It’s my pleasure today to welcome author S. J. Barratt to Linda’s Book Bag. Suzanne is a middle grade author and as someone late to reading because of my weird sight, I find I’m always enthralled by the books available to children today. 

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with S. J. Barratt

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Suzanne and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thanks for having m Linda.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I’ve brought the second in my series of books for middle grade readers. I’ve brought it to get kids off WiFi and into wildlife!  I remember my childhood, full of walks in the woods with my dog and friends, on our bikes, making camps…  it seems that children these days don’t get much of these timeless activities, so I wanted a story that would promote having simple adventures in a safe place with nature.

Oh yes! You’ve just described my childhood perfectly. I like the sound of this series.

Who would you describe as your ideal reader?

My ideal reader is a curious 9-12-year-old who loves stories that take them somewhere new. Maybe they don’t always get to explore the world in real life—because of family life, circumstances, or simply because they love escaping into books. This story is a way to travel when you can’t, a way to have adventures when you’re stuck at home, and a way to feel powerful when the world’s problems seem too big.

I think escapism is part of the wonderful power of books.

What can we expect from an evening in with Living at the Edge of the World – Spring? 

I’d describe it as an eco-fiction for middle grade, perfect for 9-12s. It’s a standalone story but also the second in a series of four that follow the seasons on a remote island in Shetland, Scotland. The first book is Living at the Edge of the World – Winter and I am currently working on the third which is all about summer and the theme – ocean pollution. 

These sound great. How have the books been received so far?

I like this review:
With its mix of adventure and heartfelt moments, this book makes you want to step outside, breathe in the fresh air, and look for a hidden story waiting to be uncovered.

Literary Titan

That’s brilliant.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it? 

I have brought along some bannocks, which are traditional bread/scones that everyone eats every day in Shetland. 

Anyone who brings food is always welcome Suzanne…

And some Shetlandic reels to listen to…

As soon as you listen to a reel, your feet usually start itching and you want to dance! 

I couldn’t agree more! Thank you so much for staying in with me Suzanne to chat about Living at the Edge of the World – Spring. I wish you every success with it. 

Now, pass me a bannock whilst I give readers a few more details:

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring

Twins Tabitha and Timothy aren’t exactly thrilled when their parents’ globetrotting plans land them on Papala Island, —a windswept, remote corner of Shetland—with their quirky great Uncle Tamhas. Life without Wi-Fi, bustling city streets, or their usual comforts feels like a nightmare. But as they explore the island’s rugged landscape, uncover ancient legends, and connect with the unique community around them, Papala begins to feel less like a punishment and more like a place full of possibilities.

From battling treasure hunters to standing up for the environment, the twins discover that adventure can come in the most unexpected places—and that sometimes, change is exactly what you need.

Published on 20th March 2025, is available for purchase here.

About S.J. Barratt

Suzanne is a writer, hiker, and gardener who creates children’s books inspired by the wonders of nature. Based in Lyon, France, with her family, she feels equally at home in the rugged landscapes of Shetland, Scotland, or the French Alps. When she’s not writing, she’s hiking to new places, chatting with plants, or trying to convince her garden that she’s in charge. Her mission? To ignite young imaginations with the natural world and replace Wi-Fi with WildLife.  

For further information, find Suzanne on Instagram and Facebook, Bookbub and Goodreads. Suzanne is actively looking for reviews of her books.

My huge thanks to Jane Corry for ensuring I received a copy of her latest novel, The Stranger in Room Six in return for an honest review. It’s my pleasure to share that review today.

I had originally been asked to review The Stranger in Room Six by My Weekly, but recent changes mean those reviews are currently on hold until a new Fiction Editor is in place. 

You’ll find my reviews of Jane’s We All Have Our Secrets, Coming to Find You and I Died on a Tuesday here. 

The Stranger in Room Six was published by Penguin on 19th June 2025 and is available for purchase through the links here.

The Stranger in Room Six

You may not know the stranger in room six. But they know everything about you.

It’s been fifteen years since Belinda was convicted of her husband’s murder. Now, she’s ready for her life to begin again, and she’s set on that happening at Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart.

The owner, Mabel, has spent her life here. First as an evacuee during the Blitz and now as the care home’s oldest resident, Mabel has held the secrets of this house for as long as she can remember. Secrets that could kill if in the wrong hands.

But history won’t stay hidden forever and someone is onto them both. Watching and listening from room number six, they’ll stop at nothing to find out the truth.

With a past this dark, is anyone as innocent as they seem?

My Review of the Stranger in Room Six

Belinda’s life is in turmoil.

The Stranger in Room Six is what might be termed a ‘proper story‘. It’s packed with history, intrigue and a wide range of relationships so that it has something for every reader. The way in which the various strands of the narrative are drawn together is so cleverly done. 

I’m not usually a fan of multiple timelines, but The Stranger in Room Six is woven together really effectively and, actually, requires the modern day and 1940s eras in order to illustrate the way history and the actions of the past reverberate through the lives of the characters. 

Both Belinda and Mabel are complex individuals who show that literal truth does not necessarily reflect moral or intentional behaviours. Initially I found Mabel rather naïve, but realised that she needed to have that innocence in order to be malleable and that, in fact, she was very much a child of the era. Both women have secrets, they both do the wrong things for the right reasons and the right things for the wrong reasons. Both face tragedy partly of their own making, and yet neither intended their actions to have the consequences they did. This is a fascinating aspect of the plot

Along with that intricate, engaging and carefully crafted plot, there are thought-provoking themes in The Stranger in Room Six. Family and parenthood are central and I found Belinda’s estrangement from her daughter Gillian very moving. Equally interesting is the impact of the past on our lives. However, I think the most riveting aspect of The Stranger in Room Six is the consideration of revenge, retribution and redemption. This is the kind of narrative that leaves the reader questioning how they might have behaved in similar circumstances. Add in other aspects like marriage, dementia, friendship and trust and The Stranger in Room Six feels like a story to ponder long after the final page is read.

I also found the settings impactful and in many ways, place equates to character as it shapes Belinda and Mabel every bit as the secondary characters do. Belinda’s time in prison feels authentic and disturbing so that the reader cannot help but empathise with her even if she is deemed to be a murderer. I loved the way history has a physical consequence on Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart – but you’ll need to read the book to see what I mean. It was fascinating how the house reinvented itself over time – just like a real person. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Stranger in Room Six and it proves that Jane Corry really knows how to craft a drama that reels in her readers and keeps them entirely gripped and entertained throughout. 

About Jane Corry

Jane Corry is a prize-winning author and journalist (Daily Telegraph and women’s magazines) who worked for three years as the writer in residence of a high security male prison. This experience helped inspire her Sunday Times Penguin bestsellers My Husband’s Wife, Blood Sisters, The Dead Ex, I Looked Away, I Made A Mistake, To Tell The Truth, The Lies We Tell, We All Have Our Secrets, Coming To Find You, I Died On A Tuesday and The Stranger In Room Six. She has now sold over 1.5 million copies of her books world-wide.

Jane worked as an RLF Fellow at Exeter University and is a former creative writing tutor at Oxford University. She also writes short stories; features for The Daily Telegraph and speaks at literary festivals all over the world. Many of her ideas strike during morning dog-jogs along the beach followed by a dip in the sea – no matter how cold it is!

Jane is also published by Doubleday in the USA and Canada.

For further information, follow Jane on Twitter/X @JaneCorryAuthor or visit her website. You’ll also find Jane on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram.

It’s such a pleasure to feature the brand new book in the Talbot Saga Series from Allie Cresswell today. Allie has been on Linda’s Book Bag before in posts you’ll find here, and her latest book The Standing Stone on the Moor sounds absolutely brilliant and is out today, 17th June 2025. 

Let’s find out more:

The Standing Stone on the Moor

Yorkshire, 1845.

Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.

Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.

Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.

Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?

As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.

The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?

**** 

Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

The Standing Stone on the Moor is available for purchase on Books, Amazon UK, Amazon US and directly from Allie here. 

About Allie Cresswell

Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil.

She did a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London.

She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. She taught literature to lifelong learners but nowadays she writes full time.

She has two grown-up children, three granddaughters, two grandsons and two cockapoos—but just one husband—Tim. They live in Cumbria, NW England.

The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.

For further information, visit Allie’s website, or follow Allie on Facebook and Instagram.

I’m a huge fan of Sue Moorcroft’s books (after all, Sue has appeared here on Linda’s Book Bag more times than I have!) and had life not been so overwhelming that I didn’t know if I’d be able to meet deadlines I would immediately have signed up to the recent blog tour for her brand new book, Over the Sea to Skye. Over the Sea to Skye is the final book in Sue’s Skye Sisters Trilogy and I was thrilled when Becky Hunter sent me a surprise copy.

Over the Sea to Skye was published on 5th June by Harper Collins imprint Avon and is available for purchase here.

Over the Sea to Skye

One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…

Valentina Taylor’s life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.

But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…

Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.

Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?

My Review of Over the Sea to Skye

Separated from husband Gary, Valentina is heading to her holiday home on Skye with son Barnaby.

Over the Sea to Skye is another fabulous book and, whilst it is the third in a trilogy, there is absolutely no requirement to have read the first two books Under a Summer Skye and A Skye Full of Stars – though I suggest you do, because they are so very good. Any backstory or essential detail needed from the other books is incorporated seamlessly into this third one so that the reader is never at a disadvantage.

The Skye setting is meticulously researched and beautifully depicted making the reader want to head there immediately. Both the history and geography of the area feel authentic and engaging. And yet these features never dominate, but rather act as a backdrop for events. Reading Over the Sea to Skye is like taking a holiday in book form. 

Sue Moorcroft seems to have an indefatigable ability to draw in her readers to her stories and make them care about her characters instantly. I was immediately desperate to discover Valentina’s strand and found her incredibly relatable – not least because she is pulled in several directions and has to set aside her own wishes and desires, in order to accommodate her sense of duty and the needs of others. With her young son Barnaby to consider, my heart went out to her as she always put him first. Her strength, her loyalty and her realisation that she is responsible for her own happiness make Valentina compelling. It felt devastating that her burgeoning relationship with Xander seemed unattainable despite their obvious attraction and I felt all of her emotions with her. 

However, that’s not to say that, whilst Valentina is wonderful with Barnaby, the author idealises parenthood. There’s the full range of relationships between parent and child here, especially as all three Wynter sisters are adopted, and Over the Sea to Skye illustrates that no two people have quite the same experience. I thought this aspect of Valentine’s story was written with sensitivity and considerable understanding, making it both believable and emotional.

The plot is hugely entertaining, and filled with the perfect balance of everyday life and dramatic events. There’s romance, of course, but, more importantly, there’s a wonderful exploration of family, career and marriage that is as thought-provoking as it is interesting. Obviously I won’t spoil the read for others but this story is brilliant for distracting you from the real world.

I really loved Over the Sea to Skye. It’s a narrative that feels ‘real’; the events here could happen to any one of us and as a result I felt I had been given a privileged insight into the lives of those involved. Mind you, I won’t be placing stickers on my car – but you’ll have to read the book to find out about that bit! Treat yourself to a perfect summer read in Over the Sea to Skye – you might just love it as much as I did.

About Sue Moorcroft

Sue Moorcroft is an award-winning Sunday Times and internationally published author of emotionally compelling, feel-good, page-turning fiction who has reached #1 on Amazon Kindle UK and Top 100 Amazon Kindle US, Canada and Italy. Her novels, short stories, serials, courses and columns have appeared around the world. An army child, Sue was born in Germany and then lived in Cyprus, Malta and the UK.

For further information, visit Sue’s website, follow Sue on  Twitter/X @suemoorcroft and find her on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

My huge thanks to Rhiannon Morris at Harper Collins for originally sending me a surprise copy of The Tradwife’s Secret by Liane Child.

I’m delighted that The Tradwife’s Secret is my latest online review for My Weekly.

Published by HQ on 22nd May 2025, The Tradwife’s Secret is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Tradwife’s Secret

Madison March is the perfect wife, with the perfect family and the perfect life.

She spends her days baking sourdough and picking vegetables from the garden while watching her children play in the fields surrounding her Montana homestead.

Dinner is always on the table for her husband, and they end their days sitting on the porch, watching the sun go down.

It’s a life anyone would dream of.

And it’s all a lie.

My Review of The Tradwife’s Secret

My full review of The Tradwife’s Secret can be found on the My Weekly website here.

However, here I can say that The Tradwife’s Secret is brilliant. It’s scarily plausible, fast paced and an absolutely gripping read. It’s not to be missed.

Do visit My Weekly to read my full review here.

About Liane Child

Liane Child is a writer whose gripping thriller The Tradwife’s Secret was inspired by influencers who believe in traditional gender roles in marriage. When she isn’t scrolling Instagram or TikTok, you can find her reading, walking her dog, or attempting to bake banana bread after not perfecting it in lockdown. She has travelled extensively and now lives in London.

For further information find Liane on Instagram.

I’m not entirely sure if I owe thanks to Chloe Davies (I suspect so), Poppy North or Rosie Friis at Macmillan for sending me a surprise copy of A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan, but I am very, very grateful. It’s my pleasure to share my review of A Beautiful Family today. 

A Beautiful Family is published by Pan MacMillan imprint Mantle on 19th June and is available for pre-order through the links here. 

A Beautiful Family

In the past, we had always spent our summer holidays in remote places. That had always been my mother’s preference. This year was different . . .

As the long summer holiday stretches ahead, ten-year-old Alix wants to spend every second on the beach and in the water. But, with her parents unusually distracted and her older sister now more interested in boys, she finds herself alone.

Then she meets Kahu at the beach and he tells her about The Mystery. Two years ago, a girl went missing and none of the adults could find her. So the new friends decide to investigate – because people don’t just disappear.

But, as Alix and Kahu search for clues, they stumble upon secrets they wish they’d left alone. Is Alix’s holiday house as safe as it seems? And is her sister putting her trust in the wrong people?

My Review of A Beautiful Family

Alix’s family is away for the summer.

Oh my goodness. What an exquisite book. A Beautiful Family is an absolute triumph. Part coming of age story, part thriller, part domestic drama and part mystery, this is a book that is far greater than the sum of its parts and I adored it. 

Told from ten year old Alix’s perspective, A Beautiful Family is the epitome of tension. Jennifer Trevelyan captivates the reader from the very first page and mesmerises them to the last word. Not every single element of the narrative is resolved by the end so that the narrative feels as if it reflects the vagaries of real life, making it all the more impactful. It also means that the story reverberates in the reader’s mind long after the book is finished. It made me feel anxious and tense as I read but I simply couldn’t put it down. This truly is a masterclass in implied meaning. We fill in the gaps Alix leaves so that our minds suggest all kinds of scenarios – especially with regard to the man next door to the holiday home. 

The prose in A Beautiful Family is simultaneously sparse and beautiful and Alix’s voice is totally believable. Her blend of naivety and knowledge as she is growing up with her older sister Vanessa is utterly convincing. As a result, she reveals events, relationships and the actions of other characters to perfection. 

With the unities of time (a summer), place (a resort just north of Wellington in New Zealand) and action (Alix and Kahu’s search for missing little girl Charlotte) there’s an almost unbearable, menacing, intensity that is utterly compelling. As events unfold, Alix’s beautiful family begins to unravel so that the author peels back the layers of society and reveals the murky reality of relationships, burgeoning sexuality, family, marriage, friendship and difference. It really is a microcosm of the world.

I’m aware I’ve been somewhat vague in my review, but the narrative is so intricately woven that I don’t want to reveal anything that might spoil this exceptional book for others. 

In case it isn’t obvious, I thought A Beautiful Family was, quite simply, fantastic. I cannot recommend it highly enough. But if you read it, don’t forget to breathe. I swear I was holding my breath throughout!

About Jennifer Trevelyan

With a background in photography and children’s publishing, Jennifer is now a full-time writer living in Wellington, New Zealand, with her husband, son, daughter, dog and cat. When not at her writing desk, Jennifer can be found in the garden.

For further information, find Jennifer on Twitter/X @JTrevelyan, Bluesky and Instagram.

It’s almost four years since I first ‘met’ the fabulous G. D. Wright and you’ll find a post here when we stayed in together. It has been my pleasure to meet Gaz in real life since, as not only his writing has gone from strength to strength, but he’s a smashing man as well as brilliant author. That early book has been revised and rebranded as After the Storm. You’ll find my review of After the Storm here.

Since then, life has been a real roller coaster for Gaz and many of you will know that he is currently in hospital, having been extremely ill for several weeks. Consequently, he has been unable to promote his brand new thriller Into the Fire which is out today and I wanted to support both the wonderful man and the wonderful book by sharing this spotlight.

I have actually chosen Into the Fire as one of my featured books for The People’s Friend magazine June Bookshelf and my mini-review will be in next week’s issue out on 11th June.

I can tell you that Into the Fire is the typical G. D. Wright blend of breath-taking plot, thrilling events and deep, deep emotion and humanity so that there really is something for every reader between its pages.

Into the Fire is published by Harper Collins imprint Avon today, 5th June 2025, and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Into the Fire

HE RUNS INTO THE FLAMES A HERO.

Steve thought he had left his troubled past behind. Living a quiet life with his wife and children, everything changes the night he rescues a baby from a burning house, becoming an unexpected national hero.

HE EMERGES FROM THE ASHES A SUSPECT.

But as the spotlight shines brighter, so does the scrutiny, and a shocking accusation is made – that Steve is the man responsible for an unsolved murder in Beachbrook years prior.

BUT WHICH ONE IS HE REALLY?

As his world unravels, public opinion is firmly divided. Steve pleads his innocence, but DS Sue Willmott is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago.

After all, even heroes hide secrets of their own.

****

You can get your copy of Into The Fire here and I really recommend you do!

About G. D. Wright

Gary Wright joined Kent Police at the age of 18 and worked in a variety of uniformed roles. At the age of 29, and completely out of the blue, he suffered two cardiac arrests that led to the diagnosis of a life limiting and incurable disease of the heart. Following the implant of an internal defibrillator in his heart, he was unable to continue policing and retired at the age of 30.

He bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour, and spent years looking out over the sea and dreaming up stories. He now writes full time, committing those very stories to paper.

After the Storm was Gary’s 2024 debut and is now followed by Into the Fire.

For further information, visit Gary’s website, follow him on X @GDWrightWrites, or find him on Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook.

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.