Review - Death in D Minor

     Hallmark has filmed Gethsemane Brown in the new Haunted Harmony Mysteries staring Tamera Mowry-Housley.  So far there is just one movie, but I'm hoping for more as Ms Mowry-Housley brings a bubbly aspect to heroine Gethsemane.

I reviewed the first book in the series Murder in G Major (click here).

Author: Alexia Gordon

Copyright: July 2017 (Henery Press) 238 pgs

Series: 2nd in Gethsemane Brown Mystery series

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal Cozy, Amateur Sleuth

Main Character: Gethsemane Brown, African-American famed classical musician and conductor now teaching classical music and orchestra at boy’s school

Setting: Modern, town of Dunmullach on Southwest Ireland Coast

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb:  "Gethsemane Brown, African-American classical musician and expatriate to an Irish village, solved a string of murders, led a school orchestra to victory in a major competition, and got used to living with a snarky ghost. She can rest easy over the Christmas holiday. Right? Wrong. 

The ghost has disappeared, her landlord's about to sell her cottage to a hotel developer, and her brother-in-law is coming for a visit—with one day’s notice. She scrambles to call her spectral roomie back from beyond and find a way to save the cottage from certain destruction. But real estate takes a backseat when her brother-in-law is accused of stealing a valuable antique. 

Gethsemane strikes a deal with a garda investigator to go undercover as a musician at a charity ball and snoop for evidence linking antiques to a forgery/theft ring in exchange for the investigator’s help clearing her brother-in-law. At the party, she accidentally conjures the ghost of an eighteenth-century sea captain, then ends up the prime suspect in the party host’s murder. With the captain’s help, she races to untangle a web of phony art and stolen antiques to exonerate herself and her brother-in-law. Then the killer targets her. Will she save herself and bring a thief and murderer to justice, or will her encore investigation become her swan song?"

My Thoughts:

    Gethsemane never gives up, as she has to deal with complications from all parts of her life in this outing. She shows her metal and her emotional stamina throughout everything.

    Gethsemane is joined by her brother in law, Jackson Applethwaite.  But many of the familiar villagers from book one aren't revisited and the potential romantic interests aren't advanced any with this addition.  If you don't care much for the romance aspects of cozy mysteries then this will likely suit you.  I will be moving on to the third book in the series in short order to see if any likely suitors make any headway.

     This outing has music, murder, art of various kinds, and a new ghost-Captain Lochlan, Captain of The Hesperus, all interwoven with charm and humor throughout.

     The dramatic climax on board a train is harrowing and shocking (a quick death is a bit horrible, but not dwelled on).  It was a great tense climax as I like them, so kudos.  

Overall an easy and entertaining read with a solid mystery and suspenseful moments highlighting the capable heroine.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Thank you for reading this blog and please recommend to friends and family who will enjoy it.

     Here is the trailer for the Hallmark Movie adaptation of the first book in the series.