Book Review: “Unbowed”

About Unbowed

Only six months. But six tumultuous months.
Months that would have a profound and lasting effect on Alexia Jewel.

A multi-talented musical prodigy, Alexia’s scholarship to London’s prestigious Royal College of Music at the age of 15 came with controversy and difficulty. Girls at that time weren’t welcome in the professional ranks of classical music, let alone one with her sights set on becoming a conductor. But as she approaches her 50th birthday all that has changed. She has overcome all obstacles to become one of the world’s foremost classical music conductors, celebrated for her artistry and talent. Lured back to London from her life in Munich where she is chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Munich Opera House, Alexia is preparing to conduct a series of concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra to mark her birthday. While in London she begins to put her late parents’ estate into order and discovers an antique diamond ring that she learns had belonged to her great-grandmother. Agreeing to appear on the BBC’s Who do you think you are programme Alexia gives them the double mystery of her barely-known great-grandmother and the ring to investigate.

Four men, all who desire her, enter her life in these six months. As does a stalker, who threatens her safety, serenity and life.

My Review of Unbowed

I received a digital copy of Unbowed, by M.G. da Mota to review through Sandra’s Book Club. All opinions stated here are my own.

This book had a slow start, with a lot of backstory and character introductions, and no real action until well into the book. A single figure in the shadows is intended to hold reader interest for too long before the mystery finally begins to unravel. While this story has the potential to be a good mystery, the author takes so long getting into it, that I almost put the book down.

A mystery unfolds as the facts are uncovered about Alexia’s diamond and her great-grandmother’s life, all while a stalker lurks in the shadows. Four different men proclaim their love and need for her, and any one could be the dark man who is terrorizing her. But the mystery of the diamond takes precedence, the only obstacles in the way are the tracks that have been covered by time. But the evidence is all there, conveniently left for those who take time and effort to investigate, while the stalker makes random appearances and doesn’t feel as threatening as it should.

While all the pieces are there, the ones that should count don’t seem to have enough weight to carry the story. I give Unbowed three quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

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