"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?

This book was an interesting read for me, I did really enjoy it and I think this could be the start of a really good series.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the atmospherics in the descriptions of the landscape and surroundings. I loved reading about Slovenia's tiny coastline sandwiched between Italy and Croatia. I really loved the characters and hope they feature again in future novels. I now want to visit the area and sample some of the wonderful pastries that feature in the book.

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.

A most interesting Detective story set in the historical country of Slovenia. A young lady DCI from Ljubljana is sent to the picturesque medieval seaside town of Koper to review the a case of the murder of a local DI where everyone is convinced of who the murderer is but without any proof. The DCI is assigned a DC who was under the murder victim and had prepared case notes of the police investigation. Following the notes, she retraced and found everything in order, enjoying the ambience with all the visiting tourists, the local delicacies and scenery. It was noted that the victim’s wife had not been interviewed out of sympathy which DCI with delicacy had to rectify. From this she found a lead that under investigation unearthed a tangled web of lies corruption greed and murder upsetting vested interests and placing her in danger

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.