Fatality in F

Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #4

by Alexia Gordon, Helen Duff (Narrator)

actual listening time: 7h 27m

Fresh from solving her third mystery, 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 has entered his hybrid rose into the competition.

But when a mysterious stalker starts leaving Frankie floral bouquets as coded messages, Gethsemane fears a copycat 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 of 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.

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

8 pages, Audible Audio

First published February 26, 2019

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]

Gethsemane Brown, orchestra conductor and amateur sleuth, is back and ready to solve more mysteries in this fourth book in the series. This time, it’s to track down what’s going on surrounding mysterious rose bouquets being left in connection to a cold case murder from years ago—coinciding with a huge garden show in town where her orchestra is performing. But when someone turns up dead and a friend of Gethsemane’s is a prime suspect, she has to work with her ghost friends to figure out the connection between the two, and find the real killer.

I love finding cozy mystery series that are quirky and different, and this one with its Irish setting, and Gethsemane who is a musician and orchestral conductor, is a great addition to the other series I read. The writing is wonderfully detailed and I like that each book takes us in a slightly different direction.

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

Fatality in F is the fourth in the Gethsemane Brown series and my favorite so far. Gethsemane has a resurrected nickname among her two closest allies that she can't shake. Eamon, her resident ghost and friend, is around to give his help in solving the murders while trying to keep Gethsemane from stumbling into more trouble than necessary, which is often unsuccessful. Gethsemane has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time much to the chagrin of her friends and the local Garda. She doesn't go looking for trouble but she always seems to be somewhere near when trouble decides to pop up. In this latest installment Gethsemane is barely recovered from her latest brush with danger from both humans and an avenging ghost when she finds herself needing to use her talent for skillful observation to help one of her closest friends when he's accused of a crime that he didn't commit.

I enjoy this series so much that I re-read all three of the books leading up to Fatality in F just for the joy of being back with these characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries this series is one that I highly recommend picking up. It's best if you start from the beginning but not absolutely necessary.

As a matter of personal preference I admit that I would love for Gethsemane to eventually have a love interest. I don't in any way want this to turn into anything resembling a romance, but I do think that it would be fun to see her in a relationship with either Frankie, Niall, or even a brand new character. The dynamics between her friendships and a romantic partner would be great to see. Gethsemane is a woman who is confident in her abilities and it would be nice to see her eventually get a successful relationship too. But maybe she'll be one of those characters who happily stays independent without a romantic partner. I'm way overthinking this fictional character's life!

Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase

[Sybrina Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover and the title of this book are what drew me in. Fatality in F. . .oh, how musically delicious. Any author who can incorporate music into their work gains my immediate attention. This author, Alexia Gordon does not disappoint in book number four of her musical mystery series. Here's an example of what I mean by that: "Eerie, yet majestic, notes meant to evoke the Russian mountain spirit who protected the mines and their underground treasures welled up from the violin and spilled over onto the stage and into the auditorium." I love that imagery.

Not only does Ms. Gordon expound upon the emotional rifts and swells of music but she uses it as an instrumental background in such a way that you almost feel as if you are watching a movie rather than reading a book.
In this book, former world renowned classical violinist and current music director at the local boy's school, finds herself embroiled in investigating a murder within the rosarian community, as she prepares to conduct the Dunmullach Village Orchestra in the opening and awards ceremonies of the upcoming garden show, hosted by The International Rose Hybridizers’ Association. All right. . .murder. . .music and flowers. . .now I'm really interested.

Investigative Mysteries. . .How I love them and I have read quite a few. My favorite sleuths were the perky super snooper Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie’s elderly nose around Miss Marple and of course, the master of all consulting detectives, Sherlock Holmes. I must say that our heroine, the extraordinary Gethsemane Brown is a solid mix of all three. She's older than Nancy by about 20 years and much, much younger than Miss Marple but she's just as persistent as those two ladies and just as logical as dear old Sherlock.

There are so many great characters in this book who assist "Fearless Brown", as her friends sometimes call her, with the many investigations which manage to present themselves to her but I will mainly concentrate on Gethsemane and her ghostly protector for my review. I apologize for that but the dynamics between them really gets your imagination going.

So. . .about Gethsemane's ghost. . .Eamon McCarthy, inhabits the ancient lighthouse at Carraigfaire that Ms. Brown calls home. But for a few exceptions, he can also travel nearly anywhere he'd visited while alive. She became acquainted with the lovely spirit in a previous book while researching his death. Everyone had suspected suicide but Gethsemane proved he was poisoned to death with digoxin, a pharmaceutical derived from the beautiful bell-shaped purple flowers of the foxglove plant. Did I mention the author has a medical background? It really shows here and many other places in the book.

While reading about Gethsemane Brown and Eamon McCarthy, I just couldn’t stop thinking back to one of my favorite television programs from the late 60’s called The Ghost and Mrs Muir. That comedic series was based on a romantic fantasy movie that was based on a very popular cozy romance book (they weren’t called that back then, though) of the same title which was written by Josephine Leslie under the pseudonym of R. A. Dick.

Gethesemane and Eamon share a seaside home along with many private moments and revealing conversations, just like Mrs. Muir and her Captain Greg. I don't believe Captain Greg was able to leave the confines of Gull Cottage, though.

In addition to being able to travel, Eamon can move things around with his thoughts and can throw explosive orb blasts at evil doers. On the domestic front, he can brew up a mean pot of coffee or serve a whisky neat. He is even capable of learning new skills like how to maneuver through the world wide web to social media groups like Murderphile dot com. In fact, it is that new skill that leads G. Brown to one of the biggest clues for solving the mysterious murders in this book.

Like Captain Greg, Eamon experiences all of the emotions of a flesh and blood entity. He doesn't always use words to express them. Many times they are manifested as different colored auras. There's impatient turquoise, worried saffron, morose dull yellow, pink with embarrassment and unamused mauve. Eamon bristles umber when annoyed. His aura is radiant with blue fury when angry and when fearful he glows full-on terrified purple. Hmmm. . .I wonder what color love would cause his aura to appear? Will the author let us know in her next book?

Another big difference between Captain Greg and Eamon is that Gethsemane’s spectral friend reaches out to touch her and often. That is something that never occurred between Mrs. Muir and hers. The effects and powers of his touches range from affection (causing only a mild spark to flash through her) to desperation (literally throwing her over a cliff to save her from gunfire). It was the constant touching that had me wondering if there might be some hopeless romance budding between the two of them. Though they exist in two different dimensions they almost live as a married couple. As long as Eamon is in her life, I can't see her ever letting another man get very close.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to steer you in the wrong direction. This is not a love story. It is an all out who-dun-it murder mystery with lots of exciting events throughout. I highly recommend you read this book or series in any order you please. Fatality in F certainly stands on its own but you might want to start with Murder In G Major (#1). Then, move on to Death In D Minor (#2), followed by Killing In C Sharp (#3) and wrap it all up with book #4. Which ever route you decide on, you will be as impressed with Alexia Gordon's story-telling abilities as I am.

[TinaNoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and light read. I really enjoy Gethsemane and her merry band of characters. From the music references to the sense of place in the cozy Irish village this is a great series.

In this one we learn that flowers are a huge business. The rose growing set can be just as vicious and backstabbing as any a corporate raider. Add in big pharma and we've got a mystery on our hands.

Frankie (Gethsemane's friend and colleague) is an avowed rosarian. He had created his own rose hybrids and had entered them in an annual garden competition. But his biggest competition ends up dead with Frankie's own garden shears in his back.

Gethsemane, of course, can't let the garda railroad her buddy. So with the help of her resident Ghost Eammon (who comes in quite handy at times) and even (to their dismayed puzzlement) members of the garda, she dives into the world of flowers, plants and weed killers.

Of the four books in the series thus far, this one has felt the coziest. I enjoyed learning about the language of flowers and seeing all the relationships of regulars have deepened over the series.

Good installment.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six months after she solved the last murders, Gesthemane is looking forward to a quiet summer when a mystery person starts leaving Frankie coded messages with flower bouquets, which seems to mimic an old cold case called the Flower Shop Murders. This coincides with a flower competition where Frankie is one of the top two contenders for the best hybrid rose, although the other man, who heads a botany company, always wins. Of course, when the multi-prize winning competitor is murdered in Frankie's garden, he is the prime suspect.

The writing is good, the mystery is well done, but once again, paranormal is not my normal fare.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still enjoying this paranormal cozy mystery series, Gethsemane Brown Mysteries. Gethsemane has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not looking for trouble, but being near when trouble happens. Even though not only of the garda want her help, when one of her friends is accused of murder, she is ready to share her thoughts and observations with them. In this outing, Gethsemane, a former world renowned classical violinist and current music director at the local boy's school, finds herself investigating a murder within the competitive rose growing community. Hired to conduct the Dunmullach Village Orchestra in the opening and awards ceremonies of the upcoming garden show, hosted by The International Rose Hybridizers’ Association, she stumbles upon a murder where her friend, Frankie Grennan is the major suspect.

I really enjoy the characters in these books. There is of course, Fearless Brown, as friends call Gethsemane. She is extremely smart, talented, tenacious and has excellent observation skills. Her friends and neighbours all have talents of their own and add much to the stories. Eamon, the ghost who shares a home with her, is a wonderful sidekick to this sleuth. He has a lot of talents, and in this book learns to surf the web. It is this new skill that puts Gethsemane the path to find the real killer. I love Eamon's character. He is crusty, yet cares very much for Gethsemane. He has various auras that show his emotions, whether it is impatient, sad, worried and more. The mystery is fun and well-paced. There are some red herrings as well as twists along the way to the reveal. One addition to this series is the introduction to classical music pieces and composers by the author, Alexia Gordon. If a reader is interested, using the information in the story, you can find more about the composers and pieces online. Overall, this is a well written and entertaining cozy mystery that I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

[Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and classical music seem to go together for Gethsemane Brown. And she has done it again. Gethsemane, her cohort of community friends, and one almost friendly ghost,
Eamon McCarthy, are again called upon to the murder mystery surrounding The International Rose Hybridizers’ Association. Watching Gethsemane living in an Irish community with its mythos and culture, is as much fun as watching her solve the current problem standing before her.

As expected, Alexia Gordon has produced an enjoyable cozy mystery that will hold the reader's attention from page one. But Alexia Gordon also adds a brief introduction to the classical music world as she introduces us to the composers and music that are part of that world. The author does not focus on just the names that most neophytes might know, but also lesser known names (at least to this author) from the classical music genre such as Prokofiev’s ‘Prologue from The Tale of the Stone Flower’ or Strauss’s ‘Roses from The South’. A quick search on Google and the reader can verify the facts presented by Ms. Gordon, learn more about the composer, and listen to the pieces referenced in the book. It might be possible for the publisher to create a website supporting this successful author and the musical references made in her books.

The book is great just as a cozy mystery read. This book easily earns its 5-star review. However, for those in high school or college, it might serve as a lighter text in those institutions highlighting “Reading Across the Curriculum” or “Writing Across the Curriculum”. Combined with a writing and listening assignment, it could also easily integrate into an appropriate course.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fatality in F” earns 5/5 Prize Roses…Brilliant Fun and Entertaining!

Wow! There are several reasons why Alexia Gordon is a big favorite…clever plot lines, intriguing side stories, fascinating details, wonderful (some quirky) characters, snarky giggles, and a very satisfying conclusion. With the fourth book in her Gethsemane Brown Mystery, I was swept up again in cheating, secrets, lies, and murder! The Irish village of Dummullach has been selected to host the Thirteenth Rose and Garden Show competition for the International Rose Hybridizers’ Association with both professional rosarians and amateurs vying for top prizes and possibly lucrative rewards. Frankie Grennan, good friend and colleague, is eager to submit his prize hybrid rose, the Sandra Sechrest, but he's professionally and personally up against the odds-on favorite. Gethsemane, however, has trouble keeping a miniature rose alive, so instead she will use her highly respected talents leading the musical performances. Frankie seems to have a secret admirer, or stalker, leaving a peculiar bouquet of flowers, and Gethsemane literally ran into the mysterious figure with the bouquet, so the who and why is a mystery she's very eager to unravel. But it's her inner alarm and her ghostly roommate’s premonition that seems to change everyone’s focus. Rivalries, competitors, cold cases, murder…and Frankie is missing! Gethsemane is told to stay out of it…yeah, right!

So much going on in this fourth book. And newbies? You can easily start reading with book four since background and connections are mentioned without spoilers, however to enrich your experience I strongly suggest starting from the beginning and moving through the series in order. Alexia Gordon feeds my passion for a little paranormal in my cozy with the delightful, helpful, exasperating ghost of Eamon McCarthy. It is not written as juvenile hocus-pocus; he is a typical sidekick/savior that just happens to be able to eavesdrop unnoticed, transport quickly, levitate objects, and yes, even make coffee. The story is well-written and compelling revisiting a 60’s cold case, exploring the fascinating “language” of flowers, illustrating behind-the-scenes conflicts, and incorporating a very contemporary issue. Not knowing which focus is important and which is a red herring, my inner detective was delightfully challenged until the final killer and motive was revealed. I'm not a fan of the third-person narrative, but Alexia did well keeping my attention with vivid descriptions, entertaining banter, and some nail-biting “Watch Out!” But, is that a cliffhanger at the end or a tease for book five? I love it!

Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in the garden. A flower show. Best rose in show. Florists and flowers and a possible copycat killer.

Ohh, I liked all of this book. So. Much. Fun.

In many ways this book was a little bit "back to basics". Not so "far out there" as the previous two with over-the-top plot-lines. This flowed a bit more naturally.

I keep wondering for how much longer Gethsemane is going to be able to keep Eamon a secret from Frankie and Naill. I can't wait to see how they will react if/when told. In my head it has immense potential for a hilarious scene or two.

I only have one more book left now. Ho-hum. But I won't save it. Nope. I will devour it whole.
(And then possibly cry for a while.) *wink, wink*

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great cozy mystery installment always leaves the reader feeling smarter and refreshed. An overall sense of well-being persists long after I close each book in this series. That is the power of great writing.

3 stars

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire series is such a comfort read.

[Chaitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding it up to 4 stars because I don’t think it was the book’s fault that I couldn’t stand Helen Duff’s voice for Eamon. Eamon sounded like a toddler high on sugar. Duff should have known better because hasn’t she done this before?

However, the rest of the book was fine. I like Gethsemane, and I like Frankie and Niall and Eamon. I’m fine with whatever it is they’re into: it’s roses this time. I don’t really keep up with series books, but even I’ve read 3-4 books with murders set during a rose show. Just how serious are these professional rosers? But, fatality branches from roses to something else, which makes it different from the other rose show murders I’ve read. I still figured out who the killer was, but there were a few things I hadn’t called so that was fun too.

All in all, I enjoy this series and I would love to read the next one. Pity I have to wait a year for it. I do hope Helen Duff doesn’t do the audio however.

[De Ann Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just okay to me. The herione sleuth is Gethsemane Brown. She is an African American American living in Europe. She plays for a symphony. Oh, and has a ghost for a sidekick. Should have made for an interesting mystery. But it literally put me to sleep. The story is about a man found murder. Somehow this ties into a rare rose, a pharmaceutical company, an angry ex, and A set up of one of Gethsemane' s friends for a murder he didn't commit. There were times when I found it hard to figure out what was going on. Sometimes it just got boring. I will give the series another chance. But this one was a dud about a bud to me.

[Lynn Poppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time around, we have a Garden Show, a stalker, and a copy-cat killer. Or in Clue terms, the rose garden, hedge clippers, and redacted for spoilers.

I’ve been travelling a lot for work lately and recently found myself stuck in the Denver airport waiting on my delayed flight for way too many hours. During my delay, I read the entirety of Fatality in F. I am ever so thankful to have Ms. Gordon’s characters and mysteries to distract me from the craziness that is being stuck in an airport!

I genuinely love the characters in this series and want to insert myself into their stories! Gethsemane is marvelous. Her amateur sleuthing may start out as harmless, but she always seems to end up in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I appreciate her tenacity in unraveling each mystery that comes her way.

The men in Gethsemane’s life try their darndest to keep her safe. But “Fearless Brown”, as Frankie likes to call her, is just that. She’s out to solve the case, putting herself in danger on a regular basis.

I appreciate how the different characters help each another, keeping each other safe and out of trouble. Or at least trying to keep each other out of trouble. 😉

Eamon is developing his ghost skills and is very protective of Gethsemane. He’s also learning about the 21st Century, watching (and quoting) movies and learning about the internet. That internet scene had me chuckling out loud. I definitely get a very Ghost and Mrs. Muir vibe between Eamon and Gethsemane. I’m excited to see how this relationship develops in the rest of the series.

The plot of Fatality in F moves swiftly. To use the cliche, it’s a real page turner. My concerns with Death in D Minor are no longer an issue in this novel. I was easily able to navigate the setting and follow along with the characters. The mystery is well designed. I picked up the clues right along with Gethsemane. But, unlike Gethsemane, I never did determine who the perpetrator was!

I’m also really glad that Gethsemane has friends, not romantic interests, in the male characters in these novels. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with romance. I’m a fan. I’m just glad to see a female character who is strong and capable on her own.

Some side notes:

When I read these books, I really feel like I should be taking notes of the music and listening along. Future note for ebook publishers, link or embed the music listed in the plot. That would be a lot easier than my having to stop reading to look up the musical references.

I seriously loved the flower symbols aspect of the plot in Fatality in F. It’s a subject in which I have a personal interest. It shows the great research Ms. Gordon puts into her books.

"Frankie studied it. “Euphorbia, chamomile, eucalyptus, and spirea.”

Gethsemane consulted The Language of Flowers. “Perseverance, energy in adversity, protection, and victory.”

I’ve only read two of the books in the series (I KNOW, what have I been doing with my life?); I can safely say that, yes, you can easily start this series at book 4. There is enough explanation and back story to make the plot easy to follow for a new reader.

Fatality in F is a cozy mystery worthy of a comfortable chair (or uncomfortable airport chair in my case) and a hot beverage of your choice. Or enjoy a whiskey like Gethsemane and her friends. Just check out this book, and this series!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess! I didn’t read the first three books in this series. Normally, that’s a no-no in the world of reviews, but Alexia Gordon’s characters are so vivid, and the world they inhabit is so well-drawn that everything I needed to know about Gethsemane Brown that wasn’t spelled out in this novel, Fatality in F, was made clear from context. Seriously, stepping into this series unprepared was NOT a problem, so if you happen to do so, don’t let it it throw you. This book is a fantastic story, and not knowing the backstory doesn’t detract from the experience one whit.

Here’s what’s important to know: Alexia Gordon combines mystery, cozy, romance and a hint of paranormal in the perfect combinations. She has the best-ever setting – a cute Irish town, a rose and garden show, and a private boys school – it’s like she checked every box in some ultimate fantasy combination for all of us who have PBS brains and Hallmark hearts and then put her own spin on it, because nothing is sappy. Music, math, esoteric knowledge of the language of flowers – she manages to make it all fascinating and relevant, and leave you wanting more.

At the heart of it, of course, is Gethsemane Brown. She’s eccentric. She’s brilliant. She’s the kind of person you want to observe from a distance before approaching with caution and then spending an intense afternoon with, trading stories (and shots of whiskey). Better yet, she has male friends who aren’t in competition to be romantic partners. She’s confident and strong without needing a man to complete her, and that’s really refreshing.

Fatality in F is the perfect cure for a gray winter day: a compelling mystery with shots of humor and and whimsy and plenty of grace notes that never fall flat.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. This fourth book in the Gethsemane Brown mystery is a wonderful read, each book build off the previous story and gets better with each book. Gethsemane is indeed fearless as she roots out a mystery and the secondary characters are becoming beloved people to care about. I’m secretly holding a whisper of hope for Gethsemane and Niall to move in a closer relationship. I only regret it will another year until the next installment.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gethsemane's friend Frankie has entered a famous garden competition and is considered a favorite to win. Trouble starts when his arch nemesis shows up with an equally stunning entry into the competition. When the nemesis is murdered using Frankie's shears, Gethsemane knows Frankie didn't do it and sets out to figure out who did. This had a lovely combination of mystery, flowers, and classical music. I really like Gethsemane has a character - she's smart and doesn't let anybody push her around.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series is getting tighter and better as it goes! This one was full of interesting and suspicious characters, flower lore, and hidden agendas that kept me guessing longer than most mysteries do. Excellent holiday reading.
Edit to add: This isn't a romance-focused series. In the first book, I was like, "ahh yes, the characters for the love triangle have been introduced." But it hasn't gone that way -- instead of dithering over the men (ghostly or not) in her life, Gethsemane focuses on work and friendships and the near-continual mishaps that seem to befall her community. I really appreciate that; it is refreshing and it feels right.

[Kimberley Cornwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in this series. I love Gethsemane Brown, Niall and Frankie. There easy camaraderie and banter make for fun ready. The murderer was well hidden and I thought I had it solved but alas, I was waay off base.

The ending was a teaser and all I can say is Gordon better write fast!!

[Una · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely enchanting series. Gethsemane is a force to be reckond with.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true 3 stars; I liked it.

Gesthemane Brown is a refreshingly different protag for a cozy mystery series: an American PhD violinist of color living in Ireland. She's plucky, of course, and doesn't listen to the police or her friends at times, but that's to be expected.

Her friend Frankie has entered a rose in a prestigious contest in this one. Too bad he's got stiff competition from a Martin Shkreli-type drug company baddie, at least until the baddie turns up dead. Naturally Frankie is the #1 suspect. Can Gesthemane figure out who the real killer is before Frankie gets swept up by the police? (That's a rhetorical question.)

My rating would have been a little higher if Gordon hadn't committed a cardinal sin: the book just stops, in the middle of a scene. Why do authors do this?! Do you really think that that will sway me one way or another into reading the next book in the series? It won't. It'll just piss me off. Grrr.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read by Alexia Gordon. I love this series. I love the snarky humor of Gethsemane and Eamon. I love the entire line up of characters. It's always a great mystery and such a fun read.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only regret how quickly I have binged this series. One more before I join the crowd impatiently awaiting the next.

[Jamie Canaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy Mystery with a Ghost

I’m terrible at reading every book released in a cozy mystery series with the exception of a few, and this is one. It centers around Gethsemane Brown, an American classical musician living in a small Irish town, who can’t stop finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting into trouble. The trouble obviously means she needs to solve a murder. This time around we get gardens and rose bush competitions and a Flower Shop Killer–Gethsemane Brown to the rescue of course. What always draws me into this series is Gethsemane’s no-nonsense, sarcastic personality and her friendship with a ghost. Yup, as in now-dead-still-haunting-around spirit that helps her solve mysteries when he can–he can only visit places he was at when alive. I especially enjoy their bickering in public since no one else can see who in the world she’s talking to.

--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summertime and the living is easy .... well that is the hope at any rate, the only things on the horizon are cheering Frankie Grennan on in his quest to win the best rose garden and best rose and conducting one piece of music, playing another.  But then things take a turn for the worse, Frankie appears to have a horticultural stalker, and the man who stole both his ex wife AND a rose he was cultivating has arrived and is needling Frankie at his photo shoot.  The problem then is that Roderick Jacobi (the aforementioned wife and rose thief) has wound up dead in Frankie's garden, killed by one of Frankie's gardening tools!

Now the Garda are looking at Frankie as the murderer but Gethsemene (and Eamon) are sure that is totally wrong and seriously out of character for Frankie, and so Gethsemene is back in sleuthing mode to make sure the right person ends up behind bars, so that Frankie can be back in front of the bar at the Mad Rabbit.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about Gethsemane keeps me coming back for more. She's a brilliant musician and teacher which makes her different from the usual baker or cafe owner. Sometimes in cozies the protagonist can feel "too stupid to live" by repeating the same mistakes over and over. Of course her ghastly friend Eamon has to occasionally get her out of a jam but the two play so well off each other. And I enjoy the cast of characters in the town. And unlike other series it never feels as if the reader if being bombarded with many characters each story. Alexis Gordon knows when to rotate characters and doesn't fill the story with unnecessary junk.


I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this series - although I have read all three of the previous installments - and I still quite like it, although this one did seem a little more convoluted in plot terms (which made it harder to follow), and have a little less of the musical content (which I missed). I do still like the idea and the set up though, so if the next one comes across my path at some point then I'll probably read it!

[Ilia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! Gethsemane Brown is my new favorite cozy mystery series. We got see Gethsemane, Frankie and Niall friendship grow as they worked to clear Frankie of murder charges. Once again we had new interesting characters and a solid mystery to solve. I can’t wait to read the next one.

[Sandra Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatality in F is the fourth book in Alexia Gordon’s Gethsemane Brown. The world-class musician and amateur sleuth teaches music at an all boys school in a small village in Ireland, with the closest urban center being Cork. She has a knack for being in the right place at the wrong time-or is that the wrong place at the right time?-and finding herself in the middle of murder and mayhem.

Now, straight off, I’m not someone who reads a lot of amateur sleuth books. They (no pun intended!) have to strike the right chord with me. However, I’ve been very focused on expanding my reading and try to approach every book with an open mind.

I suppose it’s also worth noting that I used to live in Ballincollig, which is on the outskirts of Cork, not far from Blarney Castle, so I have a limited scope of reference for Ireland, along with an Irish Catholic grandmother and a grandfather who was an Orangeman. Ireland has a special place in my heart, and this setting gave me a double dose of fear starting this book. Would it deliver?

Yes. And then, when Gethsemane’s ghost roommate, Eamon, shows up, my response to the question was Hell yes.

Gethsemane has a keen mind, as well as an open mind. One of the things that makes her an ideal amateur sleuth is that she doesn’t outright dismiss possibilities, even when she sounds like she’s skeptical. I absolutely loved the banter between her and Eamon and the comic touch that brings. Since I read an arc I’m technically not supposed to quote from it, but Eamon had a laugh-out-loud-funny line in there that was so good I had to share it with my husband, who (even out of context without reading the book) could appreciate the sentiment.

Gordon’s strengths come through in developing strong, likable characters that you want to spend time with. She’s also built some great relationship dynamics among her group of teachers and garda.

New readers shouldn’t be deterred; Gordon gives you enough to ground yourself in past events and relationship dynamics to be able to dig right in and keep you from feeling lost. I’m not one who really worries about these things, so it might have been a bit more than I needed, but I’m an anomaly as a reader that way so that should not be taken as a criticism at all. I know how important it is to readers to not feel like they’re missing something because of prior books they haven’t read.

There’s a whole lot to love in this book. The narrative flows steadily, with plenty of revelations along the way that shape the investigation and keep you guessing. Believable characters fill the pages, and these are people you want to spend time with. They aren’t all perfect and polished and simple, but their quirks are part of what make them so endearing.

I thought I knew who the murderer was at 68%, and I was wrong.

If you like amateur sleuth stories with some woo woo, you will love this book and shouldn’t hesitate to dive right in. Or better, still, pick up Murder in G Minor, Death in D Minor and Killing in C Sharp along with Fatality in F and indulge yourself with a new favorite author who I expect will be delighting readers for years to come.

And even if amateur sleuth stories aren’t usually your thing, there’s a lot of heart here. This was a fun read that I did not want to put down and I was eager to get back to the story and the new friends Gordon breathed life into so effectively. And some serious kudos to Gordon for the research she must have done into illnesses, pharmaceuticals, botany … The details she weaves in infuse the story with authenticity while establishing motive.

[Kristine Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW. When FATALITY IN F first came on the Lone Star Book Blog Tours radar, I knew I would read it. After all, I have been a fan from the beginning of the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries series, and there was no way I’d miss this fourth book. But as home and work responsibilities stacked up, finding time to read any book didn’t seem promising – until I saw the book was coming on Audible. I bought and downloaded that sucker the minute the notification showed up on pub day – and I listened straight through.

FATALITY IN F is the first of the four books that I have read with my ears instead of my eyes. Initially, I had to adjust to having a British narrator. Gethsemane, after all, is a southern American woman, and so I expected American narration. Once the surprise passed, it was easy to listen to the delightful Helen Duff switch between characters using a variety of accents to bring author Alexia Gordon’s characters to life. A second shock was the voicing of Gethsemane herself – southern, yes, but also sensual and sultry! This is not at all how I hear her in my own head. Because of that, Gethsemane’s voice is a tougher adjustment because narrator Duff’s voicing evokes a different impression than what’s made in the written word -- and it is hard to reconcile them. However, I imagine listeners jumping-in and starting the series here won’t bat an eye. The narration is wonderfully done, flows smoothly, and the pacing was on-point. I left the speed at 1.0x and never regretted it.

Speaking of jumping-in to the series with FATALITY IN F – jump away! This and the other books that I have read in the series stand-alone just fine. I will note that there is mention of some of the reasons that Gethsemane is living in Ireland, and hearing those piqued my interest in going back and reading the first book, Murder in G Major. Hmm, I see it is available on Audible…

“Never make light of a man’s loathing.”

There is always a huge cast of characters in the books, but Gordon masterfully introduces them slowly, and each is memorable and seemingly capable of murder. Readers have their work cut out for them in trying to solve the mystery before Gethsemane does. The setting in FATALITY IN F centers around a rose and garden show, so FLOWERS! I am all about the flowers! Would I murder over them? Hmmm. *sips coffee, looks at nineteen flowering house plants, ponders*

“Friends don’t let friends fall prey to womanizers with more ex-wives than Methuselah had years.”

Everything about the Gethsemane Brown series and FATALITY IN F is clever: the plot, the premise, and even the perpetrator(s). The writing is intelligent, with rich word choices and complex sentences. But the author doesn’t let it get too cerebral and includes a smattering of hilarious words to provide levity and make the characters’ personalities pulse to life. (Favorites include “gobshite,” “gobtrotter,” and “wanker.”) And everything is quirky: Gethsemane’s coping mechanism of citing Negro League baseball statistics, the Mad Rabbit pub, and the ghost of Eamon McCarthy are only a few examples. You won’t find a more unique grouping of elements to provide a completely satisfying reading experience. I highly recommend FATALITY IN F and the whole series, whether you want to read with your eyes or ears.

I heard of this series from Lone Star Book Blog Tours and am adding my review to the tour, but I bought the audio book on my own and there were no strings requiring I provide my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and more special features on Hall Ways Blog.