The Burial Place: A Novel

Former London detective Jake Jackson finds his new life in the country threatened when an old case from the past buried deep within an archeological dig site resurfaces in this beautifully written and deeply immersive mystery that will challenge your deductive skills.

A beautiful landscape . . .

It began as the project of a lifetime—a group of archaeologists, uncovering the remains of a Roman settlement on a picturesque hill in the glorious English countryside.

A looming threat . . .

But, the idyll is shattered when they begin receiving threatening letters. Former city detective Jake Jackson, now enjoying a quieter life in the local village, is pulled in to investigate.

A killer closing in . . .

Soon, threatening letters are the least of their problems, when a murderer strikes. Now, the race is on for Jake to find the mysterious culprit, before they kill again . . .

“Abell’s sterling third outing for ex-detective Jake Jackson (after Death in a Lonely Place) is a taut, atmospheric whodunit that revolves around an archaeological dig in England. . . . The setting recalls Tana French’s In the Woods, but Abell’s prose is singularly searing and evocative. This will stun series fans and newcomers alike.”  - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Terrific characters, locations, action and suspense, all floating on an easy charm in the writing and a deep love of the genre—this series is irresistible." - Lee Child

"The Burial Place speeds towards a startling finale at the archeological dig where it has begun. Along the way, Stig Abell also confronts racism and gender, religion and greed. Abell’s genuine strength, though, is chronicling Jake’s attempts to balance his former life with his present one. The novel remains a compelling mystery about worlds past and present, even as Jake Jackson finds ways to link who he has been before Little Sky to who he has become in his new home." - The Anniston Star

"Stig Abell has carved out a crime fiction niche that continues the lineage of the English country mystery, while bringing the literary chops that always make his stories seem fresh . . . . Abell transcends any cliches with his evocative descriptions of the hyper-local natural world of Jake’s new property with some of the most gorgeous writing a crime novel could, uh, hope to die for . . . . And with his graceful, sensuous writing about the natural world, one can readily imagine that for Abell, that that glorious domain just may be his favorite." - Crimespree Magazine

"Blends frightening realities with lushly detailed descriptions of nature’s many wonders alongside our skinny-dipping, pot smoking sleuth." - Boston Herald

"A well-designed traditional puzzler . . . . Jake Jackson’s off-the-grid world is beautifully rendered and ambles in a leisurely way toward a solution. It’s quite a good journey." - Crime Fiction Review

"The Jake Jackson books get better and better. I loved this excursion into the distant past. Atmospheric and chilling but also humorous and always humane." - Elly Griffiths, author of The Last Remains

"The Burial Place is like a breath of fresh air and will appeal to fans of Anthony Horowitz, Laura Lippman and Lucey Foley." - The Gloss

“What a gorgeous read. It has the halo of an instant classic. This is a deep, searching novel, as preoccupied with human nature and ordinary evil as it is with detection." - A. J. Finn, #1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window, on Death Under a Little Sky

"What a joy to spend time with these characters again! An immersive, intelligent delight with huge atmosphere and heart. My favourite new crime series." - Lucy Foley on Death in a Lonely Place