1 June 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-988754-62-8 (PB)
Kate Galway is a historical novelist and ex-teacher who has returned to Meredith Island after her marriage ended. The island is situated just off the Welsh coast, and it is home to a small, traditional community who always takes care of their own.
Bored with plotting her writing, Kate has walked to a rugged part of the island that she has not visited for years because she is curious about the archaeological dig that is taking place there. The dig is under the supervision of Professor Simon Penhaligon, who has brought five of his students to work there: show-off, arrogant Jude; forthright, sexy Myfanwy; quiet, hard-working Noah; whinging Poppy; and studious, responsible Tristan. Kate is especially eager to see Tristan again, because he is the son of a university friend and the nearest thing to a godson that Kate has. While Kate is at the trench, Poppy makes a discovery that is both exciting and confusing, as it makes no archaeological sense.
Meredith Island is usually a quiet place but, at the moment, it is receiving a high number of outside visitors. As well as the archaeologists, a self-proclaimed psychic, Griffin Blackstock, and his PA have arrived to do a television programme about Faraday Manor, which is the only large house on the island. Faraday Manor has been left empty, although not untended, since a tragedy generations ago caused the owner to move away, and Blackstock claims that he can contact the spirits of the dead that linger at Faraday Manor. For Blackstock’s initial performance he has invited three people to attend his demonstration: one of them is Kate; the others are the Reverend Imogen Larkin and Miss Sophie Sutherland, an elderly lady who is vulnerable to Blackstock’s tricks because of recent bereavement. The performance is very much what Kate expects, clearly drawing on things learned by the pseudo psychic and his PA through research beforehand. However, one thing that has no basis in truth or gossip is an evil slur on the reputation of a local man who had worked at Faraday Manor and whose descendant, Evan Cragwell, still lives on the island. To Kate’s surprise, Miss Sophie is comforted by what Blackstock tells her about her late sisters being happy and reunited; but Imogen Larkin, who had refused to stay in the room during the Ouija board performance, has been traumatised by something that occurred.
Blackstock has made himself very unpopular in the community, but everyone is shocked when his naked body is discovered, laid out in the archaeologists’ trench. After helping to investigate her aunt’s death, Kate has a local reputation as an amateur sleuth, but she has no intention of getting involved in this case, especially as the police officers in charge have made it clear that they object to amateur interference. However, Kate soon realises that the detective in charge is focusing his attention on people she cares about, such as Evan Cragwell and Tristan, whose family had some bad history with Blackstock. Kate and her friends plunge into the investigation, probing the secrets of both the newcomers and the villagers until she reaches a surprising conclusion.
A
Dark Death
is the second book in the series featuring Kate Galway and the inhabitants of
Meredith Island. It is an intriguing book with an engaging protagonist and a
likeable cast of characters who form a delightful community. The plot is
multi-layered and cleverly constructed. This is a very enjoyable read, which I
recommend.
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Reviewer:
Carol Westron
http://www.alicefitzpatrick.com
The Fragility of Poppies.
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