Written partly as an homage to detective fiction, this stellar debut is a must read!

Former London police detective Jake Jackson's marriage has been snuffed out due to apathy and repeated failure to conceive. He and his wife are still friends, but the love and the spark have died. When Jake learns that he has an inheritance from his uncle Arthur, he leaves his wife and his job behind to narrow his horizons in the countryside. A fresh start - just exactly what he needs.

Once ensconced in his new rural home, he is a changed man. No television, internet, or even phone service would be enough of a deterrent for many people, but not Jake. He embraced this solitude and reverts make to nature. He swims in his own lake, runs on his own acreage, and reads from his new and extensive library of crime fiction that his uncle bequeathed to him. Idyllic right?

"Sometimes the sound of his own voice surprises him, scraped from his throat, out of use like an old piece of machinery pulled from storage."

Jake discovers a need for more than this when he meets Livia, the attractive local vet. She invites him to participate in a local treasure hunt for a historic 'bag of bones' and he rises to the challenge. Only what he finds is not the pretend bones put in the bag by the hunt's organizer, but real, very human bones. Discovering the mystery behind his find leads him and those he has come to care for down a very dangerous path indeed... He unwittingly, has stumbled upon a crime a decade old - and cold case crimes are what he excels at.

This crime novel will be especially attractive to bibliophiles. "There is something about shelves upon shelves of books to gladden Jake's heart; they suggest an infinite amount of diversion, the endless scope of information, the sense that he will never be entirely alone, his life never completely lacklustre."

What a truly delightful and well written read. And realizing that this novel is the beginning of a new crime series is the icing on the cake. I am very eager to read the next installment in the Jake Jackson series. This is an auspicious debut that mystery fans must add to their TBR pile!

Jake Jackson is a successful London based detective. However, with a marriage failing and a legacy from a dead uncle, he moves his life to a rural location and discovers off grid living. However, crime is not only found in the metropolis, and Jake finds himself becoming involved in a historic crime which seems to be reasserting itself. With lyrical descriptions of life in the remotest parts of the country, the reader comes to really care about Jake and his new life. Highly recommended.

Jake (a former police detective) inherits a large property from his eccentric uncle. Out in the middle of nowhere and mainly off-grid, he is forced to reevaluate his life and adjust to a slower and more isolated routine. When some bones from a historic case are discovered during the annual treasure hunt, Jake finds himself torn between wanting to hide from his previous career while at the same time wanting to help and give some closure for the victim. However, it soon becomes clear that someone in Little Sky isn’t keen on Jake’s involvement and the threats only make him more determined to crack the case.

This is not a hard hitting or fast paced crime thriller. It takes its time, every detail is examined thoroughly and thoughtfully. We get to know each of the characters and really build up a picture of what life is like in the secluded Little Sky.

Ultimately it’s one of those rare gems - a crime fiction novel written especially for crime fiction fans. Jake maps out his property using the names of fictional detectives for different areas or landmarks, and he spends most of his time in his uncle’s extensive library which is filled exclusively with classic and modern crime fiction / detective novels.

The way the mystery is solved even uses the detective novel as a tool to explain the process, leaning towards a kind of meta fiction, referencing itself and how fictional murder mysteries usually play out.

This was a totally immersive murder mystery, atmospheric and beautiful written. Stig Abell has a unique voice and has done some fascinating world-building within Little Sky.

Perfect for fans of Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi, Rules For Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson and Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz.

I was not aware of this author before I saw this book.

Set in a small villiage a little midsummer murder like.

this book was slow paced but I enjoyed the read and the author described everything well so you really felt like you were there.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Death Under a Little Sky" by Stig Abell is a murder mystery novel that attempts to blend romance and suspense in a small-town setting. While the book has its moments, it ultimately falls short due to its lackluster mystery and excessive descriptions.

The murder mystery itself is underwhelming, with too few suspects and a detective who seems disinterested in solving the case. As a result, the suspense is lacking, and the reader is left wanting more. This is where the book truly falls short.

However, the book's romantic subplot between Jake and the local vet is a redeeming quality. It is a sweet and enjoyable love story that adds some much-needed heart to the book. In fact, it would have been better if the romance were the main focus of the story, rather than being overshadowed by the weak murder mystery.

The story centres on Jake, a former metropolitan police officer who has quit his job to live i the back of beyond in a house left to him by his late uncle. Jake seeks peace and quiet but this is shattered after he and local vet Livia find a bag of bones. The find leads the pair to investigate a 20-year-old death that was previously ruled to be an accident. But Jake encounters hostility from a number of locals and it is clear that someone is determined to prevent him getting to the truth. After another death,, Jake finds his own life in danger and runs the risk of also endangering Livia. I enjoyed the plot but found the overall pace a little too slow. The book would have benefited from editing out some of the descriptive passages in favour of the narrative. A promising start from a new author.

This being set in a British village made me so happy, I have not read enough books set as such, plus the wonderful characters and the description of the setting just make it all a beautiful, intriguing book that needs to be picked up. Plus with the absolutely wonderful writing that Abell gives us, it's a book that is unmissable. Like a slow-burn thriller, with the bright sun of the British summer? Then this book is for you.

Jake is left a property by his uncle ,it’s dilapidated and in the middle of nowhere but is this the solitude he needs?
He is a former police officer with a failed marriage and hopes this is a new start for him.
The story is beautifully written , very descriptive with all the aspects of a great thriller although I found it slow moving in parts but it kept my attention throughout.
The threads of the story came together perfectly and I found it to be a solid start to a new detective series..
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.

I didn’t quite chime with this book, which I felt wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be. It’s a thriller but a slow paced one, and the writing was very descriptive. I liked the characters but felt it was just a bit drawn out.

This was a very enjoyable story. It must have taken courage and determination for Jake, a former police detective, to up sticks and move into the countryside. The place he moved to was very small and everyone knew each other. There are a number of dubious characters and the murder mystery kept me guessing until the end. One of the villagers is the local vet, Livia. Livia and Jake begin to form a special relationship but he is afraid his investigations will bring trouble to her. There are a number of dangerous moments but it also tells what life is like living in a small community. This is the first in a series and I will be interested in reading the next book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A London detective escapes to the countryside after an uncle leaves him a rather dilapidated cottage. A set of human bones s discovered during a village treasure hunt and he starts to investigate who this was and who was responsible for the murder together with his new love, the local vet. Very enjoyable, recommended.

An ex detective seeks a simple life in an unspecified chunk of rural middle England as he takes on a rambling property left to him and quickly becomes embroiled in a cold case that soon heats up. The quality of the writing sets this apart and also makes it an engaging and enjoyable read, I was hooked pretty quickly with the quirky characters and an old school feel to the storyline that takes some risks but delivers on many levels a unique and thought provoking book, looking forward to more, soon I hope.

Jake Jackson’s life as a police detective is over – as is his life as a married man. Bequeathed an isolated countryside house by his uncle, Jake sees this as the ideal opportunity to get away from it all – work, other people and life in general. With a library full of detective fiction, what more can someone ask for?
As Jake gets used to his new slow-paced life and gets to know some of the locals, he embraces the peace and quiet. But when a village tradition of hunting for a bag of bones ends with real human bones inside the bag, Jake cannot help but get involved in reawakening a possible cold case. As the village turns his back on him, it rapidly becomes apparent that whatever darkness used to be there is still around – and determined to do whatever to stay hidden in the shadows.
It does seem a trend in some of my recent modern crime reads that a significant proportion of the plot needs to be about the lead character’s life, with the investigation of a crime being a second plot strand. Murder Under The Tuscan Sun, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers and now Death Under A Little Sky. While the book references a lot of crime writers, both classic and modern(ish) – alas, no Brian Flynn – this is a very different breed of novel from those it references. And it really is rather good.
As I said, there are two strands of story here, Jake’s journey of self-discovery and his investigation into the mysterious bones, but they are intertwined very well. There are stretches where the investigation definitely takes a back-seat from Jake’s sauna-building, for example, but it is never far from the main narrative, and some of the events in the investigation are critical in his self-development.
This is a completely absorbing book. Jake’s story draws you in, as he starts to become accepted (very slowly in some cases) by the villagers and he begins to form a relationship with Livia, the local vet. This romance is really well done, with this reader really caring about whether or not they would get together or not. Similarly the mystery takes its time to coalesce, but it is time well-spent.
I’ll give the usual caveat, given the nature of the blog – I think the killer is more of a guessing game than a clued mystery. If there was a significant clue, I didn’t notice it. But as this isn’t that sort of novel, it really didn’t matter.
This is Stig Abell’s first piece of crime fiction and is definitely worth checking out. One of the freshest voices that I’ve read in a good while.
Death Under A Little Sky is out now in hardback and ebook from HarperCollins. Many thanks for the review e-copy from NetGalley.

As a debut novel this was excellent, if it were from a more seasoned crime writer it would also be excellent. A character driven plot involving our main character, taking early retirement from the police and moving to the middle of nowhere after inheriting a property and land from an estranged uncle. He thereafter becomes involved in the investigation of a historic murder which leads to a murder in the present time. He is seen as an incomer and trying to settle in to his new surroundings whilst at the same time rubbing locals up the wrong way. Very well written lead and supporting characters and it's clear that the author has a grounding in thriller/crime/mystery and not just from the frequent name drops throughout the story. After reading this one I now look forward to him following up with something equally as entertaining.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

I’d like to think that there are still places like that described in Stig Abell’s debut crime novel. Abell’s detective, Jake Jackson has inherited a large but very basic farmhouse and accompanying land from his uncle Albert. The house has no internet, no landline, no washing machine and no hot water. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere. No real neighbours, no roads to speak of near the property. This is a hamlet with one shop that has a cellar which serves as a place to drink alcohol on occasion.

For Jake it is a timely answer to his problems. He was a policeman, but has burnt-out. He was a husband, but his marriage has foundered amid the heartbreak of failure to conceive a child. Jake’s experience of working the land or building things is nil, but he needs to sequester himself away and try and find some sense of self again, so this bequest is a godsend.

Jake’s new home is in a rural backwater, beautiful and unspoiled. Jake spends his days running and wild water swimming in a lake while working out how to cook, clean and develop the land he has inherited. His evenings are spent in the one room in the house that is well stocked – the library which houses his uncle’s impressive collection of detective fiction.

He does meet some of the locals, including the local vet, a single mother whom Jake finds both attractive and good company. He is inveigled along to participate in a local tradition akin to a treasure hunt where the treasure is ‘ a bag of bones’. On this occasion though, the sticks that normally stand in for the traditional bones in this annual hunt have been replaced by actual human bones and so the mystery begins.

Jake and his attractive vet begin an investigation and as they dig into what has happened, they uncover deeply buried secrets, and soon danger is closer to the surface than anyone is comfortable with. What looked to be a cold case has clearly stirred up a lot of local feeling and soon Jake has more enemies than people he has actually met since he moved in. Abell’s characters are well described and blissfully unromanticised.

Stig Abell clearly has a love for the detective fiction genre and that shines through in his writing. He has a clean writing style that captures both the beauty and the cruelty of the countryside as well as highlighting the very real drawbacks of rural life. This is a place where everyone knows your business and few will interfere if they perceive it to be none of their business. In this ‘live and let live’ culture, evil finds it easy to breed.

Though there is a formal police presence here, it is light of touch due to the pressures of low resources in rural policing and the calculation (wrongly as it turns out) of the absence of any current threat to the community.

That allows Jake to both flex his detective muscles again and more importantly, to be the isolated figure investigating wrongdoing whilst coming to a sense of peace within himself. Though I really enjoyed the slow burn that this novel benefits from and loved the laid back feel and beautifully atmospheric descriptions, some of the dialogue did feel a little stilted and that produced an oddly strange, out of kilter experience – so much so that I wondered if it was a deliberate way to show Jake’s disassociation from societal norms. It is odd because this book is otherwise very well written.

Overall though, I enjoyed Death Under A Little Sky which is a satisfying murder mystery embedded in a love of the genre that really does shine through. It seems that this is the first in a series and I will certainly look out for the next one.

What a fantastic debut! I loved it, I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the authors style of writing, capturing the life of the rural countryside in great detail and the sense of community that’s formed there, it was made to feel very realistic. I liked the characters of Jake and Livia who are relatable and engaging. There are some shady characters too. The author did a great job of bringing them all to life. I liked how the ending all tied up.
I look forward to more from this author/series.
A beautifully written, descriptive and atmospheric read. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGallery and Harper Collins UK for an arc of Death Under A Little Sky in exchange for an honest review.

What an absorbing and unputdownable debut novel. Love crime novels and this cold case didn't disappoint.

Jake has worked in London for the police for a number of years, he and his wife Faye ha v e been steadily growing apart and after numerous miscarriages their marriage doesn't recover. Jakes uncle leaves him property and assets in his will - the problem is it will involve living miles from the nearest neighbours or small village and going off grid! Sounds like a lovely idea for a holiday but will Jake be able to live like this permanently? He moves in to Little Sky after leaving his job and soon enjoys the solitude, that is until he meets local vet Livia! She talks him into joining her for the annual bag of bones search. The problem this year is they are real and human bones, but just whose are they? As Jake gets pulled back into the world of police work, he soon finds out that villages can be very close knit when it comes to keeping things quiet or knowing everyone's business. The more he digs the more someone doesn't want the tru th to come out and try to scare him off on more than one occassion Just why does someone care so much about bones from years ago? Will Jake be able to help solve the case before any more people get killed and can be keep Livia and her young daughter Diana safe?

Read this in a day as I couldn't put this down. Excited for Stigs next novel. Highly recommended!!! If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

With thanks to publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Crime fiction is not usually my first choice of reading matter, largely because a lot of crime novels are not especially well written. But Stig Abell is one of my favourite radio presenters and a pretty good journalist so I was curious to read this, his first novel. He is funny, erudite and an avid crime fiction fan himself so I had high hopes, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The protagonist, Jake Jackson, is a high-flying detective in the London Met who is going through a marriage break-up when his uncle dies and leaves him a sprawling, isolated country property on the outskirts of the improbably named Caelum Parvum, the Little Sky of the title. Jake seizes the opportunity to retire from policing and make a fresh start, away from old ties and the city, living off grid with no mobile signal and few amenities. However, drawn to the annual village bone hunt by the promise of getting closer to the alluring local vet Livia, he makes a discovery of a bag of human bones and is drawn into investigating a cold case, hampered by an impenetrable wall of silence and and an increasingly dark and seedy view of what really goes on in isolated rural communities.

When I do read crime fiction I prefer authors like Barbara Vine or Susan Hill, who are more interested in the characters’ psychology and building a convincing setting and atmosphere than pacy plotting and impossible twists. This is the approach Stig Abell has taken, writing quite an old-fashioned murder story that makes much of the premise of living without the means of communication we all take for granted, but the pace is not remotely slow. It is very well written generally, with phrases and images that really stand out. I could properly hear Abell’s voice throughout in a story that kept me turning the pages. He is occasionally a bit too keen to reference his vast knowledge of crime writers, but over all this is an easy read but certainly not a lazy write. Recommended.

A most poignant story of Detective faced with a broken marriages due to the trauma of a wife suffering repeated miscarriages,is offer a new life with the legacy of a house with immense grounds and a lake, well endowed with all expenses paid in a remote rural area, He sets forth able be completely independent after settling all his assets to his wife. In solitary idealist surroundings miles from neighbours with the nearest village miles away provides him to have a new life style and even a new image. Unfortunately the death by misadventure of a young beloved woman a decade age remains a bone contention to be kept s a dark secret by some nd others seeking justice. The advent of an ex detective in their midst stirs up the flamesgiving rise to murder and danger just as the ex Detecive falls in love with yhr lsdy of the lake. A great story of love and unavoidable danger as yhe Detective finaly unmasked the snake that is in plain sight who in embedded in the community.

Excellent debut, I really enjoyed this one.

Great premise of a guy who retires from the police to a rural cottage and starts digging things up people want to stay buried.