3rd book in the series featuring Jake Jackson, who lives at Little sky. The other 2 books were good, but this one is a lot better.

Featuring Little Sky and an archaeological dig in the vicinity, what else could happen apart from murder and intrigued. Page turning reading.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read these three books.

When I saw that the first 3 books in this series were currently available to request, I was very excited as I love a good crime series. Unfortunately the writing style of this author is just not for me so I did not finish. I'm not leaving a rating or a review on any other site as to do so when not finishing the book would be unfair to the author.

A third outing for Jake JAckson but although a standalone I would recommend reading the others first . Jake is quite a character and here he looks into a case involving a dig site. There's lots to love about a site like this as it screams histories and stories yet to be told. a good police procedural with atmosphere.

I have loved all the books set in Little Sky but I really enjoyed this one set against an archaeological dig. A page turner that had me hooked from the first and which kept me up at night as I read just one more chapter. As with the previous ones plenty of twists and turns before the final reveal for which I only had an inkling just before it happened.
Whilst all the books can be seen as stand alone I am enjoying the development of the characters introduced in earlier books and Jake and Livia's relationship.
I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Absolutely love this series following Jake in Little Sky! Stig has delivered a fantastic novel again! Can't wait for the next instalment, although it can be read as,a standalone I feel it's better if the previous novels were read first. Feel a bit sorry for Jake, he moved looking for a quieter life but crime still seems to have followed him. The characters are easily likeable and you feel invested in their lives, wanting to know what is happening with them. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this will be recommending to everyone I know. Hope the series gets made into films!

Jake Jackson #3

Jake Jackson lives in a beautiful English landscape at Little Sky, a place of calm and love now that he’s in a relationship with local vet, Livia. Close by, an archaeological dig is taking place which is producing not only signs of settlement since the Iron Age but also a treasure trove. However, the peace and excitement is shattered when a series of letters are received, signed Wulfnoth (the name of a prominent Anglo-Saxon leader) who is against the dig. The letters are creepy and threatening with the threats becoming increasingly personal; vengeance seems to be lying in wait. Soon after, the avenger does indeed strike. Chief Inspector David McAllister leads the inquiry, ably assisted by ex policeman Jake.

I love this series which I think gets better and better or maybe it’s because these likeable characters have come to mean something to me. As with the last two books, the setting at Little Sky and Caelum Parvum is beautifully described and rich in atmosphere. The descriptions are sumptuous, as Stig Abell writes so well, at times it’s almost poetic or with sincere reverence to the natural surroundings. It makes me feel part of the landscape and scenes and I look wistfully towards Little Sky though I’d like an indoor shower and Wi-Fi!

Jake’s contentment with his new life shines through and provides a stark contrast to events surrounding the dig. As before, this novel is character and plot driven. It’s an excellent blend as mixed in with the dark grittiness are moments of pure joy and emotion which I think makes it feel authentic. What the author has created is a great blend of the cosy around the fire pit, beer in one hand and a golden age novel in the other, with a realistic intense plot which doesn’t shy away from difficult issues such as racism. The pace rises and falls appropriately and keeps me hooked throughout with plenty of good twists.

Overall, this is another terrific read which can be read as a standalone but the first two in the series absolutely beg to be read! I hope number 4 is underway …

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction:Hemlock Press for the much appreciated epub in return for an honest review.

The third in the series about Jake, an ex DI, living in the wilds, somewhere in Scotland. Fine as a stand alone, but as someone who has read all three, I would advise you to do so. Mainly because it gives you insight into Jake, his relationships with others and the way he leads his life. This book does tell you what you need to know, but the series gives you a more all round picture. This book is mostly about a local archeological dig. Some one is warning the team involved off the land and perhaps hoping for a share of the proceeds of a horde of treasure found there, then the warnings become more threatening and some one is found dead.
Jake is starting to become more settled in his personal life, with his girlfriend Livia and her daughter. He has good friends living locally and further away and he strikes up a friendship with the new DI, who welcomes help with the increasingly complicated cases which are linked to the dig. Perhaps Jake is sometimes too involved, for a non-police person, than is realistic, but it does make for good reading.
I love the descriptions of the location, the lifestyle there and the people involved in Jake's life. His mixed emotions and insecurities are well portrayed and easily understandable. They give the book a human element which draws you to the characters. The pacing of the crimes and investigation is just about right, not too slow but not too rushed either. Well researched, the evidence feels right too.
Thanks to Net Galley for another enjoyable read .

I was seriously looking forward to this but unfortunately it soon became a chore to read. Adore Scotland. Love archaeology. The plot however was very, very slow going. Lots of description about not much (although I rapidly cottoned on to the fact that they were trying for a baby...)
So slow it became tedious to read. Such a shame

Bucket loads of atmosphere on every page from the suspicious letters, the ancient artefacts, the strange and eerie folly and the unprovoked attacks.
The story moves apace and there are plenty of twists that will ahve you suspecting everyone in turn!

This is the third in the Jake Jackson series of "detective" novels, set in an un-named rural location which, amazingly, still has a bus service. Jake has really settled in to his new lifestyle, but has also maintains links with the local police force, who call on him for help when their resources are stretched.
This book concerns poison pen letters and accidents/deaths at a local archaeological site. Like some other reviewers I found that the novel starts slowly but gradually warms up.
As usual the prose is wonderful and the cast of characters continues to be enjoyable, with McAllister and Lily welcome additions.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Third in the Jake and Livia series. Jake was a burnt out city detective whose uncle left him an isolated house deep in the country, it has no vehicular access and he lives a bucolic life of rural bliss, is building a happy family with Olivia and solving the occasional local murder. The further we get into the series it becomes more obvious that this is a city dwellers fantasy of rural life. Jake heats his big and draughty house and heats his sauna with wood and with no access for wood to be delivered Jake would need a truck and a chainsaw to cut the amount of wood he uses but has neither. His fridge is full of bottles of wine but there is no mention of how they got there - Waitrose don't deliver if you don't have a road. Jake travels to the city by bus and train but anywhere as isolated as that would not have any public transport. Also there is a good deal more equality and diversity than usually found this far from the city.All this , to someone who doesn't live in a city is mildly irritating, but if you ignore it or didn't notice, its a well written cosy crime novel with plenty of action and a complex plot that keeps you guessing.

This is the third book in the Jake Jackson series, and I loved it. I think it is the best one so far. Although they are all stand alone books, I suggest reading from the first one and see the characters develop with each story.
The Burial Place is set at an archaeological dig, where they were excavating the remains of a Roman settlement. A motley crew of archaeologists are involved. We get to know these people as the story progresses. Why did they become involved in the first place? After a horde of treasure is found by four people, things start to happen. Someone disappears, someone else dies - accident or murder? Jake becomes involved and agrees to help McAllister, the new Scottish detective. There are several theories as to who is responsible and Jake is able to give the benefit of his long police experience. The story culminates in a nail biting episode. I couldn’t put it down!
I strongly recommend this book. It is well written and much thought has gone into it. I would like to thank NetGalley, Stig Abell and the publishers, Hemlock Press for an arc of this exciting book.

I love this series! Stig Abell is a cultured writer, his prose is elegant and his vocabulary extensive. Jake Jackson is a fascinating character, a retired cop who has taken to rural living with ease but who still has a policeman's instinct and is therefore called upon to help the small local force. The story centres on a series of crimes around an archaeological dig and it is intriguing from the start. In addition, the setting is beautiful and the private life of Jake continues to be of interest. An absolute delight!

This is the 3rd in a series of which I’ve really enjoyed the first 2 books. Unfortunately I found this one very slow moving, easy to spot the culprit and got a bit fed up with the underlying story of “trying for a baby”. The joy of hearing about the scenery, living conditions, idyllic lifestyle is lovely however once again a repeat of the first 2 books. Sorry, Judy not for me!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

My first 5-star read of 2025. This is the third in the series featuring Jake Jackson, living his rural idyll in Little Sky, with beautiful vet, Livia, and a nice group of supporting characters that I am coming to know and like.

Showing that crime can have a rural setting, in this novel we are at an archeological dig, the ruins of a Roman villa near St Giles. Close to Jake’s local village of Caelum Parvum, but not so close that they appear to have a city-like crime wave…

Rose’s sister, Lily, is working on the dig, which has received threats from someone styling themselves, Wulfnoth, claiming they are desecrating the site. Things are complicated by a discovery of treasure, which some of the group members will share part of, although it is unsure who owned some of the land on which the treasure was found. Of course, before long, things have escalated from threats to murder, and Jake becomes involved with the new police presence in the region, David McAllister.

This series is wonderfully plotted but also very character driven. In this novel, Jake has to face his fears over the issues he and his first wife had with infertility and the author cleverly weaves the storylines together. If you like endless action, this is not for you. If you like to get to know and care about the characters in a series, as well as intelligent, well-written prose, give this a try. I, for one, look forward to reading more of Jake and Livia’s adventures.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

The third in the Jake Jackson series. Beautuful, descriptive passages and good character development. The narrative too slow for me but other readers will enjoy the rich storytelling.

So, book three... What does that mean. Well, as always it's worth pointing out you could read this without either previous book, but I'd discourage it. Yes, there are enough nudges to catch you up but they'll spoil the mystery of the earlier books. I mean, the whole series feels like the more you read the more you'd enjoy it so it feels a little weird suggesting anyone would intentionally jump in here without having read the earlier books, but there's a chance so I'll say it's should be fine. But also don't, just go read Death Under a Little Sky because you're the kind of person reading a book review so I feel confident it's the sensible decision.

All caught up? Great. So what does The Burial Place add to the series? Much of the same to be honest. Jake's life moves on a bit and the little community he now lives in faces more murders. It's all very familiar. All the good stuff returns for another adventure and it's all very enjoyable and clever and I loved it. I'll be back for book four, and I suspect five, and six, or however many more will be written because I've enjoyed it all so far and have high hopes for continuing to do so. I don't even care that I cracked the case much earlier than the previous stories either. There was enough mystery to cast a slight doubt over my conclusion and even without that these stories remain a jolly good romp. Which is the main thing I'm going to talk about because otherwise I'd probably just be repeating all the praise I've lavished on the previous books.

See, the first book gave me a magical place which hit the spot perfectly. Maybe the timing helped, but the original reveal of Little Sky was just spot on and I think I got a little lost in that and didn't think enough about all the other aspects I enjoyed. And see, while reading this book it was still a cosy mystery in my head. But that designation never felt quite right either. But about halfway through I started to shift my thinking, and by the end I realised it's more that the writing is somewhat anachronistic. At times I almost wanted to call it archaic in fact, but that may be taking the idea too far. See, by today's standards it does lean more towards the cosy mystery end of the spectrum, but in truth it's more that this is a homage to the classics of the genre. It would be rather shocking 80-90 years ago, but rather oddly it sort of belongs there.

Look, I am loathe to compare anything to Agatha Christie because it's an overused cliché that rarely holds up, and to be clear this is not a "The new..." type of statement for a cool pull quote. But I am going to say these books are clearly a product of reading many mysteries of that style and era. We're treated to vocabulary you don't see very often in modern books. But the book doesn't feel dated. They're woven in well with computers and forensics and whatnot.

The result? A story that managed to stay relevant while offering a certain cosy nostalgia. One that isn't twee. It doesn't feel affected, it fits the world that's been created. It pokes fun at itself for indulging in it at times (Martha proving even more delightful in this book as she takes the lead in that regard). and it all just makes everything click. There's a deft touch that's been in plain sight for all three books and yet didn't truly come into focus until now. A bit like any good mystery really. Because that's what this series is doing - Abell clearly knows the genre well, and rather than try to reinvent it he's built on it, and that may just make him a fairly unique presence in the genre these days.

Detective story based at an archeological dig - very good.

This is the third book in the series and I enjoyed reading about Jake and how his life has developed. He seems to be the perfect man: he loves his rural idyll and his partner (lots of sex) , he can cook, build and solve mysteries. with his coterie of experienced and knowledgeable helpers. The story involves a few dead bodies and there are quite a few interesting characters, all well-developed. I didn't predict the outcome while I was pleased to read the literary/poetic descriptions although I don't think that I needed to know what each character is wearing in every scene! It's a bit of a page-turner and a satisfying read, well worth a look, and, although it works as a stand-alone, it's worth reading the previous two books to "set the scene". Coincidentally I watched the author on Christmas University Challenge while reading his novel. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The third in the Jake Jackson series which continues to improve.Jake an ex big city policeman has moved to an idyllic lifestyle in a house inherited from his uncle which is situated in an isolated countryside spot. Crime however seems to follow him and with the help of new found friends and old colleagues Jake is once again in a local crime surrounding an archeological dig. A crime which escalates into murder..Alongside the investigations we learn more of his growing relationship with the local vet and single mother Livia.
A multi layered story and a welcome addition to the British crime genre which sits nicely between cosy crime and the more hard core graphic violence of other modern crime novels. A series that I hope continues for many more books and one I can heartily recommend.

Digging up the past is a staple of crime fiction, but here it is an archaeological “dig”, and someone who doesn’t approve of such desecration. Anonymous letters to that effect have been received, but dismissed as the work of a crank. Nevertheless, retired DI Jake Jackson is asked by the head of the dig to look at the letters, because their previously mildly scriptural language has shifted to warnings of retribution and possible deaths. Jake had retired early when he’d inherited a small house (Little Sky) set in a large rural estate near the village of Caelum Parvum. Well known now because he had solved a few murder mysteries, he is the ideal person to investigate this minor problem. However, it doesn’t stay minor long, because one of the people on the excavation site is murdered. His previous successes and his knowledge of the wide unspoilt acreage around his home area, leads to Jake being retained by the police as a consultant and he is soon embroiled in a spiralling series of attempted and actual murders, ably assisted by some old contacts and some new friends.
Intertwined with all of this is his relationship, and increasingly his life, with his lover, Livia, the local vet, and her young daughter. Central to that life is his eccentric, bucolic, hippie, pot-smoking behaviour; swimming in his lake, cross country running every morning, sauna and shower and barbecue and chicken house all outside his front door, and a library full of crime and mystery books.
This is the third in a series, but has no necessary connection to the previous books. I have commented previously that the author’s style of writing plays up the rustic mode; lots of rural descriptions, lots of weather. Metaphor, usually quite original, colours all of the descriptions and I find I’ve grown to like the style. I didn’t find it difficult to work out who was likely to have dunnit (I drew my conclusion at the same point as Jake did), but ‘likely’ isn’t the same as ‘actually’ and it was fun to shadow him as he follows his suspicion to a confrontation. Overall, I think this is the best of the series so far and I gave the earlier two 4 stars each, so this has to be 5.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.