I have read all of the Jake Jackson novels and I am afraid I am getting a little bored. Why? Well, Jake (a retired detective) who inherited property and land deep in the countryside, off grid but mysteriously has electricity, seems to be living the good life. Nothing seems to go wrong, the crops grow, the fruit ripens, the bees hum, the birds sing, the weather for the main part is perfect and even when it rasins he goes walking in it then tops it off with a swim in the lake. A body honed to perfection, he takes his showers out in the open, no apparent mud around. It's all too good to be true and very cosy. He has a lover who signals to him by leaving some clothing in a tree and he comes running. The Burial Place is about an archaeological dig not far from Jakes home. An amazing discovery means rich pickings but the pickers start to get bumped off. Who will be left holding the prize, who will defacto be the murderer? Obviously a job for a retired detective as he lives locally.
Well written, not a great plot but a nice cosy read if you are in to that.

Retired detective Jake Jackson is drawn into a new case when archaeologists unearth a Roman town and start receiving threatening messages that escalate to violence. Though enjoying a peaceful life by the lake, Jake can't resist the pull of solving the mystery. The book can be enjoyed on its own, but familiarity with the small town and its colorful characters adds depth to the story. The rural setting, intriguing plot, and mix of archaeology and crime make for an engaging and well-crafted read. Another strong entry in the series!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is the third in the series, although could quite easily be read as a stand-alone. For me, this series gets better with each book, and I look forward to reading more of Jake and Livia.

My thanks to Netgalley and publishers Harper Collins for an ARC of this novel, the third in the Jake Jackson detective series by Stig Abel. As an avid reader of detective fiction, I was blown away by the first novel and loved the second. Could the escapist dream be maintained for a third time?
The basis of these stories is that the hero, Jake, is left a country estate with enough income to allow him to give up his job as a middle-ranking Metropolitan police officer and live the good life on his new estate He has a large house, which, luckily, seems to be maintenance free and fields, a wood and a lake with an island and a boat, but no road to this paradise. He grows his hair and beard and wears very basic clothes. His house has no central heating, but open fires and a wood stove for which he chops wood from his own wood. He has no shower, so he makes his own outdoors. The house has cellars, handily well stocked with a vast amount of basic foodstuffs such as flour etc and wine. But the very best of all is a huge room with an open fire, comfortable sofas, and walls completely covered in book shelving containing every detective novel ever written. He gets up early every day and goes for a long run through his own fields, followed by a strenuous swim in his lake. This really is the stuff of fantasy.
He then acquires a rather lovely girlfriend who happens to be the local vet. She has an ancient VW estate car, which he is able to use if necessary. Her veterinary duties don't begin to compare with the hectic pace of "All Creatures Great and Small", so she is often on hand when needed. There being no telephone or other forms of electronic communication, they message each other by hanging material in trees. Jake tends his vegetable garden for the necessary food and develops a flock of chickens for eggs. He also has an orchard for fruit, but who tends the fields is not clear.. Laundry is referred to but doesn't seem to take up much time, considering that he has no washing machine.. The sun often glints through windows, which is odd considering that he has been burning wood fires for a few years. Household tidying is referred to, but never any serious deep cleaning. I just loved this fantasy, but it's very much from the male perspective.
This third novel centers on an archeological dig taking place a few miles away, which of course Jake3 yomps across to regularly, whatever the weather. Murders and attacks take place on the site which need solving. There is a new local detective inspector who welcomes Jake's ex-police input. But more importantly, an old colleague and friend comes to stay, who is a researcher, fairly senior in the police and government, who has a "special kit that gets connected anywhere" to the internet. Of course she does ! ! It's going to be vital for Jake and Co to be connected to each other via the internet, even though he has no connection.
So, the charmed life goes on, even in the midst of a complex murder investigation. But I can't help feeling that reality is just starting to intrude into Jake's fantasy lifestyle. Given the ending of this novel, it will be interesting to see how much more it will impinge in subsequent tales. I can't wait to find out.
This third novel can be read as a stand-alone tale, but if you haven't read the first two books, I highly recommend them. This series is a total joy.

Read this late into the night to finish it - think it is the best in the series so far. Good balance between the crime and detective parts and Livia and Jake’s developing relationship. Enjoyed the archeological details and Jake’s lifestyle almost makes me (a determined city dweller) want to move to the middle of nowhere. Main frustration is having to wait another year until the next instalment.

This is fast becoming one of my favourite series of novels. This is book 3 of the Jake Jackson series and it shows no sign of letting up.

What I love most about these novels is that whilst the crime/murder/mystery part is done expertly, I love the sense of place that Stig Abell has been able (no pun intended) to develop over the series. I genuinely feel such a part of the lift that Jake has built for himself and Livia.

The peripheral characters are also well developed too and I am so keen to see where this will go. Given the setting of the books, it will be interesting to see how Jake is able to keep assisting the police given that it may become strange if there continue to be a string of murders in their little remote village.

That said, I am all in for this series and can't wait for book 4. Especially with the personal ending of this one too........

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Having read the first two books in the series, I was looking forward to seeing what came next.

Again, a great storyline and good characters, but I felt that the author, for the first quarter of the book, over did the descriptions of the landscapes and moods which made me lose sight of what was happening, it was too flowery for a mystery thriller for me. However, having said this, the rest of the book settled down into a better rhythm and made it much more enjoyable to read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Always like discovering new authors, and this new release from Stig Abel was a great introduction.
Jake, a retired detective - who clearly misses his former career - is somewhat reluctantly dragged into a local crime investigation after an archeologist is found murdered. The author does a great job of taking us through the investigation and the local rural community that Jake now calls home.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy for review.

The third book in the series featuring Jake Jackson. This one is centred on an archaeological site. When the archaeologists start receiving threatening letters and one of the group is murdered, Jake is invited to help the police with their investigation.
There is so much to love about this series and the books just keep getting better. The setting and the characters are wonderful; who doesn't want to move to Caelum Parvum, swim in the lake and dine outdoors with the group of friends.
This book was initially a slow burner but the pace soon increased. Some of the freedoms to act given to Jake by the police did perhaps stretch my credulity but it was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Retired detective Jake Jackson returns in The Burial Place and once again he is called to be part of an investigation. Although he is comfortable in his isolated, inherited small house with its walls of books, hot tub and nearby lake, he occasionally misses police work. This new case is a challenge. Archaeologists working to uncover a nearby Roman town have received threatening letters. Soon the threats escalate into violence and Jake must unravel complicated clues before more members of the dig become victims.

This series just keeps getting better. Although The Burial Place can be read as a standalone mystery, familiarity with the small town of Caelum Parvum and its residents helps. All characters are vibrant: Chief Inspector McAllister brings a fresh look to local crime, Livia is enjoying her new relationship with Jake and Aletheia brings her security knowledge to the case. The rural location is atmospheric, the plot is well planned and the archaeology knowledge is fascinating. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Stig Abell for this ARC.

Being a big fan of this authors previous work, I was really looking forward to reading his latest release, and let me tell you, I certainly didn’t disappoint! Full of history, drama and suspense it was the perfect atmospheric crime thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

A group of archaeologists working on the remains of a Roman settlement start to receive threatening letters.
Jake a former detective is asked to help and then things get much worse.
I love the description of the beautiful surroundings and the many interesting characters.
This is book 3 although i believe this could be read as a stand alone.
My particular favourite is Death Under a Little Sky but all very enjoyable.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I loved this book. It gave me a bit of Poiror vibes with the archaeological digging and the nurder mystery but the author has written a superb story.

It is pacy, intriguing and I was hooked from the start. it was a one sit read on a very rainy day so thank you to the author for keeping me entertained.

It has a little of everything, drama, history and murder which is right up my street. It even has a little romance.

It's brilliant..