Murder in G Major is a murder mystery set in Ireland.   The premise is that a music teacher can communicate with a ghost of a musician murdered 25 years ago.   Gethsemane Brown finds herself as a reluctant investigator, tracking down evidence for an old cold case, and as she does so more murders multiply as the details start to emerge.

This is not a recommended book for a number of reasons.   Although it is a pleasant, cozy mystery with likeable characters, there are some significant deficits.

• Foremost is the amateurish dialogue, best fit for a B-level sitcom.    It is snappy, but cliched, and does not further character, nor engage the reader.
• Many characters are “flat”, without much development, sometimes stereotypical.   Inner dialogue is mostly absent and the author’s voice does not inform, nor enhance the believability of the central characters.
• When characters interact with ghosts, we can reasonably expect some otherworldy elements, including some original ghostly characteristics.    In this book, the ghost is incorporeal, transparent, and can change locations instantly, but he talks normally, and appears to think, and respond like a regular living being.   It just wasn’t interesting or believable.
• The plot was predictable and unoriginal.    We have watched and read many murder mysteries and this book did nothing different.   In the world of pulp mysteries, this is just an average entry.

The Gethsemane Brown books will likely attain a loyal following of readers, but discerning readers will not put this book in their list of fine modern literature.

My rating – 2.5 out of 5.0 stars2.5