Book Review: Unbowed by M.G. da Mota | Dark Psychological Thriller
“A world-class conductor at the height of her career—haunted by the past and hunted in the present.”
👋 Welcome, Friends!
I’m excited to join the Goddess Fish Promotions Review Tour for Unbowed by M.G. da Mota—a psychological thriller filled with passion, secrets, and suspense.
At the heart of the story is Alexia Jewel, a world-renowned classical music conductor who has spent decades fighting against convention to achieve her dreams. But as she approaches her 50th birthday, her life is shaken by four men who desire her, a mysterious green diamond ring tied to her great-grandmother’s past, and a stalker determined to make her life hell.
Unbowed is a story of resilience, ambition, and survival—where music, family secrets, and danger intertwine in six tumultuous months that could change everything.
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📝 Book Details
Unbowed
By M G da Mota
Published by Wild Rose Press on July 16, 2024
Genres: Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thriller
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 433
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.
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions
Official trailer for Unbowed by M G da Mota.
📖 Excerpt from Unbowed by M G da Mota
Sometimes a single passage captures both the heart of a character and the spirit of a story. In this moment, we see Alexia reflecting on her long fight to be taken seriously in a world that once told her “girls don’t do that.”
Alexia never made a secret about her preference to live abroad. Understandably the British public and the British press had repaid her in the same way, openly criticising her work and attacking her on social media. However, now she was the first woman conductor to obtain top positions in one of the world’s great opera houses and in a leading symphonic orchestra their attitude had changed and she could do no wrong. Her birthday concerts in London were already sold out. Alexia felt a sting. Everyone seemed so proud of her nowadays but for years she’d had to fight against family, peers, teachers, professors – everyone – to be accepted and taken seriously.
‘Women conductors? What nonsense.’
The same two phrases coupled together had rung in her ears countless times. Was she different at fifty than at twenty-five or thirty? A few grey hairs and a couple of wrinkles probably betrayed her age but her enthusiasm, energy and determination were the same. She hadn’t changed since her fifteenth birthday when announcing for the first time she wanted to become a conductor. Her family chuckled without exception and one of them said aloud what all were thinking, ‘girls don’t do that.’ But her personality, ideas, attitude to life and professionalism were the same now she was about to turn fifty.
“haunted by the past and hunted in the present”
This excerpt gives a glimpse of Alexia’s strength, determination, and resilience—themes that echo throughout Unbowed. Her story isn’t only about the suspense of being stalked; it’s about perseverance, identity, and the courage to claim space in a world that once dismissed her.
📚 Where to Find Unbowed
Available on Amazon:
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🌟 Book Review: Unbowed by M.G. da Mota
Unbowed is a dark psychological thriller that unravels layer by layer, drawing you deeper with every page. From the very beginning, there’s an air of unease and mystery surrounding Alexia Jewel—a world-famous conductor approaching her fiftieth birthday.
What makes this story so compelling is the way multiple mysteries intertwine. The antique green diamond ring, the enigmatic great-grandmother, and the relentless stalker each present puzzles of their own. As the narrative unfolds, these threads tighten and begin to overlap, building toward a second half that is both mesmerizing and suspenseful.
M.G. da Mota writes with a lyrical intensity that suits the backdrop of classical music. The stage lights, the hum of the orchestra, and the tension behind the curtain all serve as a powerful contrast to the danger lurking in Alexia’s personal life. It’s not just a story of survival, but of identity, legacy, and the strength to remain unbowed in the face of fear.
Unbowed is more than a suspenseful thriller—it’s a story about resilience, legacy, and refusing to be silenced. I appreciated how the mysteries of the ring, the shadow of the past, and the menace of the stalker all came together in the second half of the book to deliver a gripping, layered finale.
If you enjoy dark psychological thrillers with a blend of family secrets, obsession, and danger, this one deserves a spot on your reading list.
I received a digital copy of the book as part of this tour. This review reflects my honest, unbiased opinion.
More Books by M G da Mota & My Reviews
Arabesque by M G da Mota is a haunting and beautifully structured piece.
Stars Maintain Their Glow by M G da Mota | Historical Mystery Across Time & War
About M G da Mota
M G da Mota is Margarida Mota-Bull’s pen name for fiction. She is a Portuguese-British novelist with a love for classical music, ballet and opera. Under her real name she also writes reviews of live concerts, CDs, DVDs and books for two classical music magazines on the web: MusicWeb International and Seen and Heard International. She is a member of the UK Society of Authors, speaks four languages and lives in Sussex with her husband. Her website, called flowingprose.com, contains photos and information.
💭 Final Thoughts
Unbowed was a haunting, suspense-filled read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and page-turning mysteries. Don’t forget to follow the tour and enter the giveaway below!
🎁 Giveaway!
Enter below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card—courtesy of the author.
Want more chances to win? Here is the full schedule.
August 19: Country Mamas With Kids
August 26: The Avid Reader
September 2: The Faerie Review
September 9: Our Town Book Reviews
September 9: nanasbookreviews
🙏 Thank You
Many thanks to M.G. da Mota for sharing her work, to The Wild Rose Press, and to Marianne and Judy at Goddess Fish Promotions for the opportunity to be part of this review tour. It’s always a pleasure to help spotlight authors and stories that keep readers turning the pages late into the night.
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How would you describe the tone of this book?
Were any of the characters inspired by real people or events in your life?
No, not really but of course there is always something from myself in it as I wrote it.
I'm not completely certain with what you mean by tone. In my view, I'd say the tone is dark to a certain extent but there is always light at the end of the tunnel, meaning nothing is totally bad or totally good. You need one to appreciate the other, in my personal opinion.
Are you a planner or more a go with the flow when it comes to writing a book?
Hi, I am a bit of both. I always plan something. Once I've had an idea for a story I plan the research if any required, the start, the end and the structure. Then I do a sketch or a definition of the lead characters. Then I start writing and go with the flow of my imagination. It can deviate a little from the initial plan and when it does, I take further notes so I don't forget key aspects of the narrative. However, the start, the end and the structure are usually according to plan though there have been instances when I decided to change everything and go in a different direction. Obeying a meticulous plan doesn't work for me.
Thanks so much for such a detailed and insight response. I wish you much success in the coming months!
You are very welcome and thank you for your good wishes.
Sounds captivating
interesting
This sounds like a great read and I like the cover.
Sounds very intriguing.
This should be a very interesting novel. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for featuring and reviewing UNBOWED today.
Book looks like a thrilling read, author new to me so excited to read books in printed version
Hello Crystal, I'm M G da Mota, author of Unbowed. It's so nice that you feel excited. Thank you for your interest.
Hello Gina, I'm M G da Mota, author of Unbowed. Thank you for reading my book and writing such a favourable review.
Hello Gina, I'm M G da Mota, author of Unbowed. Thank you for reading my book and writing such a favourable review.