Death Under a Little Sky by Stig Abell
| Death Under a Little Sky by Stig Abell | |
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| Category: Crime | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Atmospheric, stunning plot, great writing and wonderful characters. What more do you need? | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 352 | Date: April 2023 |
| Publisher: Harper Collins | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9780008517038 | |
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The marriage had run its course. It might have been different if the pregnancies hadn't ended in miscarriages but no one else was involved - certainly not on Jake's side and he didn't think there was for Faye either. They were still polite to each other and wished each other well - but didn't wish to remain married. The perfect solution arrived in the form of a legacy from Jake's Uncle Arthur. He'd been left a secluded property in the hamlet of Caelum Parvum - Little Sky - and enough money to live there without the need to work.
So, Inspector Jake Jackson of the cold case unit, became Jake who lived in King Arthur's old house. He generally kept himself to himself apart from the odd trip into the hamlet to buy provisions and have the occasional drink with the locals at The Nook. The lack of mobile coverage, landlines and mains water can all be overcome and it's not long before Jake's fitter than he's ever been, with his daily runs, swims in his own (ice-cold) lake, the need to walk everywhere and work on the house.
The company's a little sparse, too but Jake soon relishes the change from London. There's Dr Peter, the botanist and Mack, the village handyman, Livia, the local vet and Diana, her daughter. He's taking part in one of the village traditions - a bone hunt - with Livia and Diana when he realises that the bag of 'bones' that they've found are human bones. He's seen too many of them to be in any doubt. It's not long before Jake's involved in an investigation into a decade-old death - and not everyone in the hamlet has his best interests at heart.
I loved this book from the first page. Yes - it is a little leisurely at first, as Jake makes such a dramatic change but I was happy to enjoy the pace. I loved meeting the locals but it's not long before the tension ratchets up: if you're thinking that this sounds more like cosy crime - think again. This is anything but.
The writing is exquisite: not a word is wasted but the plotting is even better. I had all sorts of people pencilled in as the wrong 'un. I even - briefly - entertained the correct solution and then dismissed the idea. It was a most-satisfying ending and - best of all - I read that Little Sky is the first book in a new series.
I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.
If you're looking for more first-class crime writing, we can recommend The Close (DS Maeve Kerrigan) by Jane Casey.
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