie, now a widow, back to London with her two children after years in Greece. Despite losing her husband and various other hardships she’s endured, Minnie retains a sense of optimism I find admirable, and a quick wit / charm than make her feel familiar. I simply adore this tenacious FMC! She’s a Victorian baddie!
I loved seeing Minnie step even more into her independence—though Stephen Dorian clearly has no intention of leaving her orbit anytime soon. And folks, I’m not mad about it. When a murder connects them both, they’re drawn together again in pursuit of the truth, and the slow burn between them is definitely burning🔥I would have loved even more, but I understand the pacing is deliberate and I’m desperate to see where it goes🤤
The mystery itself genuinely surprised me. I thought I had the “whodunnit” figured out… and I absolutely did not. Nearing the end had my heart racing, and the takedown of the murderer was deeply satisfying after that twist nearly gave me a heart attack. I love getting genuinely surprised!
It’s safe to say I’m completely hooked on Minnie and officially counting the days to the next installment of the series🔎!
Thank you to Emily Sullivan, Netgalley, and Kensington Books for this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2026
This was a cozy, historical mystery romance. I did not read the first book in the series, but there's enough here to get the gist of things.
The pacing was good and the story had layers. I appreciated how the author wove in FMC Minnie's personal issues with her various family members with the main plot; relationships and past interactions really can color one's view of things. I liked that Minnie grew as a person.
Cleo and Tommy felt like pretty accurate representations of their ages. I enjoyed scenes with Tommy, especially. The secondary characters were pretty interesting in general, though I really hope we get more of Minnie's siblings and sister-in-law.
I can't wait for more of this series.
Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The pacing was good and the story had layers. I appreciated how the author wove in FMC Minnie's personal issues with her various family members with the main plot; relationships and past interactions really can color one's view of things. I liked that Minnie grew as a person.
Cleo and Tommy felt like pretty accurate representations of their ages. I enjoyed scenes with Tommy, especially. The secondary characters were pretty interesting in general, though I really hope we get more of Minnie's siblings and sister-in-law.
I can't wait for more of this series.
Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 16, 2026
4.5
A love a good historical mystery with a touch of romance! I adore Minnie and her growth over the first and second book have been wonderful. She’s breaking out of her shell and realizing doesn’t just have to be a mom. Being back in England, I wasn’t sure how the story would go but I enjoyed learning more about Minnie and her family. When her sister needs her help, she puts her reputation and life on the line to help. Add Mr. Dorian in the picture and you get a fun mystery and a blossoming romance. I can’t wait for more books in this series. They’re so fun and after the ending, I want to know how and if Stephen and Minnie’s relationship will grow.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!
A love a good historical mystery with a touch of romance! I adore Minnie and her growth over the first and second book have been wonderful. She’s breaking out of her shell and realizing doesn’t just have to be a mom. Being back in England, I wasn’t sure how the story would go but I enjoyed learning more about Minnie and her family. When her sister needs her help, she puts her reputation and life on the line to help. Add Mr. Dorian in the picture and you get a fun mystery and a blossoming romance. I can’t wait for more books in this series. They’re so fun and after the ending, I want to know how and if Stephen and Minnie’s relationship will grow.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!
April 22, 2026
After reading Emily Sullivan‘s historical romance, I found out she wrote a cozy murder mystery called A Death in Corfu and I devoured it in one sitting. It was perfection! I ran and prayed to get an early copy of her second book in the series😂- A Murder in Marylebone, which takes Minnie and Stephen out of Corfu and into central London. It was equally as perfect! I’ve never read a bad thing from Emily Sullivan. I don’t know how she continues to put out these perfect romances multiple times a year! But I need her to hurry up and write book 3 because I need Stephen and Minnie to get there happily ever after ASAP!
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Minnie Harper returns to London and within five minutes society is already clutching its pearls like it’s auditioning for a stage production of How to Ruin a Widow’s Reputation in Ten Easy Steps. After more than a decade in Corfu, she’s back in Marylebone with two children, a dead husband whose secrets refuse to stay buried, and a family that remembers her as she was, not as she is. Which is rude, frankly.
Enter Delia. Artist. Bohemian chaos gremlin. Walking tabloid headline waiting to happen. Minnie agrees to chaperone her to a perfectly innocent little evening that includes a raucous house party, a fortune teller, and a flirtatious baron who collects antiquities and bad decisions. It is the kind of night that screams “nothing bad will happen,” which in a murder mystery is the equivalent of someone saying, “I’ll just check the basement.”
And then Delia finds her rumored beau, Charles, dead in his own home. Suddenly Minnie is back in investigative mode because fleeing the scene is not the vibe when your sister is already one sketchy whisper away from social exile. I love that Minnie’s instinct is not hysterics but logistics. Call the police. Face it head on. She has that deeply satisfying competence that makes you want to slow clap in a corset.
Also. Stephen Dorian. Yes, that Stephen Dorian. The author. The former employer. The man who left Corfu in the last book like a brooding Victorian Batman with unresolved emotional damage. Their reunion in London is not soft. It is sharp. It is layered. It is two intelligent adults bristling with pride, resentment, attraction, and that very specific energy of “we could fix this if one of us would just say the thing.” The tension is not loud, it simmers. And when it simmers, it simmers correctly.
What I appreciate most is that this mystery is tangled up in Minnie’s personal history. The illegal antiquities trade. Questions about her late husband Oliver. Whispers about who knew what and when. London society pretending it is morally superior while casually laundering stolen artifacts. The stakes feel intimate. It is not just about who killed Charles, it is about who Minnie is allowed to become now that she is no longer someone’s wife.
And the family dynamics. Whew. Her parents are terrified of scandal. Her brother carries political ambition like it’s a personality trait. There is that suffocating sense of being back in your childhood home and suddenly feeling fifteen again, even though you have lived a whole life abroad and buried a husband. Minnie navigating that regression while still insisting on her autonomy is quietly powerful. It is not loud feminism. It is stubborn, persistent selfhood. Which, honestly, hits harder.
The whodunit itself leans cozy rather than gritty, and yes, the final confrontation has a hint of theatrical villain energy. But I was invested because the emotional arc matters more here than forensic precision. When the pieces click into place, it feels less like a twist and more like a tragic inevitability born of greed and ego.
And can we talk about Minnie as a mother for a second. Her son Thomas is delightful without being saccharine. Watching Stephen interact with her children is the kind of subtle character work that makes you clutch your metaphorical pearls in a different way. There is something profoundly attractive about a man who respects a woman’s mind and also kneels down to speak seriously to her child. I do not make the rules.
This book feels less like a traditional cozy and more like a character study with a body count. It is about reinvention. It is about grief that lingers. It is about deciding whether you are allowed to want something again. The romance is slow burn, yes, but it is not stagnant. It is two wounded adults circling each other carefully, aware that this time it would actually matter.
Four stars. I was entertained. I was invested. I wanted to shake certain men by the lapels and also kiss them on the forehead.
Whodunity Award: For Making a Fortune Teller, a Flirtatious Baron, and a Broody Novelist All Feel Equally Suspicious and Equally Kissable
Massive, dramatic, fainting-couch thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me this book and said “have fun,” and I absolutely did.
Enter Delia. Artist. Bohemian chaos gremlin. Walking tabloid headline waiting to happen. Minnie agrees to chaperone her to a perfectly innocent little evening that includes a raucous house party, a fortune teller, and a flirtatious baron who collects antiquities and bad decisions. It is the kind of night that screams “nothing bad will happen,” which in a murder mystery is the equivalent of someone saying, “I’ll just check the basement.”
And then Delia finds her rumored beau, Charles, dead in his own home. Suddenly Minnie is back in investigative mode because fleeing the scene is not the vibe when your sister is already one sketchy whisper away from social exile. I love that Minnie’s instinct is not hysterics but logistics. Call the police. Face it head on. She has that deeply satisfying competence that makes you want to slow clap in a corset.
Also. Stephen Dorian. Yes, that Stephen Dorian. The author. The former employer. The man who left Corfu in the last book like a brooding Victorian Batman with unresolved emotional damage. Their reunion in London is not soft. It is sharp. It is layered. It is two intelligent adults bristling with pride, resentment, attraction, and that very specific energy of “we could fix this if one of us would just say the thing.” The tension is not loud, it simmers. And when it simmers, it simmers correctly.
What I appreciate most is that this mystery is tangled up in Minnie’s personal history. The illegal antiquities trade. Questions about her late husband Oliver. Whispers about who knew what and when. London society pretending it is morally superior while casually laundering stolen artifacts. The stakes feel intimate. It is not just about who killed Charles, it is about who Minnie is allowed to become now that she is no longer someone’s wife.
And the family dynamics. Whew. Her parents are terrified of scandal. Her brother carries political ambition like it’s a personality trait. There is that suffocating sense of being back in your childhood home and suddenly feeling fifteen again, even though you have lived a whole life abroad and buried a husband. Minnie navigating that regression while still insisting on her autonomy is quietly powerful. It is not loud feminism. It is stubborn, persistent selfhood. Which, honestly, hits harder.
The whodunit itself leans cozy rather than gritty, and yes, the final confrontation has a hint of theatrical villain energy. But I was invested because the emotional arc matters more here than forensic precision. When the pieces click into place, it feels less like a twist and more like a tragic inevitability born of greed and ego.
And can we talk about Minnie as a mother for a second. Her son Thomas is delightful without being saccharine. Watching Stephen interact with her children is the kind of subtle character work that makes you clutch your metaphorical pearls in a different way. There is something profoundly attractive about a man who respects a woman’s mind and also kneels down to speak seriously to her child. I do not make the rules.
This book feels less like a traditional cozy and more like a character study with a body count. It is about reinvention. It is about grief that lingers. It is about deciding whether you are allowed to want something again. The romance is slow burn, yes, but it is not stagnant. It is two wounded adults circling each other carefully, aware that this time it would actually matter.
Four stars. I was entertained. I was invested. I wanted to shake certain men by the lapels and also kiss them on the forehead.
Whodunity Award: For Making a Fortune Teller, a Flirtatious Baron, and a Broody Novelist All Feel Equally Suspicious and Equally Kissable
Massive, dramatic, fainting-couch thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me this book and said “have fun,” and I absolutely did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1898.
Widow Minnie Harper returns to England with her two children after a decade abroad in Greece. Her mother would like her to keep a closer eye on her younger sister, Delia, who cavorts in bohemian circles. Delia's beau, Mr. Charles Pearson, turns up dead - head smashed in - after a party one night, and Delia and Minnie become prime suspects, since they were the last ones to see him alive. To the dismay of their aghast MP brother, Minnie insists on calling Scotland Yard, and the detective on the case is none other than the brother of the intriguing Mr. Dorian, the author who left Corfu abruptly. The many threads of Minnie's life are untangling in front of her, as she starts to suspect that her late husband may have been entangled in the same affairs as the recently murdered Mr. Charles Pearson.
Emily Sullivan excels at character development, and that's the most important thing to me when I pickup a historical mystery. (Yes, that's right, the mystery itself can take a back seat if the writing and the character development is strong enough!) With a slow burn historical mystery series, you need to be invested in all of the characters through the series, and while we have left Corfu in book two, we haven't left everyone behind. Our central characters are dancing in and out of each others' lives throughout the murder investigation. While it may seem like a tangle of coincidences, it's clear to the observant reader that these connections are central to the murder, and even to Minnie's marriage. Without good character writing, that doesn't work.
Minnie needs to solve the mystery of Mr. Pearson's murder to try to clear her sister's name, but also protect her own reputation. She's not the type of woman who goes in search of murders to solve, nor is she looking for excessive adventure. She has the keen observation skills of an educated woman, but has no other innate traits that might tie her to a life of solving mystery. We get the impression that she's solving mysteries because they happen around her, not because of a drive to uncover answers. I love her practicality as the primary trait to help her solve the murders. She'd rather not work with Mr. Dorian - and especially not with Special Inspector Dorian - not because she's determined to be better, but because she's prefer to execute her own ideas.
While the mystery around the murder of Mr. Pearson is central to the plot, I never found myself trying to solve the mystery (I rarely do, actually), and I was just along for the ride. That said, I love that Sullivan isn't trying to pull a fast one on her readers, or to overcomplicate either the mystery or the resolution. She's letting her writing and her characters shine. You probably should read A Death on Corfu first, before picking up A Murder in Marylebone.
Thank you to Kensington for an eARC. A Murder in Marylebone is out 4/28/2026.
Widow Minnie Harper returns to England with her two children after a decade abroad in Greece. Her mother would like her to keep a closer eye on her younger sister, Delia, who cavorts in bohemian circles. Delia's beau, Mr. Charles Pearson, turns up dead - head smashed in - after a party one night, and Delia and Minnie become prime suspects, since they were the last ones to see him alive. To the dismay of their aghast MP brother, Minnie insists on calling Scotland Yard, and the detective on the case is none other than the brother of the intriguing Mr. Dorian, the author who left Corfu abruptly. The many threads of Minnie's life are untangling in front of her, as she starts to suspect that her late husband may have been entangled in the same affairs as the recently murdered Mr. Charles Pearson.
Emily Sullivan excels at character development, and that's the most important thing to me when I pickup a historical mystery. (Yes, that's right, the mystery itself can take a back seat if the writing and the character development is strong enough!) With a slow burn historical mystery series, you need to be invested in all of the characters through the series, and while we have left Corfu in book two, we haven't left everyone behind. Our central characters are dancing in and out of each others' lives throughout the murder investigation. While it may seem like a tangle of coincidences, it's clear to the observant reader that these connections are central to the murder, and even to Minnie's marriage. Without good character writing, that doesn't work.
Minnie needs to solve the mystery of Mr. Pearson's murder to try to clear her sister's name, but also protect her own reputation. She's not the type of woman who goes in search of murders to solve, nor is she looking for excessive adventure. She has the keen observation skills of an educated woman, but has no other innate traits that might tie her to a life of solving mystery. We get the impression that she's solving mysteries because they happen around her, not because of a drive to uncover answers. I love her practicality as the primary trait to help her solve the murders. She'd rather not work with Mr. Dorian - and especially not with Special Inspector Dorian - not because she's determined to be better, but because she's prefer to execute her own ideas.
While the mystery around the murder of Mr. Pearson is central to the plot, I never found myself trying to solve the mystery (I rarely do, actually), and I was just along for the ride. That said, I love that Sullivan isn't trying to pull a fast one on her readers, or to overcomplicate either the mystery or the resolution. She's letting her writing and her characters shine. You probably should read A Death on Corfu first, before picking up A Murder in Marylebone.
Thank you to Kensington for an eARC. A Murder in Marylebone is out 4/28/2026.
May 5, 2026
This is a perfectly charming series. The first instalment was set in Corfu, which set it apart – the novels take place as the 20th century breaks. The central character, Minnie Harper, is an English woman and recent widow with two young children. Her husband made her swear never to return to London, but her elder child, daughter Cleo, begs so vociferously to attend school there that Minnie ultimately gives Returning home with young Tommy in tow, she takes up residence in her Aunt Agatha’s townhouse and gets to know the family she hasn’t seen in years.
She returns to find her father suffering from what we would easily identify now as dementia, her mother slightly less remote, her brother Jack as big a horse’s ass as he was in the past, and her baby sister Delia a grown woman and upcoming artist. Delia begs Minnie to accompany her to her art opening, and as Tommy is happily settled in with cousins he didn’t know he had (Jack’s children), Minnie agrees.
It’s Delia who kicks off the action, however. At the opening Minnie is both impressed by her sister’s work and alarmed to discover that the writer she worked for back on Corfu is also in attendance and as alarming as ever. Mr. Dorian is a popular writer of mysteries, and as Minnie typed his previous manuscript, she’s familiar with his work. The two circle each other like prickly hedgehogs, clueless to their attraction for one another.
Returning home, Minnie is awakened by Delia in the middle of the night – she’s discovered her lover’s body when she snuck out to meet him. Minnie sets the situation to rights by returning with Delia to the scene and calling the police, only to find that the detective in charge is Mr. Dorian’s brother. He obviously suspects Delia, who takes to her bed, and it’s Minnie and Mr. Dorian who get to work unravelling clues.
What follows is a fairly standard investigation, made new by the freshness of Sullivan’s characters and her light hand with prose and a touch of humor. It’s also enlivened and made interesting by the dynamics of Minnie’s family, especially the relationship between two sisters who are really just getting to know one another.
Also nagging at Minnie is the idea that her beloved husband was up to no good, perhaps smuggling Greek antiquities back to England during their time there. She’s as determined to get to the bottom of this mystery as she is to clear Delia’s name. While there are an assortment of strong women in this novel all of them seem believably of their time, and it’s often that Delia is surprised by their capabilities, and of her own, as she begins to realize she herself has something to offer the world along with being a mother.
Sullivan, who came to mysteries via romance, is obviously an old hand at both romantic elements and at series fiction, as she leaves a dandy thread dangling at the end to be followed up in the next instalment. I’m a full on Minnie fan, so I’m already looking forward to meeting her again.
She returns to find her father suffering from what we would easily identify now as dementia, her mother slightly less remote, her brother Jack as big a horse’s ass as he was in the past, and her baby sister Delia a grown woman and upcoming artist. Delia begs Minnie to accompany her to her art opening, and as Tommy is happily settled in with cousins he didn’t know he had (Jack’s children), Minnie agrees.
It’s Delia who kicks off the action, however. At the opening Minnie is both impressed by her sister’s work and alarmed to discover that the writer she worked for back on Corfu is also in attendance and as alarming as ever. Mr. Dorian is a popular writer of mysteries, and as Minnie typed his previous manuscript, she’s familiar with his work. The two circle each other like prickly hedgehogs, clueless to their attraction for one another.
Returning home, Minnie is awakened by Delia in the middle of the night – she’s discovered her lover’s body when she snuck out to meet him. Minnie sets the situation to rights by returning with Delia to the scene and calling the police, only to find that the detective in charge is Mr. Dorian’s brother. He obviously suspects Delia, who takes to her bed, and it’s Minnie and Mr. Dorian who get to work unravelling clues.
What follows is a fairly standard investigation, made new by the freshness of Sullivan’s characters and her light hand with prose and a touch of humor. It’s also enlivened and made interesting by the dynamics of Minnie’s family, especially the relationship between two sisters who are really just getting to know one another.
Also nagging at Minnie is the idea that her beloved husband was up to no good, perhaps smuggling Greek antiquities back to England during their time there. She’s as determined to get to the bottom of this mystery as she is to clear Delia’s name. While there are an assortment of strong women in this novel all of them seem believably of their time, and it’s often that Delia is surprised by their capabilities, and of her own, as she begins to realize she herself has something to offer the world along with being a mother.
Sullivan, who came to mysteries via romance, is obviously an old hand at both romantic elements and at series fiction, as she leaves a dandy thread dangling at the end to be followed up in the next instalment. I’m a full on Minnie fan, so I’m already looking forward to meeting her again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Murder in Marylebone is a charming and romantic cozy mystery set in a swiftly changing late Victorian England.
Some months after the events in A Death In Corfu (the first in this series), Minnie is now back in London with her children Tommy and Cleo. I love the thread where daughter Cleo is studying at a girl’s school which will enable her to go to Girton College, Cambridge, just like Minnie did, so this little family left Corfu for London while Cleo settles into school.
Minnie’s little sister Delia invites her to a soiree where they see Delia’s beau Charles and they have a very eventful night out, and see, of all people, Stephen Dorian, who was Minnie’s employer on Corfu, and with whom she has an unacknowledged attraction. Later that night, Delia wakes Minnie to tell her that her beau has been murdered. Once the police are called, who should appear from Scotland Yard but Stephen Dorian’s estranged younger brother!
From there it’s all go as they negotiate the various threads in Charles’ life to discover who could have murdered him, and in the background, they investigate the issue of what Minnie’s late husband was actually doing in Greece and Corfu before he died.
Set at the turn of the 20th century, there are some lovely contrasts – Minnie is getting around in carriages and hansom cabs, but there are telephones and typewriters in the mix. There’s a wonderful early scene when Minnie uses a telephone for the first time - Generation Z readers will find this hilarious 😄
Stephen and Minnie have chemistry, and would be frank with one another, if only they weren’t constantly interrupted. Minnie is never afraid to jump to a conclusion, no matter how far it is from the facts in front of her. Luckily Stephen is endlessly patient and these two work together to find out what Charles was up to before he was murdered.
Minnie isn’t as likeable as she was on Corfu, with a pseudo-prickliness I didn’t warm to. She’s long been away from her family and has tricky relationships with them all, and she seems so unaffected by the gruesome death of the man her little sister is in love with.
Some of the dialogue is clunky and it doesn’t match the studied formality expected in Victorian England, nor does this book have quite the charm of the setting in Corfu. There is no HEA (yet) for Minnie and Stephen and whether their attraction turns into love is not yet clear, but they are a good team, and hopefully with more adventures to come, their romance will flourish. I'd love to see Book 3 set in the United States during the Progressive Era!
Thank you Emily Sullivan and Kensington Books for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Some months after the events in A Death In Corfu (the first in this series), Minnie is now back in London with her children Tommy and Cleo. I love the thread where daughter Cleo is studying at a girl’s school which will enable her to go to Girton College, Cambridge, just like Minnie did, so this little family left Corfu for London while Cleo settles into school.
Minnie’s little sister Delia invites her to a soiree where they see Delia’s beau Charles and they have a very eventful night out, and see, of all people, Stephen Dorian, who was Minnie’s employer on Corfu, and with whom she has an unacknowledged attraction. Later that night, Delia wakes Minnie to tell her that her beau has been murdered. Once the police are called, who should appear from Scotland Yard but Stephen Dorian’s estranged younger brother!
From there it’s all go as they negotiate the various threads in Charles’ life to discover who could have murdered him, and in the background, they investigate the issue of what Minnie’s late husband was actually doing in Greece and Corfu before he died.
Set at the turn of the 20th century, there are some lovely contrasts – Minnie is getting around in carriages and hansom cabs, but there are telephones and typewriters in the mix. There’s a wonderful early scene when Minnie uses a telephone for the first time - Generation Z readers will find this hilarious 😄
Stephen and Minnie have chemistry, and would be frank with one another, if only they weren’t constantly interrupted. Minnie is never afraid to jump to a conclusion, no matter how far it is from the facts in front of her. Luckily Stephen is endlessly patient and these two work together to find out what Charles was up to before he was murdered.
Minnie isn’t as likeable as she was on Corfu, with a pseudo-prickliness I didn’t warm to. She’s long been away from her family and has tricky relationships with them all, and she seems so unaffected by the gruesome death of the man her little sister is in love with.
Some of the dialogue is clunky and it doesn’t match the studied formality expected in Victorian England, nor does this book have quite the charm of the setting in Corfu. There is no HEA (yet) for Minnie and Stephen and whether their attraction turns into love is not yet clear, but they are a good team, and hopefully with more adventures to come, their romance will flourish. I'd love to see Book 3 set in the United States during the Progressive Era!
Thank you Emily Sullivan and Kensington Books for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
May 15, 2026
A Murder in Marylebone is the second book in the (hopefully continuing) cosy crime series by Emily Sullivan.
Following the events of A Death in Corfu, Minnie relocates her family from Greece back to England. Once there, she tries to get back into the swing of her former life: reconnecting with family and old classmates, re-entering society, and unexpectedly running into crime writer Stephan Dorian — with whom she parted in awkward circumstances back in Greece — at a house party.
It is at this house party that she also meets her sister’s paramour, who is later found dead. When her sister becomes a suspect, Minnie takes on the case and is reluctantly aided by Dorian.
What a treat this was! I have read everything that Emily Sullivan has written and enjoyed it all. A Murder in Marylebone is a strong sequel to A Death in Corfu. Although I was sad to move away from Corfu, which felt like its own character, the switch to the English setting allows Minnie to shine. Growing up feeling somewhat disconnected from her family, she left with her husband shortly after their marriage and had not returned since. The family dynamics are a real strength in this novel, particularly the evolving relationships between Minnie and her family — especially her siblings. Minnie has changed since she left, but so has everyone else, and seeing that play out as everyone adjusts to the new dynamics was really satisfying. The relationship between her and her sister, who was so young when Minnie left England, was a particular highlight, and I look forward to seeing more of it in future books.
The romantic relationship between Dorian and Minnie makes some progress, although it is definitely a slooooooow burn. Still, it’s great to see them interact on a more even playing field. There’s a lot of banter, insecurity, yearning (and some jealousy!) between the two, but ultimately they genuinely like each other as people. Watching them spend time together — albeit while solving a murder — is just a treat.
The murder itself probably is not too difficult to solve, but it was fun watching them reach the solution, and it provides a nice arc for Minnie’s growth into a more confident person and her changing role within the family.
Overall, a lovely book (with a fabulous cover — so pretty!), and a good set-up for the next instalment.
Following the events of A Death in Corfu, Minnie relocates her family from Greece back to England. Once there, she tries to get back into the swing of her former life: reconnecting with family and old classmates, re-entering society, and unexpectedly running into crime writer Stephan Dorian — with whom she parted in awkward circumstances back in Greece — at a house party.
It is at this house party that she also meets her sister’s paramour, who is later found dead. When her sister becomes a suspect, Minnie takes on the case and is reluctantly aided by Dorian.
What a treat this was! I have read everything that Emily Sullivan has written and enjoyed it all. A Murder in Marylebone is a strong sequel to A Death in Corfu. Although I was sad to move away from Corfu, which felt like its own character, the switch to the English setting allows Minnie to shine. Growing up feeling somewhat disconnected from her family, she left with her husband shortly after their marriage and had not returned since. The family dynamics are a real strength in this novel, particularly the evolving relationships between Minnie and her family — especially her siblings. Minnie has changed since she left, but so has everyone else, and seeing that play out as everyone adjusts to the new dynamics was really satisfying. The relationship between her and her sister, who was so young when Minnie left England, was a particular highlight, and I look forward to seeing more of it in future books.
The romantic relationship between Dorian and Minnie makes some progress, although it is definitely a slooooooow burn. Still, it’s great to see them interact on a more even playing field. There’s a lot of banter, insecurity, yearning (and some jealousy!) between the two, but ultimately they genuinely like each other as people. Watching them spend time together — albeit while solving a murder — is just a treat.
The murder itself probably is not too difficult to solve, but it was fun watching them reach the solution, and it provides a nice arc for Minnie’s growth into a more confident person and her changing role within the family.
Overall, a lovely book (with a fabulous cover — so pretty!), and a good set-up for the next instalment.
January 14, 2026
4.5 stars rounded down
(Spoilers through the end of this book!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t realize this was book 2 in a series when I requested it so I hurriedly read book 1, and I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed these books!
Sometimes, with cozy mysteries, you get enough info in each book that you can actually pick up anywhere in the series and be fine with plot and characters without having read the other books. I think you could probably get away with doing that here but honestly, they’re so good, why would you skip book 1??
I gave book 1 in the series a 4.5 as well but bumped it up to 5 stars because I loved the characters and setting so much. What deducted the half star was the fact that there weren’t a whole lot of clues for solving the mystery and the whodunnit reveal was kind of meh. But I enjoyed the book enough to round up the rating.
For this book, I loved the characters and setting even more BUT had to lower my 4.5 actual rating down to a 4 simply because the whodunnit reveal was just not written well. Minnie’s reasoning that Lord Linden was the killer made sense in that we weren’t given a lot of suspects to begin with but was rather flimsy overall because she immediately jumps to him as the killer solely because he lied about knowing her husband.
The set up to catch him and get him to confess would have good except that he immediately pulls a gun on Minnie as soon as Stephen Dorian reveals he’d been hiding in the closet. Minnie doesn’t even accuse him of killing Charles—all she’s done is turn down his advances—and Linden is already ready to kill the two of them!? And the Minnie tells him, Oh, Stephen’s here because we think you killed Charles, and then Linden just reveals absolutely everything in an almost comical villain monologue. Which is a shame that the big climax of the book is written so blah-ly because the rest of it is so good!
I think what you need to know about these books is that they’re not so much cozy mysteries as cozy character studies that happen to have a mystery in them. Which is also fine! And I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this series!
(Spoilers through the end of this book!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t realize this was book 2 in a series when I requested it so I hurriedly read book 1, and I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed these books!
Sometimes, with cozy mysteries, you get enough info in each book that you can actually pick up anywhere in the series and be fine with plot and characters without having read the other books. I think you could probably get away with doing that here but honestly, they’re so good, why would you skip book 1??
I gave book 1 in the series a 4.5 as well but bumped it up to 5 stars because I loved the characters and setting so much. What deducted the half star was the fact that there weren’t a whole lot of clues for solving the mystery and the whodunnit reveal was kind of meh. But I enjoyed the book enough to round up the rating.
For this book, I loved the characters and setting even more BUT had to lower my 4.5 actual rating down to a 4 simply because the whodunnit reveal was just not written well. Minnie’s reasoning that Lord Linden was the killer made sense in that we weren’t given a lot of suspects to begin with but was rather flimsy overall because she immediately jumps to him as the killer solely because he lied about knowing her husband.
The set up to catch him and get him to confess would have good except that he immediately pulls a gun on Minnie as soon as Stephen Dorian reveals he’d been hiding in the closet. Minnie doesn’t even accuse him of killing Charles—all she’s done is turn down his advances—and Linden is already ready to kill the two of them!? And the Minnie tells him, Oh, Stephen’s here because we think you killed Charles, and then Linden just reveals absolutely everything in an almost comical villain monologue. Which is a shame that the big climax of the book is written so blah-ly because the rest of it is so good!
I think what you need to know about these books is that they’re not so much cozy mysteries as cozy character studies that happen to have a mystery in them. Which is also fine! And I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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