Palm Bay author Richard Savin has released his latest book with the Walpole Bay Hotel once again providing the backdrop.
A launch event for The Phantom at the Walpole Bay Hotel – featuring amateur sleuths, Dorothy Coates and Effie Dalrymple- will take place at the hotel on May 17.
The book is the third in the series charting the adventures and sleuthing of main characters Dorothy and Effie.
Richard says the ladies ‘of a certain age’ are ‘tearaways’ who like good wine, fast cars and a few evening cocktails.
The retired journalist worked extensively in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. After ten years in Asia he returned to the UK, and in a change of direction, indulged his lifelong passion for cooking, opening his first restaurant under the name of La Petite Auberge de St Savin, where he was head chef.
He went on to open and operate two further restaurants in London as well as a popular City bar until selling up in 1990 and returning to journalism; first as editor for a national magazine and then as features writer and commissioning editor for Surrey County Council’s education tabloid newspapers.
His first book, Vakilabad – Iran; was published by Canongate, Edinburgh, 1980 but he did not return to writing books until his retirement.
The 84-year-old first novel was published in 2017 and since then he has completed 22 manuscripts of novels, memoirs, a children’s book and short stories.
Richard and wife Liz – a retired law editor with Cambridge University Press – left Surrey in 2014 and bought a house in France.
They then bought a home in Palm Bay so travel across the Channel is accessible.
Book one of the latest series was titled Murder at the Walpole Bay Hotel, book two The Man At The Walpole Bay Hotel and now The Phantom at the Walpole Bay Hotel will hit the shelves. The books begin in the period from 1914 with the latest set in 1916.
In the tale Room 308 has been permanently reserved by an unknown client since shortly after the hotel opened in 1914 – but nobody ever stays there. Two years on, the room continues to be paid for – but it remains unoccupied. Or does it?
As those who enter the room begin to disappear Chief Inspector Page is brought in to investigate. The whisper around Margate is of supernatural happenings and Jane Bishop, proprietor of the Walpole Bay Hotel, is desperate for answers.
A pre-launch event saw actors, Jim Arnold, Michelle Collin, and Jane Pottle, come together at the hotel for a rehearsal session of readings from the novel.
The Phantom at the Walpole Bay Hotel launch event will take place on 17 May with, readings, live music, a complimentary cocktail, and snacks.
Admission to the event is free and by application to the organisers.
Attendance will be limited to 60 to meet safety regulations.
With each new book in the series the author, Richard Savin, creates a cocktail and a complimentary one is served to guests at the launch party.
These have been ‘The Walpole Bay Slammer’ and ‘The Walpole Bay Crusher’ with the latest one being The Walpole Bay Blunderbuss.’
To attend the launch email [email protected]
ooh, how lovely!
This plot could be a great TV series