I love the sound of the latest book in Alice Fitzpatrick\u2019s Meredith Island Mystery<\/em> series and am so disappointed that life has culled most of my reading time so that I haven\u2019t been able to review. <\/span><\/p>\n However, Alice has kindly agreed to stay in in with me and chat about it so let\u2019s find out more:<\/span><\/p>\n Welcome to Linda\u2019s Book Bag<\/em> 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?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve brought <\/span>A Dark Death<\/strong>, the second book in my Meredith Island Mysteries, set on a small Welsh island.\u00a0 This book continues the crime-solving adventures of historical novelist Kate Galway and her hedonistic artist friend Siobhan Fitzgerald whom we first met in <\/span>Secrets in the Water<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n A Welsh setting! My Welsh husband needs to read these I think\u2026 so are the books murder mysteries?<\/strong><\/p>\n Not only do we get to join them in another murder investigation, but we explore a passion of mine\u2014archaeology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A huge fan of <\/span>Time Team<\/span><\/i>, I promised myself I\u2019d include an archaeological dig in one of my books, and here it is.\u00a0 Luckily, my chiropractor\u2019s 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\u2019s all about the bones.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s one way of putting it! Actually, I love archaeology too. So much so that Dr H once bought me a day\u2019s dig as a Christmas present! I think A Dark Death<\/em> is sounding more and more like a book I will have to fit in.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0What can we expect from an evening with A Dark Death<\/i>?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0We can expect tea, traditional Welsh cakes, and murder.\u00a0 Two murders, in fact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now you\u2019re talking my language. Tea and Welsh cakes and a book. There\u2019s nothing better. Tell me more.<\/strong><\/p>\n An archaeology professor and his students have arrived to excavate the remains of a medieval monk\u2019s cell.\u00a0 To everyone\u2019s surprise, they uncover evidence of a possible Roman temple.\u00a0 Also on the island is a psychic investigator who holds a s\u00e9ance in an abandoned nineteenth-century manor house.<\/span><\/p>\n 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 s\u00e9ance.<\/span><\/p>\n Kate is struggling with the consequences of a past decision, and if that isn\u2019t enough, when people she cares for becomes murder suspects, she must track down the real killer\u2014or killers.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow. That sounds fabulous.<\/strong><\/p>\n I promise you an evening of sexual intrigue, ghosts, a naked body, a high-speed chase, and strangely enough, knitting.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have to take care not to spill our tea!<\/span><\/p>\n We most certainly will.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure how you van follow the tea and Welsh cakes but what else have you brought along and why have you brought it?<\/strong><\/p>\n I would love for there to be a real Roman temple on the island, so I\u2019ve brought along my trowel in the hope that we can unearth some Roman artefacts.\u00a0 However Kate doesn\u2019t share my enthusiasm.\u00a0 Hers is a community that values its privacy.\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve also brought my Ouija board.\u00a0 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\u2019s mind at ease.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about A Dark Death<\/em>. It sounds fabulous. Now, you set up the board and pour me another cuppa and I\u2019ll give readers a few more details about A Dark Death<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0 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\u2019ve unearthed evidence of a Roman temple.<\/p>\n Part-way through the dig, however, the students make an even more startling discovery: a body ritualistically laid out in their trench.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s son are prime suspects, she and hedonistic artist Siobhan Fitzgerald feel they have no choice but to get involved.<\/p>\n Published by Stonehouse on 1st June in the UK A Dark Death is available for purchase here<\/a>. You can also purchase A Dark Deaths directly from Stonehouse Publishing<\/a>\u00a0as well as from\u00a0<\/span>Indigo<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0Barnes & Noble<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 Her summers spent with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire inspired the creation of the Meredith Island Mysteries which include <\/span>Secrets in the Water<\/strong> and <\/span>A Dark Death<\/strong>.\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/p>\n For further information about Alice, visit her website<\/a>, find her on Facebook<\/a> or follow Alice on Bluesky<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lindasbookbag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/a-dark-death.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nStaying in with Alice Fitzpatrick\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA Dark Death<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nAbout Alice Fitzpatrick<\/span><\/h3>\n
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