I found this to be an easy read with no great stress on the brain.

The writing at times left the characters lacking dept, but overall an enjoyable read.

"Death Under a Little Sky" by Stig Abell is a gripping mystery that blends elements of crime fiction with a deep exploration of human relationships and the complexities of small-town life. Set in the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of a close-knit community, the story follows a series of events that unravel after a shocking murder.

Abell's writing is evocative and atmospheric, immersing readers in the setting while skillfully building tension. The characters are richly developed, each bringing their own histories and secrets to the narrative, which adds layers of intrigue. The protagonist, often caught between personal loyalties and the pursuit of justice, faces moral dilemmas that resonate throughout the story.

Themes of isolation, trust, and the impact of past actions are woven seamlessly into the plot, prompting readers to reflect on the choices that define us. As the investigation unfolds, Abell expertly reveals the hidden depths of the characters and the community, making the reader question what lies beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives.

The pacing is well-structured, balancing moments of intense suspense with quieter, introspective passages. The plot twists are both surprising and satisfying, leading to a conclusion that feels earned and true to the story.

Overall, "Death Under a Little Sky" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of crime and psychological thrillers. Stig Abell has crafted a novel that not only entertains but also offers a poignant reflection on human nature and the intricacies of community life. This book is a strong debut that showcases Abell's talent for storytelling.

A skilled journalist and enthusiastic connoisseur of detective novels turns his hand to crime fiction. Who could ask for a better curtain raiser? And this is a truly stunning debut.
The reader is submerged into a remote rural idyll that is written with a richly observed sense of place and peopled with characters who are impossible to resist. One can appreciate their subtleties, mourn their tragedies and wonder at their mysteries.
The author excels at using tiny domestic details to enhance the implications of fragile human relationships. He writes with authority, integrity and grace. I can't remember when I last read a debut novel as good as this one...perhaps I never have.

A great thriller that grabbed my attention instantly & I could not put it down.

A brilliant plot with well developed characters and the perfect amount of twists, suspense & Mystery.

Loved this book. Lots of twists and moments of thriller magic. I couldn’t put it down, leading to more than a few late nights!

An enjoyable murder mystery with a strong link to those of the past, the protagonist being a crime fiction enthusiast who becomes involved in solving one of his own. Well written, a good cast of characters, and engrossing.

Thrilling book as always, what an experience to be acquainted with the characters (good & bad€ created by the author. All so relatable and I read it in a couple of days thank you!

Jake Jackson walks away from his London life of marriage and policing to the quiet of the life in the country with no phone and no internet. He didn’t bank on walking into a cold case he feels needs investigating.

This is a competent crime novel that has a good plot and loads of suspects. However, I did not feel any connection with Jake and did not understand his need for solitude. In some ways his existence feels claustrophobic and not freeing. The book is saved by some interesting locals that need more centre stage.

As soon as I started reading I was hooked! Read this in a couple of days and it was the perfect crime book

This is my first Stig Abell book and I really enjoyed it and the ending was not who I suspected so that is always good. I did think the book took a little while to grab me, it was interesting but not enough to make me not want to not put it down but once I got into it I wanted to keep reading and spent most of a sunny Sunday just reading outside

It’s always good to find a novel that speaks your language. "Death Under a Little Sky" is just such a novel for me.
The story is quite modern in feel and is certainly ‘contemporary crime’ but really not that far removed from classic crime fiction. This is recognised and referenced by the author and the characters to the extent that Jake, the main protagonist, is all but obsessed by mystery novels and many of the scenes (and even chapter titles) quote lines and titles from classic crime (and indeed, classic novels).

Stig Abell is a talented writer and drives the narrative along at a good rate while still allowing time to develop characters and provide enough detail of settings to keep things real and the reader interested. Contemporary enough to feel fresh and relevant but with more than just a backward glance towards the classic mystery fiction of the past.

A great debut by Stig Abel, this story tells the reader about Jake Jackson, who inherits a country residence from his uncle. It’s a place he can relax and enjoy, getting away from the harsh life of a detective, now he’s retired. But in an annual treasure hunt, a woman’s bones are found and Jake finds himself returning back to his detective role to find out how this young woman died.
This was a really substantial story with great characters, and lots going on to keep the reader interested. I myself was fully engrossed and read this story, loving everything about it!!!
Many thanks to Harper Collins uk, for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollinsUk, #TheStigAbell.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a cross between a mystery and literary fiction, the latter because of the beautiful voice it was written in, including with the intricate descriptions of the property and surrounding countryside. The intensity of a small, close-knit community was done very well, along with an intriguing cast of characters, and I found it very easy to read. The mystery was also solved appropriately, so the ending was satisfying.

I'll definitely read other books by the author.

With thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

so good! cosy crime filled mystery with passionate and original characters. loved the plot and twists included in this, makes such a good thriller!!!

I was given the opportunity to read and review both of these book ahead of the publication of the second, they both sounded amazing so I jumped at the chance .

The start of the book was so atmospheric and had so many different branches to the story, I was so intrigued.

The writing style is a little different to what I’m used to but I loved it instantly and it’s so atmospheric it’s bordering on beautiful.

Ex Detective Jake arrives at the house his Uncle Arthur has left him, the taxi has dropped him off at the Oak Tree as the instructions in the letter specified, he soon finds Little Sky which is now his home.

Jake is fully immersed in the quiet village life , he’s met the handful of villagers and feels happy and glad to be away from the busy city life and his old job, that’s until a mysterious bag of bones appears.

This took a little while to build up to the mystery and the ins and outs etc but that was the beauty of this book, the slow pace life and story that fits in perfectly with Jake and what he wants to get out of living in Little Sky.

I enjoyed this so much and the characters cast a spell on me and I became so attached to them.

The mystery/crime element was a little complex and I was swayed by the red herrings and didn’t see the villain being unmasked at all, I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author and series.

Overall an okay read, more mystery than thriller….. 🤔

Following Jake after his uncle has passed leaving him his home/land, whilst being isolated in his new home, things do not start out as he had imagined.

Not my usual genre of book as I prefer thrillers, not so keen on mystery, as pace generally much slower. If this is your genre, it is a good book.

A top city cop inherits a rundown house in the middle of nowhere to get away from a broken relationship. His detective skills are used to the full when the unexplained death of a young woman ten years earlier is brought to his attention.
This is essentially a murder mystery although it takes a little while to get into its stride. Once it's does, the pace hots up and the story becomes more engaging. Plenty of descriptive writing of a beautiful yet isolated landscape where the locals say 'yonder' and speak in vernacular and seem one dimensional while the incomers are educated and superior. Well written, if rather flowery, by a well-connected debut author. But it was rather a slow burner for me, populated by stereotyped characters and cliches.
Not for me, sorry.
Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

Received arc from Harper Collins and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own.
This is the first book in this series and the first book I have read from Stig and I must say I pretty much enjoyed it.
Main character is very relatable and Jake was quite a good lead.He goes to live in the country away from the city and things are hoping to slow down for him, but as things go, nonetheless crops up.
A really good start and look forward to the next one.

As a debut novel I Wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. It’s very different from your usual crime novel but I liked the element of romance that was in there to make it different as some mystery crime novels can be very samey. I like this and would read more from the author.

This is my first Stig Abell book and I really enjoyed it and the ending was not who I suspected so that is always good. I did think the book took a little while to grab me, it was interesting but not enough to make me not want to not put it down but once I got into it I wanted to keep reading and spent most of a sunny Sunday just reading outside.