This is the third book in the Jake Jackson series ,though it is a good standalone .The story is centred on a nearby archaeological site who suddenly receive threatening letters .It is a bit of a slow burner but with all the old characters from previous books .As usual the writing is amazing and descriptions are beautiful, a lovely cosy murder story .Looking forward to no 4 in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

This is the third book of the series and it's fair to say I read it perfectly as a stand-alone. The plot centres around Jake Jackson, an ex-detective who together with his girlfriend and her daughter live in the wilds of Scotland. Unfortunately, his idyllic life away from the Met turns into a murder mystery when a local archaeological dig brings with it some unwanted attention. First in the form of threatening letters and then when the Reverend turns up dead. While rich pickings are promised for any of the finds, there is someone working overtime to close it down. Very soon Jake is called upon to help and becomes integral to unveiling the source of the threats and murderer. When Janet the leader of the dig goes missing and Rose’s house gets vandalised it looks as if they are fighting a losing battle. Can they solve the letter writer and bring the murderers to justice or will those behind it simply get away. Try as I could to spot the culprit I was still surprised at the end. Abell has a gift for creating atmosphere through vivid description. There was a real sense that you were walking through the site of the dig and peeping through the trees at the lake. Beautifully crafted I simply sank into it. This was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

An enjoyable book but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two as it is a bit slower. So many times, Jake's routine of running and swimming was mentioned in more detail than necessary. Even though Jake is an ex-policeman, the police inspector, Macallister rather leaves Jake to solve the murder and assaults. Despite these negative comments I did enjoy the book and read it quite quickly. It must be difficult to maintain the same standard in a series and I expect the next one will be really good again.

Third in a series - I had read the first book so I had come across Jake and his detective work before. Quite similar to the Elly Griffiths 'Ruth Galloway' series - well this one is as it involves a dig. A perfectly fine detective story which suited me fine as I lay in the sun. There are a few bits which made me giggle - Jake arranging crocuses and tulips in a vase - crocuses are such short little things and tulips have long stems so I had an interesting mental image of his efforts.
All in all a satisfying hunt for a baddy.

The Burial Place is the third book in a murder mystery series featuring Jake Jackson, a former detective in the Met who has "escaped" to live an idyllic rural life. This book works as a standalone but now that I have read and enjoyed it, I will go back and read the first two in the series.
The mystery involves threatening messages connected to a local archaeological dig which escalate to a death at the site. Jake gets involved as an assistant to the local police force as they work to unravel the clues.
The murder mystery is only a part of the book's appeal and for me, the descriptions of life at Jake's home Little Sky were a standout part of the writing with the setting and the character's backgrounds beautifully written. I quite fancy spending a few weeks there myself, although without the murders!

4* The Burial Place - Stig Abell. Jake Jackson is back for his third outing and a fine addition to this fantastic series but written so that it would also be a superb standalone (although, as ever, a series is all the richer if you’ve got to know the characters).

An archaeological dig on local land has uncovered treasures and is part of an ongoing TV series. However the dangers of the past come to haunt the present when someone holding themselves out as yesteryear man of mystery starts to threaten the team. Jake Jackson, former Met detective now man of the countryside, gets slowly drawn into the mystery as the threats mount.

This is a stellar series. The novelty of Jake’s lifestyle is now merely the background to a well written series. It’s always fun to be back with these characters, who are getting increasingly quirky (probably as quirky as they need to get!). The prose is beautifully written and the climax has more than a hint of Agatha Christie. The plot drags a little in the middle, with perhaps too much of Jake and his girlfriend frolicking in the fields.

Thanks to Harper Collins, Hemlock Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thankyou NetGalley & harper Collins for this arc copy book, this is 3rd book in the series of Jake jackson and it just keeps getting better and better. I love the character development with all the characters as they grow in each book. Jake & livia will always have my heart but I’m kinda rooting for a new couple that may be on the horizon but I’m not giving spoilers. I love this cosy mystery book with some dark elements in the book. However I always feel satisfied & content when finishing. I just need more of Jake & Livia

A group of archaeologists are uncovering a Roman site close to Little Sky: it's idyllic and some of the excavations are being televised. There's even a hoard of Roman gold worth millions which will be split between the finders and the landowner. It's perfect until the group begin receiving threatening letters. Jake Jackson, a former police detective, is trying to lead a simpler life at Little Sky but he's inevitably drawn in to investigate. Reading the letters, it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that there will be violence and even the local police are keen that Jake should be involved.

I've got to begin with a warning. There's a massive spoiler for the ending of the second book in the series. In fairness, it would have been difficult, if not impossible to avoid. If you're interested in the series, it's one that you really should start at the beginning and that way you'll get the best from them all. You could read them individually but it's a fuller story if you know the background.

It's almost a closed-archaeological site mystery. Only a limited number of people could be responsible for the letters, the violence and the damage that's done and just about all of them are associated with the dig. Some are more vividly drawn than others - right to the end I wasn't entirely confident about who was who amongst the women, but that's me being very picky. I did work out who was responsible for the crimes but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story.

For me, the star of the book was the natural world surrounding Little Sky.

Two barn swallows swoop in the field beyond, dipping close to the pools of water that are slowly seeping away into the earth, harvesting unseen insects with blithe efficiency. They twist and turn, as if shocked by invisible wires, their pale chests like flecks of cloud, forked C-shaped tails visible for an instant before they dip away once more. Agitated chirruping fills the air, like squeaks on an old trolley wheel.

That's just one paragraph I've picked, almost at random. This was a slow immersive read, simply because I kept rereading passages. They took me back to my childhood, to how the countryside was just after the end of the Second World War. It was a delight. Few people have such a talent for a simile which puts you in the moment. Yes, I did know who the wrong 'un was - but I would read the book again, just for the pleasure of the writing.

I'd like to thank the publishers for allowing Bookbag to have a review copy.

This is the third novel by Stig Abel that I have read and I enjoyed this as much as I have the others. In Jake we have a true hero yet he is not without his problems. Watching the development of his relationship with Livia gives a welcome relief from the dirty deeds of murder and mayhem. As usual I was convinced that I had discovered the murderer only to find myself proved wrong. I look forward to book number 4 and the continuation of the story.

There sure is a lot of murder in these tiny English hamlets.
I read the first book in the series but not the second one. But reading the third one felt like putting on a pair of old slippers. I immediately felt comfortable with all the characters and there were still quite a few cheesy comments that made me cringe a bit , but it all suits the sleepy nature of idealised isolated rural life.
Jake , the retired D.I. , is still living in Little Sky and his romance with the local vet is becoming more serious and a lot of the book deals with the possible future for them. But a nearby archaeological dig is upsetting someone and threatening letters start to appear then eventually physical violence occurs.
Jake semi officially helps out the police as they try to find out who the murderer is.
Towards the end of the book things did get a wee bit silly in the leading up to the capture of the murderer but that did not spoil my enjoyment of the book too much.
I will look out for the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC

A decent story and the setting is very quirky. I find the descriptions of the physical a bit ... odd.
Series is developing well though.

An OK book. I found the Americanisms off-putting, and the book is a clear fantasy about rural living, but the story is decent. This would make a good, undemanding holiday book.

The third book in the Little Sky series and it all gets better and better. Jake and Livia making their lives together with murder lurking this time on an archaeological dig not too far from Little Sky. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I sincerely hope there's more to come, Bravo!

This author’s books have the ability to simultaneously make you unable to stop reading while wishing you could bury the book somewhere deep underground where it can't be found. Compelling and didn’t want it to end!

Book 3 in the series, and while it does hold up to being a standalone book, I think I would have preferred to gave read the previous 2 first to understand the relationships and the main character a bit more. Although I felt this was a little slow to start, the language and vocabulary is beautiful. It feels like a traditional thriller, almost reminiscent of Agatha Christie. It has all the elements - drama, a bit of romance and of course murder and tension. Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

Having read the blurb for this book I made a request for Arc from NetGalley without doing due diligence and knowing it was the 3rd in a series so I took a gamble and purchased 1 and 2. Having previously read arcs and missed book 1 and then having to go back after a tremendous arc I didn’t want that disappointment! The gamble paid off and book 1 and 2 I read through eager to then begin The burial place.
I connected with the characters and I must say I did not work out the killer I thought I had but no I was wrong!!
Archaeological diggings, anonymous letters, attacks and disappearing people all come together to make one excellent read.
You don’t have to have read the first 2 books in the series to have followed this storyline but it was my preference to do so.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc

Looks like I found myself a new author to add to my list of favourites. Take a bow Stig Abell, and know that you are in good company on that list. 📜
When I requested The Burial Place, I didn't realise it was book 3 of a series. I carried on regardless, and do you know what? It was fine. While I didn't get the complete background of the central characters, I got enough to satisfy me for now.
As to the book itself, I enjoyed it immensely. So good were the descriptions of the locations, I felt as though I was actually there. That one of those locations was the site of an archaeological dig, added to what was already an atmospheric read. 💀
All of the characters were likeable, even the killer who, I might add, I failed to identify.
Would I recommend this book? I certainly would, but I would also recommend starting the series at the beginning. I plan to do that myself in the foreseeable future.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Third book in an excellent crime thriller series. I love the juxtaposition of the search for a quite simple life, recovering from trauma, and not being able to leave the solve a case itch, even if it means danger, that seems to follow retired cop Jack and his recently acquired friends. Murderers watch out, but so should Jake because they also kill. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This is a book with an unusual theme which works well. Jake was a policeman who retired early when he inherited an isolated property but that doesn’t stop him volunteering to help the police out. Near where he lives there is an archaeological dig under way. Anonymous letters are received suggesting local ,discontent over the digging.. Then it gets more serious with the disappearance of a leader of the project, Janet. Then it looks as if the project will have to be halted as Jake suffers an attack and there are other murders. Jake leads the investigation, pulling in formal police help as needed. Then he becomes sure that the murderer is known to them all and is part of the team. He sets up a situation to catch the murderer. This book is very well researched with amazing detail about the archaeological search. There is also a backdrop of his life with his partner as they try for a baby. It is a good read and I recommend it.

This is a great followup to the first novel, and I'm rapidly becoming a big fan of this series! It's beautifully drawn, the setting is fantastic and the personal relationships just work for me. Can't wait for the next one.