Stig Abell has written a very accomplished first novel. The blend of descriptive narrative, captivating relationships, intriguing locations and the evolution of a set of dark and depraved actions of a perverse perpetrator kept me reading and enjoying.
Throughout the book I kept thinking that the plot was implausible, but it was so well thought through, that I just accepted it and let my mind see the picture being painted. Little touches, such as the sauna and shower that Jake, the mainchracter built at his house were enjoyable. Who doesn't enjoy a sauna? The joy of the countryside, the birds and animals, all added to the richness of the book. of the book. So much so that the trauma of the victims and the crimes perpetrated did not seem to take centre stage. They were more the backdrop to the lives of the main characters and their developing romance.
Stig Abell describes, in his introduction and notes at the end, of his voracious appetite for crime novels. This comes through I his writing here. He has learned from lots of master writers and now developed his own style. Well done. I look forward to his next offering.

Following the breakup of his marriage retired police officer Jake moves to a house in deepest Norfolk that his uncle bequeathed him. No Phone signal and basic living and a lovely vet. Then he comes across a cold case, Sabine, who fell to her death at a farm in the village. Why, and why was he being warned of the case.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters came to life and village life was described well. The tension rose as the plot thickened and I struggled putting the book down as I wanted to know what happened next.
A fabulous new detective story, well written and with some twists. Definitely a must read.

After an incredibly slow start, I settled into the story which was descriptive and if felt as if I was standing on the side just observing everything that was happening, I just felt the location was wrong as I think it would have been more effective if it had been set in Denmark or Sweden as it had a strong Scandinavian vibe to the story.

I’m sorry, but this book took too long for me to get into, so it was abandoned and put to the side. Will I return to it? Doubtful.
I always feet that you should be pulled into a story from the first page or two. That didn’t happen here.

A real page turner from the beginning, with an unconventional lead character who goes to live in his uncle's remote house and ends up investigating why old human bones gave turned up in the village.

I found Death Under a Little Sky a fabulous read.
Beautifully written, i could really visualise the scenery. A handful of characters who i could easily "see".
A who done it that will keep you on your toes guessing.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I find it difficult to believe this is a debut thriller from this author and i for one will be eagerly following his future books..

The prologue was painful to read. Written in a style that wants to appear clever rather than readable. It seems to have lofty aspirations of great literature.

Sadly it continues in this vein, far too above a mere pleb such as me. I had a colleague who used long words as he thought it made him seem more intelligent “miniature revels in the banal”.

The adjectives. The florid descriptions. The story may well be a good one but I couldn’t get past the writing style, much too highbrow.

Life’s too short. DNF.

Well Stig for a first novel you did great.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I didn't see the end at all.
I have a feeling Jake Jackson could be the start of a series of books based on his character. Keep up the good work.

Life is not going well for Jake Jackson. He’s burned out by his career as a detective in London. His marriage is dragging to a close, irreparably damaged by a long struggle to have a baby. Then everything changes. His uncle leaves him his house in remote, isolated Little Sky and a sizable bequest, large enough to cover a lifetime’s expenses in the region. Jake knows this is exactly what he needs - a chance to reinvent himself, to discover what is really important and to heal himself emotionally. He moves to Little Sky and at first, lives a gloriously independent life, bathing in the nearby lake, catching fish to eat and reading favorite detective novels from his richly stocked library. Then he meets the local veterinarian, single mother Livia and is convinced to take part in the annual hunt for St. Aethelmere’s bones (St. A was real. He rebuilt a church for Ethelred), a village competition to discover sticks (not bones) hidden in a bag. Instead the bag contains actual bones and Jake finds himself drawn into a dangerous investigation.

Not a locked room mystery, Death Under a Little Sky is a locked village mystery. One of the few residents of Little Sky is a murderer and does not want their crime to be revealed. Jake’s own life is threatened and suddenly his solitary life does not seem safe. It is hard to believe that this is Stig Abell’s first novel. His characters are well described, the setting is atmospheric and the strong plotting delivers a surprise conclusion. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Stig Abell for this ARC.