A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

I really enjoy this series and I enjoyed reading this one. In this second book Gethsemane is hoping to settle down and enjoy a quiet Christmas. Instead Eamon has disappeared, the heirs are hoping to sell the cottage to a hotel developer and her brother in law is coming for a visit while investigating an art forgery ring. Add a murder and a new ghost for an exciting mystery. I really enjoy the Ireland setting and the characters. The mysteries are good and the solutions make sense. The book is well written and very easy to read. I am looking for word to reading more in this series. Enjoy

Every mystery series has a gimmick (or two) as well as a regular crime-solver (often someone not in police work) and it's usually the gimmick that will first attract a reader's attention. That's how I got interested in this series, anyway. The title of these Gethsemane Brown Mysteries have (so far) had a musical connotation or reference, and I love seeing music and literature combined in any way. The musical connection is that Gethsemane Brown is a classical musician who, through a series of unfortunate events, now finds herself working in a job that is perhaps below her skill set, but which she finds fulfilling.

The second gimmick featured, so far, in these first two Gethsemane Brown Mystery books, is that Ms. Brown finds herself working to solve mysteries alongside ghosts. Yeah, ghosts. And it's awesome. These are not random spectres with grudges and a desire to haunt, but specific ghosts, called upon (even if accidentally) and helpful.

In <em>Death in D Minor</em>, Gethsemane Brown is looking for a peaceful holiday now that she has led her school orchestra to a win in a major competition, and she managed to help solve a string of murders (both with the help of Eamon McCarthy, the ghost of a composer and owner of the home Gethsemane now lives in). But of course there's no such thing as a peaceful holiday in the world of mysteries!

Ms. Brown gets involved in a world of art theft and art forgery when local investigators ask Gethsemane to go undercover as a musician at a wealthy woman's home in order to try to get a little inside information. At the same time, the home she lives in - Eamon McCarthy's home - is now up for sale by the cottage's owner, Billy McCarthy, and is about to become the grounds for a hotel. Gethsemane calls for Eamon to come help scare the new developer off, but his spirit is gone and no matter how much she calls for him he does not appear.

Author Alexia Gordon writes a tightly-knit mystery. Many describe this as a 'cozy' mystery, which by definition it is, but it doesn't feel 'simple' like so many of the cozies I've read previously. This book has a great central character - she's smart and talented and maybe a little out of her comfort zone - and a great couple of gimmicks with the music and the ghosts. And this book adds art (paintings and weavings) into the mix, which only enhances my enjoyment.

This is highly recommended.

Looking for a good book?<em> Death in D Minor</em> by Alexia Gordon is a well-written, exciting cozy mystery with a strong leading character and a clever series of events surrounding her.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Gethsemane Brown mystery series and is just as good as the first, although the plot is very different. There a a few things going on in this story, but Gethsemane is such a smart, intriguing and savvy character who stands up for herself and takes no guff from anyone, she is able to pull this story off without a hitch. Gethsemane is a conductor and violinist who is presently living in the Irish Countryside. She loves the cottage in where she lives, especially as it was the home of one of her musical heroes, and is determined to save it from the hotel developer working hard to buy it. She is also trying to conjure up the ghost who lived there, after he disappeared into the netherland at the end of the last book. Were that not enough, her museum curator brother-in-law is coming for a visit hoping to buy a unique and antique American cross-stitch sampler. On the sly, he is also assisting in the investigation of a ring dealing in fake and stolen antiques. Instead, he ends up accused of theft, and Gethsemane is accused of murder. Hoping for help from her favorite ghost, she accidentally calls up the spirit of an 18th-century sea captain who once knew the girl who stitched the famous sampler.

Even though I have only read two books by Alexia Gordon, I am impressed with her writing style and voice. I love that she introduces you to the story right from the start. There is no unnecessary information or dialogue to bog down the story. As I said above, the MC is a strong, prickly character who is not warm and fuzzy but independent and can make others uncomfortable. My big disappointment in this book was that the ghost of Eamon was not present for most of the story. I enjoyed the banter these characters had in the first book and I hope it returns in the next. Overall, this book had many things I love. A wonderful setting ie. Irish countryside, a ghostly sidekick even though it was not the same one as the debut in the series, Forgeries; this time it is textiles which I loved that it is explained that they are art, murders, yes there is more than one and a wonderful amateur sleuth. The story was exciting, humorous, and clever using the idea that Gethsemane can ‘summon’ up ghosts, even the wrong ghost, giving a paranormal twist. The plot is fast-paced and kept me interested and guessing throughout the book, I did not guess the culprit until the clues were unraveled and the answer is shared with the reader. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, Killing in C Sharp. I listened to the audiobook and was quite pleased with the narration. Helen Duff did a great job with the various character voices and I loved the Irish Accent. I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers who are looking for something a bit different.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. I am sure it is not the writer's fault. I will give it another try in a few months.

Alexia Gordon does it again! She captured my attention from beginning to end. The characters are relatable - flaws and all. Gethsemene conjures up a ghost of a sea captain instead of composer, Eamon McCarthy, and we off on another adventure. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

Just when you think all the angles a cozy mystery can possibly come from have been covered, some lovely writer like Alexia Gordon comes along with unique characters, a unique setting, and really solid writing. Just when you start rolling your eyes at the idea of another cozy mystery featuring ghosts, Gethsemane Brown comes along in a corner of Ireland I for one have never visited on the page before, with one of the more unusual sidekicks I've seen.

This is one of those books I blame for keeping me coming back to the genre. It's worth it – just about – to wade through all the bad 'uns just to find the occasional gem like this.

One of the happy aspects of Alexia Gordon's writing is graceful exposition. Bear with me, because I'm probably going to compliment every author I read who knows how to introduce a character without making her look in the mirror and ponder her past, or who can show Character A catching Character B up on something the latter missed without indulging in Reality-Show-Recap-itis. It seems like it's becoming more and more rare for writers to avoid the pitfalls, so – praise where it's due, by all means.

This book can serve as proof that the heroine of a book, or a series, doesn't have to be warm and cuddly to be absolutely enjoyable. Gethsemane is prickly, not socially comfortable – and very unhappy to find that getting what you asked for doesn't always mean getting what you want. Hers is the sort of story that makes me hope she doesn't go through this level of trouble in every book – not because it's unrealistic or repetitious or anything of the sort, but because of a deep sympathy for her – it's <i>stressful</i>.

The ghostly secondary character(s) reminded me a bit of <I>The Ghost and Mrs. Muir</i>; I'm not sure if it's headed in the same direction as that movie (or tv series), but I'm fine with it if it does. And I wouldn't say that about a lesser series. But this – this was lovely, and I look forward to more.

This book came out in July 2017; the newness of the book may have something to do with the reference to "Ronald Crump".

And if you don’t like my review, "may the cat eat you, and may the devil eat the cat." So there. (Not really – I just wanted an excuse to quote that.)

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

Death in D Minor is the second book in the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, and is just as delightful and readable as the first, Murder in D Major. Gethsemane is on winter break from school, but has nothing to relax about. Between her landlord's wanting to sell Carraigfaire cottage, her home in Dunmulloch, to billionaire Hank Wayne, known for his tacky hotels and disregard for any kind of historical heritage he may be destroying, as well as an unexpected visit from her brother, Dr. Jackson Applethwaite, a museum curator, her plate is full. Gethsemane knows that the hotel magnate had a bad experience as a child in a house said to be haunted, but Carraigfaire's resident ghost, Eamon McCarthy is nowhere to be found to help out. After Jackson is accused of stealing a rare needlepoint from an art auction, Gethsemane finds herself thrown into the world of art theft and fraud and will do anything to prove Jackson's innocence, all the while desperately trying to summon Eamon's ghost.

There are many twists and turns in this book, with no lack of suspects or unscrupulous characters. Gethsemane, never one to back down from a challenge, is at her best, especially when her efforts to summon Eamon's ghost have unforeseen results.

I was so excited to read this book because Gethsemane is such a wonderful, no-holds-barred character, who is intensely loyal to her brother-in-law and new-found friends, and will do whatever it takes to help them out. Death in D Minor had me laughing as well as biting my nails, and the art theft mystery had me guessing to the very end (and I guessed wrong!)

I highly recommend Death in D Minor as well as its predecessor, Murder in G Major. These books are now among my very favorites, and I can't wait to see what Alexia Gordon has in store for Gethsemane next.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Classical musician turned teacher Gethsemane Brown is living at Carraigfaire Cottage, the home of the deceased composer Eamon McCarthy. But Eamon’s nephew is being pressured into selling the cottage to ruthless hotel developer Hank Wayne, and she may be shortly evicted. Gethsemane devises a plan to scare away Wayne with Eamon's ghost but he is missing. Desperate, Gethsemane uses a book about the occult to try and summon Eamon with no luck. Gethsemane then learns her museum curator brother-in-law Jackson Applethwaite is coming to Ireland and is hoping to buy a unique 18th-century sampler created by a young American slave. But then the sampler goes missing at the auction, and the owner falls to her death during a gala, and suspicions fall on Jackson when the sampler is found in his overcoat pocket by the Garda police. Gethsemane must clear Jackson from the theft and murder and quickly finds the crimes are linked to an international art forgery ring and multi-agency investigation.

This is the second Gethesemane Brown mystery, and was a fun read.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Henery Press in exchange for an honest review

I requested and received an ARC of this book on NetGalley because of the intriguing, unusual description: a classically trained African American pianist helping to solve a ghost-tinged mystery in small town Ireland? Irresistible! My only regret is that I didn’t know about author Alexia Gordon sooner. The witty protagonist, Gethsemane Brown, isn’t a rarity in herself; real life (mine, anyway) includes many fascinating Black women classical musicians and singers. My own mother’s a bit like Gethsemane Brown. Middle-class, college-educated (and beyond) African American women read and buy a lot of books. So the woman herself isn’t unusual. Although publishing is changing, it’s still unusual to find such protagonists in the mystery and thriller fiction genres.

This was a fun, plot-driven read with plenty of creepy atmosphere. Gordon folds in just enough information from Murder in G Major, the first novel in the series, to keep readers that haven’t read it from feeling lost. Art theft and forgery drive the mystery, and Gordon includes interesting pieces of history -- free Blacks in colonial America, how to tell when a museum-quality textile is a forgery -- without letting the pace drag. The ghostly characters are as appealing as the live ones. Gordon writes great small town detectives, making them both tough and appealing. Secondary characters have realistic emotions and motivations. The last third of the novel introduces satisfying twists and turns, though they do come a bit quickly. Overall it was a clear narrative framework.

As a librarian, I appreciate the opportunity to recommend this new series to readers seeking variety in their cozy mystery fiction.

Gethsemane Brown looks to conjure Carraigfaire’s cottage ghost, Eamon, back to scare away hotel developer Hank Wayne. In addition to trying to figure out how to bring Eamon back, Gethsemane’s brother in law, Jackson, a museum curator, comes to visit while attending an auction of art textiles.
Her brother in law ends up accused of theft and eventually, murder.
In the meantime, Gethsemane is unable to conjure Eamon. Instead, because of the sea chantey she used, she finds she has brought back a sea captain from the 1800s. Captain Lochlan ends up to be related to one of the famous cross stitch sampler art piece that is found missing / suspected to be the motive for the murder.
This is the first book by Alexia Gordon that I have read. Even though I missed out on the background from the first book, it was easy to get acquainted with the characters and understand the “ghost” aspect of the story. The story and details of both Gethsamane’s background in music (professional violinist now music teacher) was easy to pick up. All the characters were interesting and there were enough of them to keep you wondering who really “did it”.
I will admit I was a little suspect at first on how the “ghost” element would work in the story, but I truly enjoyed Captain Lochlan, his interaction with Gethsemane and his background story.

Death in D Minor is the second book in the Gethsemane Brown Mystery series. If you haven't read Murder in G Major I encourage you to start there. Both books are excellent and stand on their own but why not start at the beginning.

If you have read the first book then you are in for a treat in the second. Gethsemane is back and facing a new crisis in the sale of the historic cottage where she lives to a hotel developer. Gethsemane desperately tries to summon Eamon, a great 20th century musician and former owner of the cottage, back from wherever he went back at the end of the last book. Instead she accidentally summons a the ghost of a ship's captain and gets a surprise visit from her brother-in-law.

Her brother-in-law, a museum curator, has come to Ireland to bid on a rare piece of embroidery at an auction. But someone sets him up to look as if he was attempting to steal the item. To help him, Gethsemane makes a deal with the police. She gets a job playing in the orchestra for a party at a collector's house and promises to snoop around to see if the collector is involved in a forgery ring. But unfortunately the collector ends up murdered and Gethsemane ends up even more deeply embroiled in trouble.

An excellent story, well written and brimming with humor, featuring quirky characters and filled with many twists and turns in the plot. If you are a mystery fan, this book should be on your list!

“Death in D Minor” earns 5/5 Ghostly Sidekicks…accident or not!

I am new to Alexia Gordon’s Gethsemane Brown Mystery series, so when offered the opportunity to read her second book, I grabbed at the chance and now…I am a big fan! Although I am a newbie starting with book 2 “Death in D Minor,” the story provided enough details and descriptions into the back story and character connections to keep me very engaged: Irish countryside? Ghostly sidekick? Forgeries? Murders? Who knew being a classical musician could be so…precarious! The story was exciting, nail-biting at times, humorous, and clever using the idea that Gethsemane can ‘summon’ up ghosts, even the wrong ghost, giving so many opportunities for a paranormal twist. Gordon’s characters are well developed this early in the series with Gethsemane becoming one of my favorite amateur detectives. But, Captain Lochlan, an eighteenth century ship’s captain, adds such a delightful dynamic! Playing out in the background we have intriguing references to needlework, comparisons with Irish and Black history, and issues with Gethsemane being an ex-pat. I really enjoyed this second book and am eager to go back and read book 1 “Death in G Major” to see how it all began.

I really enjoyed this 2nd Gethsemane Brown book. I really like the heroine, and some of the other characters were great as well. The storyline kept me interested, and I loved the Irish village setting. This one has a ghosts, art forgeries, stolen antiques and a killer. What more could you want? All of the above keep the pace moving right along, and give the book plenty of action. This was a good followup to the first book of the series. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Henery Press has another winner.

Gethsemane Brown is up to her ears in murder again - but this time it also involves art forgery (both textiles and oil paintings) and two gentle ghosts. She finds herself and her brother in law charged with murder and in the middle of a ring of forgers that has done its work on both sides of the Atlantic. And while processing crime clues, her landlord is about to sell her rented lighthouse for an obnoxious price to an obnoxious real estate baron. She will need help from her friendly ghost, Eamon, the original owner of the property where she now resides; except, the wrong ghost shows up.

I am not a believer in ghosts, but if I could enjoy Casper as a child, I can also enjoy Eamon and Daniel, the ghost of a 19th-century sea captain who knew the artist whose work was being forged. In fact, he blamed himself for her death. Throw in a couple of eccentric FBI agents, and members of the Irish Guards (i.e. police), and the author has an interesting tale that should capture the interest of a number of readers. Though this is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. I had reviewed the earlier book and did enjoy the further development of the characters in the author’s second book. Whether you have read the first book or not, Murder In D-Minor is fun reading.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

I had high hopes going into reading DEATH IN D MINOR, and I was not disappointed. An Irish setting, music, murder, priceless needlework, and ghosts all come together to make a delightfully entertaining read.

In this second book in the series, we find classical musician and composer/teacher Gethsemane Brown facing eviction during the Christmas holiday. American developer Hank Wayne seems to have his sights set on buying the beloved cottage from her resident ghost’s heir. She devises a plan that she and ghost Eamon can scare away Wayne…but Eamon is MIA. Desperate, she turns to a book about the occult, provided by the village priest, to summon Eamon. However, she summons an eighteenth century ship captain instead. To make matters more complicated, her museum curator brother-in-law Jackson arrives in town on short notice to procure a valuable piece of needlework. Things go awry when Jackson is accused of theft, and they both find themselves involved in outing an international art forgery ring. When an art collector falls to her death during a gala, suspicious eyes turn to Gethsemane, and she finds that she must clear her own name, too. No problem, right?

I really enjoyed my time spent with Gethsemane. More traditional mystery than cozy, the story is full of danger, intrigue, and humor. All of the elements of the story appeal to me, and, though I am not a musician of Gethsemane’s caliber, I would like to think we would be friends in real life. I am also a cross stitcher so the textile component is also interesting, and one can never go wrong with the inclusion of a gallant ghost from another century.

The mystery is well developed, if a bit far-fetched. The list of suspects is ever evolving, and it was fun detangling each character’s role and motivation. I did not see the twist at the end involving two characters at all. I do love being surprised, and this final turn of events make the tale memorable. Gethsemane’s plight with her cottage falls to wayside, and its resolution is quickly addressed, almost as a post script.

DEATH IN D MINOR is fun reading, and I recommend it to any mystery reader who enjoys a touch of the paranormal.

Gethsemane Brown is happy when her brother-in-law comes for a visit in Ireland. He's here to try and buy a priceless early American embroidery. When he's suspected of stealing it, she's recruited by the Garda to help exonerate him. While trying to clear her brother-in-law she finds the body of Olivia McCarthy-Boyle, the owner of the sampler. Can she do it? I liked Gethsemane. She's a feisty, intelligent woman. The fact that she's detail oriented means she doesn't miss any clues. Her brother-in law, Jackson Applethwaite, is protective and caring. I liked him, but he can't stop her from putting herself in danger. Gethsemane has a mind of her own. She'll do what she thinks is right. I loved how she called forth a ghost to help haunt a house. What happened next made me laugh. This mystery is well written and filled with unexpected twists. The setting added to the atmosphere. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and the ending was a shock. I never saw it coming. Alexia Gordon created interesting characters and wrote a well written mystery.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

These books were quick and easy reads, they were a wonderful cross genre between Supernatural fiction and Crime. Gethsemane was a really interesting character to read about and Eamon was just wonderful sarcastic and witty. I really missed him in the second book, even though the new ghost, the sea Captain was also really fun to read, though in different ways.

I think I preferred the plot of the first book to the plot of the second though. I enjoyed getting to know Gethsemane's brother in law, I just didn't feel as interested in the crime. I'm not really sure why. There was plenty of tension and intrigue, but I didn't get into it. Perhaps because I liked Eamon so much.

Both books though were thrilling, intense and well written. I loved how Irish everything was because Ireland is a place that I haven't been and really like to read about. I also really liked the fact that Gethsemane was black and American. It was nice to see Ireland through her eyes and her race really contributed to the mystery and crime in the second book.

I really like this series and will definitely keep reading it.

Musician Gethsemane Brown is back!  The action again takes place in a small Irish village where Brown is teaching. She is a quirky protagonist, , and she has a lot of problems to look into in this one.

The old cottage where she lives is about to be sold to an obnoxious American real estate tycoon. The only way Brown can save it is to summon the ghost of the previous owner. He helped her solve a mystery in the last book, but he has disappeared and Brown is unable to find him. She even resorts to an old book of spells but somehow manages to conjure up a different troubled spirit.

At the same time, her brother-in-law is in town to purchase some priceless needlework for his art museum. Several murders take place, and an old art forgery case comes to light.

I really like the her, but the other character as well as the plot is a bit far-fetched even for me.

Netgalley/Henry Press.