I had seen references to this series and was intrigued.
The story lived up to my interest.
A seemingly down to earth music teacher happens to have as a friend a composer who died 25 years ago under questionable circumstances.
Add a ghost hunting crew (who would dearly love to catch said composer on their equipment), a premiere of an opera that might just be cursed, a slimy journalist, and dead bodies.
Quite an exciting mix.

Another great addition to Gordon's cozy series. This series keeps getting better.

Gethsemane Brown has agreed to her landlord's demands to allow a group of TV show ghost hunters to set up equipment in the cottage to capture proof of the existence of composer Eamon McCarthy's ghost. Meanwhile, composer Aed Devlin is trying to restore his ruined reputation by previewing his new opera at the Dunmullach boys' school. But the opera, based on a 14th century Hungarian legend, unleashes a vengeful ghost in the opera house and a curse that makes all firstborn sons seriously ill. Crooked music reviewer Bernard Stoltz turns up dead in the opera house orchestra pit and Aed is arrested for the crime. Gethsemane must team up with a notorious true-crime author Venus James to clear Aed and to save the boys from the ghost's curse.

This was another fun read in the Gethsemane Brown mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Henery Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Killing in C Sharp is another excellent addition to the quirky Gethsemane Brown Mysteries series. In this third installment, we return to the same Irish town as the prior books, where Gethsemane’s life revolves around her cottage, her school, and the local pub. Though readers will have more to bring to the table for having read either, or both, of the prior books, it does stand alone, and there is much that I love about this series.

"Men occasionally forget their female friends are brave, competent, and capable of taking care of themselves and become overprotective. It's the combination of night air, testosterone, and alcohol. Prevents synapses from firing. You have to make allowances." -- Father Tim

While I wouldn’t call Killing in C Sharp feminist, it does have some outstanding characteristics that are missing from many other mystery books. For one, our main character, Gethsemane, is an intelligent woman who doesn’t shy away from giving her opinion or asserting her expertise when she is the most informed on a subject. She doesn’t allow herself to be shushed or bossed around, belittled, or patronized. Secondly, the men in her life (both of this world and otherworldly), mostly get that Gethsemane is an equal force, and when they slide into sexist zones, they are quickly re-directed and corrected without it being A THING. Third, the book shows that women can and will support each other, whether they like each other or not. Finally, hallelujah, women are not victimized and pretty much every female, from girl to grown-up, is powerful in her own way – right down to the take-no-prisoners ghost who shows up to exact her revenge.

"She'd performed live all over the world and she taught teenaged boys. Nothing unnerved her."

Killing in C Sharp takes us more into Gethsemane’s professional world as a music teacher. Readers (especially educators) will chuckle over Gethsemane’s assessments of her students and their behavior and both sympathize and empathize at the situations. There’s nothing to make a teacher prouder than when her otherwise unruly group knows how to behave when it counts. And by the same token, there’s nothing more frustrating than when a teacher sees her unruly group behave and wonders why those students can’t offer the same courtesy to their own teacher. Some of these kids are a hoot, and of course, the Irish names are fantastic – like twins Feargus and Aengus!

The writing, as is the case in the prior book, Death in D Minor, is immaculate. Even the ARC is cleanly edited and doesn’t have so much as a misplaced comma to distract from the story. Author Alexia Gordon writes her dialogue so that it not only sounds natural, but it also brings the personality of each character to life in a unique way. There are a lot of characters in Killing in C Sharp, some familiar and many new, but it’s never hard to keep up because each is so well-defined. Readers will likely reflect how Gethsemane feels about each person she encounters, and it’s difficult to figure out the whodunit angle since we don’t see anything that Gethsemane doesn’t see.

In true form, Gethsemane makes some bad decisions that put her in some precarious predicaments. This increases the speed of the page-turning, but it always irritates me a little because she’s smarter than that. She takes risks but not advice, even when the advice is solid. Holy cow, Gethsemane is flawed, which I guess is another reason I enjoy her adventures. Admittedly, the paranormal/technology aspect towards the end of the book got a little weird for me, and it tied-up a bit too easily and neatly for something so complex. However, I happily suspend my disbelief because I just enjoy being in Gethsemane’s world so much. I really hope there’s another book coming so I can venture back there.

I highly recommend this book and this series for readers looking for a refreshing, outside-of-the box cozy mystery with quirky characters.

Killing in C#
by
Alexia Gordon

Six Feet Under
by
Tonya Kappes

A Review

The ghosts are back.

Having read previous books by these authors in these series, I was looking forward to again seeing familiar characters and their spirited friends. These friends are more like Casper the friendly ghost than Scrooge’s Jacob Marley. In each, the protagonist is assisted in solving a series of murders by their unexpected friendly spirits.

But there are other elements in common – the primary victim of both stories is a vindictive reviewer – of music (from Gordon’s novel) and restaurants (from Kappes’ novel). Each reviewer has a history of destroying careers and reputations. And they have ruined so many people’s lives, the number of suspects grows the further into the book the reader goes.

As expected, these two Henery Press books were fun to read and demanded to be finished as quickly as possible. It was disappointing to see Eamon’s ghostly wife be left to some unexplained nether world – perhaps she can return in a later book. One can hope.

For those who like cozy mysteries, for those who like ghost stores (especially, friendly ghost stories), for those who like music or food – these two books may just feel the bill.
______________
This review is based on free electronic copies provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Ghost hunters descend on Dunmullach and loyal-to-a-fault Gethsemane Brown will stop at nothing to save Carraigfaire and her village friends. But is she prepared to deal with a demon as well as the consequences of the choices that she must make? Alexa Gordon pens another winner! Gethsemane is a smart, savvy, and surprisingly resilient protagonist. I find her quirky, charming and relatable. This is the third in a series that just keeps getting better.

Killing in C Sharp is well written with a good plot and setting. I enjoyed the author's style of writing and look forward to reading more of her books. If you enjoy a good ghost story I recommend this one.

Gethsemane Brown is forced to invite paranormal investigators into her cottage in Ireland. This is problematic because also living in the house is the ghost of Eamon McCarthy who does not want to be discovered and added to a TV show. When an evil, avenging spirit arrives in Dunmalluh and sickens the first born sons of the villagers, it takes the combined effort of Gethsemane, Eamon and another ghost to solve the problem.

Review will be published at www.MapYourMystery.com on March 28

This is a great series and If you're a fan of Gethsemane Brown you'll certainly enjoy this 3rd offering. It is an ok stand alone but you'll want to get all the detains of the ghost who lives in Gethsemane's cottage. All the books center around the music department at the school where she teaches and the local opera house. Now with a ghost hunting tv show invading her home and a crooked music reviewer in town Gethsemane's super busy trying to solve murder and keep the peace. Easy and fun to read.

In this third book in the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series, Gethsemane is up to her eyeballs in ghosts. While Killing in C Sharp isn't quite as gruesome as the second book (Death in D Minor), the action, mystery, intrigue, and characterization are still top notch.

What I love most about Killing in C Sharp is the progression of Gethsemane's acceptance in Ireland. With the arrival of outsiders (TV ghost hunters), Gethsemane shines as she edges one step closer to becoming accepted as a local. In addition, this installment really shows how much Gethsemane has come to care for her students, her fellow teacher, Frankie, her favorite inspector, Niall, and of course her beloved ghost, Eamon. When the lives and existence of all these people are threatened with an ancient curse from a summoned ghost with only revenge and mayhem on her mind, Gethsemane has to kick her mystery-solving skills into high gear before it's too late.

In all three books, the author gives the reader a true sense of place, and the plot and characters make you want to pack your bags and head to Ireland so you can cozy up with a shot of whiskey and an incorrigible ghost, all while the bodies pile up and the mystery becomes more complex by the minute.

I would hate to give out any spoilers, but don't be surprised by the sweet/bittersweet turn of events toward the ending. Cryptic, I know, but never underestimate the bond between a girl and her ghost. And don't be surprised if you find yourself clamoring for the next book in the series. I hope the wait is short.

I loved this well-crafted mystery (by new-to-me author Alexia Gordon) that kept me entertained and intrigued from the first page to the last word. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action with Dr. Gethsemane Brown, her resident ghost Eamon McCarthy, and the residents and visitors of Dunmullach, Ireland.

Even though this is the third book in the Gethsemane Brown Mystery Series, it is the first one I have read and I had no problem reading it as a standalone. If you enjoy a story with great characters, a smart, independent and relatable female protagonist, and a good mystery that will keep you guessing, "Killing in C Sharp" is a must-read.

I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I liked the book so much, I purchased the entire series.

Alexia Gordon's Gethsemane Brown Mysteries is a great read. Gethsemane is not your typical Musician, Conductor, Professor or amateur sleuth. Those qualities make Killing in C Sharp all the more fun to read. Gethsemane is forced to work with one of those paranormal TV shows and she tries to steer them away from her home Carraigfaire. She certainly does not want them to discover (if that's even possible) her resident ghost. Much to her chagrin, there is a murder while they are in her community. Another ghost appears and tries to wreck havoc on the school and the visiting musician. Gethsemane tries to help solve the murder and protect her friends. Alexia Gordon creates a quirky cast of characters. A quick entertaining read.

I wanted to read this, but I could not download it when i was give the approval and before it was archived. There was a problem with my computer, which, with the help of NetGalley, I resolved successfully. However, now I cannot download it because it has been archived. I just wanted to let you know what happened.

I really enjoy this series. In this one Gethsemane is host to a ghost hunting TV Show. She is determined that they do not discover Eamon her resident ghost. Also on campus a composer is premiering his new Opera based on a Hungarian Curse. To divert the TV Show she stages a haunting at the theater during a rehearsal. During the rehearsal there is a murder and a paranormal curse. Gethsemane with some help from Father Tim and Eamon set out to solves both mysteries. The author does a very good job with Irish Small Town setting and the classical music background. The mysteries were good and there was no shortage of suspects to keep the murder interesting. This book does begin where Book 2 left off and this series should probably be read in order. I am looking for word to reading about Gethsemane and Eamon's next adventure. Enjoy

I loved it! This is my favorite in the series so far. Gethsemane's humor pops up when you least expect it and it's hilarious! The mystery and the characters are really good.

This was the first book I read by Alexia Gordon. Gordon does a good job in keeping you in the story if you haven't read the first 2. It is full of likeable characters and keeps you guessing until the end. If you like reading stories with ghosts this is a must.
I was given a copy of this for an honest review from netgalley.

KILLING IN C SHARP (Trad Mys-Gethsemane Brown-Ireland-Contemporary) - Ex
Gordon, Alexia – 3rd in series
The Henery Press – March 2018
First Sentence: Gethsemane Brown frowned at her landlord across her kitchen table.
Although violinist, conductor, and music conductor has saved her cottage from developers, her landlord has now granted permission for a team of ghost hunters to investigate for the all-too-present spirit of composer Eamon McCarthy. To deflect the investigators, she points them to the opera house where composer Aed Devlin plans to premier his work about Maja Zoltán who died placing a curse to occur each year on the anniversary of her death. With the smell of grease and pepper and excepts of Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” in her head, Gethsemane and her friends have get rid of the specter of Maja, prevent Eamon from being exposed, save lives, and find the killer of a crooked journalist.
The important thing when reading Gordon, is to just go with the premise, which is delightful and not at all twee. The other thing is what a good job Gordon does of providing all the backstory. It catches up both those who’ve read previous books, and new readers so there’s never a feeling of having missed something, but neither does it slow down the plot.
Gordon’s characters are all fully-developed and very interesting. Gethsemane, with her love of good whiskey, is no mild-mannered Miss Marple. In fact, she describes herself as being—“Competent, confident, intelligent, and driven, but not ‘nice.’ She is the type of person with whom one would like to be friends. Father Tom with his older brother’s collection of books on the occult, Neill of the Gardaí, Saoirse the 12-year-old genesis, and more are all interesting and very read.
There are a number of laugh-out-loud moments which provide lightness. One will also enjoy the reference to—“You’re both grown and neither of you are related to me, so it’s none of my business.” Southern code for “but if you want to talk about it…”. The paranormal elements of the story are very intriguing and well done. Not all authors use the paranormal well. Gordon really does.
It is quite remarkable the way in which Gordon creates a rather illogical scenario and not only makes it both logical and believable but makes one care. There is also a very nice plot twist which is well done.
“Killing in C Sharp” is a very good traditional/paranormal mystery. In fact, this is the best book in the series, so far.

She's back!

Under the threat of eviction by Eamon's nephew, Billy -- Gethsemane (Brown) is forced to share her humble abode with (insert shudder) Paranormal investigators of the reality show Ghost Hunting Adventures.

Billy has made it clear that she either share digs or find new digs! Luckily Eamon (I love him) resident ghost and former owner of Carraigfaire has returned from limbo hell. Short on friends, Geth is very happy to have him back. In order to keep him, Geth has to make the investigators believe that ghosts DON'T exist. Father Tim (I'm paraphrasing) said it best ... "The world isn't ready to learn that ghosts actually exist!"

Meanwhile, the home-grown Aed Devlin returns to his humble roots to shed his label of disgraced musician and resurrect his stalled career by composing a new opera. He manages to resurrect more than his career, he or someone has resurrected the Maja (first son) curse. When Bernard, the critic that torpedoed his career is found pecs down with a trowel in his back -- the general consensus is -- it couldn't have happened to a nastier guy. No surprise, surprise -- topping the very top of the suspect list is Aed.

Between balancing the Paranormal investigators and trying to find out who framed Aed for the long-time in coming murder of the hated musical critic, Geth has her hands full. Especially since an unexplained illness has struck one or both of her future beaus (both first sons) who are in the hospital suffering the affects of what some believe is the Maja curse.

This time around Geth has a great support team in the forms of Eamon, Father Tim, Venus and Saoirse to help aid her in solving the murder mystery before she or all become the next victim on the killer's list.

So far, there is not a hint of romance on the horizon between Geth and her potentials. I'm appealing to Alexia (the author) to give us a kiss, hug or looks of longing because we all know that a spark can turn into a flame. Thankfully, Eamon has returned and he is here to stay because he was greatly missed by Gethsemane, and by me.

Read this book!

Killing in C Sharp is the third book in the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series.

Gethsemane and her resident ghost and friend, Eamon McCarthy are back once again for an entertaining read.

Gethsemane has recently blocked a hotel developer from purchasing the house where she is living and turning it into a tourist trap. Now to obtain some cash, Billy McCarthy, nephew of Eamon and owner of the house, has convinced a ghost hunter reality TV show to come and tape a show. Gethsemane is beside herself over this as she doesn’t need the attention that something like this will generate. Eamon is not happy either.

Also on Gethsemane plate is the arrival at the boy’s school where she teaches will be the noted classical composer, Aed Devlin. After having an unscrupulous reporter wrote a scathing review of Devlin’s work, his career crashed and burned. Devlin has come to the school to put the finishing touches on an opera he is about to complete. His opera is based on a Hungarian legend about a noblewoman, Maja, that was entombed in a castle wall and a curse was put on the firstborn son of those who were connected to the castle. Gethsemane and Eamom are also having to deal with the appearance of Venus James, an author, who wrote a scathing book about Eamon, alleging he had something to do with his wife’s death and his having committed suicide.

Soon after Devlin arrives in town, Bernard Stolz, the freelance writer whose article ruined Devlin’s career, also arrives. One evening at the local pub they have words, but everything seems to have calmed. Then at a rehearsal, which the ghost hunter crew is also attending, unexplainable things start happening that point to the Maja curse may actually be real. When the music concludes, Stolz’s body is found in the orchestra pit and Devlin ends up being arrested for his murder. Gethsemane believes Devlin is innocent and sets out to do her own investigation. Devlin is the only person he has ruined with his scathing reviews and Gethsemane needs to look at several of these.

I felt the story is a well-plotted story with a wonderful cast of believable characters and Gordon does a great job of weaving the story of Maja’s curse into the present day.

I enjoy listening to classical music and it is very satisfying to find a mystery series centering around it. I will be watching for the next book in the series.

In Killing in C Sharp Gethsemane faces a more malicious ghost who basically wants people to keep her name out of their mouths and will take things into her own hands when an opera is written about her. Ghost hunters are being foisted onto Gethsemane and invading her space along with an unintentional and unwanted house guest. With the arrival of the new opera a curse is released with death and mayhem following.

The fact that ghosts play a part in each story makes them different from the other mysteries that I generally enjoy. This story was another enjoyable quick read in a series that I will continue. Although this is book three in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.