Killing in C Sharp

Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #3

by Alexia Gordon

She saved Carraigfaire—but can she save her friends?

Gethsemane Brown fought off an attack by a sleazy hotel developer who wanted to turn her Irish cottage into a tourist trap. Now she must face a vengeful ghost determined to exact revenge for her murder centuries ago.

This ghost’s wrath spares no one—not Gethsemane’s students, Inspector Niall O’Reilly, fellow teacher Frankie Grennan, or a group of ghost hunters descended on Dunmullach to capture proof ghosts exist.

Proof Gethsemane has to quash to keep Eamon, her resident ghost and friend, from becoming an internet sensation.

As if a spiteful specter wasn’t bad enough, a crooked music reviewer turns up dead in the opera house orchestra pit, a famous composer is arrested for the crime, and Gethsemane must team up with a notorious true-crime author to clear his name.

If she doesn’t, friends will die, a ghost she cares about will never know peace, and she’ll star in a final act gruesome enough for any opera.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Audiobook, Ireland, Ghosts

266 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2018

About the author

A writer since childhood, 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.

I won a Lefty Award, was nominated for an Agatha Award and a Silver Falchion Award, and was chosen one of Suspense Magazine's best debuts of 2016.

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. After a time in the desert, I missed deciduous trees so I headed northeast to the Chicago area. I completed Southern Methodist University's Writer's Path program in Dallas, Texas. If pushed, I will admit Texas brisket is as good as Carolina pulled pork. I enjoy classical music, fine whiskey, art, travel, embroidery, and a good ghost story.

I am a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Crime Writers of Color. I am represented by Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC and published by Henery Press.

You can find me on:

Facebook: @AlexiaGordon.Writer

Twitter: @AlexiaGordon

Instagram: @drlex1995

Goodreads: Alexia_Gordon

Pinterest: alexia_gordon

Blogs:
www.missdemeanors.com, one of Writers' Digest's Best 101 Websites for Writers.
https://femmesfatales.typepad.com/my_...

Podcast: The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon, part of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network
https://anchor.fm/alexia-gordon

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orchestral conductor and seer of ghosts, Gethsemane Brown is back in this third installment of the music-murder-paranormal series that takes place in lovely rural Ireland. I absolutely LOVE the setting. The descriptions of the quaint little Irish town where Gethsemane teaches school and deals with ghost Eamon (who happens to live in her house) completely make this book. Add in a team of ghost hunters visiting her village, a curse that feels like it’s straight out of Phantom of the Opera, and a classroom full of teenage boys eager to get on TV, and this was a fun ride.

[Monica **can't read fast enough** · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try not to give detailed reviews of mysteries so that I do not give too much of the story away. This is going to be a short and somewhat vague review!

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 installment is 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.

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

UPDATED 1/30/2019 AFTER SECOND READING

I highly recommend this series! I enjoyed binge reading books 1-3 as much if not more than reading them the first time around. I don't see many people talking about this series and it should get much more attention. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, these are ones that you should pick up. I'm so glad I chucked the idea of needing to move through some new to me reads and decided to treat myself with a reread of these before moving on to FATALITY IN F which I am doing now.


Where to find me:
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Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 premiere 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 excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” in her head, Gethsemane and her friends have to 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 genius, and more are all interesting and very real.

The subject of reviews for pay is an interesting one. It is a path down which no reputable or ethical reviewer would tread.

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 wonderful traditional/paranormal mystery. In fact, this is the best book in the series, so far.

KILLING IN C SHARP (Trad Mys-Gethsemane Brown-Ireland-Contemporary) - Ex
Gordon, Alexia – 3rd in series
The Henery Press – March 2018

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the third book in this series, internationally recognized concert violinist-turned-music teacher Gethsemane Brown finds that the crew of a basic-cable paranormal TV show has come to the out-of-the-way Irish village of Dunmullach, having set its sights on finding evidence of the ghost of the late internationally renowned composer Eamon McCarthy. Gethsemane knows that the village’s peace of mind — not to mention Eamon’s and hers — will disappear if there’s proof of Eamon’s ghostly existence, since tourists and paranormal enthusiasts will turn Dunmullach into a pilgrimage site. But how to foil the TV crew?

There’s a secondary plot about the vengeful ghost of a murdered Hungarian princess, which proves a bit distracting. But my real problem with Killing in C Sharp is its many deus ex machina and, even more so, its implausible ending. Eamon’s beloved wife Orla, whom he’s been desperately seeking for 25 freaking years makes a great sacrifice for him and ceases to exist, and Eamon’s all chipper at the end of this novel? I don’t think soooooo. And it’s a great pity. This novel could have been as wonderful as Murder in G Major and Death in D Minor with some restraint and revision. Here’s to hoping that author Alexia Gordon returns to her previous glory in time for book No. 4.

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really grown to love the Gethsemane Brown Cozy Mystery Series and, after reading KILLING IN C SHARP, think that each book is better than the last.

In KILLING IN C SHARP, we find Gethsemane fresh off the events of the previous book. Hoping to be able to settle back to normal (but what is normal since she moved to Ireland?), she is disappointed to find out that her landlord, and resident ghost Eamon’s nephew, has invited a television ghost hunting group to investigate the cottage. In addition to “hiding” Eamon, she must deal with a guest composer who has come to town to premier his new opera based on a centuries old legend. Gethsemane deflects the TV crew to the opera house, but things get out of control when the ghost from the legend is released and the curse attached to her makes people fall ill, not to mention the dead body found in the orchestra pit. Unethical music critic Bernard Stolz made enemies everywhere he went, and there is no shortage of suspects for his murder, but composer Aed Devlin is arrested for the crime. Gethsemane is sure Aed is innocent so she joins forces with her nemesis, true crime writer Venus James, to find the real killer, contain Maja and end the curse before some of the ill die, and keep Eamon from being exposed.

Gordon does a great job of taking unbelievable circumstances and making the premise of the tale totally believable. Do readers need to be open minded about ghosts and curses? Yes, but it is so much fun. KILLING IN C SHARP incorporates some of my favorite things into the story – opera, ghosts, Ireland – and makes for an entertaining, compelling read. The murder mystery is well developed and interesting, but it is the thread involving Maja that really shines. There are secrets, false identities, danger, and sacrifice within the book’s pages. Sounds like it could be its own opera, right? The suspects all have viable motives, and I did not have it all figured out until close to the end. The resolution is tragic in its own right. My only quibble with the book concerns a character’s sacrifice at the end of the book. I just do not feel like Eamon would be so fine with the consequence and result of this sacrifice.

Gethsemane is a great protagonist and amateur sleuth. She is strong minded and intelligent, yet also logical and snarky. I think she and I could be friends. The other recurring characters, including Inspector Niall and child genius Saoirse, are well developed and unique. I have even grown to like Venus.

I greatly enjoyed KILLING IN C SHARP and recommend it to any cozy reader, especially those who enjoy a pronounced paranormal theme.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Killing in C Sharp” earns 5+/5 Ghostly Apparitions…and Murderous Revenge!

So much is going on in Alexa Gordon’s third book that it just may be the best one yet. First, Gethsemane’s plan to thwart the sale of Carriagfaire Cottage has resulted in a hitch…no good dead goes unpunished? Revealing Eamon’s ghost to be “dead and well” may have derailed the lucrative sale, but it has forced Billy McCarthy, owner and Eamon’s living nephew, to contract Ghost Hunters Adventures to investigate paranormal activity…for a good sum of money, of course, and Gethsemane will cooperate or vacate the premise. Second, acclaimed composer Áed Daniels, scheduled to lecture and hold a master class at St. Brenna’s, has written a new opera based on a Hungarian legend fraught with death, shame, revenge…and a curse? Not only would the composer be in jeopardy from a thirteenth-century curse, but anyone who witnesses the production. Third, the composer has a serious conflict with a music critic who publicized a plagiarism claim that turned out to not be true, but instead of retracting his report, he doubled down with claims of an affair that led to a young woman’s suicide. Then, there’s a true crime author arriving hoping to revise her popular book after its claims had been debunked, Gethsemane’s continued friendship with her ghost roommate, and…another murder? Yes, this is the best book…ever!

Alexa Gordon has become a favorite…a big favorite! This third book delightfully entertains with a paranormal twist realistically incorporated into the storyline. It is not juvenile hocus-pocus; the ghosts, ghost hunters, curses, and unexplained events and smells all work well. Alexa’s descriptions and dialogue help give the reader a true sense of the surroundings, emotions, and personalities to get anyone invested in this series. Newbies need not shy away since enough background and character connections are provided without spoilers, but I highly recommend all three books be read in order…you wouldn't start with dessert in your three-course meal, would you? I greatly enjoyed the audio versions of book one and two so well that I can actually hear the Irish brogues in my head. That was fun!

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

Since I stayed up late finishing this, it's definitely better than 3 stars even if I am not a fan of paranormal, but there was a big thing in this that made me round down instead of up.

The ghost hunting reality show crew is in town--they arrived at the end of the last book, and they are hoping to catch evidence of the ghost living in the same cottage as Gesthamane. In addition, a disgraced composer is there with a new opera, hoping to resurrect his career with a new opera, to be performed locally. He has actually done nothing wrong, but was dissed after a very scathing review. Lo and behold, that nasty, universally disliked journalist shows up in town as well. The biggest problem appears to be the curse that was laid during the historic event being depicted in the opera.

There is mystery and mayhem as things begin stirring up and a number of boys and men become ill...

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hoot this book - Killing in C Sharp - has been. I just learned about them, and that there are two books before this one. I've been real tickled with the way it's been written, and how the book reads. I give it a really good rating, and if you read it, hope you have as much fun as I did. There is a touch of the paranormal too, which I didn't know until I was well into it. Gethsemane Brown is looking forward to a visit from a once-famous composer whose career was ruined by a scathing review. When she meets Aed, she is glad to have the chance to hear his new opera. But on the other hand, she's disgusted by the fact that her landlord Billy McCarthy (nephew of her resident ghost Eamon) has ordered her to open her little cottage to paranormal investigators to prove that Eamon exists. But that's not all. She also has to deal with a true crime writer, Venus James, who wrote a book on Eamon and his wife Orla that was claimed murder-suicide (not true) which hasn't endeared her to Gethsemane. I've found the main character of Gethsamane Brown quite a hoot. Never heard that name used before. That was something too. I liked the touch of classical music, and really all the many dimensions in the book.

But as if things couldn't get any worse, they do. Bernard Stoltz, the man who wrote the career-ending review, has also arrived in their little village and it's not just Aed who hates him, but she notices that Venus doesn't want anything to do with him, either. In fact, Aed and Bernard get into a fight and Venus refuses to stay at the same hotel as Bernard, leaving only Gethsemane to offer her refuge.

But it's the legend the opera is based upon that is causing the most problems - a young woman who was walled up in a castle by her own family. Maja has cursed anyone who writes of her, and one of the investigators, a woman named Poe, seems almost excited about Maja returning. When the opera is given a rehearsal, for all appearances it seems Maja has returned, along with her curse - that all first born men will die. There is an actual death, of course, but then something strange happens - Inspector O'Reilly takes suddenly ill, along with Gethsemane's fellow teacher Frankie Grennan - and half the boys who were attending; an investigator, and probably more in the village.

Now Gethsemane has to wonder how to stop the curse, keep the investigators from finding out about Eamon, find out who killed the man at rehearsal, and suddenly everything seems to be swirling around her when she gets help from two unlikely sources - Eamon and Saoirse Nolan, a twelve-year-old genius - who may be her only chance to save the lives of her friends...

I will say that of the three books I've read so far, I liked this one the best. Gethsemane has lost some of the arrogance I found to be present in the previous two, and has become more attached to her little village, and in turn, her new friends. While she hasn't lost her sharp wit, she has mellowed her sharp tongue which before seemed to me to be snarky. Therefore I like her better as a person. I also liked the fact that it showed in this book how much she cares about Niall and Frankie and how their health was foremost in her mind.

I liked the intrigue and the search for a killer; there were enough suspects with everyone hating the man; and soon secrets began to come to the forefront that only muddied the waters and made it harder for Gethsemane to find the answers. Unlike other books, this time with Frankie and Niall both being under the curse, it was up to her - with a little help from Venus - to find a killer and look for ways to stop the curse. It was an interesting journey with lots of action throughout.

All in all, the killer was found (as we know they must be), justice was served in its own way for all involved, and there was of course, sadness involved, as you can't always have happy endings all around. A satisfying read and I look forward to the next in the series. Recommend.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the excellent Gethsemane Brown mysteries finds the story progressing along very nicely. Gethsemane is getting along very well in Ireland, she is settling down in Dunmullach and is less snarky as she is becoming an accepted figure in village, at the local pub, and in the school where she teaches. The best part is that her ghostly friend Eamon is back and just in time. Gethsemane managed to save her beloved cottage from a greedy developer but now she has to deal with Eamon's nephew, Billy McCarthy. There is also a malicious ghost on the scene who does not take it well when an opera is written about her.

This book is a wonderful continuation of the previous books. Ms. Gordon has created a mystery/paranormal series that is a perfect balance of action, mystery, intrigue, and character development, all the elements I look for in a well-written cozy mystery. Perhaps along the way and far in the future, a romantic interest for Gethsemane. I am so looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Jinx · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing amounts of misogyny and acephobia, plus generally bad writing. A character who's spent her career desperately trying to prove the existence of ghosts barely blinks when she finally encounters real ghosts for the first time? Another character's death is spoiled by a premature reference to his "spirit" before we've even been told he's dead? And most jarringly, a third character who is portrayed as nothing more than mildly rude and snarky is described throughout the book as "psychotic", friendless, and utterly hateful - a classic case of telling rather than showing? What happened here? I enjoyed the first book in the series, but it's rapidly gone downhill. I'm afraid I won't be continuing to follow this author's work.

P.S. I can't believe I almost forgot one of the most disappointing plot points of all. Really? We're going to do Orla THAT dirty? If the writing had been good enough for me to care about the characters more, I would have been absolutely incensed by that ending.

P.P.S. The bits of French and German included in the story also contained glaring grammatical errors. Please, please don't rely on Google Translate.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

My initial impression was that the author surely never set foot in an Irish village and probably never even visited the country where she set her series, so she might not realise how bizarre some of her book was, but I just found it irritating and it detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
However, putting aside the ludicrous village (with one solitary pub serving adults only, an opera house, a newspaper office, a fully staffed local Garda station with CSIs and even a resident cold case detective etc) and the use of expressions never heard or used in that part of Ireland, or for that matter probably anywhere in the country, the actual murder mysteries were okay
Personally, I cannot get past the incongruities, and because the whole plot hinged on them, I am not a fan of this particular series.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Killing in C Sharp by Alexia Gordon, musical virtuoso Dr. Gethsemane Brown, who teaches music at St. Brennan's, an all- boys' school in Dunmullach, Ireland, is facing visits from two different groups of people. First, St. Brennan's is hosting Aed Devlin, who is trying to make a comeback in his formerly brilliant composing career as he debuts a new opera at his alma mater. Then, Gethsemane's landlord is allowing a television show, Ghost Hunting Adventures, to search at the historic cottage the musician rents. The paranormal experts want to locate the ghost of Eamon McCarthy, the greatest composer of the 20th century, whom Gethsemane vindicated of murdering his wife and then committing suicide in Murder in G Major. Since Eamon actually does live as a ghost at Carraigfaire, the cottage he owned during life, Gethsemane has an incentive to get the group out of her house before they discover the truth and lead hordes of curiosity seekers to Dunmullach and Carraigfaire.

Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Gethsemane Brown! Thank you Dr. Gordon, for creating this sensational series. So far, each Gethsemane Brown book has been a cultural and intellectual feast. Gratifying from beginning to end. Please open one book and see for yourself.

5 stars

[Kristine Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 Sharptakes 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. Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me an eBook in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog: http://bit.ly/KillingInC

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Chaitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gethsemane, and this book is no exception. The mystery is twisty and satisfying, and Eamon, so sorely absent in the last book is present in all his glory in this one. Weird stuff happens with regards to Eamon and Orla, and I was a bit iffy about it but it ends the only way that matters to me, so it's all good. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Basia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one, much more than the last one, but the ending made me so furious that I nearly threw my computer across the room.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Although not a huge lover of paranormal stories, I enjoy the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries. In this outing, Gethsemane; a violinist, conductor, and music conductor/teacher at a local school, has saved her cottage from developers, thus saving the spirit of composer Eamon McCarthy who inhabits the cottage where he once lived. Her landlord believes that the ghost of Eamon lives in the cottage, so he has granted permission for a team of ghost hunters to investigate. To deflect the investigators, she points them to the opera house where composer Aed Devlin plans to premiere his work about Maja Zoltán who died placing a curse to occur each year on the anniversary of her death. When the playing and singing of the opera conjure Maja's ghost, Gethsemane and Eamon have to come up with a plan to send her back to wherever she came from. Along with this, there is a murder during the dress rehearsal and as usual, Gethsemane is investigating to get her friend off the hook and out of jail.

Even though this is the third book in the series, there is enough of a backstory given that this book can be read as a standalone. I enjoy Gordon’s characters, they are all fully-developed and very interesting and quirky. Because this series takes place in the Irish village of Dunmullach, the reader gets to learn about living in a small Irish Village with all that goes with it. Gethsemane is a great MC. She is smart, confident, competent, as well being an in your face kind of gal. She loves Irish Whisky and is no shrinking violet. Father Tom plays a big role in this story delving into his older brother’s collection of books on the occult, Neill of the Gardaí and Saoirse the 12-year-old genius are also front and centre in solving this mystery as well as dealing with the spectre of Maja. A side story is the subject of reviews for pay, and poor reviews for non-pay. This is something that has always interested me, as well as the ethics of that. There is still enough humour in the story to counteract some of the more serious issues. The mystery was well plotted and wove into the paranormal storyline well. The final reveal was not what I had expected, but it fit the story well. With the twists and clues sprinkled throughout the story, this was a great addition to this series. Ms. Gordon has created a mystery/paranormal series that is a perfect balance of action, mystery, intrigue, and character development. Overall, I wouldn't say this was the best in the series so far, but it was definitely a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery. If you enjoy a Paranormal Cozy, then you need to pick up this book and series.

I listened to the audiobook of this one. I stole this comment from a review of another book on Audiofile, but it fits this book very well. "Narrator Helen Duff deftly transitions between the diverse characters, giving each his or her own identity and distinct voice." I love that she slipped into different accents without a missing a beat. I will definitely look for more books narrated by Helen Duff.

[Ruthie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold your curses! This book was fun too.

Ok, the plot is really far out there this time around too, but I somehow bought it, in spite of the disbelief I kept laughing off.
I struggled just a little bit with the very specific curse that of course became activated in Gethsemane's little village and almost killed a lot of people, buuuuuut that was a minor issue.

I felt sorry for Orla in this book. While I understand why the author had to do what was done to her, I really didn't like it. Or how it was done. That was the only sort-of "stain" on the book for me.

Other than that I enjoyed the whole thing with the opera, the kids, the ghost hunters and the ghosts, of course. I hope there will be more of Saoirse (at least I hope that's how it's spelled) in the future books. She's really cool.

Frankie and Naill are absolutely brilliant friends to Gethsemane. I like how there could be potential romance there, but (so far) is none. It feels nice, for a change.

At the same time, I wouldn't mind if Gethsemane picked one of them. However, since she also has excellent chemistry with Eamon, the ghost, I'm mainly rooting for status quo at the moment. It's just a really nice feeling of all these grown up people hanging out and solving crimes that makes me all warm and fuzzy and intellectually excited inside. 😂

Two more books to go. I hope they are just as good!

[Patricia Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gethsemane Brown and her very dead friend, Eamon are just settling back into life at the cottage when Billy tosses her the news that he has invited a group of Ghost Hunters and their entire television crew to set up shop and try to find Eamon. 

Looking forward to the arrival of Aed Devlin to liven up the village with his new opera based on an old tale and a curse. When the critic who ruined his career is found dead in the orchestra pit and all the men start falling like dominoes, Gethsemane isn't the only one seeing a terrifying apparition on stage. 

Teaming up with Eamon and true crime writer Venus, she sets out to find out exactly who is involved and why before there are more deaths.

I enjoy every character in this series. Smart, strong woman teaching music and learning to live with a ghost? Yes please, I'm in!

Well Done!

Netgalley/Henery Press  March 06, 2018

[Shelley Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this to be my "ghost story" for the Popsugar reading challenge, and it ended up fitting perfectly, since not only are there the regular ghosts that Gethsemane can see while she solves her mysteries, but there's a ghost hunting TV crew in this story too! One thing I appreciate about this cozy mystery series is that Gethsemane isn't tech-averse like so many cozy heroines are. She actually seems like she's living in the modern age and talks about social media, which makes sense, considering she works with teenagers. I also appreciated that there's a casually asexual side character in this book. I've been reading fewer cozy mysteries this year, which I think is a good plan, because now I'm being pickier and liking the ones I choose more. Smart me!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gethsemane is being forced to open her cottage to a group of ghost hunters wanting to film their latest episode there in hopes of catching the famous McCarthy ghost on film. Besides the hunters there is the debut of an opera written by a famous composer to help keep her occupied as well. Things heat up when a crooked music reviewer ends up murdered during a rehearsal of the opera, a really angry ghost is unleashed, and an illness hits all the first born men in the village. Gethsemane has her hands full trying to figure out how to appease the ghost so that the illness curse will be reversed.

[Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

So.. it's just like the other two.. but I can't read anymore of them.. I feel as if they are exactly the same book.
The characters are still likable.. but.. meh

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It felt tighter and more focused than the earlier books. All the elements were tied into the mystery, instead of competing story components of murder, ghosts, music, and expat challenges pulling the story in different directions. I mean, the premise is still pretty out there, but if you've made it this far in the series, that probably doesn't bother you. Looking forward to the remaining 2 books in the series!

[Narules · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy paranormal investigations, this one’s for you. There’s more action, ghosts, hauntings, and adventures than previous books in the series. The quick recaps means this book can stand alone.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry, but an ancient grimoire that tells how to trap a ghost in the SD card of a cell phone?? I DRAW THE LINE.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series. It makes me laugh and keeps my attention. There’s not anything too deep but the author has done a good job with character development over the first three books.