Fatality in F by Alexia Gordon: Book Tour and Review
Pour yourself a bourbon and settle in for a fun mystery read as I talk about Alexia Gordon’s newest release, Fatality in F, the latest addition to her Gethsemane Brown Mystery series. Through Lone Star Book Blog Tours, I had the chance to read an advance copy – and you have a chance to win your own copy via the giveaway below!
FATALITY IN F
A Gethsemane Brown Mystery, Volume 4
by
Alexia Gordon
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of Publication: February 26, 2019
Number of Pages: 234
Scroll down for the giveaway!
Fresh from solving her third mystery—and saving Dunmullach’s firstborn males from a vengeful ghost—Gethsemane Brown’s ready to relax and enjoy her summer. Her plans include nothing more dangerous than performing in the opening ceremony of the annual rose and garden show and cheering on Frankie Grennan, who’s entered his hybrid rose into the competition.
But when a mysterious stalker starts leaving Frankie floral bouquets as coded messages, Gethsemane fears a copy-cat may be planning to recreate the still-unsolved murders of the infamous Flower Shop Killer. Then Frankie’s main competitor in the rose show—and the reason his marriage failed—turns up dead in Frankie’s rose garden. Frankie takes first prize in the category “prime suspect.”
So much for a relaxing summer.
As bodies start dropping like rose petals, Gethsemane must judge the other suspects and find the real killer. Or rose bushes won’t be the only things dead-headed in Dunmullach.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of cozy mysteries – I review quite a few of them here on the blog, and there are a few writers whose books I will seek out when I hear there is a new release forthcoming. Alexia Gordon, with her Gethsemane Brown series, top that list. Gethsemane is a smart, complex woman – a fast-talking, bourbon-drinking, level-headed classical violinist/music teacher/sometime conductor who quotes Negro League baseball statistics in her head to calm herself when she gets herself into a pickle. Which is often, much to the chagrin of the local garda, as well has how frequently she seems to simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In most cozy mysteries, certain things are expected, one being quirky community characters. Gordon’s books are littered with smart, likable characters who lean more towards “interesting” than “quirky” – including her resident ghost, Eamon. Gethsemane and her friends (living and spectral) exchange barbs and jabs, snarky comments, and conversations that reflect intelligence – and how well the village characters are getting to know Gethsemane’s quite determined personality.
The plot moves along at a steady clip, with each new detail pointing the story in a different direction until the only thing I was sure of is that I did not know whodunnit! There are betrayals aplenty amid the involved players, with a surprisingly complicated plot that involves competition amidst rose growers and some possible nefarious behavior, a pharmaceutical company that makes drugs using rare plants, and a secret admirer that may or may not be taking a number from a decades old unsolved murder. There also may be a moody, protective ghost throwing energy balls aplenty.
While part of a series, there is enough detail to allow Fatality in F to stand on its own without having read previous stories – although I would highly recommend taking in the previous books, the first, in particular, to glean all the details on how Gethsemane came to live in this small Irish town in a haunted cottage.
Fatality in F is a fun books for readers who like their mysteries with a bit of humor and a dash of the paranormal. It was a fun, easy read that did not disappoint.
PRAISE FOR THE GETHSEMANE BROWN MYSTERY SERIES:
Book 1, Murder in G Major
Winner of the 2017 Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel
2016 Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel
Suspense magazine “Best of 2016” selection in Debut Novel category
Book 2, Death in D Minor
Runner-Up, 2017 Lone Star Bloggers’ Choice Awards, Best Mystery
Book 3, Killing in C Sharp
Starred review, Publisher’s Weekly, January 29, 2018
CLICK TO ORDER FATALITY IN F:
A writer since childhood, Alexia Gordon won her first writing prize in the 6th grade. She continued writing through college but put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. She established her medical career then returned to writing fiction. Raised in the southeast, schooled in the northeast, she relocated to the west where she completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path program. She admits Texas brisket is as good as Carolina pulled pork. She practices medicine in North Chicago, IL. She enjoys the symphony, art collecting, embroidery, and ghost stories.
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GIVEAWAY!
One winner receives a signed copy of Fatality in F and a $30 Gift Card to David Austin Roses
FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 8, 2019
(US ONLY)
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 2/26/19 | Sneak Peek | Texas Book Lover |
| 2/26/19 | Playlist | All the Ups and Downs |
| 2/27/19 | Review | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 2/28/19 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 3/1/19 | Top 5 List | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 3/1/19 | Author Interview | Max Knight |
| 3/2/19 | Review | Bibliotica |
| 3/3/19 | Review | Sybrina’s Book Blog |
| 3/4/19 | Top 5 List | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 3/4/19 | Top 5 List | The Love of a Bibliophile |
| 3/5/19 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
| 3/6/19 | Series Spotlight | Kelly Well Read |
| 3/6/19 | Excerpt | Syd Savvy |
| 3/7/19 | Review | Forgotten Winds |
| 3/7/19 | Review | Book Fidelity |
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2 Comments
Kristine Hall
Agreed, agreed, agreed! This is a fabulous series and this book was excellent. I cannot wait for the next one. Thanks for a great review!
Jenn
She has such a unique premise for a cozy series – it’s always so much fun to read!