I love the sound of the latest book in Alice Fitzpatrick’s Meredith Island Mystery series and am so disappointed that life has culled most of my reading time so that I haven’t been able to review.

However, Alice has kindly agreed to stay in in with me and chat about it so let’s find out more:

Staying in with Alice Fitzpatrick 

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Alice and thank you for staying in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’ve brought A Dark Death, the second book in my Meredith Island Mysteries, set on a small Welsh island.  This book continues the crime-solving adventures of historical novelist Kate Galway and her hedonistic artist friend Siobhan Fitzgerald whom we first met in Secrets in the Water. 

A Welsh setting! My Welsh husband needs to read these I think… so are the books murder mysteries?

Not only do we get to join them in another murder investigation, but we explore a passion of mine—archaeology. 

A huge fan of Time Team, I promised myself I’d include an archaeological dig in one of my books, and here it is.  Luckily, my chiropractor’s first career was archaeologist, so I could run any questions by him as he worked on my back. While his career change may seem unusual, as he reminds me, it’s all about the bones.

That’s one way of putting it! Actually, I love archaeology too. So much so that Dr H once bought me a day’s dig as a Christmas present! I think A Dark Death is sounding more and more like a book I will have to fit in.

 What can we expect from an evening with A Dark Death?

 We can expect tea, traditional Welsh cakes, and murder.  Two murders, in fact. 

Now you’re talking my language. Tea and Welsh cakes and a book. There’s nothing better. Tell me more.

An archaeology professor and his students have arrived to excavate the remains of a medieval monk’s cell.  To everyone’s surprise, they uncover evidence of a possible Roman temple.  Also on the island is a psychic investigator who holds a séance in an abandoned nineteenth-century manor house.

The theme of science versus faith takes centre stage as the professor desperately wants to believe he has made the discovery of a lifetime, despite some dubious evidence, and the island minister suffers a traumatic experience at the séance.

Kate is struggling with the consequences of a past decision, and if that isn’t enough, when people she cares for becomes murder suspects, she must track down the real killer—or killers.

Wow. That sounds fabulous.

I promise you an evening of sexual intrigue, ghosts, a naked body, a high-speed chase, and strangely enough, knitting.  We’ll have to take care not to spill our tea!

We most certainly will. 

I’m not sure how you van follow the tea and Welsh cakes but what else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I would love for there to be a real Roman temple on the island, so I’ve brought along my trowel in the hope that we can unearth some Roman artefacts.  However Kate doesn’t share my enthusiasm.  Hers is a community that values its privacy.  If the existence of this temple proves to be true, the island will be overrun with government officials, historical organizations, and tourists who will expect a gift shop with souvenir keyrings, mugs, and tea towels. 

I’ve also brought my Ouija board.  The psychic investigator uses a similar device to become possessed by the original owner of the manor house, who shocks his listeners by revealing a dark secret linked to the ancestor of a current islander. If we can contact the departed owner ourselves, perhaps if we can learn the truth and put everyone’s mind at ease.

I’m not certain the Ouija board is going to put my mind at ease Alice! I think I might just stick to the tea and Welsh cakes.

Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about A Dark Death. It sounds fabulous. Now, you set up the board and pour me another cuppa and I’ll give readers a few more details about A Dark Death.

A Dark Death

 

Kate Galway is looking forward to a quiet summer working on her latest novel at her home on Meredith Island. For a place hardly anyone has heard of, her sleepy Welsh island is attracting a lot of visitors, including a conman posing as a psychic and group of archaeology students who believe they’ve unearthed evidence of a Roman temple.

Part-way through the dig, however, the students make an even more startling discovery: a body ritualistically laid out in their trench.

While intrigued by the murder, amateur sleuth Kate decides to leave this investigation to the professionals. However, when she learns that both the island mechanic and her university friend’s son are prime suspects, she and hedonistic artist Siobhan Fitzgerald feel they have no choice but to get involved.

Published by Stonehouse on 1st June in the UK A Dark Death is available for purchase here. You can also purchase A Dark Deaths directly from Stonehouse Publishing as well as from Indigo and Barnes & Noble.

About Alice Fitzpatrick

Alice Fitzpatrick has contributed short stories to literary magazines and anthologies and has recently retired from teaching in order to devote herself to writing full-time. She is a fearless champion of singing, cats, all things Welsh, and the Oxford comma.  Her summers spent with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire inspired the creation of the Meredith Island Mysteries which include Secrets in the Water and A Dark Death.  The traditional mystery appeals to her keen interest in psychology as she is intrigued by what makes seemingly ordinary people commit murder. Alice lives in Toronto but dreams of a cottage on the Welsh coast.

For further information about Alice, visit her website, find her on Facebook or follow Alice on Bluesky and Instagram.

My grateful thanks to Georgia Hester for sending me a surprise copy of The Spa Break by Hannah Doyle. There’s nothing I need more right now so it’s my pleasure to share my review of The Spa Break today. 

Published by HQ on 22nd May 2025, The Spa Break is available for purchase through the links here. 

The Spa Break

A week-long spa break is just what Jess needs. She’s going to be there with her best friends, Stella and Em. And the spa is so high-end it has an ethos about cleansing the mind and soul.

The laughter, gourmet food and cocktails are what every twenty-something needs. And then there’s the beautiful man she spots in the pool on the first day. A perfect addition to her week.

Until Jess finds out that he’s someone from her past. Someone she really should have recognized. Someone she should not find attractive. And that’s when things start getting a little confusing…

My Review of The Spa Break

Jess is meeting old friends Stella and Em for a week’s break celebrating the soft launch of a brand new, upmarket spa. 

If you’re looking for Dickensian style literary fiction, The Spa Break is probably not for you. If, however, you want a simply fabulous read that is laugh aloud funny and brilliant entertainment, then The Spa Break is simply perfect. I loved it.

Firstly, the setting is glorious. An upmarket spa hotel in Northumberland with gorgeous surroundings, sumptuous food and activities to suit every preference is just wonderful. Hannah Doyle had me wanting to pack my bags immediately because she described her setting so effectively. 

The three friends, Jessica, Emerald and Stella, have an enviable friendship and the dynamics between them lead to some hilarious moments. Each is very different from the other two so that their personalities balance beautifully. It is, however, Jess whom we get to know most intimately as the narrative is told through her first person voice. I thought the way she developed over the course of the story illustrated beautifully how making the most of life and being true to ourselves is a key to happiness. It’s impossible not to love her from the very beginning of The Spa Break.  

Indeed, whilst it is a funny romcom, The Spa Break is also filled with themes that resonate with the reader. Friendship, employment, loyalty, trust, family and self-worth are all explored with an authoritative lightness of touch this super narrative.

I absolutely adored the plot. Basically it is a ‘will they, won’t they’ story of the developing attraction between Jess and Stella’s younger brother Luke. The sexual chemistry and tension between them is brilliantly depicted as it isn’t explicit, but rather is built up through sometimes humorous, sometimes intense and sometimes emotionally vulnerable situations. This means that it feels authentic and convincing. The story races along and feels wonderfully escapist, hugely enjoyable and extremely entertaining. 

I finished The Spa Break feeling happy, uplifted and as if I’d had my own break from the cares of life. It’s such a funny, appealing and engaging story that I thought it was terrific. Don’t miss this one.

About Hannah Doyle

Former Hearst magazine celebrity journalist Hannah Doyle is the bestselling author of The Pick Up, The A To Z Of Us, The Year Of Saying Yes and Just My Type. The  Spa Break is her fifth novel.

For further information, find Hannah on Instagram, Twitter/X @byhannahdoyle and Facebook.