This is the second novel from Stig following the investigations of Jake and Livia and is as well written and thought out as the first. Again Jake is pulled into a cold case, but this time it is one from his past and this time he is determined to see it through. I found some of the storyline difficult to believe, but there were many twists that kept me interested to the end. All in all an enjoyable read.

Stig Abell’s debut novel “Death Under A Little Sky” (2023) was a rare beast, a crime genre novel that I wanted to read again as soon as I finished it. I gave it a five star rating and it ended up in my Top 10 Books of 2023, describing it as “the best contemporary crime novel I’ve read this year.” No pressure then on Mr Abell with his second novel in his Jake Jackson series.
It arrives via the recently launched Hemlock Press, an imprint of Harper Collins with the brief to “intrigue the mind and thrill the senses” and this author certainly does both here.
You could read this as a stand-alone but I’d really suggest you go with “Little Sky” first to get the lowdown on recently retired policeman Jackson and his desire to get away from a lot of the trappings of modern existence in a house inherited from his uncle. Jake is plunged back into the real world when a connection is discovered between two of the cold cases he had previously worked on which may suggest the existence of an organisation that can fulfil criminal fantasies at little risk for the right price.
A couple of new characters extend the appeal of this series and suggest that Jackson may very well encounter other criminal scenarios away from his immediate environment in the future.
This does feel more like traditional crime fiction fayre. The debut had a freshness with its original slant of Jake’s escape from reality which certainly caught my attention in the post-Covid world. Some readers did feel this was given too great a focus in the first novel- I’ve seen some reviews where readers found the lack of crime for a significant part of the novel a distraction, but I really liked it. I think the balance is redressed here. There’s a greater emphasis on criminal activity. The author is a huge crime fiction fan and he’s exploring the different pathways crime writers use to befuddle, thrill and entertain us. Here, there’s even a country house crime thread where we’re introduced to characters before we even meet them which feels reminiscent of something we’d encounter from the golden age of crime fiction. (In his Acknowledgements Stig Abell states he’d planned this as the main focus of his work but was rightly dissuaded by his publishers. As it is it provides a clever diversion which feels very much part of the plot of the novel).
In this second book the author has given us quite a bit of what I loved from the first, a couple of new characters with potential to flourish in further instalments and an involving plot which builds to some tense action sequences. I haven’t got the same sense of “Wow!” I got last time round but I can really appreciate a very strong crime series settling in and bedding down and hopefully it will not be too long before the author gives us more from these characters.
“Death In A Lonely Place” is published on April 11th 2024 by Hemlock Press. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Stig Abell is one of my favourite radio presenters - he is sharp, acerbic, clever, loves words, doesn’t suffer fools gladly, is an bit of a Luddite when it comes to the modern world, and is shamelessly himself even when reading a script. There is a lot of Stig, I feel, in his fictional retired detective Jake Jackson who has retreated to an isolated farmhouse on the outskirts of a tiny village, without internet, a mobile phone, TV or any mod cons.

The first novel in this series set the scene and gave us Jake’s love interest, and had a pretty gripping plot. This second instalment is slighter, I felt. Without the scene-setting that provided interest in the first book, the plot in this one needed to be tighter and more complex than it is,. An abducted child leads to Jake getting roped in to help by the local detective DCI Watson, and when there are echoes of two cold cases he had previously worked on he starts to make connections he hadn’t seen before. It was a promising setup with a shadowy organisation of rich and powerful people who see themselves as being above the law, and in that context the resolution was a bit of an anticlimax, though there was a twist I didn’t see coming. There was a bit too much focus throughout on Jake’s meals and his runs and walks which all felt like padding to get the word count up, and became a bit repetitive. There is a decent amount of continuity in terms of characters we met in the first book, and the landscape and social life of the village, and it is very well written which is sadly more than can be said of a lot of detective fiction. But I thought there needed to be more to the plot to keep my interest.

This is book 2 in a series and could be read as a standalone, you may want to read book 1 first. Jake is an early retired detective who lives at Little Sky, which was left to him by his uncle. He spends his days off grid surrounded by nature and occasional visits to the nearest village for supplies, to see his girlfriend, Livia or to cadge modern life such as car or phone from his friends.
Reluctantly Jake is drawn in to help local cop, Watson, to investigate when a child goes missing and this leads to a mysterious group.
I really liked the characters and the plot works really well and will go back and read book 1 and look forward to more in the series.

A girl goes missing which reminds Retired police inspector Jake Jackson of one of his unsolved cases. His police friend Watson asks for advice. A card ‘No Taboo’ is found nearby. Jake wonders if there is a link to other unsolved crimes, does Jake come out of retirement and get involved? He is just helping his friend Watson, by reaching out to some of his sources.

This is the second installment of ex detective Jake Jackson but can be read easily as a stand alone.
I found the start a bit slow but it certainly gathered pace. The twists and turns and moral dilemmas- fabulous.
An excellent book that you will finish too quickly as you can’t put it down.

This is the second book in the series and it was every bit as good as the first, however, it would also read well as a stand-alone novel. There are a few references to the previous story and it picks up the relationship between Jake, the main protagonist and Livia once more. This novel was concerned with wrong doing and corruption deep in society with a group called ‘No Taboo’ arranging anything you might desire to experience for a price. Jake becomes involved in searching for the organisation of the group against his better instincts and the story leads to a gripping conclusion. Another fabulous, gripping read. Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins, HarperFiction for an advance copy of Death in a Lonely Place, the second novel to feature former Met detective Jake Jackson, now living a back to nature life somewhere in England.

Jake is settled into his reclusive life and enjoying it when DCI Watson comes asking for help, brings some of Jake’s unsolved cases back into his mind and him into contact with a shadowy group catering to the illegal whims of the rich and powerful, a group with long tentacles and no morals.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death in a Lonely Place, which somehow manages to maintain an upbeat tone, despite the crimes uncovered and the situations Jake gets into. There are twists, but I easily guessed the main one, so I think that the overarching story is the point and that is well worth a read.

The novel is told from Jake’s point of view so the reader gets to live his adventure with him and it is an adventure with powerful enemies, some tight situations and not knowing who to trust. At the same time he is trying to navigate his fledgling relationship with local vet Livia and keep hold of his lifestyle (no phones or internet, no road into his property and living off the land). There’s a lot to keep the reader occupied.

The plot is well conceived and executed. I found it a bit slow and that’s difficult to explain as there are plenty of discoveries and some singular events, but I think that it is the nature of the story that it is necessarily slow. Jake and his friends, researchers, spies or whatever you want to call them, Aletheia and Martha, start with a nebulous concept, the possibility of the group, and start to investigate quietly and off the books, not knowing who is involved. Thus, the big picture is slow to emerge. The number of uncovered facts and suppositions grows as their knowledge base increases, culminating in an action packed final quarter of the novel. I didn’t feel the tension until then, but, boy, is it ratcheted up alongside the action.

Death in a Lonely Place is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is book two of the series and you really could do yourself a favour and read Death Under a Little Sky first. For all the usual reasons but also cos it's a cracker! In my review for that book I said that I was feeling a little sad to be leaving the characters I had met along the way and I am so glad to report that we picked up where we left off, the connection still there...
So, in this, his second outing, Jake Jackson is drawn once again, back into the life he left. All he really wants to do is work his land, and spend the down time with Livia. But when a blast from the past rears its ugly head once again, he is powerless to resist. It's something unresolved from his time in the police, something that irked him at the time. All brought to the surface again when DCI Watson asks for his help with a missing child. It appears to have a link to the phrase "No Taboo" which is, in itself, linked to something Jake was investigating back in the day.
Meanwhile, Livia is invited to the Big House which has been bought by newspaper mogul Sam Martinson, with a view to a contract looking after the horses. But is this invite more than it seems and what exactly is it that Martinson wants, is it all connected ?
Well, you'll have to read the book to find out! Suffice to say that it hit the ground running for me, sucked me in, held me captive, spitting me out at the end exhausted but wholly satisfied. And that, my friends, is exactly what I want from a book. In a nutshell, great characters, compelling story, well written with no superfluous waffle or padding. And this book had it all. Just like its predecessor.
So yeah, if you've read the first book, you know what you're hoping for and you will not be disappointed. If you haven't and it's your genre, then, really, what are you waiting for?!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book

The second Jake Jackson novel from Stig Abell. Jackson has tried to get away from his old job in London but an old case comes back and he will find himself trying to bring down a group supporting the desires of the elite. Those he cares about are in danger and he will come to realise that old trusts can be broken. Well paced and constructed. Recommended

Jake, Livia and Diana split their time between their homes. Jake is still in love with his farmhouse. Chief Inspector Watson asks Jake for his help with a missing girl, Laura. Jake once looked for a missing child 5 years ago when he was in the police. Aletheia from the Police in the city, his old searcher helps with the investigation. However, despite promising Livia, he won't be actively involved, he gets drawn into a dangerous situation. With the help of Aletheia and a crime writer, they discover the truth and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. It is well written and very descriptive with a few twists and turns. I will be recommending this book. I hope this is a book 3 on the way.

Detective Jake Jackson moved to the countryside for a quieter life and has settled in with a girlfriend and her daughter. Life is good.
Then an cold case comes back into his life and shatters his dream.
Everyone is drawn into the resulting mess and Jake needs to find out who he can trust and who he cant.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

I have to say I much preferred this one to the first. I was hooked from the start, it was a great storyline.

I loved the first novel featuring Jake Jackson, ‘Death Under a Little Sky,’ and I am delighted to say that I enjoyed the sequel just as much.

Jake was a former detective, who inherited a remote house and has given up his former life. Now he lives happily, walking, swimming, reading and has a beautiful girlfriend with local vet, Livia, and a ready-made family with her daughter, Diana. However, the world intrudes and when D.C.I. Watson asks for his help following the abduction of a five-year-old girl, he feels he has no choice but to get involved. The only clue in the abduction is a card found nearby with the words, ‘’No Taboo,” which reminds him of an earlier case and another missing child. He heads to London to visit his old colleague, Aletheia, who suggests he speaks to an author she knows, named Martha Kline.

Before long, Jake is involved in the world of a shadowy organisation where the wealthy and corrupt can fulfil their desires without anything being off limits. Meanwhile, Livia is asked to care for the horses of an extremely wealthy businessman. When invited to stay for the weekend, she asks Jake to accompany her, hoping to improve her career and upset that he is again becoming embroiled in his former life. However, links to No Taboo soon become apparent and Jake does not feel he can ignore the danger he has put himself, Livia and Diana in.

Jake, Livia, Martha, Aletheia and local man, Rose, who appeared in the first novel, make a great team in this novel. I enjoyed Jake’s desire to do the right thing and yet his very real need to protect his new life. Author Stig Abell managed to keep the charm of the location while realistically bringing in a crime for him to solve. I look forward to reading more in the series as I like the characters and the setting. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

The second in the series featuring Jake Jackson. Although well written, I found the descriptions of place meandering and the narrative pace too slow for me to engage.

I enjoyed the first in this new series, Death Under A Little Sky but I said then that I felt it was a little slow unless of course it was the introduction to a series. I was therefore delighted when Stig Abell confirmed it was just that. Jake is a young but retired detective living a somewhat reclusive life on a large country estate bequeathed to him by his uncle. He rejects any connection to the modern world and lives without the need for any modern technology. He has friends in the nearby village including his girlfriend Livia and her daughter Diana. Other interesting characters from the first book reappear and enhance the story. Jake loves his life but occasionally the detective in him is roused and a missing girl and the underlying notion of a criminal underworld that has literally no taboos piques his interest and begins a dangerous journey that puts not only his life in danger but those he loves most. As Livia delivers an ultimatum to stop this dangerous work and commit to her, Jake is torn and unable to choose. This was a really good story that mixed two extreme worlds seemlessly. I love the descriptions of Little Sky, so quiet and desolate in winter but still with an abundance of wildlife and beauty. Contrast that with the extreme evil of the worst of criminals who believe money will ultimately get them anything even complete freedom. A well constructed story that had plenty of tension and a few twists. I can’t wait for book 3.

Was really looking forward to reading this second book in the series and it did not disappoint. It does everything a detective book should do and there are lots of nods to other crime authors. Getting quite attached to the core characters and Martha is a good addition. Not sure how believable the storyline is but I got completely caught up in it and read in a couple of sittings so that’s probably all that matters.

I loved Death under a little sky, and I'm so happy its sequel did not disappoint!

I absolutely love the characters of this series, I felt like going back to visit some old friends to catch up on life... and of course the mystery side of the story was superb! Shady people, a dodgy criminal organisation, friends turning into enemies, this book has everything you could want!
I only wish the final confrontation was developed a bit more, it felt a bit rushed while I think it deserved more attention.

This is definitely a book I'll recommend!

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This shocking crime thriller is the second in the series and follows Jake, a former detective as he continues his quiet life, in the village of Caelum Parvum.

When Watson a detective approaches him regarding a current case, with the phrase ‘No Taboo’ mentioned, he is keen to assist in the investigation as it showed up in a previous disturbing case of his.

His girlfriend Livia is concerned about the danger surrounding the investigation, but soon the danger is brought to them both. With more secrets revealing a powerful group, it soon becomes clear they have no boundaries to protect their past crimes.

What does ‘No Taboo’ stand for? Will Jake solve the case before it becomes deadly?

This crime thriller although builds up the tension slowly is powerful and shocking. The secrets revealed make it seem impossible for Jake to be able to bring justice even if he can solve the case.

I loved to see Jake is still seeing Livia, they are good for each other, and it adds another layer to the storyline.

With a surprising ending, you are left with Jake to work out who can be trusted, whilst unravelling the mystery of ‘No Taboo’.

Overall, a shocking crime thriller where an investigation uncovers dark secrets.

A dark and twisted mystery. Jake's peaceful retreat from his former life as a London detective is once again interrupted. All he wants is a quiet life near his girlfriend Liv and her daughter Diana. He doesn't even have a phone, but has to borrow a neighbour's when needed. Then there's a suspicious death and he realises it may be connected to other murders and disappearances. A man with odd eyes could be involved. The gorgeous descriptions of snowy scenery are a great contrast to the dark deeds happening around him. The satisfying ending pulls everything together and involves a completely unexpected traitor. A great follow-up to Death Under a Little Sky.

Stig Abell is carving out a unique place within the crime fiction genre with his beautifully written, stellar series, featuring former London detective Jake Jackson who has established an enviably remote lifestyle, rooted in nature, free from the noise, technology, and chaos of modern life. Elements impinge, given his relationship with local vet, Livia, and her young daughter, Diana, and the people and services to be found in the village of Caelum Parvun. Jake is enjoying the exquisite beauty of the wintry landscape and the bitterly freezing temperatures that accompany it, continuing his punishing keep fit regime, that includes dipping into the chilling lake. His rural paradise is about to be juxtaposed with the harrowing shadowy horror of the clandestine No Taboo, run to meet the sickening desires of the rich, privileged, and powerful, the protected elites who might want to murder, have sex with children, and more.

When DCI Gerald Watson asks for his involvement in the case of missing girl, Laura, Jake is thrown back to his past, and the niggles he had over certain cold cases, where he first encountered the idea of No Taboo, but no tangible evidence could be found by him or the gifted black data analyst, Aletheia, that lent credence to its existence. Livia in the meantime is seeking to secure a position taking care of the horses on a immense estate named Purple Prose, owned by the ruthless, wealthy and well connected Sam Martinson. Could he and his party of visiting house guests invited for a murder mystery weekend provide some leads? Despite the inescapable swirling dangers of investigating No Taboo, Jake feels morally impelled to do what he thinks is the right thing, but just how much will it cost him?

Abell has firmly established himself as a favourite author, I become deeply immersed and am captivated with his storytelling, the creation and development of his characters, the relationships, his superb descriptions of place and location, and his unerring skill in plotting, from the slow build that moves towards a faster pace that heighten the levels of tension and suspense, right up to the concluding explosive finale. What particularly caught my attention is Jake's surprising relationship with Rose that yields such dividends, and I seriously hope we see far more of talented crime mystery mad, wheelchair user Martha Kline in the future. I cannot express just how much I am looking forward to the next in the series! Hugely recommended, particularly for those who love absorbing mysteries and the crime genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.