New Fiction Set in Greece

MNEMOSYNI’S MUSINGS…

Maria A. Karamitsos

You’ve heard of Mnemosyni, the Greek goddess of memory. Mythology buffs will know that she’s also the goddess of storytelling—and mother of the Muses! So, it’s only fitting to name a literary column in her honor. Here, you’ll learn about authors, poets, books, and all things “Greek” literary.
By: Maria A. Karamitsos

New Fiction Set in Greece

Looking for your next read? Take a virtual trip to Greece with one of these new releases.

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom

Berkley (March 17, 2026)

Suffolk-based Author Izzy (Isabelle) Broom is the bestselling author of 13 novels, including The Summer Trip (Hodder & Stoughton, 2023) and My Map of You (Penguin, 2017), both set in Greece.

Skye MacKinnon is desperate for an escape. When she wins a lottery to buy a run-down cottage on a Greek island for only one euro, she jumps at the chance to get out of England and start over. As she unlocks the tattered blue door of her whitewashed new cottage, the sun-kissed sea glinting in the bay outside her windows, Skye immediately feels like she’s found her true home. She and the other lottery winners—the first residents in these houses since the 1940s—form a tight-knit group, finding in one another the strong relationships they’d been missing in their own lives. When Skye and local contractor Andreas find a set of mysterious letters, they begin to unravel the history of the prior residents, and the truth about life on Folegandros during World War II.

Reminders of Greece by Francesca Catlow

Lake Union Publishing (May 15, 2026)

UK born and bred author Francesca Catlow now lives in the South of France. She’s the author of several novels set in Greece, including The Greek Secret (Lake Union Publishing, 2025) and Under a Greek Sky (Lake Union Publishing, 2025).

Sara and Mia are more than just mother and daughter―they’re best friends, confidantes, and partners in adventure. Mia’s dad’s identity may still be a mystery, but Mia’s independent, adventurous mum has more than made up for it over the years. So when Sara suggests a sun-soaked escape to Kos, the stunning Greek island shaped by volcanic forces, Mia jumps at the chance for their perfect summer getaway. When Mia meets Leonidas, a handsome local musician, the white-washed villages and crystal-clear waters become the backdrop for revelations neither woman is prepared for. As family mysteries begin to unravel and long-buried truths rise to the surface, mother and daughter must decide: is protecting the past worth sacrificing their future?

Beneath the Orange Blossom by Emma Cowell

Avon (July 14, 2026)

Emma Cowell is the author of several escapist reads set in Greece, including Under the Lemon Tree (2025) and The Island Love Song (2024). A former actress and BBC presenter, she and her husband now live in Grece.

Two years following her husband’s death, dressmaker Ellen is learning how to live again and put memories of a difficult marriage behind her. However, never far from her mind is another memory: Alexandros, her first love from the summer she turned 18. The moment she’d arrived in his hometown of Kardamyli, Ellen had been intoxicated by the scent of orange blossom in the air, the days of endless sunshine and sparkling azure waters – but most of all by Alexandros himself. They were meant to be, until a devastating secret forced Ellen to leave and never look back. But now, when her best friend suggests they recreate their teenage summer in Greece, Ellen knows it’s time to confront her past. Will Greece give her the freedom – and happiness – she desperately craves? And there, amidst the lush olive groves, could she rediscover the love she thought she’d lost forever?

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The Taverna at the Edge of Night by H.Y. Hanna

Independently published (May 11, 2026)

USA Today bestselling author Hsin-Yi (H.Y.) Hanna is the author of more than 30 novels, which collectively have sold over 1 million copies. ‘Taverna’ is her psychological thriller.

When Daphne travels to a remote fishing village on the island of Crete, she’s looking forward to sun-drenched days, dazzling sea views, and a happy reunion with the best friend she has idolized since university. But from the moment she arrives at the whitewashed taverna perched on the cliffs above the sea, something feels wrong. Roxy is jittery and evasive, the locals avoid questions, and rumors of a cliffside murder have everyone on edge. Then there is an attack in the night. Daphne is left reeling and desperate for answers. She turns to her best friend for help, but all she’s met with is gaslighting and lies that make her question her own sanity. Completely isolated and unsure who to trust, she now finds herself trapped in a lethal game of deception, and caught in a dangerous attraction to a stranger with secrets of his own. As Daphne digs deeper, she realizes that someone in this idyllic village has a deadly secret… and that her closest friendship might be the most dangerous thing of all.

Bitter Almonds by Hanna von Feilitzsch

Feilitzsch-Verlag (April 18, 2026)

In the latest novel from German-Greek Author Hanna Von Feilitzch, the author of The Last Ouzo (Feilitzsch-Verlag, 2024), a murder mystery set in Greece (2024), is back with a historical novel set in wat-torn Greece in the 1940s.

Anna flees from a village in the Peloponnese to distant Athens with her children during the Greek Civil War to ensure her family’s survival and create better living conditions for her children. The young woman prevails in a male-dominated world and builds a flourishing business in the capital. When her husband Manolis returns years later from a prison camp, broken in body and spirit, she must face the reality that as a woman, she has no voice. Anna accepts her circumstances and stays with the man she loves. Yet she never loses sight of her goal: that her children, including her daughters, will one day be able to live independent lives, free from the constraints imposed by society. But this comes at a price.

Mrs. Papadakis: A Nove of Crete and Choices by Florence Wetzel

Independently published (June 7, 2026)

A Brooklyn, NY native, Florence Wetzel writes across multiple genres. She fell in love with Crete and lived there from 1990-1995. Her novel, Aspasia: A Novel of Suspense and Secrets (independently published, 2025), is also set on Crete.

After five years of married life in a Cretan fishing village—milking goats, sidestepping village gossip, and contending with octopus in her refrigerator—American Carolyn Papadakis starts to wonder if she should return to the US. An unexpected visitor deepens her doubts, and a new friendship with a pair of traveling hippies draws Carolyn into risky choices. As her marriage teeters on the edge, Carolyn must decide between the life she created and the one she left behind.

Lots of great books to add to your list. Happy reading! See you next time for more of Mnemosyni’s Musings.

Maria A. Karamitsos is a journalist, author, and poet. She’s the founder & former publisher/editor of WindyCity Greek magazine and former associate editor & senior writer for The Greek Star newspaper. Maria also contributes to Greek City Times and TripFiction. Her work has been published in The Magic of Us-A Moms Who Write Poetry Anthology, The Pen Poetry Magazine, Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal, Highland Park Poetry, Recipes & Roots, GreekCircle magazine, The National Herald, GreekReporter, Harlots Sauce Radio, Women.Who.Write, KPHTH magazine, and more. Maria has contributed to two books: Greektown Chicago: Its History, Its Recipes and The Chicago Area Ethnic Handbook. She’s currently editing her 1st novel. mariakaramitsos.com