Murder in G Major
A Gethsemane Brown Mystery
by
Alexia Gordon
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Suspense / Paranormal
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of Publication: September 13, 2016
Number of Pages: 268
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Stranded in Ireland after losing both a gig and her luggage, African-American classical musician Gethsemane Brown hopes to win her way back to the States by accepting a challenge: turn rowdy school boys into a champion orchestra. She’s offered lodging in a beautiful cliffside cottage once owned by her favorite composer. The catch? The composer’s ghost. He can’t rest in peace until he’s cleared of false charges of murder-suicide. Desperate after a quarter-century, he begs Gethsemane for help. A growing friendship with the charming ghost spurs Gethsemane to investigate. Her snooping provokes a long-dormant killer and she soon finds herself on the wrong sort of top ten hit list. Will Gethsemane uncover the truth as she races to prevent a murderous encore or will she star in her own farewell performance?
PRAISE FOR MURDER IN G MAJOR
“Gordon strikes a harmonious chord in this enchanting spellbinder of a mystery.” —Susan M. Boyer, USA Today Bestselling Author of Lowcountry Book Club
“Just when you think you’ve seen everything, here comes Gethsemane Brown, baton in one hand, bourbon in the other. Stranded in an Irish village where she know no one (but they all know her), she’s got just six weeks to turn a rabblesome orchestra into award-winners and solve a decades-old murder to boot. And only a grumpy ghost to help her. There’s charm to spare in this highly original debut.” — Multi-award-winning author, Catriona McPherson
“Gordon has composed a masterful and magical debut. . .Murder in G Major captivated me from the first page to the last, transporting me to the windswept cliffs of Ireland.” — Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of Michelangelo’s Ghost
“Alexia Gordon’s debut is delightful: an Irish village full of characters and secrets, whiskey and music – and a ghost! Gethsemene Brown is a fast-thinking, fast-talking dynamic sleuth (with a great wardrobe) who is more than a match for the unraveling murders and coverups, aided by her various –handsome – allies and her irascible ghost. Can’t wait to see what she uncovers next!” —J. Suzanne Frank, AKA Chloe Green, author of the Dallas O’Connor mysteries
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Murder in G Major is an adorable cozy mystery involving old poorly solved crimes, an endearing ghost, and lots of music. The author strands the protagonist, Gethsemane Brown, in Ireland with no luggage, dropping her into a difficult situation right off the bat. The story quickly takes off from there.
Gethsemane’s ghostly encounter is funny, lively, and quite touching. I refuse to spoil everything, so I’ll say no more on that point. What I can say is that Gethsemane sure likes her bourbon, and she can’t help jumping feet first into just about everything, including murder, musicales, a poison garden, and several challenges she can’t seem to refuse. The musical references throughout add a unique and interesting twist to the standard mystery. What’s unique (for me, at least) is that Gethsemane’s danger (or BS) instinct is triggered by music playing in her head. How useful would this ability be in real life?
Setting the story in Ireland provides an old-world mystical layer because no one in Ireland seems to be phased by any mention of ghosts. Houses are expected to be haunted, and Gethsemane’s temporary abode is definitely haunted. I love how the ghost, Eamon McCarthy, doesn’t follow our preconceived or expected notions of how ghosts should behave. He isn’t tied to the spot where he was allegedly murdered, and while his temper is fiery and explosive, he’s an endearing ghost with intensely true feelings. I like him!
While the somewhat easily solved murders are solved (yes, in addition to the old murders, new murders crop up), the story ends in mystery. As Gethsemane cracks the case and soars through her music teaching debut with flying colors, she finds her Irish ghost has gone missing. This cliffhanger will definitely keep you clamoring for the next in the series.
My favorite quotes:
“If you can’t get out of a situation, take control of it.” ~ chapter 2
“You never know what you’ll find when you open yourself to all possibilities.” ~ chapter 17
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tour and publisher Henry Press for providing me with a copy of Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon in exchange for my honest review.
A writer since childhood, I won my first (okay, so far, only) writing prize, a copy of Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, in the 6th grade. I continued writing through college but put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. My medical career established, I returned to writing fiction.
Raised in the southeast and schooled in the northeast, I migrated to the southwest after a three-year stint in Alaska reminded me how much I needed sunlight and warm weather. I completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas then moved to El Paso, Texas where I currently practice medicine. If pushed, I will admit Texas brisket is as good as Carolina pulled pork. I enjoy classical music, art, travel, embroidery, and a good ghost story.
I am a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Writers’ League of Texas. I am represented by Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC and published by Henery Press.
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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 9/20 | Author Interview #1 | Byers Editing Reviews & Blog |
| 9/21 | Review | Forgotten Winds |
| 9/22 | Excerpt | Texas Book Lover |
| 9/23 | Review | Reading By Moonlight |
| 9/24 | Guest Post #1 | My Book Fix Blog |
| 9/25 | Promo | Kara The Redhead |
| 9/26 | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 9/27 | Author Interview #2 | Hall Ways Blog |
| 9/28 | Guest Post #2 | The Librarian Talks |
| 9/29 | Review | Margie’s Must Reads |
