First Line: Outside, the hillside is buffeted by an unseasonable wind, the brackeny undergrowth shifting and flattening, patternless.
Former London detective Jake Jackson is enjoying his new life in the English countryside-- especially his deepening relationship with the local veterinarian and her daughter. However, trouble always seems to find him, and he's pulled into an investigation centered on an archaeological dig of a Roman settlement.
It's a dream job for the archaeologists, but then the threatening letters begin, and then... a murder. Jake has to find the killer before the person can strike again.
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Stig Abell's Jake Jackson mysteries are for readers who enjoy a story that unfolds slowly and is steeped in the natural world. A bonus for me was the archaeological dig, since that's also an interest of mine.
Jake has made a place for himself in this remote countryside and has made friends in the local village. I enjoyed watching his relationships grow and deepen. More characters are added by the archaeologists, an interesting mix of personalities indeed.
The Burial Place, the third Jake Jackson mystery, is filled with things I love: fully fleshed characters, a vivid setting, archaeology... if there's one thing I didn't enjoy quite so much, it's the easily deduced whodunit. But still, this is a series that I highly recommend.
The Burial Place by Stig Abell
eISBN: 9780063463813
HarperCollins © 2025
eBook, 352 pages
Literary Mystery, #3 Jake Jackson
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
Oh, this one does interest me, Cathy. Like you, I find archaeology interesting (although I admit I'm not at all sophisticated about it). And the setting and characters sound effective, too. Glad you enjoyed this one.
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