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.

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