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A review by arkwen452
Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The female lead protagonist is strong headed, yes but also extremely annoying. She's not listening to sound advice and it is as of she's so sure she's invincible that no harm will come to her even with the string of murders happening left and right.
While I find it admirable that she is trying to clear the McCarthy's murders, I don't think she's being smart. And for someone who is a doctor even though it's in music, she's not being smart at all. I think that she has a wealth of knowledge, in terms of music and composition, and a very good ear for music and tune, but the amateur detecting takes over her life and the story. And I don't think she votes enough time to the high school music orchestra that she is meant to be teaching. It becomes an afterthought to the entire narrative. I would prefer more of a balance, even though this is written in a style that is more , UK/British I feel that the author, and then story could give more to the readers.
Moving onto the central core motivation, for the basically the protagonist, and the story, it comes down to mental health; this is always a red flag when it comes to stories, because yes, a person can be mentally influenced or emotionally charged for their actions, but it doesn't always have to be linked to some mental illness or mental instability. And I really dislike that the author links to familial ties of people who had a mental instability as the cause for their actions. Because they have this in common with a relative obviously, it must mean that they are the killer; the writer presents the reader as a everything has been neatly wrapped up and tied into a bow and presented to us in the story so we don't have to question or doubt, or take a pause for the fact that it's been revealed that person with a mental illness suddenly psycho crazy serial killer.
And also trouble me that Gethsome is pulling all of these traits of amateur sleuth and amateur psychologist and amateur person reader and amateur knowledge of all things just because her sister married a judge for example, or her mother was a psychiatrist, for example, etc. etc. Just because these people are in her lives, doesn't mean she has all the knowledge or the insights as they do.
With the final confrontation between Gethsame and the serial killer, it's upsetting to see my previous thoughts on the matter of mental illness and the main character being inconsistently stitched together with characteristics of others be proven true.
I think the only characters I liked from this book were Emmon and the maths teacher Francis 🫤.
The book is a strong written story with excellent detail but I will not be rushing to read the next book.
While I find it admirable that she is trying to clear the McCarthy's murders, I don't think she's being smart. And for someone who is a doctor even though it's in music, she's not being smart at all. I think that she has a wealth of knowledge, in terms of music and composition, and a very good ear for music and tune, but the amateur detecting takes over her life and the story. And I don't think she votes enough time to the high school music orchestra that she is meant to be teaching. It becomes an afterthought to the entire narrative. I would prefer more of a balance, even though this is written in a style that is more , UK/British I feel that the author, and then story could give more to the readers.
Moving onto the central core motivation, for the basically the protagonist, and the story, it comes down to mental health; this is always a red flag when it comes to stories, because yes, a person can be mentally influenced or emotionally charged for their actions, but it doesn't always have to be linked to some mental illness or mental instability. And I really dislike that the author links to familial ties of people who had a mental instability as the cause for their actions. Because they have this in common with a relative obviously, it must mean that they are the killer; the writer presents the reader as a everything has been neatly wrapped up and tied into a bow and presented to us in the story so we don't have to question or doubt, or take a pause for the fact that it's been revealed that person with a mental illness suddenly psycho crazy serial killer.
And also trouble me that Gethsome is pulling all of these traits of amateur sleuth and amateur psychologist and amateur person reader and amateur knowledge of all things just because her sister married a judge for example, or her mother was a psychiatrist, for example, etc. etc. Just because these people are in her lives, doesn't mean she has all the knowledge or the insights as they do.
With the final confrontation between Gethsame and the serial killer, it's upsetting to see my previous thoughts on the matter of mental illness and the main character being inconsistently stitched together with characteristics of others be proven true.
I think the only characters I liked from this book were Emmon and the maths teacher Francis 🫤.
The book is a strong written story with excellent detail but I will not be rushing to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt